Hey Guys,

I don’t think anyone involved in ministry would disagree with the statement that the Church in America is in trouble.  The statistics are worse today than at any other time in the history of America.  With this  fact well established, it is not even debatable. I believe we have a door wide open for the Church to make mega advances in  reaching souls and growth.  My first statement is well accepted by Church leaders, but the second one is not as well received.  Sadly, most people involved in ministry today feel that the day of Church growth is over!  Jesus said; “I will build my Church…”  I do not think He has changed His mind, do you?

If we go back and review the culture during the Book of Acts, we will see it wasn’t very conducive to Church or morality.  We have an open door even greater than the first Apostles had.  We just have to go though the door.  The one thing we have to go through the door is LEADERSHIP! I remember hearing John Maxwell say in a conference: “Without leadership God won’t or can’t build a Church.” I was a little offended at what seemed to be limiting God.  Then I remembered what  Jesus said in Lk. 6:40 “….when the student is fully trained he will be like his teacher.”  God uses leaders to build His Church.  Leaders are in short supply in the Kingdom of  God.  Pray with me that God would raise up leaders for every level.

I believe God is moving in this area and I believe He wants to use YOU!  It is time for a new generation to rise up and do whatever it takes to raise up leaders.  Where are you at in the game of standing strong in the leadership culture?  What are you doing right now to improve your leadership in ministry?  Now is the time to pull out all the stops!  Let’s get serious about growing into tools that the Lord can use!

Love Ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

When I was young I got into a lot of fist fights.  I grew up in a rough part of town with some pretty shady people.  When boys were nearing a fight, shoving and pushing always came first, followed by an angry “Don’t Push Me.” That attitude continues on even after we grow up–we don’t like to be “Pushed” around.  I don’t mean pushed physically,  I mean most don’t seem to want to be pushed in any way at all.

Now think with me and list the people that have made the greatest impression or impact on your life.  Most of the people on that list “Pushed” you.  Parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors who helped you be better all have one thing in common–they “Pushed” you.  They helped you and yet you still bristle under the pressure of being pushed.  Strange, isn’t it? Those who helped us the most “Pushed” us the most.  What is it that makes us cringe when we are pushed?  To understand the answer to this question would help each of us in our understanding and our ability to grow as individuals.

Now we all want to grow spiritually or you would not be reading this blog. So how do you react to being “Pushed”?  If you are to reach your full potential, you need help to be “Pushed”. Is there anyone around you to help you grow?  How would you really respond to being “Pushed”? We all need a nudge from time to time and God will put people in our path to push us. Who is it for you?

There are several people in my life that push me and I am VERY grateful for each of them.  My wife Michele is my cheerleader, Josh Whitehead, our Executive Pastor, is always pushing me in many areas and I am so thankful.  I am better because of him. Roy McKinnon,  a great friend pushes me to be better. I have a host of others that serve as potential “pushers” that help me work harder and better for the Kingdom.  My pushers without question help me succeed and make a big difference in many lives.  As God opens more doors for impact and influence in my life I bet he provides more pushers.

We should not grumble about them, they are gifts from God to help us press on as He pushes on. So, the next time someone pushes you to new heights, just thank them and tell them they are a gift from God and you are grateful.  Now that will blow some minds.  Holy Spirit, push on with whoever you see fit.

Are you ready?

Pastor

Hey Gang,

I don’t think I need to make a Biblical case that we are all called to walk by faith.  The pages of Scripture are permeated with pointed commands and commissions for us to walk by faith.  We all know it and yet it seldom seems to be on our radar screens.  This has always been an oddity to me.  This past Sunday night I lead a discussion in my small group about walking by faith.  Below is a list of discussion questions I asked everyone:

1. What is your greatest step of faith and how did it turn out for you? Almost everyone that has ever taken any steps of faith can tell a story of how the Lord moved. It has always puzzled me why people see God move and stop moving out in faith.  As you review your steps of faith, what was the biggest?  If you have a hard time with the question, is it because you have taken so many or so few?

2. Why do we become more cautious and risk adverse as we age? When we are young we aren’t afraid to step out and yet as we age we slow down and protect what we have.  It is like a football team moving into a prevent defense.  We don’t try to win we just try not to lose.  I guess as we have more to lose we choose not to try.

3. Have you ever taken a step of faith and fallen? This was a hard question for my group, because no one could remember this ever happening.  It is definitely a possibility. I guess failure can stop people from trying again.  If you failed, why did it happen? Did you miss God?

4. What is the biggest mountain you are facing now? We all have problems, so which one will cause you to have to step out in faith? I believe God will allow problems in our lives to help us step out when we don’t want to anymore. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

5. Can our last leaps be the longest? I believe they should. As we walk by faith we should grow in our faith.  Faith is like a muscle and it will grow if it is worked and exercised.  After a lifetime of walking by faith our last leaps should be the longest.

6. Where would you be today if you had not taken the past steps of faith?  Every time we step out and God moves we have new doors opened and new opportunities.  If you would have been disobedient in past faith moves where would you be today?

In my life right now God is calling me to make several steps of faith that are huge.  He will not let me lay down,  but He is calling me to longer leaps and deeper faith and commitment.  The journey is awesome and filled with thrills and excitement.  Are you still climbing out on the end of the limb? That is where all the fruit is!

Love Ya.

Pastor

Hey Gang,

I know the title Technology Rocks is sort of off, coming from a technoboob like me, but the fact of the matter is that it rocks.  God is using technology at Faith Promise Church is some amazing ways.  Last week we launched an Internet Campus.  In the two weeks since its inception we have had people from over 9 different states and 2 countries.  The first week we launched, a family in Knoxville saw the I-Campus and got dressed and came to the 11:45 service and were back for the Discovering Faith Promise class at 5:00.  How cool is that! Today a lady entered the chat room and let us know she was disabled and not physically able to go to Church. She was praising the Lord for the opportunity to worship and be a part of a worship service.  Yes God rocks, and He is using technology.  I want to be a part of using what ever medium possible to get out the message of the cross. That is why I blog, twitter, facebook, and do daily devotions. 

Remember, I am the technoboob, and I want to keep learning and using every possible means to get help out to this culture. The current teaching series we are in at FPC I am using a diving board to represent the family.  The family is where we all dive into life.  I want to use the arts, creativity, innovation, and any other way to help people connect with Christ. 

God is at work and we are breaking over one of the last big barriers in Church growth.  We are not cresting over 3000 in worship attendance.  It is a new world for us at FPC.  Daily we are facing new challenges and it is a blast.  We are all called to walk by faith and it is not easy.  We are trying our best to “keep pressing on toward the prize.”  Pray with me a God continues to open up new doors and new challenges for our Church.  HE is work and He will use anyone willing to step out on the limb.  I think the main problem we face in taking steps of faith  is when we get older we have more to loose and we are less likely to step out by faith.  I have made the commitment to keep risking and walking on the water regardless.  God honors our faith and belief in Him.  Our faith moves Him. So as we get older and have more to loose will we keep rolling the dice?  Will we keep stretching? Pressing? Trusting God to move in power?  The next steps of faith I see God moving me/us toward are leaps of serious magnitude.  Are you ready, or are you comfortable?  “Not that I have achieved it or attained it already, but one thing I do: I press toward the mark of the high calling….”  Are You?  Let’s use all we have to change the world. What is your next leap into the world of water walking?

love ya.  It is going to be a great week.

Your Paastor

Hey Gang,

I believe the the number one indicator of your enjoyment in life is your relationships.  They are the key to life.  Jesus said to “consider others as more important than yourself.”  If you put others in front of you, great relationships are possible and you can impact many people in a positive way. It is clear in the Scriptures that this is what Christ wants us to do.  I love what Covey said about this: “Seek to understand before you seek to be understood.”  Far too many people are worried about getting their point across to consider the other person’s point of view. “Half of all the controversies and conflicts that arise among people are caused not by differences of opinion or an inability to agree, but by the lack of understanding of one another.”

WHY DO WE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS?

1. Fear.  Our first reaction to what we don’t get is to fear it and to react against it.  Chill out!

2. Self-Centeredness. It is hard to have great relationships when we are always focused on ourselves. 

3. Failure to Appreciate Differences.  What if everyone on earth were exactly the same?  It would be a boring world.  Learn to appreciate how different God made each one of us.  This will help you develop great relationships.

4. Failure to Acknowledge Similarities.  Look for the good in people that you can work on and use to develop relationships.  I love what my mentor John Maxwell said, “If you treat every person you meet as if he or she were the most important person in the world, you’ll communicate that he or she is somebody – to you.”

If we want to connect, influence, and impact people then we need to know some facts about people.

1. Everybody Wants to Be Somebody.

2. Nobody Will Care How Much You Know Until They Know How Much You Care.

3. Everybody Needs Someone.

4. Everybody Can Be a Someone. They need someone to believe in them.  That is you.

5.  Influencing People for Christ Will Change the World.

It is a simple choice to focus on yourself or others! It is easy to be self-centered, that is our nature and it takes little effort.  If you are a Christ-follower than you need to put forth some effort to obey Christ’s commands in relationships.  He wants to use us to change lives. We can’t influence people if we don’t connect with them.  Who is on your radar screen? Who are you investing in for the Kingdom of God?  It is all of our jobs, so let’s get to work.

Love Ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Today is a beautiful day and it is a gift from God; Thank You, Lord.  Today I have an appointment with a flight instructor.  I have had my pilot’s license for 5 years, and yet today I get a check-up to see if I am still a safe pilot.  Pilots have to have what is called a bi-annual flight review.  This is a must to keep your license.  Every other year the pilot flies with an instructor to make sure he or she is still proficient.  This is not a bad idea because no one wants a plane landing into their house due to pilot error.  I’m a little nervous because I have not flown the plane in quite a while, but with the instructor in the plane there is nothing to fear.

I’ll bet there are many other things in life we should get a check-up on. What do you think?  How about leadership, prayer, your walk with God – and there are so many other things we should get periodic check-ups for, don’t you agree?  After a while we can lose our skills if we do not use them.  It is easy to get rusty and lose proficiency at a task that is very important.  I do not want to take my family up in the plane with me and have an accident.  So I look forward to the time with the instructor, Dave.

I guess in the Kingdom of God we call this accountability.  Sadly, so many saints do not want any accountability in our lives.  Accountability is about growing, it is about doing the things we know we must do, it is also about staying profiecient in our priorities.  Who is your flight instructor?  Who helps make sure you can still do it?  Normally a flight instructor is not cheap, but we pay because it is law.  Shouldn’t we who follow the Savior make sure we keep improving on our skills and disciplines?  It is just a thought!  What areas of your life are rusty and dusty and need some attention?  I’ll bet right now the Spirit of God is whispering into your ear an area that you need a flight review in.  Life is a process and growth is a choice.  I choose to grow and make a difference for the Kingdom of God. Together we can soar. Today, who is “riding right seat” with you?

Love Ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Being the pastor of a large and rapidly growing congregation, I seem to always be looking for potential leaders.  Some I have tried to help have grown wings have soared and some have sunk.  The better the team you build the farther the church or organization can grow.  My friend John Maxwell said, “Great leaders seek out and find potential leaders, and transform them into good leaders.”  This is a big part of the leader’s job.  Andrew Carnegie said, “Men are  developed the same way gold is mined. Several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold. But you don’t go into the mine looking for dirt.”  So what does the gold look like? Especially undeveloped gold?

TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF A POTENTIAL KEY PLAYER:

1. Character.  This is the number one ingredient.  You can teach skills and many other things, but you can’t teach character.  This is one of the  non-negotiables. If you let this issue slide by you will be sorry!

2. Influence.  They should be able to influence their peers and others around them.  Remember leadership is influence nothing more, nothing less.  Look closely to see if they are already influencing others.  The position does not make the person, the person makes the position.

3. Positive Attitude. This is also huge!  It is hard to teach attitude.  It is more caught than taught. 

4. Excellent People Skills.  This is another deal breaker.  It is hard to get people to follow you if your people skill are bad.  People will quit following you even when you pay them after a while.

5. Recognized Gifts. People that you think are potential eagles must have gifts that are evident to the people around them.  What gifts do they have, and what gifts do you need?

6. Proven Track Record.  Your past performance is the best indicator of future performance.  What have they done?  What teams have they lead? What is their record?

7. Confidence.  I don’t mean pride or a mega-ego. They need to have confidence ’cause a lack of self confidence will kill leadership.

8. Self-Discipline.  This another huge issue.  A lack of self -discipline will destroy workers and a team.  This is a commodity that is in short supply.  Look at the area closely.

9. Can They Communicate?  This is another make or break issue!  If someone can’t communicate they might as well work alone.  It is hard to lead or make a big impact alone.

10. Are They Discontent With Status Quo?  Too many people are just O.K. with the way things are and will never rock the boat.  To be a potential great leader one must be somewhat discontent with the  way things are.  Great leaders are always looking for a better way to do things. They are open to new ways, ideas, and possibilities.

Maybe you are in the same spot as I am and need to  find great new leaders or potential leaders.  This list is a great place to start.  Maybe as you read this you want to be a great leader and you would love  to be found and used to your potential.  How do you stack up to the list?  Are you most of those things?  How  many of the ten characteristics define you?  This is a big deal as people are looking at you and  doors are opening all the  time for people who are ready.

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

If you read this blog, or listen to the daily devotions, or read my first book, or listen to me teach and communicate, than you have heard a lot about your potential.  I mean, a lot! Because Christ communicated about it so often and so clearly.  He warns and encourages us to be ready for an accounting, judgment – to face Him in heaven and stand to speak about what we did for Him.  So I push, beg, encourage, and pray for your to reach your full potential and you get to hear, “well done faithful servant.”  Sadly, few saints ever consider the accounting spoken of in Rom. 12:14.  For those of you who care and consider how you live your lives, let me ask you a question.  What is your capacity?  Have you ever wondered what it really is?  Can you increase it?  This is a big deal because it is your potential!

I guess none of us really ever fully knows our capacity without being put in a serious situation that tests our limits.  So what can we do without being placed into the  pressure-cooker?  For starters we can continue to grow.  We can push ourselves outside of our boundaries and comfort zones.  We can push it to walk by faith every day in at least one area of our lives.  We can try to max out our spiritual, physical and emotional abilities.  We must grow and continue to push.  Does it seem to you that many of us get to a point in our lives when we put the cruise control on?  Do we quit pushing the envelope when we have attained a certain level of comfort or monetary success?  Gang, let’s don’t die ’til we’re dead.  Lets push it for Jesus daily until we get to heaven.  The Apostle Paul said as long as he was here on earth it would mean “fruitful labor.”  He also said the “grace of the Lord would not be in vain in him.”  Jesus died for me and I will live for Him to the max.  I will push it just like He pushed it up the hill to the  cross.  He never gave up but left it all on the field when the game was over and so will I.  We are Christ-followers and as such should follow His example.  “He that says he knows Christ should walk as He walked.”  Pretty simple! 

So, what is your capacity?  I believe we can soar higher.  I believe we can climb higher. I believe we can give more.  Serve more.  Push it more for the One who gave it ALL for you and me.  Today will you give it all?

Just a thought!

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Larry Norman was a pioneer in contemporary Christian music.  He had a hit song, “Why Does the Devil Have All the Good Music?”  A great question!  Today he doesn’t, the Devil that is.  So in the area of the Internet the same question could still be asked, why does the Devil have all the great tools?  The church seems to always lag far behind the world in the use of current tools.  There are some great tools available to us that can transform lives, big time!  One is the Internet.  Yesterday at Faith Promise Church we launched an “I-campus” or better known as an Internet campus.  It is a place where people can log on and watch the entire service.  They can chat with a pastor and even pray to receive Christ.  The church today still seems so slow to use tools that the Devil has been using.  He seems to own the Internet as a tool to destroy; he uses the Internet for porn, theft, and many other devious acts.   Now we can redeem the tool.

Yesterday, a family in Knoxville logged on and watched. They quickly got dressed and made it to our next service and were at Discovering Faith Promise Class last night.  How cool is that?  God will use anything to reach people that need Him and His Church.  Let’s get serious about the Great Commission and use EVERYTHING at our finger tips to touch and transform lives.  Realizing the importance of tools, I  twitter, blog, facebook, and have a web site.  I have down- loadable daily devotions and the weekend messages of FPC on the church’s web site for people to go back and view.  Now people can E-vite their friends to watch FPC at home and later come to a service.  YOU can also tell friends around the world about it.  Service men and women around the would can be a part.  The sky is the limit!  WE just have to have the faith to march off the map in pursuit of people that need Jesus or encouragement. 

Tools that transform lives – let’s use them!  What do you have that you can use for the Kingdom of God?

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Last night I spent the night at my dad and step-mom’s in Dallas.  I was not in my bed nor in my city of Knoxville.  I did not sleep well because I was not “used” to the noises or the bed.  At my house I am used to the bed and to the noises, not to mention my wife Michele close by.  I wonder how much we can get “used” to?  I’ll bet we can get “used” to a lot.  I was thinking about my lack of sleep and why it was I was tired.  I knew if I was at home I would have slept better.  As I was thinking about it, a thought hit my brain; yes, it was lonely.  What have I gotten used to, so now I overlook? Do we get “used” to the presence of the Holy Spirit?  Do we get “used” to the voice of God? Do we get ‘”used” to the Word of God?  I think without realizing it we have grown accustomed or “used” to some pretty miraculous things.  Maybe we are missing some extraordinary events and happenings around us because we are “used” to them.  Jack Taylor said it was like “playing marbles with diamonds.”

Have we handled the holy so long we have gotten “used” to it?  Are we missing what God wants to do because it blows right past us while we just don’t notice it?  It is just a thought. I believe God is at work right now and He wants us to play a significant role, but we must not miss what He is saying and doing.  Let’s never get “used” to the power and presence of God.  He wants to use you today.  He is right there with you.  Do you sense Him?  Do you hear Him?  Are you missing the miraculous because it’s now normal?  Let’s plug into what God is up to. 

This weekend at FPC God is going to move as we start a new series on the family called The Unit.  Hope to see ya!

Love ya,

Pastor