He's So Good to Me

THANKSGIVING is over and CHRISTMAS is close. 

I had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving.  As I said Sunday, LuAnne and I had ALL of our kids and “in-laws” with us for Thanksgiving.  It was AWESOME.  We’ve never done that before.  We have for years gone to my home in Spartanburg for Thanksgiving.  Not this year.

This year we had Heather and Andrew and kids (Aidan and Rylee), Alan and Brycie, and Kayla all with us.  Jordan (Kayla’s fiancé) even dropped by for a while.

LuAnne cooked a BIG dinner for us – with help from us all, especially Andrew, who loves to cook.  Great fellowship, lots of love, plenty of games, a lot of laughter – unforgettable.

I won’t bore you with all the details, but I needed this.  My family needed this.  God knew it and blessed us all.  He is so good!

If you went to Sunday School or Children's Choir as a child, you probably remember this little chorus..."God is so good.  God is so good.  God is so good.  He’s so good to me.”  When your day isn't quite going as well as you had hoped, sing this little song as a reminder of all the great things He has done... and most of all, thank Him for Jesus.

Florida Baptists

Yesterday was a "less than stellar" day.  I love my convention and my denomination.  I have been a Southern Baptist all my life.  I LOVE serving the Lord in small ways through serving Southern Baptists.

I was asked by several of my pastoral friends several weeks ago to pray about allowing my name to be submitted as a nominee for President of the Florida Baptist State Convention. If you've been around McGregor, you may remember that we hosted this meeting at our church only two years ago.  It was a sweet time for all.

I was not elected – and by the smallest margin perhaps in the history of the convention.  12 votes. Less than one percent.

In my heart, my love for our state convention has only grown.

So I ask you to join me in praying for our new President, John Cross.  He is my friend and my brother in Christ.  John is the pastor of South Biscayne Baptist Church in North Port.

The highest calling in ministry is already mine – to pastor the greatest church on the planet – McGregor Baptist Church.  Nothing could deter my enthusiasm for that calling.

Can’t wait for the Lord’s day – it’s all for Jesus!!

Back to Blogging

Ok, Ok – I know, I haven’t blogged in … well, too long.    My deepest apologies.

Like my good friend, Mark Bricker, I re-commit to being more faithful to this thing.  Speaking of Mark, he's leading a group folks on a cruise for a marriage retreat.  Since I'm here on land, I hope the water's not TOO rough. :)

We have a group in Peru sharing Jesus in the mountains close to the edge of the earth.

We’re just doing our thing – what God has called us to do – win souls and disciple believers.

That part is going really well.  I talked to twelve – count ‘em – a smooth dozen -- folks this week who were new believers or new to the “discipleship” thing of following Jesus.  They are so fun to talk to – so hungry to grow.  It’s refreshing to be around them.   Pray with me for them, as they yield their life to the Lord – it’s all new to them.

DANGEROUS FAITH – fun series that really hits us ALL close to home – our heart of faith and trust in Jesus.  There seems to be a lot of interest in the blog site, mydangerousfaith.com ... Lots of comments and interaction – new to me, it’s cool.  Join the discussion!

My son, Alan, sang at 7 services at Saddleback this past weekend.  It was like a “special” song that went at the end of Pastor Rick Warren’s sermon.  So proud as a dad to see my kid singing for Jesus.  Love my kids – we’re blessed with three wonderful kids that love Jesus – and two spouses that are awesome –and another one “in line” – awesome.

My grandson, Aidan, turns two next week, so we’re heading to Tampa this weekend for the big party.

My prayers will be with the awesome RISK conference with almost 200 men in attendance.  Wish like crazy I could be there, but the family didn’t check my schedule when they planned this party.  God will bless big time in the hearts of those men.  Praying that lives will be changed!!

Life is good.  Jesus is awesome.

Isn't it Ironic?

Life is full of little ironies – if you don’t let them slip past you. 

As a church, we just celebrated our 50^th Anniversary.  It was by all accounts a GLORIOUS day.  Great stuff in the morning service: great worship, baptisms, testimony and a “look back over our shoulder” at where we have come from.   Yet, we GET IT that we still have much work to be done.  We have to FINISH the job of the Great Commission.  We AREN”T done – indeed, there is much work yet to be done.   Let’s be faithful. 

The choir and orchestra let us in a GREAT time of tremendous worship on Sunday night.  I personally told Pastor Rob what a blessing it was to me.  We experienced great and genuine worship in the presence of the Lord.  No one was performing, no one was “showing off” their talents or skills – it was all pure WORSHIP of the Lord Jesus.  It was tremendous. 

Here’s the irony – yesterday (Monday), I was sitting in a meeting of the International Mission Board's Trustees.  The IMB is our convention’s international missionary-sending agency.  One day I'm worshipping with my great church, talking, praying, preaching and singing about the need to continue our mission to win the world to Jesus, and the next day, I'm sitting with Southern Baptist leaders from all over our country talking about………our mission to win the world to Jesus.    That’s cool.

It’s great to be a part of a GREAT church that understands and accepts her role in the Great Commission.   It’s GREAT to be a part of a denomination that understands and accepts her role in that Great Commission.

Great partnership

Great fellowship

Great obedience

Great followship

Great calling

Great challenge

Great opportunity

Great ministry

 

Great irony.

 

The need to answer the call to the Great Commission is ………everywhere.     How true.

Celebrations and Divine Appointments

It has been way too long since I last blogged.

LuAnne and I are so happy for Hank and Dawn Garner. Baby Ashlyn is HERE!! She’s early, so she has to spend a few days in NICU. But we're trusting the Lord that she’ll be fine. I'm happy for the whole family.

I've been talking and praying lots for our upcoming 50th Anniversary as a church this Sunday, September 7. For some, it will be an incredible trip down memory lane. For others (many of you) it’s a chance to see where we have come from and what God has done in the past. These are certainly neat stories and awesome testimonies of God’s faithfulness. McGregor has a rich history of godly men and women doing whatever it takes to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ, and I know we'll all be blessed to honor God for their service and sacrifice. It’s going to be a GREAT day!!

God has brought several people into my path with some real needs. Many of our people are in need of jobs and financial security. Yet, all of this seems to be a great opportunity for God to do amazing things in people’s lives. The key is we have to walk faithfully with the Lord. As believers, we have so many chances to be a witness and a help to hurting folks.

I’m praying for our people to share Jesus as God gives us the chance.

Ask God to give you a chance to do exactly that. Share what God has done for you, in saving you and blessing you. So many need that and the fields are ripe unto harvest. You are the key. Tell others what Christ has done for you. God will give you the opportunity and the words. Be available. Be usable. Be blessed as you share.

Tell me about those divine opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Leave a comment on this blog or send me an e-mail.

We had a great day at church yesterday. God is so good.

Yet, my heart is very heavy. The Minister of Music at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida died suddenly of a heart attack Saturday night. This is the same church family that recently lost their pastor in a plane accident. Pastor Forrest Pollock died only three months ago, and now this great church has to deal with the death of Simeon Nix. I knew Simeon as a great man who loved the Lord and loved to lead in worship. He was a huge man, with a huge voice and a big smile and an even bigger heart. A big "teddy bear" type, full of joy and love. He will be greatly missed.
Join me in praying once again for this church family.

Like so many at this time of year, our daughter, Kayla, has left for college. LuAnne drove her up to Liberty this past weekend, and she starts school on Monday. She is a great young lady with a sweet heart for the Lord. Many of you know her primarily as a singer. I know her as my baby. Pray for her to be a light for Christ at school. Pray for her and Jordan as they prepare for their life together.

Our 50th Anniversary as a church is less than three weeks away. Awesome.

God is good, all the time!!

Home Again

LuAnne, Heather and the two kids, Kayla, and I just got back from a whole week in Los Angeles visiting Alan and Brycie. Unfortunately, Andrew wasn't able to go with us.
It was AWESOME. We have such a good and relaxing time of doing………nothing or whatever.

Our goal was just to spend time with Alan and Brycie “on their turf” and to see the sights they call “home.”
That’s exactly what we did. We chilled at their apartment, went to beautiful Newport Beach (unbelievable!!), drove around the houses of the rich and famous (and in many ways, sad!!)
There, we saw the houses of J.Lo, Andrew Spelling (all 125 bedrooms!!??), Samuel L. Jackson and others.

More fun than that was the whole family going to church together at Saddleback Church. Even still, I missed McGregor. I can’t wait for Sunday – every Sunday!!

Thanks for all your prayers for my kids and their happiness. They are indeed one of God’s greatest blessings to Lu and me.

I’m rested, ready, and raring to go – see you Sunday!!!

It's been a crazy few days. My family, almost all of them, enjoyed nine days of vacation together. In so many ways it was awesome. Me and LuAnne, Heather, Andrew and their two kids, Aidan and Riley, Kayla – we have a blast. Wish Jordan, our son-in-law to be could have joined us but he has this job thing that keeps him pretty tied down (he’s the summer intern for Russell Howard??!!) Of course, really missed Alan and Brycie. They couldn’t make it because of jobs too.
Another blessing from this trip was that I got to spend almost a full week at the home of my dad with my sister, Helen Ruth. She and I have a very easy, uncomplicated, warm, healthy relationship. Only thing is, we just rarely see each other. We talk and email frequently, we just never get to hang out together. My kids love her kids (when they get to be together – but that isn’t very often either) and her daughter, Amber, was there too. She is recently engaged so she and Kayla had lots to talk about. Also, they watched Heather try to manage two kids under the age of two, and that had a pretty significant impact on their “family planning.”
Dad is doing OK. He just turned 80 in June and is facing the typical things that our wonderful parents that age face. I love my dad – I hate to see him become forgetful.

Today, we had the great but sad honor of hosting the funeral of a young police officer in Fort Myers Police Department who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Thursday night. Officer Andrew Widman was not a member of McGregor, but he was a missionary before joining the police force. The family's guest pastor stood in our pulpit and gave all three thousand attendees the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was carried live and uninterrupted on NBC, ABC, FOX, and CBS affiliates in Fort Myers, as well as live online through McGregor's website.

Kayla and Jordan have set the date – July 18, 2009. Mark it on your calendars. Jordan sang this past Sunday and did an incredible job. He has an amazing voice and a heart that loves Jesus to match. His plan is to match. They are very happy.

Summer is going good at McGregor. I plan to go to youth camp next week to spend some quality time with the students. Can’t wait.
Then, the following week, we’re heading to California to spend some time with Alan and Brycie. Can’t wait for that.

God is good, life is good. People need Jesus – so, I gotta go.

Vacating

I'm a "Type-A" person: high strung, wound tight, ADHD, Choleric type of guy.  That means I don't unwind very often or very well.  It goes against my grain.  But I'm working at it.

LuAnne, Kayla, and I went by and picked up Heather and Aidan and newborn Rylee and headed to the beach.

We joined about 45 other members of LuAnne's family for a family reunion at Gulf Shores, Alabama.  Andrew joined us the next day.  Unfortunately, Alan and Brycie couldn't make it - I miss my son terribly and so wish he and Brycie could be here.

We will leave the beach and head to Spartanburg (my home city) to see my dad and his wife.  Big bonus - my sister and her daughter will be there too.  Can't wait !!

I'm trying hard to relax, unwind and "chill" - I'm working on it.  You know, "refilling the tank," so to speak.

Ok, truthfully, I'm ready to come home.  I missed being at church for the God and Country service and last Sunday.  But I'm trying - to unwind.  I'm working on it - really.  I feel slightly less wound tight.  I feel only wound sorta tight.  There - is that better??

I'm going to need a vacation from my vacation.  This trying to relax is hard work.

Headlines

I have so many things to be thankful for today -

BIG NEWS - VBS was a smashing success. God did what only God can do. Great, great VBS, largest in many years (1298 registered), most salvation decisions in many years (92), 12 already baptized on Friday night. We had a large group of guests (444) to follow up with concerning their salvation and church membership, hundreds of awesome volunteers - to God be the Glory - VBS was awesome!!!

BIGGER NEWS - There's a great spirit in our church right now, even during difficult times. Our economic situation here in SW Florida still is affecting many families. It seems like I hear each week of more families struggling with jobs and finances. Keep praying for these folks and for our church as we work diligently strive to be faithful with God's tithes and offerings. Let me remind YOU to be faithful as you give especially in the Chapter Three giving area. Our budget giving is doing acceptably yet our Chapter Three giving continues to struggle.

BIGGEST NEWS (at least for my family) - our daughter KAYLA is ENGAGED!!!!!!

Jordan Grizzard "popped the question" to Kayla on Friday night and she said "YES" (very quickly I might add)!!!

LuAnne and I are so excited about our new son-in-law. Jordan is a worship/music major at Liberty University. He is in Sounds of Liberty, their premier music group and is a tremendous vocalist (can we say "duets"?!?!)

He is a wonderful Christian young man, and we look forward to adding him to our family. Please pray for Jordan and Kayla as they make plans for their lives together.

As always, I am blessed beyond words to pastor the greatest church on the planet.

God is good - all the time.........

Old Friends

I'm blogging today from Indianapolis, Indiana, to which I've made my annual trek for the Southern Baptist Convention. 16 million church members and 48,000 churches from all across the nation send messengers to what is, essentially, a two day business meeting. It isn’t my most thrilling meeting of the year, but I really enjoy it for several reasons.

First, I am glad to be a Southern Baptist. We are a conservative, Bible-believing, Jesus-loving, missions-supporting group of people. We love to win the lost and disciple believers. McGregor needs the SBC and the SBC needs McGregor.

While we were here, I saw a publication of the SBC Cooperative Program giving for the top 100 churches in the entire convention – remember, over 16,000 churches. I read the list. Then I saw what was a real blessing to me and I think it well be to you as well. McGregor is the 7th highest giving CP church in all of the SBC. Unbelievable! Praise the Lord and thank you, MBC folks, for loving Jesus and loving missions so much. Keep it up!!!!

It’s also a great time to see many of our SBC friends. So many we have heard in the pulpit or in concert and have blessed us in so many ways.

I saw Charles Lowery, who was with us last year at Christmas time and will be back again this year. He spoke at the Pastor’s Conference just before the convention. I saw Ergun Caner, who will be with us on July 2 for our God and Country Night this year. I saw Charles Billingsley, whom we love so much.

I also saw Caz McCaslin, the founder of the Upward Ministry that so many of our folks are involved in. He is an awesome guy and we talked about getting him to McGregor as soon as possible.

I saw many other friends in the Kingdom work. I promised we would pray for their ministries as they pray for us.

So take this chance – right now – to stop and pray for them, both the ones you know and the ones that you don’t. These are some of God’s finest servants and some really great ministries. There is so much work to do for the Kingdom... so many who need to hear the message of Jesus.

That part of the SBC, I really DO enjoy.

Summer Updates

It's been several days since I blogged. Thanks for being patient with me. So much has been going on that I need to bring you up to date...

For starters, my prayers continue for the church family of Bell Shoals Baptist in Brandon. The deaths of their pastor and his son certainly have challenged and stretched their faith. Please continue to pray with me for the entire church family and Pastor Forrest's wife, Dawn, and the five surviving children.

Please drop by the FAITH building atrium and sign the memorial book with a word of encouragement for Dawn and the family. I'll personally deliver it to her sometime in the next few days. Please go by and add your words to the book.

God is blessing our church - it's different than in years gone by but it's still amazing what God is doing. With the economy and several other factors, we have made and continue to make adjustments in the way we do ministry. Yet, our goals and God's blessings continue to yield souls for Christ and many growing disciples in our church.

That is what pleases the Lord and it pleases all of us as well.

Summertime is here. That means we have lots of things happening, people going lots of different directions - sometimes all at the same time. As you vacation and travel to see family and sights, don't forget to fill your spots of ministry during your time away. Each of us has a place of ministry and service that is crucial to the ongoing ministry of McGregor.

When you are gone, it creates a huge ministry "hole" that weakens the effectiveness of our ministry because your ministry impacts the church and the Kingdom of God. We are all ministers together - be faithful to your ministry.

Also, remember to mail or "catch up" your tithes and offerings while you're away. You may be gone, but the church's ministry goes on. Also, continue to pray for our people's Chapter Three giving. Pray for God to bless investments and bonuses and JOBS. God knows our needs, we simply need to be faithful to Him and stay focused on Jesus.

Remember, it's ALL for SOULS!!

Reflections on Tuesday

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, was one of the most emotional days I can remember - ever!

Tuesday morning, I became aware of the death of my friend and fellow pastor, Dr. Forrest Pollock of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida. Also, his 13 year old son, Preston, was killed in the same plane crash. I can't even come up with words to express how heavy my heart is from this. Dawn, Forrest's wife, needs our prayers and their remaining 5 children do, too. Please join me in praying for the Bell Shoals church family in these incredibly difficult days. This surely tests our faith - only God in Heaven can heal the hurt that this precious family and church must be going through.

Then, hours later, God blessed LuAnne and me with a new grandchild - our first girl!! Rylee Jordan Nix is a beautiful 7 pound, 19 ounce, 20 inch long bundle of joy. Her mother, Heather, is doing fine. She and Andrew are so happy to be blessed with their second baby in their four year marriage. I am reminded once again of just how blessed I am -- blessed with my wonderful wife, blessed with sweet kids that love Jesus and marry wonderful Christian mates, and they are blessed to be having grand-children. In addition to our wonderful church, I am simply speechless (unusual for me to say the least) at God's blessings in my life with my family. I couldn't have prayed for happier days. May God in Heaven alone receive all the Glory due His Name.


Thanks for sharing that with LuAnne and me. Enjoy the pictures of baby Rylee (a proud grandpa has to show her off, right?).

Big Day A-Comin!

This Tuesday (May 13), our daughter Heather and her husband, Andrew, will welcome a new addition to their family. Rylee, our new granddaughter, will be born!
Please join me and all of our family as we pray for an uneventful delivery (spoken like a true man!!) and the birth of a beautiful new little girl. Pray for her “big brother” – Aidan, who is 17 months old. He is so adorable and full of so much personality. He’s got a sweet temperament and sleeps about 11 hours every night – how awesome is that for mom and dad!!!!

I’ll be trying to balance staff and counseling meetings, sermon preparation, and the regular “never-a-dull-moment-around-here” ministry stuff with extra grandfather duties during the next few days. It’s gonna be GREAT!!

Preaching on the family for our “FLIP THIS FAMILY” series should be easier than ever since I’m living it in real time. Heather and Andrew having a baby in Tampa, Kayla coming home from college for the summer – oh, how I wish Alan and Brycie were just a bit closer – say 4000 miles closer!

Speaking of “family” – I’m really going to miss Tod Tanner and Deborah and Danielle. God has called him to a new place of ministry at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. It’s a great church with a great pastor and a great ministry in need of great staff leadership - Tod certainly fits that bill!! Tod has done a great job here at McGregor in a short time. We’ll miss him and his sweet family. God brought him here for a reason, and now, for reasons only God knows, He is moving him to a new place of service. To God Be The Glory.

God is doing great things. I know many are hurting, many are new and young in the faith, many are struggling. But remember, God’s greatest blessings often come during life’s most difficult trials. Pray for a tremendous outpouring of God’s greatest blessings – NOW -- on you, your family, our church, and the many yet to be reached for Jesus.

He ALONE deserves the Glory.

Praying for the Family

First of all, thanks for all the prayers as I continue to recover from knee surgery. I'm on the road to full recovery - it'll only take a couple of weeks. I just have to be patient - that's really, really hard for me.

I'm praying for lots of friends in real need. One of our deacons lost his mother-in-law last week. It was a sweet homegoing but a sad time. I have several folks that are my friends who are having some real financial difficulties.
I'm praying for them - please join me.

Our daughter, Heather, and her husband, Andrew are about to have their second baby -- this time, a girl -- any day. Please pray with me for a safe delivery, and a healthy baby (Rylee) and quick recovery for Heather.

On the church front - I'm so pleased with this past weekend's parenting conference. Dr. Richard Ross was awesome. He brought wonderful communicating skills and great content on teaching parents to make an impact on their children for Jesus. I'm just so sorry more of our parents couldn't/didn't attend - their loss. I hope I just don't have to help them pick up the pieces with their kids who walk away from the Lord.. I'm already praying about that.

May is our family month. I've been working on the sermons for this month for awhile now. I love to preach on the family. My family means the world to me. I thought the family changed the most when the kids were young, but I'm not so sure anymore. My wife and I have seen our family change more in the last 24 months perhaps than anytime in our family's history. It has been all good - just dizzying to say the least. I love my kids, my in-laws, and my grandson. I'm praying for them all.

Do you make it a regular practice to pray over and with your family? LuAnne and I have said for years "the family that prays together stays together." You've probably heard me say that in nearly every May sermon since I came to McGregor. I absolutely believe it's the truth.

I guess the theme of this blog - let's pray. We have alot to pray about.............

Much "Knee"ded Prayer

This is really uncomfortable for me, but here goes...

I want to ask something from you. I want to ask you to pray for me. Yesterday, I had (minor) knee surgery on both knees to repair some cartiledge tears. This surgery is quite common and insignificant, but doing both knees at the same time makes it a bit more difficult.
With the consultation from my wonderful doctor (Dr. Ron Gardner, a member of our church) we decided to go ahead and get them both done and get it over with.
So, please pray for the recouperation time and physical therapy for the next few days. Hopefully, I'll be up and "better than ever" in just over a week. For those of you familiar with my schedule - it looks like I won't have any problem making my prior commitments. Mark Bricker is preaching at Wednesday night's FOCUS service, but I'm still planning to be there to give the "First Quarter Operating Report," as promised.

McGregor's "Flip this Family" Parenting Conference is this weekend. Lu and I are still leading one of the breakout sessions. If you haven't signed up, it's going to be incredible -- visit www.flipthisfamily.com for details on registration.

Also, pray for my sweet wife, LuAnne, because I'm NOT a good patient. I'm stir-crazy already.
Great time for lots of Bible reading!!

Family Matters

Family matters to everyone. Family really matters to the Powells. I love my wife, we love our kids, our kids' mates, and our grandson - bunches!!
As with all parents, we are so grateful to the Lord for the way our kids are living for the Lord and serving Him - in lots of different ways.
Heather and Andrew are in Tampa. Andrew is on staff at Idlewild Baptist church as the Minister to Middle School students.
Kayla is at Liberty University in Virginia and right now doing 12 shows of the musical theatre production "West Side Story." It's incredible.
Alan and Brycie have been in Los Angeles for 18 months as he "tries to take the light of Jesus to the darkest place in our nation."
God has opened a door for him and his music. That's where YOU come in.
His recently-released "single" is available on his MySpace page. Here's what Alan says about the song:

"As of today March 31st after only a week of putting out my first single I have already been blessed with the opportunity to be featured as an unsigned artist on a major radio stations website! The radio station is 104.3MYfm Los Angeles, Ca. I’m featured on the NEW! section which exposes my music to more than 10 MILLION PEOPLE PER MONTH on nearly 500 radio station web sites across the country! Spread the word and help me rise to the top of the NEW! charts! Artists with the most plays get special homepage placement and are considered first to have their songs played on air! Just click the link below to play my song! God bless. Alan"

So, if you would, please click on the link below, listen to the song and therefore "vote" for Alan's song to be played by the LA station.

I'll keep you posted as to how it's going.
I really appreciate your help. Most of all, pray for Alan and Brycie in their ministry.

CLICK HERE to listen to Alan's song "Just Let You Go."

From the West Bank to the West Side (Story)

LuAnne and I just returned with about 30 others from our church from a wonderful trip to the Holy Land. Honestly, I cannot even describe this trip. To see the places described in the Bible, and the places where our Lord lived, ministered, died, was buried and rose again - it just can't be put into words. The Bible comes alive around you!
I hope that many of you will make your plans NOW to go with us next time (we'll probably go again in two years) and receive a huge blessing in your life and heart.
When we returned (exhausted), we went straight to Liberty University to visit with our daughter, Kayla. This was a special weekend for her. She played the part of Anita in the musical theatre production of "West Side Story."
We saw the opening night performance - 3 hours and 10 minutes!! It was awesome. Heather, our oldest daughter flew up for the performance and that was tough on her. She is almost 9 months pregnant (due May 16) but it was great to see her. Rilee (our baby grand-daughter) will be here soon. We are sooooo excited!!
This morning was great. To be back home with our church family was a blessing. I am so excited about the things coming up in the next few days at McGregor. The "American Idols" series on Sunday morning, the "REAL" series in our FOCUS service on Wednesdays as we study the book James, the "Flip This Family" conference and then preaching series for May - and then a full summer of outstanding events for everyone in the church family.
It is good to see God doing what only God can do in the hearts and lives of so many people.
Keep praying - keep growing in your faith.
Keep reading the Word - daily.

Dispatches from Israel...

I'm am currently in the Holy Land of Israel with 32 of our church members.  I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it is.  Seeing the Sea of Galilee where Jesus performed so many of His miracles; He was raised in this area, called many of His disciples from here, and nearly all of the Bible's setting is within a few miles of this area.

Then, to drive into Jerusalem -- the City of David -- the Holiest City in the World, the city for which Jesus wept - unbelivable.  We have prayed where Jesus prayed (Garden of Gethsemane), stood where Jesus stood (the Temple of Jerusalem), walked where Jesus walked (the Via Dolorosa) and have been to the place to which Jesus will return when He comes again one day (the Mount of Olives).  Words cannot describe this experience.  I truly wish every one of you could be here right now.

Today, we will worship as you worship at McGregor.  We won't have incredible music as we have at McGregor, no huge crowds, no great Sunday School classes, but still -- how could we be more blessed? Today, we will worship in Jerusalem.  What a blessing!

 

I'm praying for a great day for everyone back at McGregor - I KNOW I'll have a great day here in Israel.

God is good - all the time.

Traveling

Hey everyone.

Traveling - I love it, and I hate it.  Airports, packing, foreign beds, being away from my wife and church - not so much.

The best part - going someplace really, really interesting.  For the next several days, leaving today, I'm heading to the Holy Land with about 30+ folks from our church.  Seeing the Sea of Galilee, the Upper Room, Golgatha, the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, the Dead Sea, Masada, and especially the tomb of Jesus - it's an incredible trip. 

The part I enjoy the most is how acually seeing these places where Jesus lived and walked really makes the Bible come alive more than ever.  whether my devotional time, or my sermon preparation time or just sharing with Christian friends, it is so meaningful to have seen these places that I read about and talk about.

 

Please pray for our entire group.  Pray for my wife's health (she regularly has severe headaches that makes traveling difficult), pray for safety as we travel, for nerves - even real anxiety on the part of some travelers because of all we read in the papers...

Now Spinning...

OK guys - I got too many plates spinning - in my HEAD!! Here's what's on them...

• Get this: We baptized 60 - that's right 60 - wonderful people at church last Sunday. Thanks to all who made it a GREAT day in the Lord's house! Now, let's go personally disciple every one of them to become "fully devoted followers of Christ."
  
• The TRANSFORMED conference is coming this weekend. 4500+ registered - unbelievable. Praying for many people to catch the excitement of witnessing to lost friends and neighbors. We'll be in the Worship Center, the Fellowship Hall, Stage 1 in the Grace Building -- people will be EVERYWHERE!

• Palm Sunday with Ray Comfort speaking - will be awesome.

• EASTER - the greatest single Sunday of the year. I can't wait. The music will be awesome (always is!) and the expectancy will be off the charts. It'll be great. This year, Easter is March 23rd -- the earliest in the year it could ever be.

• Flying to Israel with about 30+ of our folks to "walk where Jesus walked" - it is a life changing trip. Wish every one of you could go - you would never be the same.
  

Again, I am so grateful to the Lord for the JOY of serving His - along with many of you - to the Glory of Jesus Christ.

Have a great day in Jesus!
rp

I feel horrible....... but I'm having a GREAT time.
Weird, I know, but it's true.
I'm sitting here at First Baptist Church, Houston, Texas and one of my heroes, Dr. John Bisagno is here - I'm having a blast. What a joy to listen to his wisdom, his humility, and his vision. His so annointed and I love being around men that have a passion for the local church. Pastor Greg Mott, Dr. Bisagno's successor is here. Bisagno is about ......oh, about 90 and Greg is 34. Neat transition story.
Now, here's some context - I feel lousy. Sinus stuff has really got me. Bad headache, runny nose, "mack truch hit me" kind of feeling. But I LOVE being here. The Lord just confirmed in my heart how called I am to the local church. This (the local church) is where it's at!! This is where the excitement is, it's where God is blessing the most - I LOVE being a part of what God is doing in the CHURCH.

I am sitting here with about 30 pastors of the best, most agressive, evangelistic churches from all accross the nation (California to Maryland, Illinois to Florida). These guys are super. Yet, I gotta tell all of you, even when I hear all that is happening in all these churches, I am blessed to Pastor the GREATEST church in the nation - no, in the WORLD!!! McGregor Baptist Church. Don't tell all my pastor friends I said that - but it's TRUE!!!!!!!
I hope you really believe that with me. We are SO BLESSED at McGregor.. No, we aren't perfect and we've had a tough year is some ways, but.......God is SO GOOD. We are hugely blessed - and we are so undeserving. It's all HIM, it's all His Grace, it's HIS CHURCH. And I love it!!

If you have an issue with something at McGregor - call me. If you don't - tell SOMEONE, invite someone, bring someone with you to Sunday School and church. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move mightily in their heart. I want to see every person in Lee County come to Christ. You can help, I can help, McGregor can help - GOD CAN DO IT!!!

Whew - that felt good. Getting that off my chest felt good. Now I feel better, still got sinus junk, but I feel better. Thanks for hearing me out - it's my HEART CRY.

Study Break

A couple of times every year, I try to get away - I mean really get away for an extended period of time - and just study and pray and prepare for preaching.

That's what I'm doing this week. Imagine 10 to 14 hours each day doing nothing but looking at God's Word, praying about the needs of our people and listening for God's voice as to what to preach and teach.
It is awesome!! I love it!! It is the very idea of "drawing near to the Lord" - it is such a blessing.

Here's why I share that with you. I look forward to this week perhaps more than any other time all year. More than Christmas or Easter - I look forward to these times of being alone with the Lord. It is an incredible blessing to leave the stresses of this world and focus only on the Lord. The world, the church, the ministry, the noise, my own carnality - all these things make it so hard to focus totally on the Lord. For me, perhaps just like you, I yearn to be closer to the Lord every passing day.

I want to challenge you to strive to have a time to focus ONLY on the Lord. A few minutes each day, maybe one evening each month, perhaps a couple of days each year - to super focus on being alone with God. That time is so awesome and special to me.

I just wanted to share that with you. That's really private to me - but I wanted you to know.
I'm having a GREAT week - now, more than ever I can't wait to get back and be with you.
Can't wait to be with you on Sunday!!

Pray and expect God to do BIG things - that only He can do - in YOU!!

rp

How Beautiful...

Many things going on - many things to share.
First of all, so much hurt and damage is done on some blogs, and I pray that this one will always be totally pleasing to the Lord, and uplifting in every way. (I just read one of those "other" ones - very discouraging!!)

I hope and pray that EVERY ONE OF YOU are plugging into our mid-week FOCUS service. I can't think of anything that has blessed me this much in recent years. I, too, had some "spiritual indigestion" at the idea of not having Sunday night services (I have been Baptist since 9 months before I was born!!), but was very excited about this "targeted toward discipleship" service. I have not been disappointed. Far from it... I have been blessed personally even beyond my greatest expectations. Can't wait for this tonight's FOCUS! Music will be awesome and the Bible teaching challenging even for this Bible teacher!!

Our Global Impact Celebration (GIC) is upon us. Isaiah wrote, "how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of them who bring good news." Our missionaries do just that. Can't wait for this conference. Missionaries are my heroes.

I have just returned from a meeting of the International Mission Board Trustees where we have appointed 39 new missionaries to go around the world to tell people about Jesus. They are so burdened for the lost world. That challenges me - I want to reflect that passion. Join me. Tell someone about Jesus today!!

Another joy - I get to go to Tampa Friday and Saturday and watch my grandson. Heather is going to a women's conference and Andrew has some "Middle School Ministry" stuff to do. They need a baby-sitter. LuAnne volunteered us - I'm so glad she did. What a great way to spend an evening!!

Keep it centered on Jesus!!
rp

Exciting New Year

Hey friends. Sorry for the long time since my last blog.
I wish I could let you hear all that I hear. Over the last few days, I have heard from so many people and how God is blessing folks with amazing life changing experiences - from the ministry here at McGregor. I LIVE for that!!
One new friend and brother, recently released from prison, was saved there, discipled by our prison ministry team, was baptized here at McGregor and is so excited about growing in his love for Jesus. His enthusiasm is contagious.
Another young lady I have met is facing some really difficult circumstances yet so hungry to learn about her new faith in Christ.
I've heard so many positive comments about our new Single Adult Pastor. Arthur Keeley is no stranger to us. He and his family have been members of our church for several years. Knowing his heart for ministry and loving personality just make his ministry here on our staff that much more exciting.
Same for our new High School Pastor, Ben Fleming. He's awesome. Many of our students have a renewed sense of excitement for the ministry to them and their friends. With Pastor Ben leading our High School students and Steven Anderson leading our Middle School ministry, our Student ministry is stronger than ever!!
2008 is off to an incredible start. Enthusiasm is building for our FOCUS mid-week service -- the place to be for all of our members who are hungry for the "focus-ed" study of the Word of God. Great worship and great Bible study- I wouldn't want to miss a single Wednesday FOCUS. Come and bring ALL your friends. Awesome service!!!!

rp