I hope you’re enjoying your summer and are taking opportunities to make memories with your family, spend time outside, and eat a little ice cream!  It’s going by fast!!!  I wanted to take a few minutes and update you on the goings on of Center Pointe.

First, Janelle and I continue to discuss with the elders and pray about the future of our ministry here.  We appreciate your prayers and patience as we seek the Lord’s will on this matter.  We feel blessed to be a part of such an awesome community of believers!

Secondly, in addition to the Senior Minister transition, we have a few others to mention.  After much thought and prayer, Sheri Sams has decided to join the efforts of Axis Church with Stephen.  She will be overseeing the music and worship services.  Center Pointe has been home to Sheri for 13 years and she has served as our Music Director on a part-time basis for the past 2 years.& ... Read More »

Waiting...I’m not a big fan.  I only get gas at “Pay at the Pump” gas stations because I don’t want to walk in and wait in line to pay.  I’ve even driven away from a gas station after discovering it was payless at the pump!  I will drive 20 miles (or more) out of my way to avoid sitting in traffic.  I just don’t like to wait.  But, let’s be honest…neither do you!  We microwave our food.  We DVR our favorite TV shows.  We make phone calls while driving.  We use “instant” messaging.  We send an email and expect a response in two minutes or less.  Remember the days when you had to actually call people in order to set up a meeting…and you actually had to wait until they got home to call you back?  Crazy!  We don’t like to wait.  But here we are as a church…waiting.

I would submit to you that there is absolutely nothing better we could be doing right now than wa ... Read More »

The last few months have been a whirlwind to say the least.  I would have never predicted that on May 1, I would be sitting in the position of Interim Senior Minister filling Stephen’s shoes as he was off planting a new church.  I have processed a lot of emotions in the last 6 weeks, but the reality of it all still hasn’t completely sunk in.  Maybe you relate.  But, such is the journey of faith and my faith is being stretched in brand new ways.  It’s both exciting and unnerving at the same time.  I would be less than honest if I didn’t tell you that I feel completely inadequate for the task.  But in the midst of my fear, I have an overwhelming sense of peace.  I think God gives us that fear to remind us of our need for Him.  We cannot do it on our own.  Peace comes as a reminder that we can do all things through Christ.  So, it is with that feeling that I step into this new role…completely confident tha ... Read More »

Kids say the darnedest things.  I think that was a TV show, but it’s true.  I’ve spent a lot of time in the pool with my kids this summer.  They love the water and they want me in it at ALL times.  Campbell, my 6 year old, is a fish.  He can swim really well and doesn’t need any help.  But my 3 year old, Carter, is still uncertain about the water.  He prefers the steps.  He can sit in the shallow end, splash around, and stay relatively safe.  But every now and then, I’ll take him a little further out in the pool.  And he’s not sure what to do with that.  He has this mixture of laughing and crying…it’s like a “this is really fun, but I’m still not sure about it” kind of noise.  He hangs on as tight as he can, and I’ll draw him in close and say what every parent says, “It’s OK, I’ve got you.”  And somehow, that takes the edge off.  He believes that what I’m saying is true.&# ... Read More »

I don’t know about you, but I feel like this has been the longest winter/spring of my life…cold, gloomy, rainy.  I’m ready for hot, sunny, and dry.  I love the summer.  It gives me an opportunity to switch gears mentally.  It allows me to be outside, soaking up all of what God has created.  In his book, Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas suggests that each of us has a specific “pathway” that draws us closer to God.  He lists nine distinct spiritual temperaments in which most of us fall.  He contends that when we know our spiritual temperament, or pathway, it will lead to greater spiritual growth and fulfillment.  Some people feel a deeper connection with God through singing and celebration.  For some, they grow closer to God through intense study of His Word.  Some people grow by caring for the needs of others…by simply serving.

For me, I feel the greatest connection with God w ... Read More »

This Saturday is the running of the 134th Kentucky Derby.  It’s been dubbed, “The Run for the Roses” and “The most exciting two minutes in sports.”  It’s the biggest stage in horse racing.  It’s what thorougbred horses are made for…but only a select few get to run for those roses; only a select few actually have what it takes to even enter the race.

In case you know nothing about horse racing, developing a winning horse has a lot to do with training, coupled with a dynamic pedigree. They have to come from a family of winners.  Find a horse that has parents and grandparents and great-grandparents that have a winning track record and you have a horse worth training. 

My father-in-law is a horse trainer in Lexington.  In April, his thoroughbred gave birth to a young foal whose bloodline has a history of winning.  Her sire (or father) is Thunder Gulch…winner of the 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes ... Read More »

No deep thought this month (or maybe they have never been deep), just practical.  By now, it’s no surprise that there is a lot going on around here…and a lot changing.  In the fall, Children’s Ministry will look completely different.  I want to take a minute (and you should, too) to say thanks to Tammy, Mandy, and their leadership team.  Often times when I leave on Wednesday nights after band rehearsal, the Children’s Ministry team is still here hammering out details.  There’s only one explanation for that…their love for Christ and teaching Christ’s love to our kids.  Thanks guys!  You’re awesome!  I’m excited to see the impact these changes will have on our kids this fall.

Additionally, we will add a third service this fall to accommodate our growth.  We are averaging just over 930 people per Sunday.  That’s an increase of more than 100 people from this same time last year!  God is ... Read More »

I’m reading a book on prayer called Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancy.  After hearing the buzz from the CORE class that we recently offered based on this book, I decided to pick it up since I don’t get the opportunity to attend CORE.  I heard comments like, “This class has changed the way I pray.”  That’s a bold statement…and if there’s anything I need to change, it’s the way I pray.  I’m finding that my prayers are mostly about one thing…me!  “Lord, help me ______; Lord, give me_______.”  Does that sound familiar?  And don’t get me wrong...the things I’m asking for are legitimate…peace, patience, strength, wisdom.   Those are good things to pray for.  But, while God is interested in those things, I think He longs for our prayers to become a little more about Him and His agenda and a little less about me and my agenda.  Most of the prayers in the New Testament were Kingdom prayers off ... Read More »

A few weeks ago after returning home from a basketball practice, I noticed that our house was 4 degrees cooler than our normal thermostat setting.  I went downstairs to check the furnace and found that it was completely out.  I called for service and the individual over the phone proceeded to inform me of how much it would cost for them to come out that night.  The tone of his voice led me to believe that it would be cheaper some other time and he confirmed my suspicions…about $150 cheaper.  I responded, “I’ll see you in the morning.”  So, the Spradling household settled in for a long, cold night.  Fortunately, we had space heaters to keep the bedrooms warm.

The next day our furnace was fixed, but the service tech found more than just one problem.  We have a humidifier connected to our furnace.  How was I supposed to know that it had a filter that needed to be changed o ... Read More »

There is no doubt that it’s a new year.  Just as you can tell the time by the positioning of the sun, you can tell the New Year by the positioning of ads for exercise equipment in the newspaper.  On the front page of the Dick’s Sporting Goods ad in Sunday’s paper was a plethora of exercise equipment.  It’s a new year, and with every new year comes New Year’s resolutions.  At the top of almost everyone’s list is exercise and diet.  Health Clubs and Fitness stores are challenging your resolution to get in shape.  They’re offering deals you can’t refuse, and most people will bite.  Fitness clubs will typically see their highest increase in membership during the month of January.

There is something to be said for a new start.  Have you noticed that most people don’t start diets in the middle of the week, or even in the middle ... Read More »