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