Hey Friends,

Well, it is the last day of the year 2009. Not only is the year over, but so is the decade. As you look back over this year, what do you see? As you review – and I challenge you to do so – what do you see? What you see says a lot about you. Positive or negative, faith or disbelief, Sovereignty or chance? The list could go on for days. Really, how do you see it?

I remember talking to Lee Hartwell, a missionary friend serving in El Salvador. He had just finished his year and had seen over 100,000 people pray to receive Christ as Lord. I asked him, “As you look back, what do you see?” With tears welling up in his eyes, he turned and looked behind him. “As I look back, Chris, all I see is Jesus.” It is a moment forever etched in my mind. When you look at 2009, do you see the fingerprints of Jesus all over your life and ministry? Do you see victory and life change or do you see defeat?

“Be it done to you according to your faith.” In Zechariah chapter 8, God said if we couldn’t see it then He would not do it. As you think of the new year starting, are you filled with faith in the God who can? Are you looking forward to a fantastic future? In the Name of Jesus, I beg you to trust Him and to look toward this next year with the faith of a child. Believe God to do great things. Pray big prayers, and look for the answers.

I must confess that this year I am staring at the biggest challenges of my life. The mountains that block my path are huge, but my God is bigger! Personally, I look for revival and a move of God like never before. In my family, I am looking for God to move and use all of us to the greatest level possible. Ministerially, I am trusting God for the greatest financial miracles we have ever experienced:

1. A 15% increase in budget

2. The start of a new campus

3. To raise over 2 million more dollars and start construction to expand our current campus

I could go on, but you get the picture. God can! As I launch two or three conferences with Kaleo, the new leadership ministry, well, you can imagine the miracles required for total impact.

Looking back, what do you see? Looking forward, how’s your vision?

Praying for you!

Pastor

Hey Friends,

I just wanted to give you a thought for the brief time left in this year: leave your regrets and pain in the past. Each of us gets to determine what we will carry into 2010. Sadly, so many will carry regret, pain, problems, scars, and defeat into the new year. It is a choice! Whether by deliberate decision or default, we determine what we place into our packs.

So, jettison the junk, clean out the trunk, free up the funk and let’s run the race that is set before us. It’s hard to run for Jesus carrying crud. This is your day to dump. “Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you.” Take some time today and leave the weight behind you and get ready for the ride of your life. This is a challenge straight from the Scripture. This is the Heart and Will of God.

So many saints believe in grace and yet won’t allow themselves to experience it. We walk around weighed down with guilt and shame when Jesus paid the price for it on the cross. It’s time to walk in victory and 2010 is a great time to start! You have all you need inside you to win. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive in you. By faith, receive all God has purchased for you. Walk in power and victory!

Together let’s run into 2010 and all the favor, anointing, and unction God has for us. Feel His Hand on your shoulder and filling your heart. He has plans for you and this is your time to shine for the Savior.

Yours to count on,

Pastor

Hey Friends,

As ‘09 quickly becomes history and we march into ‘10, we know not what it holds for each of us.  So how do we plan for an uncertain and questionable future? EASY! We plan to grow and get closer to Christ. This will require making a plan. For over 20 years I have developed a personal growth plan for the upcoming year. I can’t control my circumstances or anything that happens around me, but I can control what happens in me. For me, that means being filled with the Holy Spirit and pursuing God with every fiber of my being.

If I, or we, are going to accomplish this we MUST have a plan. I beg, encourage, challenge, exhort, and pray that you will develop a plan so you can dive into the disciplines that bring us all closer to our Lord. Many call this legalism, but that is a lie laid out by Lucifer to keep us away from the path to personal growth and godliness. Come on, get moving and make your plan!

“But, what if I make a plan and fail?” I have NEVER completed every aspect of my personal growth plan. NEVER! Does that mean I failed or I am a failure? NO WAY! It means that through the disciplines I have grown closer and nearer to my Lord. So, no matter the situation or circumstances I can have a great year because joy and peace are an inside job.

Are you armed and ready for this new year with a plan? I am and I am fired up about it. As I march off the map, I am convinced that it will be a great year no matter what the world puts out.

Praying for you!

Pastor

Hey Friends,

The year 2009 is almost history! For some of you that is good news because this wasn’t your best year. For others, ‘09 was great. No matter what camp you are in, it is quickly coming to a close. I want  to challenge us all to get ready for what God has planned in 2010. This is going to require us to listen and to focus. Both of these two disciplines are growing obsolete.

Since we live in the land of multi-tasking, we have lost the ability to focus. It is hard to hear the Voice of God when we are checking our e-mails, texts, and tweets during devotions. We have lost the ability to hear the “still small Voice of God.” During the next few days, spend some time listening so you know His plan for the new decade.

Listening can be a problem since we find it hard to unplug. I want to challenge you to “cut off the stuff!”  And you know what it is! Maybe it’s this blog, tweets, texts, e-mails and the like. The only way to real intimacy is for you to unplug. Jesus did it. No, He did not have an Internet connection, but He was wired into His Heavenly Father. Intimacy involves unplugging. Will you?

As you listen over these last few days of this year, write down your thoughts and plans for the new year and decade. Write down your spiritual growth plan. I would also challenge you to help your family develop a plan for the year.

This is the time to get with God. I believe He is waiting to hear from you.

Stop! Slow down! Be still!

Love,

Your Pastor

Hey Friends,

I know not many of you will read this today, and that is fine. But, for those that do let me give you my prayer for you this day:

“Father, I pray for my friends and family this HOLY DAY. I pray You will be closer than a brother, our Father and Lord. I pray for comfort and nearness, and I ask You to reveal Yourself to them like never before. I pray they will experience You in radical new ways. I ask for You to fill them with Your Holy Spirit, Your Power, Your Fire, and for You to wash us with Your Word.

I pray You will reveal Your Word to them like a fire from each page. Some, Lord, are struggling this day. Please grant them Your peace, joy and victory that You gave when You came here. Let us see You like never before.

I pray for them in this next week that You grant revelation, rhemas, revival and a great renewal in the Holy Spirit. I pray this week You will grant the gift of faith to believe You for a great New Year and a new decade of difference. God, You can! Let them know it. Show up in power. I pray You engulf them in Your Glory Cloud and transform them into more than they ever dreamed.

Thanks, God, for moving and showing Yourself strong and close. Thanks for hearing and what You are doing this very minute for them. I love You and pray they will grow in their love, worship, service, and sacrifice this New Year.”

You are awesome, our King of Christmas!

With Love,

Your Pastor

Hey Friends,

Happy Jesus’ Birthday! I know the debate about when the exact date really was, and I don’t want to engage in it. It is like celebrating a birthday or anniversary, just not on the exact date. It is still just as good. So, we celebrate the Advent. I, for one, am very grateful for the occasion. Are you?

On this day when Mary was struggling with labor pains and a hard journey, there was no room for them. I think it is a fitting phrase for our culture today – NO ROOM FOR CHRIST! No room in the inn. That was a long time ago, but what about today and your heart? Jesus has plenty of room in heaven on the throne, but what about in your heart? Does He have plenty of room there? Is He comfortable? “Your will be done in my heart as it is in heaven.”

This Christmas season let’s make plenty of room and let’s make it like heaven. Heaven is filled with worship. In heaven, Jesus is obeyed immediately and passionately. In heaven, He is FIRST without an equal or battle. Yep, this Christmas let’s prepare our hearts as Mary prepared the stable and the feed trough for His comfort.

Christmas – shouldn’t it be His day? Today, with all you are, celebrate HIM and HIS coming. It opened the doorway of deliverance, the roadway to righteousness, the highway of holiness, and the street of salvation. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!

Happy Jesus’ Incarnation Day!

Pastor

Hey Friends,

Can you feel it? Our culture is closing down for about a week. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and we are still running at a frantic pace to get IT done! By tomorrow evening it will come to a quick close. For most of us, life will slow down for the next week or so. EXHALE, chill out, take it easy and “Be still and know that I am God.”

So my question for you is, “How will you spend your free time?” We all have 24 hours a day we get to spend. But this next week or so, at least until January 2, what will you do? Watch movies, eat, celebrate with family and friends, travel to cool places or make your rounds to all the different family members? How will you spend these days? They will be over before you know it, 2010 will be here, and the rat race will be back on!

How will you spend your time? Let me encourage you to carve out time for Christ. As we celebrate His ADVENT – the God invasion and incarnation – draw away some for the Savior who is the King of Christmas! As you do, let me give you some suggestions about a few things to consider with Christ:

1. Have private worship time and express gratitude for your salvation.

2. Make a “Thank You, Jesus” list from this year.

3. Pray about your goals and plans for the new decade. Review your plan for 2009 and see how you did.

4. Create your personal growth plan for the new year.

5.  List your dreams and those of your family.

6. Determine to work toward your dreams and be a dream manager for your friends and family.

7. Think about the new decade and how you will serve the Savior.

8. Meditate on the future and let the Spirit speak to you, impact your vision and tamper with your dream world.

9. Prepare yourself for the best year you have ever experienced!

There are many more things you could do in worship and celebration for the season. Make your own list. Create ways for your family to worship or talk about Jesus. Remember this is not about Santa; it is about the Savior!

Your checkbook is out and open and you are writing the checks as you spend the time. Spend wisely!

Happy Jesus’ Birthday!

Pastor

Hey Friends,

I have to tell you that I was dragged into the world of social media kicking and screaming. I’m not kidding! The staff at FPC is half young adults so I am surrounded by techies and geeks. I was assured that if I became “tech-savvy” I could reach more people, impact more lives, and stay more connected to the church I pastor and help lead. To this point they were correct.

I have made a discovery in this e-world: people love controversy. My question is, “Why?” Just watch the news. Negative controversy sells and sells big! Our culture wants conflict. But the saints wanting to watch a scrap???  I watch the blog posts and twitters and the ones that go through the roof are usually a fight. People pile comments on like a free-for-all and keep the fire blazing. It reminds me of “live wrestling” I watched as a kid.

I confess, I don’t get it. Years ago a pastor of one of the largest churches in America said the key to church growth was to stay in a fight. I missed that message from the Master. Could someone give me a chapter and verse for that? I thought the mark of Jesus’ disciples was that we would love each other. Guess I’m just slow.

These blogs and  tweets are to sharpen your leadership skills and to help you get closer to Christ. I will concede the conflict and with it  the higher numbers on the StatPress or Google Analytics that go with the barracks brawl. Remember the world is watching us and we are the only Bible they will ever read. By watching us as Christ-followers, what do they think of our God?

Love to hear your thoughts on why we love the fight.

Love you a lot,

Pastor

Hey Friends,

This post is so important. I can’t express how vital for your victory this really is! The question today is: “Do you see you?” I have to tell you, I have been blown away by how blind most people are to themselves. I deal daily with people – more than I would have ever dreamed. Now, after dealing with thousands what I see is that most miss their blind spots.

Not only do most miss their blind spots, but they either justify strongholds or ignore them altogether. I watch people steal, lie, cheat, view porn, commit adultery, walk out on their families and so many other things that it is unbelievable. When they are confronted, they are shocked that you could even ask them such a question.  The more you deal with people, the deeper the rabbit hole goes. Are there any of us who are self-aware? This is so potential-limiting, I can’t overemphasize it enough.

Most will argue why they think they are right and ultimately refuse any help, so they stay stuck. You know one of the things that bothers me the most? It is the fact that they will miss their potential and so will the Church of the Living God. Do your eyes open when it comes to you?

The Bible is called a “mirror.” As we read the Word it reveals what we are and where we are spiritually. Are you open to hear? PLEASE don’t miss what God wants to tell you. Where are your weak points? What is stopping you from reaching your potential? What do you think the Lord would like to do in your heart?

Please wake up and see what is in the mirror. If you don’t, you will miss what you could be for Christ. If you miss your potential and the church misses its potential, where does that leave the lost and our dying culture? In Ephesians 2:10, God is clear that He planned stuff for you to do. Missing it means more than we can imagine. God would have spared Sodom for 10 who were righteous.

Love you too much to let you stay the same!

Pastor

Hey Friends,

Today everyone wants a paycheck – and a good one. And they want position, not necessarily a job. Do we still have the heart to volunteer when the job is tough? Who on your team raises their hands when it is difficult or it is almost quitting time?

I love the story I heard about the missionary and leader, David Livingstone. He was asked, “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you.” Livingstone replied, “If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come even if there is no road at all.”

Few things impress me or any other leader more than a team member with a whatever-it-takes attitude. Let me give you a list I got from my friend, John Maxwell, as to how successful people got that way:

1. They take on tough jobs.

2. They pay their dues.

3. They are willing to work in obscurity.

4. They deal with difficult people.

5. They put themselves on the line.

6. They admit failures and never make excuses.

7. They do more than is expected of them.

8. They are first to jump up and help.

9. They do work that is not their job.

10. They take responsibility for their responsibilities.

Successful people are willing to do the things unsuccessful people are not willing to do. How about you? Does that list include you? Is that your reputation? Can you be counted on?

You determine how others will view you.

Just some thoughts.

Pastor