I Shall Then Live

It’s been a while – it’s been a roller coaster……

Interesting stuff –

• David Archuleta sends PRAYERS to David Cook in the death of his brother.
  
  
• Miley Cyrus vows to keep her virginity until her wedding.
  

I don’t call any of that “news-worthy” just interesting in the day in which we live. It is interesting to me that when people who are famous do anything that is remotely related to Judeo-Christian values, or conservative faith – it’s NEWS. That’s the world we live in, and sometimes it gets me down.

In a story I shared Sunday night, Gloria Gaither wrote the lyrics to “I Shall Then Live” based on a book with a similar title “How Shall We Then Live” written in 1960 by Francis Schaeffer. He asked the “deep thinkers” of that decade to share their insights on how we should live in light of our faith. Their responses greatly affected Gloria Gaither and led to the song.

Just the question affects me. The world’s problems seem overwhelming and intense. How can I make a difference? The answer – one day at a time, one person at a time.

TODAY I will live in the glory of my forgiveness. Today, I will live in the sunshine of my redemption. Today, I will live in the joy of my salvation. Today, I will live in obedience to my blessed Savior. Today, I will live to honor my God.

Today, I will read His precious Word. Today, I will reflect His glorious demeanor. Today, I will share His wonderful mercy. Today, I will tell somebody about Jesus.

I can’t affect the world, but I can affect the things around me. For example, pray for my friend Tim. He’s working with me on a project, and he’s a great guy. Honest, hard working, intelligent, loyal, dependable – BUT he’s lost and doesn’t know Jesus. He’s married, has a step-daughter who has one child. He loves his granddaughter as his own. Loves his wife, can’t wait to go home to her each night – he’s a super guy.

BUT – he’s lost. I had the chance today to “plant a seed” and I’ll share the gospel with Tim soon. Going to invite him and his granddaughter (and wife and step-daughter) to something at MBC. Why? Because I “then shall live” in a way to share Jesus with someone God places in my path.

Can’t wait to introduce my friend Tim to some of you at church. Be ready, he’s coming, I’ll get him there because that’s how I choose to live – today. New challenges await tomorrow.

Waiting for Jesus,

Richard Powell

Ramping up for Easter

I’m TRYING to get back into the swing of blogging regularly (Ok, Ok – I’m trying to START getting into the swing of blogging regularly!!!)

Ramping up for Easter – pray with me for literally HUNDREDS of our folks to bring unchurched friends to Easter services. BTW – are YOU planning already to invite people you know? Use the “invite cards” we received this past Sunday – get more this coming Sunday. Lots of folks need Jesus. Duh!!!

Please pray for my dad and his wife. She has lung cancer and it may have spread – they are running tests, and she is having chemo and radiation. Tough road ahead. My dad is so in need of a miracle. His mind simply will not allow him to understand or remember all that is happening around him. Dad has only come here a few times and none recently. I wish the man I was describing to you I could introduce to you.

I love him so much. Yet, I’m afraid you will never know him as I know him. No eulogy here, just admiration for a man who sacrificed so much for me – for me to have so much that he never had – for me to have so many things that most kids who grew up “the way I grew up” never had. He so “rose above” his upbringing, and for that I’m really proud of my dad. No education, no “breaks” in life – just hard work, pure and simple.

He has the wrinkles to prove it – and I have the blessings to verify it. My parental heritage is strange. Mom was an educated debutante with a Master’s from seminary. Dad was a middle school drop-out. Mother wore a Sunday dress to my little league baseball games. Dad wore over-alls most of his life. He got a new pair as a kid at Christmas every year – that was ALL he got for Christmas every year. Mom was from a rich family, dad from a very poor family. Sometimes I think I understand both because of that.

I digress..

Moral of this moment – let’s love on our parents. They put up with us. What a blessing.

Sacrifice for the Kingdom

OK, I admit it. I’m a total emotional wreck.

Beyond just learning that my dad’s wife has lung cancer (thanks for your prayers).

Beyond the fact that it’s REALLY beginning to hit me that my baby girl is getting married in only months.

No, it’s none of that.

I just left a meeting of the IMB (our missionary sending agency of the Southern Baptist Convention) where I met some of the finest young couples in the whole country who are leaving EVERYTHING to go around the world to tell people about Jesus.

THEN, on top of that, I just left a session where we had a memorial service for the IMB missionaries who passed away serving the Lord. 32 missionaries (retired and active) who have served a total of over 1100 years – YEARS, not days or months. Unbelievable.

I heard their names called, and just broke down and wept because of their faithfulness and ministry for Jesus. I was literally moved to my bones with gratitude for their sacrifice for the Kingdom.

Then, I thought of these young couples we are appointing this week. I have met them, talked to them, prayed with them – they are incredible. The finest of the finest.

PLEASE, PRAY FOR THEM.

• Pray for Michael and Crystal – a young couple with four little kids heading to Peru.
• Pray for Greg and Kim – a couple with four kids (two recently adopted) heading to Mexico.
• Pray for a couple from Rockwall, Texas – David Miller’s home town.
• Pray for a couple from Spartanburg, coming out of a church pastored by one of my closest friends from seminary.
• Can’t remember all their names – but God knows. And, they are incredible folks.

I am called to pastor a church – McGregor Baptist Church, and I love it. I am NOT called to be a missionary; I couldn’t do it. Too tough. I’m a wimp.

My hat’s off to these folks. My heart is with these folks. My soul rejoices for these folks.

My tears keep coming.

God's Leadership and Blessing

I get away 2 or 3 times each year for a dedicated week of study and sermon preparation. It is such a huge help to have sermon ideas planned well ahead of time.

I have been having such a "week" this past week. Some are better than others and this one has been a good one. I really sense God's leadership and blessing. Studying His Word is always a personal blessing, but sensing His leadership in a special way is awesome.

Many of your pray for me regularly. I greatly appreciate those prayers. Preaching is one of my greatest joys and biggest responsibilities. It is also the area where Satan would love to distract me the most. He "got NO victory" in that this week, and I rejoice in that.

I couldn't wait to get back home and I couldn't wait for this past Sunday. Not just the preaching, but for the chance to worship, and to be with my church family. I love church. I love worship. I love preaching His Word and learning from it. I love my church family. I love Jesus.

Hope you do too. Get it? (you say, “got it!!”)

Today's Thoughts

In my devotional time today, I was blessed to continue to read “Miss Nan’s” devotional guide. Knowing this precious woman personally really taints my opinion of her writings.
She is so transparent in her unwavering love for Jesus and His church. She is an amazing woman.
God laid on my heart the desire to reaffirm my heart’s cry to change people’s lives – for Jesus.
I am so hungry to help folks navigate through these rough times and come to Christ.
As people lose their jobs, live in fear of these economic times – they are more open to Christ than ever. As a Christian, we are to live in a way that pagans are stunned and drawn to Him.

Pray with me as so many of our people face these difficulties with God’s strength. Pray for our church – our financial situation is nothing more than the cumulative reflection of the faithfulness of our folks.
Pray for us to be able to do more with less – all for God’s Glory.

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.............