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