Hey Friends,

Do you ever pop your head up and look around? Socrates said, “The life which is unexamined is not worth living.” What a great thought! So, do you ever examine your life? So few do. We usually just keep our heads down at our desk and keep working. The only time most people look up is when they are faced with a problem.

How about you; do you look up and examine your life? Your direction? Your goals and dreams and aspirations? Do you still have the same dreams and desires, or have things changed and does your life reflect it? These are key and critical questions we must all face from time to time.

Left unchecked we will just keep up with “the same old same old.” Things change and our priorities change. Allow the Lord to place His spotlight on and in you, and see if you’re still on the right track.

Years ago I was spear fishing in Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico and was about 100 miles off shore. The boat owner asked me to drive. He gave me a heading and told me to keep it. He went to sleep with the rest of the folks on board. About an hour later when he woke up he took over the helm. He couldn’t believe how far off course we had drifted.

“Didn’t you watch the compass?” “Yes, I did while you slept!” “We are way off course,” he complained again. “I kept very close to the heading you gave me.” “Close? That is not good enough. If you are only off by one degree and you keep going, the farther you go the farther off course you will be!”

Now that I fly planes I have realized his point. We must constantly check the directional gyro, or the D.G., to make sure it is still reading the right course. Maybe you need to take some time to calibrate your compass and check your heading.

As a Christ-follower, constant course changes are a fact of life.

See you at true north!

Pastor Chris

P.S. Spend ten minutes each day reflecting and examining your life and your day. It helps, I promise.

Hey Friends,

This weekend we celebrate our 15-year mark. What a milestone! Today, when almost 90% of church plants fail, we have had a blessed track record. God has truly been good to us. From 250 in attendance the first day to 3,500 in worship today – wow, what a ride! Thank you, God, for your Hand of favor and anointing that has rested on us for the entire time. You are the Key and you get all the credit and glory. Praise your Holy Name!

Also, I am grateful for the staff and the leaders that have used their gifts and talents to help us continue to grow in some difficult times. The mountains faced by this group have been high and hard. Yet, this group of radicals have sacrificed, given and served far beyond the normal calling. Thank you, leaders, who continue to take us to the next level.

Yep, our history has been miraculous and yet I believe our future is even more bright! This month we will celebrate what God has done and what we believe He will do in the future. We are about to cross a threshold that has never been crossed in East Tennessee – that is to go beyond 4,000 in worship.

This month we are also going to look at the vision God is leading us into. The future is awesome if we continue to walk by faith and live sacrificially for Jesus. Thousands of those who are with us now were not with us in the beginning, but they will help us to reach more for Jesus. And the next time we celebrate what God has done, they will be in the midst.

At the core, Faith Promise is a family! We are a team and we rejoice in the wins and in transformed lives. We know it is God that causes the increase. As we are launching into a new decade of difference, I can’t wait to see all God will do in our midst as we keep trusting Him to move.

All for His glory,

Pastor Chris