Connecting Point – September 16, 2026

Recently, people on social media have been posting AI generated pictures of themselves with 1980s clothing, hair, and makeup styles. Not wanting to be outdone, I posted a picture of myself, but instead of a generated picture, mine was a real picture of me from the 80’s. I have a confession to make — I love the 80’s because, in my opinion (which is right, of course) it’s the best decade that’s ever been. Think about it. In the 80’s, we had great movies like Back to the Future, E.T., Ferris Buehler’s Day Off, and the original (and better) Top Gun. We carried around gigantic boom boxes, actually watched music videos on MTV, had big hair, and wore muscle shirts and parachute pants. We had hard core video game systems back then — the Atari 2600. I remember winning a $50 savings bond in a bike-a-thon that I cashed in so I could buy the Frogger game cartridge. I played that game late into the night for weeks on end.

But what made the 80’s totally rad was the music. Van Halen and the Pointer Sisters told us to “Jump,” while we wore our “Sunglasses at Night.” Michael Jackson and Prince topped the charts and Cyndi Lauper proved to us all that “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” But one song that really resonated with me back then was Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” Once, I got lost in that song after a girl had “done me wrong” and I listened to it over and over again until it became a part of my thinking. Before long, I found myself thinking — then believing — then saying, “That’s right! What does love have to do with it or anything else? It ain’t nothin’ but a second-hand emotion anyway!”

I thought about Tina Turner and her song recently as we launched EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE, our Fall Spiritual Growth Emphasis. In our Worship Services, Life Groups, Podcasts, Thought Checks, and in the EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE book, we’re learning that “the way we think determines the way we feel, which determines what we do, which in turn determines the achievements and the relationships of our lives.” One of the scriptures for this emphasis is Romans 12:2, which says:

I don’t know about you, but I want to learn how to know God’s will for my life. But if that’s what we want for our lives, we have to develop the skill of taking every thought captive and making them obedient to Christ. Over the next few weeks, we’re all going to learn how to focus our minds on good and godly thoughts. And as we do, we will find ourselves becoming more like Jesus and experiencing more of His peace and power in our lives. I hope you will make every effort to participate fully in EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE.

This year’s DIFFERENCE MAKERS CONFERENCE is on Saturday, October 10. This is our annual gathering where Difference Makers from all of our campuses join together to worship, grow, and encounter the Lord. This year we are bringing in Pastors Chris and Zach Stephens from Faith Promise Church as our keynote speakers, alongside powerful breakout sessions led by incredible local leaders like Pastor Neil Bernard of New Wine Christian Fellowship and Pastor Nathan Young of Community Church. You may not realize this, but you were made to make a difference. Don’t miss what God has in store for you on October 10th. Register today at celebrationchurch.org/dmc.

Speaking of Difference Makers, Pastor Dennis Watson has been making a difference in the Dominican Republic this week. All week long, Pastor Dennis has led the way in launching a three year plan for equipping and training hundreds of Pastors and Leaders with the skills they need to lead their Churches. This week, he’s been joined by Pastor and Missionary Robert Barriger who leads the great Camina de Vida Church in Lima, Peru. Please be praying for Pastor Dennis as he leads this mission effort this week and as he travels back to New Orleans in time for our weekend services. If you would like to learn more about our future mission trips in 2027 and what it takes to participate, make sure to join us at this year’s Difference Makers Conference on October 10th.

Thanks for being such a loving church family. If you want to Learn more about Celebration’s ministries, share a Prayer Request with us, or Give to support God’s work, you can do so at celebrationchurch.org. Nations are being impacted, Lives are being changed, Marriages and Families are being restored, and People are experiencing the transforming power of Jesus here through the ministry of Celebration Church.

Thanks a Bunch,