We are getting for the Highest attended Marriage Event September 17-18, in Romance Uncensored history. Feel free to join us…it’s not to late.

Going to a Marriage Event equals an argument prior, so let’s begin now so the event will be even better than ever.
Here are 30 Marriage Tips to get us thinking about healthier relationships:

01. Keep talking
02. Try something new
03. Share your dreams
04. Establish a spending plan
05. Don’t stop dating
06. Ask his/her opinion
07. Keep compliments flowing
08. Maintain a united front
09. Chart your progress
10. Resolve everything
11. Find common ground
12. Choose your words
13. He/She not a punching bag
14. Be honest
15. Work to your strengths
16. It’s not a competition
17. Laughter is the best medicine
18. Don’t fight fire with fire
19. No one said it was easy
20. Take time for yourself
21. Begin the day with a kiss
22. You are ONE
23. Reassurance is priceless
24. Think before you speak
25. Healthy jealousy
26. Positivity
27. Admit when your wrong
28. Celebrate birthdays
29. Make sacrifices
30. Please God

Add more….

We are excited about our sixth campus beginning in the Quitman, Texas Civic Center September 12, 2010.  I am asked regularly, “How do you know that place, is the place, for another campus?”.  My answer is always “as you walk with God, you just know”.  I am also asked, “what do you want in place before starting a campus?”.

Here are a few musts for BNC before a campus crank up:

#1 Listen
Do NOT start multi campus, or the next campus, unless God says go.
#2 Leadership
The location has to have a leader/host family ready to do “whatever” it takes to get it off the ground.
#3 Location
You need a great place for kids when you pick a facility. Not perfect, but a safe, clean area to build confidence in the visiting parents.
#4 Loyalty
Find a host or campus pastor that understands, bleeds and carries the vision of your pastor and church.
#5 Lighting
Make sure you can accommodate an atmosphere of worship successfully. Fluorescence does not equal success!
#6 Language
Choose and commit to the message delivery choice. DVD, DSL, Satellite or Live are a few communication options. Once you determine it, stick to it and have a back up plan.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or additions in comment section below. Let me reiterate…make CERTAIN you hear God calling you to multi site, because it is a tremendous and costly commitment. The COOLNESS will go, but the CALL to multi site will not!

Everyone is teaching about Sex, selling Sex and promoting Sex…except The Church. The Church is led by the Inventor of Sex…God Almighty, so let’s lead the charge in teaching it according to His Word. Why should we teach on this topic:

#1 If The Church does not teach the truth, media will teach the Lie.
#2 God invented sex, so letting others know His direction is a Must!
#3 Sex (according to God’s plan) is worship.
#4 Intimate marriages equal healthier families and healthier churches.
#5 The Church needs to tell their congregants they are not alone in their struggles against lust.
#6 Teaching it in The Church encourages and empowers parents to teach it in the home.

Here are a few Series we have taught:
-Sex Files
-Romance Uncensored
-Porno (How to say no to porn)
-Porn Again
-A Fairy Tale (How to prevent an affair)
-Losing Your Luster
We begin Sexodus this weekend…Exiting our Cultures plan for Sex Click below to watch the trailer.

Sexodus Promo from Zach Lee on Vimeo.

Pray about teaching Sex as God designed  at your church and in your home soon. Let me know if you would like a copy of messages, series logos, trailers, or video elements found in one of these series.

There are three things I use EVERY TIME I prepare a sermon. Not sometimes, but every time…

#1 Blue Letter Bible
This site has the best lexicon and original language search tools that I have found for free! Every message is built on The Holy Word of God not a Holy Topic and BLB is a fantastic tool for all pastors and church leaders.

#2 Etymology Online
The origin of words is in every study session I complete. Often, the word’s origin will clarify new truths for the listener. Try it and I promise you will quickly be addicted.

#3 A Team of People
Every sermon I preach has been saturated in the prayer and contribution of others from my team. Many of the best ideas are from a person that has never spoken at Brand New Church. One day I packed up my ego (most of it), and realized the greatest songs are often co-written. Lone Ranger had Ton-to, Batman had Robin, and you need a group that supports the creativity of your sermon preparation.

What do you use? What tools would contribute to this list to make me better? Comment below!

I wanted a fresh video element that communicated we should live for Christ and stay eternally focused everywhere. I asked our tech team to put together a series of shots that you can see below…it is so effective. Our tech team consist of a fabulous volunteer leader, one paid staff member, and one Apple computer.

So many churches have limited resources, limited staff, limited technology, and limited knowledge when it comes to putting together such a video. If we can do it, anyone can! Don’t let your budget and background scare you from bringing creativity to your service.
Here is what we used:

#1 $100 Flip Camera.
#2 Cheap editing software.
#3 One paid staff and 2 volunteers.
#4 Stolen ideas from a video we saw previously.

Imagine City Video from Zach Lee on Vimeo.

Don’t limit your creativity on what you don’t have…realize that it cost very little to put together a moving video element for your church or organization.

Let me know if you have any more questions we can answer for you. We would love to serve you any way we can.

We are in the series “IMAGINE” at BNC and God is changing hearts and MINDS. Why is it so easy for us to love God with all our heart, affectionately, but not submit our will to God moment by moment, mentally? I have been teaching this with an illustration that God has been using tremendously.

It’s a clear box made of plexiglass and glass glue. The cost is minimal and it has riveted the minds of our church as we have discussed how to change our mindset.
I have used
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
2 Cor. 10:5 ““The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”
Eph 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”

(If you would like a complete set of notes, just comment below)

Walking in and writing backwards is the most difficult part, but it has been powerful. If we can help you with this in any way just let me know. Just an idea…I am always looking for a great idea.

If you have an effective tool you have used, share below. I figured if I shared one, I might receive a few!

(Special thanks to Jules Photography)

I am finalizing our next series entitled “SEXODUS” and I want your input. Churches all over the country have covered this topic excellently for the past decade, but I want to laser our focus. Help me with the following issues:

#1 What issue is the most pressing?
#2 What parenting helps are a must for discussion?
#3 Do you like the title and subtitle? What would you change?
#4 What are some elements (songs, dramas, videos) that have worked in your environment?
#5 How long should the series last?
#6 What sources should be referenced?
#7 What resources should we make available to our audience?
#8 What ages should be present in our auditoriums?
#9 What song genre should we play with the trailer?
#10 What scripture references cannot be overlooked in this series?

Post your comments below and let’s watch this series impact our culture with a Revival of Holiness and Biblical Morality! Give your input on one, two or all questions, even add information not covered in these questions! You will be credited for each idea we plagiarize. Thanks!

Last week, I got on a cruise ship 600 miles away from my home and sailed to the Caribbean. I love to cruise, I especially love to let my hair up (my doesn’t go down) and relax. It’s a time where Cindy and I can get out of the fish bowl for a few days…or is it? One day while sitting at the port in Calica, Mexico a couple asked “are ya’ll from Arkansas”? After a few minutes, they shared how on Facebook they posted a pic while aboard and a friend mentioned that “Shannon O’Dell, my pastor is on that ship”. I was immediately riveted in humility, and reminded of how small the world has become.

So many leaders have told me, “Well, while I am on vacation I will drink a beer, smoke a Cuban, or whatever.” They will even go on to share how the Bible doesn’t say drinking, or smoking is a sin. What if I had made the choice to have a Booze Cruise? Not get drunk, just a beer or two. I realized this week, that as a leader, more importantly a Christ follower, I can never relax from bringing God the utmost Glory through my life. I never want to build my theology around what I can get away with, but God’s way in me.

Here is my point…your life is always “on call” to promote, propagate, permeate, and penetrate God’s message at all times.
What do you think? Would I have caused you to stumble? Let’s talk about it…

Cindy and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary this past weekend.  I am married to the most special woman on planet earth.  Cindy and I, are continuing to learn God’s plan for our lives as ONE here on earth.  Let me share just a few things I have learned the past 17 years:

#1 Spiritual Intimacy equals Marital Intimacy!
If I am bombing with my Groom (Jesus Christ), I will be failing with my wife. The closer I grow spiritually to God, the closer my relationship with Cindy.
#2 My guard must be up at all Times.
The moment I think I could never screw this relationship up, is the moment I will fail. It is a daily protection that I pray over my marriage and live out. So many couples end in divorce and they inevitably say, “I don’t know what happened”. Daily I guard my eyes, heart and emotions…DAILY!
#3 I have so much more to learn.
Just when I think I have her figured mentally, emotionally and physically it all changes. It is just like The Word of God, it is brand new every time I open it.
#4 Kids are Second, not First.
Cindy and I love our kids, but we prioritize each other first on our calendar, time and in our home. So many couples mistake family time means the kids. It means first your spouse, then your kiddos.  It begins in the bedroom, then the family room will be healthier.
#5 Romance Regular
Creating an atmosphere of romance is more fun today, than ever. My wife redecorated our bedroom this weekend, and I surprised her with a Caribbean cruise. Romance is Work, so roll up those sleeves and get creative.
#6 I am Selfish
My first inclination, often times, is to protect myself. What I forget…Cindy is me and I am her. “The two, become, ONE”.
#7 Ground Rules are a Must to Fight Fair.
Dr. Jonathan Cude shares with married couples, “Never waste a good fight”. Obviously, he is talking about verbal arguments. Here are some ground rules we use for arguments:
1)Never raise your voice. (That is tough for me)
2)Don’t call names.
3)Never touch in anger.
4)Don’t walk away.
5)Don’t freeze out your mate.
6)Don’t use the kids.
7)Don’t conflict angrily in front of the kids.
8)Don’t get historical. ( I remember when you….)
9)Don’t use your in-laws or parents-don’t go over to your parents house in argument.
10)Don’t reason with a hurt mate.
11)Never talk outside.
12)Don’t embarrass your mate in public.

#8 I am Cindy’s Pastor.
Not because I am a pastor, that is my role biblically. When I began to pastor my home (about 7 years ago) my influence in my wife’s life changed. She became more secure, confident and willing to follow.

I love what Cindy teaches me daily and I can’t wait for the next 17 years!

This week has been monumental in my life as a leader and pastor. I am learning that sometimes the best offense is a great defense. In year seven, week twenty one, of the pastorate I have learned FIVE things:

#1 Passion and Zeal are not enough to get you through.
You have to have plans, goals, systems, and sometimes a change from what you originally planned. Passion and zeal are important, but not always enough.
#2 The people around you are the sum total of your Leadership Capacity.
Who are those closest to you? Who are the ones that you rely on to help you make decisions and give support? That is the sum of your leadership ability. It can change today, but that is reality. (So get great people around you) Thank you God for my team!!!
#3 Perception is not always Reality.
What I think, and what really is going on, are not always the same. Numbers never lie, people do…so get good numbers.
#4 The greatest argument is a Preconceived Notion.
If you have already pronounced them guilty, you will not listen or begin to understand. Come into situations unbiased and opem minded.
#5 You greatest Leader may be right beside You.
I moved a staff member from one position, to Operations six weeks ago, and Brand New Church will never be the same. He is exactly what I needed, but I had him in the wrong place for 3 years. Thank you God for letting me see!

What have you learned about yourself this week?