Hey Gang,

A question that has been posed down through the ages –  how big Is God?  We each need to answer the question for ourselves.  It is more than a theological question, it is a question about your faith.  As a matter of fact, the question is more important than people realize.  As you read the Gospels its easy to see how Christ was quick to measure people’s faith.  No problem for Him since He could see into a person’s heart.  He would say someone had “no faith” or “little faith” or “great faith.”  How would He measure your faith?  How can you determine the dimensions of your own faith?  Let me give you one easy way – what is the size of your prayers? If you see God as vast and huge then you have no problem praying big-time prayers.  You will pray big prayers because you know He can.  I am committed and convinced, He can.  “With  men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Jesus seemed to be always amazed at the smallness of the faith of His followers.  We must strive not to make the same mistake.  I believe I will see Him do great things.  Most are afraid to ask God for big things because they don’t want to be disappointed.  I understand this.  Early in the ministry I asked the Lord to do some big things and I was convinced He would come through,  but He didn’t.  At least not how I wanted Him to answer.  It took me some time to come to grips with His sovereignty and my asking in faith.  Today I still set myself up for failure as I regularly ask God to move.  Sometimes He chooses not to act and that is O.K. ’cause He is the Boss.  I still ask and many times I see miracles others would miss for fear of failure.  I trust God will answer in a way that brings Him glory and honor.

Easter is coming in less that 2 weeks.  We are preparing for the 2 biggest weekends we have ever had.  I believe God will move! I have set myself  and the church up where we will fail if He doesn’t move in.  The best spot to be is where God has to move.  It sure ups your prayer life.  What are you believing that God will do?  I look for the next 2 weekends to be miraculous.  God will touch thousands of hearts and lives.  I can’t wait to watch.  I believe it and I will receive it.  See you in the glory!

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

This past weekend was another amazing time of worship and watching the Hand of God move.  We had over 3000 worshippers and it was great.  Again, God broke another attendance record.  I believe we will see it again for the next two weekends as we have two Easter weekends back to back.  We have something I wish every church and every leader had: momentum!  Momentum is a leader’s best friend.  When you have momentum you seem better than you really are as a leader.  I give all the credit and glory to God for what He is up to at Faith Promise Church.  I’m praying for 11,000 worshippers in the next two weekends combined.  The momentum we are experiencing is a direct result of His presence with us.

Leaders, if you don’t have momentum you need to find a way to get it.  Pray, plan, focus, and work to gain the momentum necessary to go to the next level.  I believe that is exactly what we will see in the next month.  I have been praying and asking for the Lord to help us get over the 3000 barrier on a weekly basis.  He is doing it right now as we watch.  Our church is so excited.  I believe the whole congregation will work tirelessly to see us be used by God and reach the lost without Jesus.  Again momentum will help us break records in almost every area of life.  Do you have some momentum going in your direction?  I have seen many a game turn around as the momentum shifted.  Ask the Lord to allow you to see His momentum shift in your direction.  This weekend we will have 6 services: Friday @ 7:00,  Saturday @ 3:00. 5:00 and 7:00 and  Sunday at 10:00 and 12:00.  I’m praying for over 6oo0. The next weekend will be Easter we will have one big service downtown and the Civic Center at 10:30.  I’m praying for 6000 for that weekend.  It will be the first time in over a decade we have all been together for a service.  It will be glorious.  Yes, momentum is a great thing especially when it comes from heaven.  See you at the next record God breaks!

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Well I’m about to pack and take one last walk on the beach with one of the most influential missionaries I have ever seen, http://openeyes.org  Terry and Arlene DuPont.  It has been a great trip.  We have trained 432 pastors and leaders from all over this beautiful country.  My heart has be ignited with great passion to train and empower leaders.  As I talked with the Pastors they have all the same problems we do.  As Terry said often, “it is the job of leaders to solve problems.”  God is calling us to solve the problems the church faces so it can grow and reach more people without Christ.  Terry has developed an E-Letter.  It is called leader to leader and you can receive it by e-mailing him at openeyes2@peoplepc.com . 

As I watched the leaders down here listen and take notes, I saw a hunger in so many.  Are we hungry to learn and to grow personally? God has called us to a life of learning and leading.  I believe it the most exciting path a person can be on.  Are you on a serious plan and path of growth and glory?  It is the revealed will of God that we explode in growth and impact on our culture and people without Christ.  I look for the glory to fall this weekend.  I believe God is at work in powerful ways.  I believe our 2 Easter weekends will be the biggest and most impactful we have ever had.  I believe the future for ministry is bright and I can’t wait to see what the Lord will do with each of us.  See you back in the States.

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Thanks for praying for me while I’m down here in Costa Rica.  God has been moving in a powerful way.  This trip has just confirmed my heart’s desire to make a mega Kingdom impact.  Last night 150 more leaders showed up for training and to experience God.  They came from 10 different cities.  The last 2 nights they came by boat, car,  bike, or any way they could.  It was awesome to watch the room fill and to see the excitement on each face.  I was also blessed by the number of youth and young adults.  God really is still at work.  We do not have long here on this planet so we should use all of our time to impact the Kingdom of God. I will follow in the footsteps of a great mentor of mine, John Maxwell, as he to tried to raise up leaders for the church.

I must tell you how grateful I am to be able to serve a church like FPC.  This church wants to make a mega impact.  God has pushed the door wide open for us to touch countless lives for Christ.  I am blessed beyond measure to be able to have a part in leading these great people.  I believe this year will be explosive in every area as God continues to raise up the bar and add eagles to the team.  How will God use you?  Is it your heart’s desire to impact the Kingdom?  What would you give to be used by God?  Today is a great day to serve the King! 

Just a thought,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Thanks for praying for me. As you know I’m in Costa Rica training pastors and leaders for the Kingdom of God. Yesterday was a long and profitable day. We had 230 hungry leaders.  I was so encouraged at the openness of hearts and eyes of these amazing people.  As I taught, the hunger in there eyes was evident.  All around the world God is at work building His Kingdom.  It is a joy to watch and experience.  We get to be a part of the great plan of God.  It really is joy unspeakable to feel the Hand of  God and to watch Him work.  Many of you who read this blog are committed to Christ and His Church – thank you.  Our lives will make a difference that will last for eternity.  I believe many will miss hell and gain heaven due to our efforts.

I believe the game is almost over and Christ will return soon - let Him find us faithful in His field.  Let’s pull and pool our lives together to rescue the lost and hurting in the name of Jesus.  When the game is almost over the team with the ball puts in the two minute offense.  This is a “no holds barred” effort to win the game.  Let’s pull out all the stops to make a difference for Jesus.  It is time to step out in faith, to charge the enemy lines with the gospel.  We have the keys and the power and the authority.  Let’s use all we have for building the Kingdom while we can.  “Work while it is day, for night comes when no man can work.” 

Today what will you do for Jesus who died for you?  Are your eyes hungry for God? For souls? For growth?  To make a difference?  Two more days here – I wonder what the Lord will do? How does He desire to use you this day He has given us?

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

As most of you read this post I’m at 40,000 ft. above sea level in a jet heading to Central America.  I am going to meet with one of our missionaries, Terry Dupont.  He is one of the most awesome missionaries I have ever seen.  I am going to help him train pastors from Costa Rica.  I’m excited about the trip and I ask you to pray for us.  I am burdened for pastors and churches, especially in the United States.  Of late, the weight of the lost without Christ and the impending Great White Throne Judgment have burdened my heart.  I look around America and see tens of thousands dying, empty, hopeless churches.  I see the lost without a strong witness or a powerful church and I am scared for so many that will spend forever without God in a hopeless hell.  I believe the Lord has placed on my heart the desire to help churches, pastors and leaders impact the Kingdom of God.  It is time to put in the two minute offense.  We are behind in the game and are loosing souls.  We MUST ramp-up our efforts to win the lost.

We have so much at our finger-tips and we must pick the right priorities.  Pray with me for this trip and for how I can help church leaders achieve their redemptive potential.  It is time for a risk.  Time for faith.  Easter is just around the corner and it is a great time to invite folks to church.  We are having two mega weekends; Easter and the weekend before.  I’m praying for over 10,000 in the two weekends and for many to come to Christ.  Pray with me, participate with me – together we can make a difference. What else can you do that will last forever?

Swinging the Sword,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

I read a story this morning of a violin student at a college.  She would get up, eat, clean her room, and then practice her instrument.  She realized she was not improving at the rate she thought she should.  She changed her routine.  She practiced first and said she had planned neglect.  She would put the highest priority first.  A wise young lady that grew in her chosen field.  Priorities are crucial!  Far too many people have priority problems, they can’t seem to focus or choose what is the most important thing to accomplish.  This happens at home, work, and every other area of life.

What are you priorities? Many people never stop to consider or contemplate what matters most.  I believe many people will stand before God in the judgment and will find out they wasted their lives in things that didn’t really matter much.  How do you pick your priorities?  Who helps you?  What is your goal for the day, week, month, year, or your life?  Hard questions, maybe, but without answering each you can’t pick your priorities.  Life will just happen and you will just float downstream.  I guess we can HOPE by chance that we guess at good priorities.  Not how I want to face the Lord. 

Either you pick your priorities or someone else will do it for you.  Spend some time wisely and reflect on what is most important and set you calendar and choices.  After I was grown I talked to my mom about how she kept a very clean house while working full time and raising three boys.  She told me if she had it to do all over again she would have let the house go more and spent more time with her sons.  It is too late when it’s over to pick different priorities.  What matters most? What maters most to God?  What will make the greatest difference for the Kingdom?  Live by deliberate decisions, not by default!

Just a thought,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

If you have been around me for any time at all then you know how important leadership is to me.  I believe what I heard John Maxwell say 20 years ago, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”  I believe that goes for every area of life, especially the church.  For the church to succeed it must be lead well.  Whatever you are involved in must be lead well to succeed.  That includes your family, business, small group, and even yourself.  Yep, yourself.  You are the most important person you have to lead.  Bill Hybels calls it self-leadership; I call it self-discipline.  To do anything great you have to master yourself.  Let me give you a few tips:

1. Excommunicate your Excuses.  If you accept excuses you will never make an impact, especially for the Kingdom of God.  Eliminate excuses or you will allow failure every time. “Almost all of our faults are more pardonable than the methods we think of to hide them.”  I watch people give up on ministry, marriage, profession, and even life because they accepted excuses and believed lies.  We must press on – I bet walking up the hill carrying a cross after being baten was not easy.  Remember Jesus never gave up on us and we must except no excuse that allows up to give up either.

2. Eat your dessert last.  In other words don’t give out the rewards until the job is finished.  “Any business or industry that pays equal rewards to its goof-offs and its eager-beavers sooner or later will find itself with more goof-offs than eager-beavers.”  A story I read illustrates it well: “An older couple had been at a campground for a couple of days when a family arrived at the site next to them.  As soon as their S.U.V. came to a stop, the couple and their three kids piled out. One child hurriedly unloaded the ice chests, backpacks, and other items while the other two quickly put up the tents. the site was ready in fifteen minutes. The older couple was amazed. You folks sure do work great together.  You just need a system, replied the dad. Nobody goes to the bathroom until camp’s set up.”  Remember –  rewards after the job is finished.

3. Eye on the Prize.  You must stay focused on the results.  It blows my mind how many people say not to worry about the results.  “Just be faithful and don’t worry about the fruit.”  Somebody has missed a lot of the Words of Jesus. He cared about the fruit.  Many people I watch or lead complain about how hard the work is; they focus on the difficulty of the task not the discipline required to do the task.  Self-pity overrules self-discipline.  At this point the results will be out of reach and excuses will fly.  Focus on the task and the results of completing it.

Now let me ask you some questions:  Last week, how much time did you devote to disciplined activities?  How did you work on improving yourself?  Did you exercise?  In what areas did you show self-discipline?  Hard questions, I know.  King David, after a great sin, confessed it to the Lord in Ps. 51.  He knew his propensity toward sin so he asked the Lord in verse 12 to “Sustain me with a willing spirit.”   He asked the Lord to make him want to. It is a great prayer to pray.  Lord make me want to.  To make an impact for Jesus we must be self-disciplined.  How are you on a scale of 1 to 10?

Think about it,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Every time I turn on the news another “Expert” is predicting how long the recession will last.  Some say it’s over now and some say it will be 2 more years.  No one ones!  Except God that is.  He knows the future, and all my money is on Him.  How do you view the future? Do you think this year will be better than the last? Do you have an abundance mentality? Do you believe there is enough to go around or do you need to hoard what you have?  The answers to these questions reflect your faith.  So many today have so little faith.  How would you measure your faith? A little or a lot?  Your future and your whole life will be framed by your faith.  I believe I will make the greatest leaps of faith this year.  It is going to be a banner year for Faith Promise Church.  I look forward to this year and to the future with extreme excitement.  I believe we are in the last days and it is time for the 2 minute offense.  We don’t have much time left so let’s get into the game and make a difference for Jesus and His Kingdom.

How do you see the future? How do you see the rest of this year?  Let us know.

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

A question – is the church in America becoming a relic of history?  It seems to me that many in our culture want to follow Europe.  There has been a fascination with Europe during my short 48 years.  I love the church, not just the one I serve but the church world wide.  So it saddens me to watch our influence and attendance drop year after year in America.  The numbers don’t lie, the church in America is dwindling in attendance, influence, and impact.  We are always only one generation away from losing the gospel.  Can it happen here?  YOU BET IT CAN!!!!!  Does the Lord care?  I believe He does.  He died for the church. 

Look at the church in Europe and see what our future can be.  In Europe many of the old church buildings are museums or used for other things.  What can we do?  We can get serious about God and His Kingdom here on earth.  We can get serious about vision, souls, leadership, and seeing the church explode in revival.  I believe God is still looking for people whose hearts are completely His.  Then He can pour out His Spirit.  Are you that person? Is your church that church?  Are you willing to lay it all on the line for the gospel?  Are you ready?

What do you think the future of the church really is?  What can we do to see the church flourish and be all God desires for it to be?  What are your thoughts?

Let us know.

Pastor