Hey Gang,

Thank you so much for reading this blog and commenting. Just to let you know, today Michele and I get on a plane for the first two-week vacation we have ever taken.  We are celebrating 25 years of amazing marriage. I am so grateful to God for His gift of a great wife. “He that finds a wife finds a good thing.” I found a great thing!!!

We are going to take a 12-day cruise. I can’t wait. So I won’t be blogging daily. I may write a few, but I make no promises. God has been so good to us; it is like we get to live in a dream world.  Living the dream is awesome. It is going to be a great summer of souls and miracles.

In Proverbs it says, “For a lack of wood the fire goes out.”  

What wood are you putting on the fire burning in your heart? 

Do you want to have a bonfire of revival for the Lord?

What would it take for God to explode in your heart?

Please post a comment.

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Leaders come in every shape and size. They come in every color and in every race. They have almost every gift mix known to mankind. But I think there is one gift every leader needs. Which gift would you think it is? __________! I’ll bet we have all filled that blank in with many different thoughts.We all feel that we are right, I’m sure. Maybe it’s all perspective or just our individual point of view. I believe the most important gift is FAITH!

As the leader we have to be the one to see the future and see it with faith that it will be great. We carry the vision and we lead into the future. The people that follow us should believe the future to be bright, wouldn’t you agree?  Where are you leading your organization to? As two staff members have told me, in the last month, “You are the one that must be giving out hope that it will get better.”

My friend John Maxwell told me a story of playing golf with Dr. Cho, the pastor of the largest church in the world. Cho asked John what he thought was the most important gift for a leader. John said it was leadership. “Wrong;” said Cho, “the most important gift is faith.”  The leader must have faith not only in the future, but that the organization and those in it can also grow.  Do you have faith? Do you have faith in those around you? Faith is essential if you will lead well. How do you stack up?

Love and believe in you,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

I hope you read yesterday’s blog because today’s post builds on yesterday’s idea. We talked about our weak links and how the Devil hits us there. So, what do you do if you know the door he will knock on? You take some prisoners!  II Cor. 10:4-5 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of  Christ.”  Be ready to take prisoners!

Most people don’t realize a random thought is not a sin.  Playing with the thought becomes sin. You can’t help what thought enters your mind, but you can help which one stays. Since the mind is the battlefield and the place where we win or lose, it is critical.  You must maintain control over what goes on in your thought life.  That is where you take every thought captive that is not in line with the Word. The Scriptures have a lot to say on the subject.

Remember, Christ was crucified on “Golgotha” which means, “the place of the scull.”  That is where you must be crucified, in your mind – your thoughts. So I ask my question again; are you taking any prisoners?   To be a leader that lasts in the Kingdom you must win on the thinking issue. “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

To renew your mind is to wash it daily with the Word and to give control to the Holy Spirit. Without a guard the enemy will infiltrate your thoughts and lay you to waste.  Do you have any thoughts  that you have taken as prisoners?

Just a thought.

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

If you pull a chain it will ultimately break at its weakest link.  What is your weak link?  This is a huge issue for all Christ-followers but even more so for leaders!  The enemy hunts for each of us and more so for leaders.  If he can drag us down he can hurt many others.  We are warned in James 1:14, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”  What is your own lust?  This is the area the enemy can hammer you.  If the Devil was to launch out a full scale assault on you, where would he attack?  Don’t you think this is an answer you should know?

As for me, my flesh never stops trying to get back on the throne of my life.  It will use pride and mind games with me.  This causes me to guard my mind and “take every thought captive.”   My flesh will try to take credit for what God is doing.  “God is opposed to the proud and gives grace to the humble.”  Since my flesh wants to be lifted up it will use what God has done.  Sad really, wouldn’t you agree?

So, I ask again, what is the door the Devil knocks on in your life?  He wants to wear you out and destroy your influence.  That means it would be wise to be ready!  Are you?

If he comes after you what door would he knock at? 

Be Ready!

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Can all your dreams come true? Without a doubt, I believe they can.  God said, “Delight yourself in the Law of the Lord and HE will give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps. 37:4)  God has made it easy for us to experience all of our dreams. I’m not talking about Disney World, but the real world!

1. Line yourself up with the Law. This means to be saturated with the Scriptures.  If we allow the Word to wash us daily and to transform our minds, then God has the opportunity to line us up with His will.  We will want what He wants!

2. Surrender to His will.  Daily die to self and be filled with Him. This is the point where we really want what He wants.

3. You get to experience all your dreams!  Wow, God is good. 

Can I tell you, I am watching all my dreams come true right before my eyes.  You really do reap what you sow.  We are leaders in His Kingdom and as such want to accomplish His will.  This is not rocket science but submission.  He wants to give us the desires of our hearts.  This is the will of God revealed in His Word.  Let’s not make it hard. 

What are your desires?  Do you delight yourself in the Word of God?  Are you surrendered and submitted to Him right now?  Do you really want to impact God’s Kingdom?  If the answer is yes, then hang on and you will see all your dreams come true!!!!!!!!! He will open doors that will blow you away.  Soon I will tell you about one I’m watching open.

Just a thought.

Love Ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

In the book of Proverbs we are warned that ”we will be tested by the praise that is afforded us.” We must beware listening to our press!  With that in mind, allow me to brag on God! In the last seven weekends we have broken attendance records five times. Praise the Lord!  Ministry is so much fun when God is pouring on the glory.  As I have said before, when you have momentum you appear better than you really are.  Momentum is the leader’s best friend!

We are in five weekend services and one Internet campus. Last weekend we  had people from four different countries log on. Amazing!  In the midst of this I get a lot of accolades – they belong to God. “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above…” When it is all over God uses leaders, but it is He that causes the increase. I want everyone to know that I know it. “To God be the glory great things He has done.”

Look around your life right now, what is happening that only God can do? He still has all the power and all the ability.  He is still on the throne of heaven and He rules the universe. We can bow to Him because He owns the keys to all victory, joy, peace, power, and life. What a God! I, for one, am grateful and I love Him a lot! How do you feel about Him?

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

People and churches have a lot in common! We share many of the same stages or phases of life and even death.  Let me give you three simple stages of life-to-death of a person or a church.

1. Risk-taker.  This is early in the spiritual life or stages of  a person or church. At this point we don’t have much and we are willing to let it ride.  This is one of the reasons new Christ-followers, like new churches, grow faster than established ones.  This leads us to our next state or stage of life.

2. Care-takers. This is the phase where we coast.  We have some stuff and we are tired of risking so we take it easy and hedge our bets.  People and churches both do this. At this point of  life a person or church begins to speak of the past.  Remember the good old days?  They see nothing great in the future and refuse to push it or risk anything. This leads to stage number three and it is not a good one.

3. Under-taker.  At this state or stage, death is close. It is too late to walk by faith or risk.  It is time to wait for death.  At this point Heaven is the only positive topic to talk about.  This happens in a church as well as with the spiritual life of a person.  This is a sad state spiritually.  This is not about age or aging but one’s spiritual life in the Lord.

My question is, which stage are you in?  Which stage is your Church?  I know the Lord wants us to be at number one! Risk-taker, water-walker, Spirit-led….  Where are you? It is easy to get complacent and apathetic. It is a killer.

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

Yesterday we talked about who you will please. The topic of insecurity is central in this discussion!  As we all know, insecurity is at an epidemic level. The same levels exist both in the Church and outside the Church.  This means most of us have some level of insecurity in us and it is a killer.  Insecurity will cause us to hedge our bets instead of fully following Christ. We will place pleasing others as our paramount priority.  If we walk down this road we will not make decisions that we perceive will be disliked, even if we believe God is in it. This is a killer in Kingdom leadership!

So, time to search you! Is there any insecurity?  We should shed insecurity because we are “In Christ.”  “Old things have passed away and new things have come.” Our security is not in our ability but in the One that died for us!  There is a theological treasure in the study of “in Christ.” When we realize who we are and whose we are, insecurities should slowly slip away. 

Is your number one goal to please God?  How worried are you about pleasing others?  Do you speak the truth in love or do you fear how people will see you? Insecurity is sneaky and will kill your leadership.

Love Ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

As you live and lead who do you desire to please - who do you purpose to please?  This question must be answered by all Christ-followers and more specifically leaders in ministry.  If we do not answer the question deliberately we will by default.  Make your decision!  The Apostle Paul said, “If I wanted to please men I would not be a follower of Christ.” There is no way to please people and the Potentate of Heaven at the same time, so choose.

The bottom line is you can never please everyone so just put a smile on the face of the Savior.  As a pastor it does not matter what I do, someone is not going to like it.  I get emails weekly about almost every weekend from someone that is mad.  I guess that’s good because it happened to our Lord and we are to follow His example. I’m convinced if I gave one thousand dollar bills away someone would complain about how they were folded.  So, the best deal is to please the One that called us.

At the end of the day we will stand before Jesus as Lord and be judged.  Smart money bets on pleasing Him now!  Beware of trying to make everyone happy, it is impossible.  Remember the bigger the Church the more people that will be mad at you. Check your insecurity at the door or it will kill your leadership and put a frown on the face of our Heavenly Father.

Just a thought!

Love Ya,

Pastor

Hey Gang,

If you missed yesterday’s blog, it is the introduction to today’s blog. You might want to back up and read it now.  I know as some of you read it you had to ask, “what if I have multiple choices?” Many look at this as a problem that requires a difficult decision! NO WAY. It is a mega-blessing.  The fact that you have choices is a great sign of God’s favor on you. Multiple doors are awesome.  God is at work in you and people see it!

“O.K. Chris, if it is a blessing, what do I do?” So glad you asked!

1. What do you want to do? “Delight yourself in the Law of the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Are you delighting in the Word?  Than do what you want.

2. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? (Eph. 5:18)  Then HE is leading your thoughts and desires.

3. Are you walking in purity? I Thes. Chapter 4  speaks of possessing your vessel in honor. Are you pure? Then He is leading you.

4. Is pleasing God your primary purpose in life?  Then walk through the door you desire.

I believe God uses our desires to lead us.  Ask trusted friends that have your best interest at heart what they think. ”With a multitude of counselors there is great victory.”  This is not difficult. God will lead His people. Are you His people? Than He will lead you! Walk through the door to greater levels of influence and impact for the Kingdom of God.

Love ya,

Pastor