Yes, today I enter into my prime…it is my personal PRIME TIME! I feel so fortunate to be here, entering day #1 of my prime, into my best years. How special it is to experience the blessings from God that have thus far resulted in health and happiness.

My desire for this Prime Time…to take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the ends of the world. There is nothing so great as becoming exhausted taking His message to the ends of the world. My challenge: how do I do that as one person? How do I do that as one pastor?

I ask God daily, "Lord, show me how to maximize my gifted ness to take the gospel to the ends of the world." I am trusting that in God’s timing, He will show me how I can do that in the most productive manner. Pray for me to know that in my life.

I am concluding my entrance into Prime Time at 7:30 p.m. at Champions Stadium as I observe the game between Shiloh Christian and Harrisburg…playoff game #1. Whoever wins continues to play. Whoever loses gets out the basketballs or heads into the weight room. I am pulling for us to continue to play.

Can you believe it? My 1st speaking engagement, on Day #1 of Prime Time is at a football pep rally to prepare the Shiloh Saints, fans, and student body for the game tonight. Oh my, what will I say? I imagine I will think of something. Oh well, I really have to go and prepare!

Remember, when you see me, just call me "PRIME TIME."

I am fired up that tomorrow I will be entering the prime of my life. All these years, God has prepared me, deposited in me principles from His Word, and many great principles of life. As I think about spending my last day at age 49 years and 364 days, I am pumped about the future!

Yes, I really believe that if Jesus lets me live or He does not come back first, that I have a goal to Pastor until I am 100 years old. Yes, in the next 30 years, I can do so much, and then after that, be ready and postured to continue as Pastor-Leader, but probably have to adjust some, but perhaps not. Of course, this is only possible if Jesus does not call me home first, or I become impaired physically, or if the Lord comes back.

I was overwhelmed in prayer the other morning when I thought about how blessed I am in the first part of my life to live a healthy life. The Lord has more than blessed me with so many great days physically, and I praise Him for it. Periodically, as I file through the paper and notice the obituaries, I am amazed that so many people die young. I am so blessed and I praise Him and thank Him. In a moment, all of it could change, so thank you Lord, for the days of great heatlth…please sustain me as long as I serve You with all my heart.

My best years are before me…yes, I am prepared and ready to enter into a new dimension of influence and effectiveness. The Lord will walk with me and yes, He will speak to me through His Word daily. I am counting on Him to keep me relevant to the culture, yet committed to His Ways.

Just call me, "PRIME TIME."

This morning I begin a big day with a big opportunity. It is an opportunity to speak to leadership that comprises the 1,500 Baptist churches in the state of Arkansas. A word to a leader multiplies the power of what you say. Prayerfully, not only encouragement will be experienced, but also a hope to a better future. Please, please, pray for me this morning around 11:15-11:45 a.m., the time that I am scheduled to speak. It may run a little earlier, so pray early!

Leaders lead people to rally towards a better future. Are you rallying anyone towards a better future? I pray you are. It may be your spouse, your children, or grandchildren, or perhaps a friend,  your business, or corporation. Rally, rally, rally people to believe the future can be great.

Speaking of leaders, pray for our President. It is a tough time to lead anything in this word today, especially America. He needs our prayers. Pray for him and pray for him some more.

God is so good to us, is He not? Thank Him today for all that He has given to you. List them to God, even as you drive…call them out. Thank Him for all that He has done and is going to do in rallying you towards a better future. He is the Greatest Leader of all time!

Hey guys and girls, I have been loaded, leading to limited time to blog. With preparations, meetings, engagements, life, and stuff, I have not had the time to stay in touch with you. I am here and doing well, but it is just a challenging time.

So much is happening in many areas. God is working in my life and heart about many things. So many things I cannot share yet with you concerning the ministry. Time is a true commodity right now, perhaps more than ever before.

Pray for me on Wednesday morning: I am preaching the keynote closing main message at the annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention in Little Rock. Keep me in mind and in your prayers….this is a strategic opportunity and I want to be a good steward of it. God has riveted my heart with His message; however, it is one of those that I am just praying will be received openly and wholeheartedly. Please pray for this…it is major on my heart.

I saw Nick and Meredith last week in Dallas. They are well, adjusting to Meredith’s full-time job that involves much training. Nick is full-time at Prestonwood, but attending seminary, taking a full load, plus newly married, and a transition to Dallas. Needless to say, they are really adjusting to much right now, so pray for them. God has blessed Nick as he started a class with just a list names three Sundays ago and they had 31 on Sunday. It is a singles class for 23-25 year olds, a new one starting at Prestonwood. Pray for the fire to fall and to catch upon that class.

Josh is in a major Playoff game this week, so pray for him during this critical time. They are facing a very difficult first round draw in game #1, so they will need a major effort from each player on the team and as a team. This is a special time for high school football. The game is on our Springdale Campus, 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday night.

Support our young people in their efforts which involves not only teams, but cheerleaders, bands, and other spirit groups. Playoff games start all over Arkansas this week and so many of our young people are involved this Friday night with teams in Northwest Arkansas. Support as well the great coaches who are strong believers, many who attend our church. Support your team or find one to support.

Remember, pray for Wednesday.

I just went through the Cooper Clinic today…it took me five hours…continual testing of every kind. It is some kind of operation, I will tell you that. The Cooper Clinic is in Dallas, Texas. People come from all over the world to go through testing there since Dr. Kenneth Cooper served as the Founder of Preventive Health years ago. He is a strong believer of Jesus and an active member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas. He is not my personal physician at the clinic, but Dr. Ted Mitchell is, and his accomplishments are sterling.

Reports were a tribute to our great God in every way…improvement in every area over last year, even though last year was very, very good. The power of a more controlled diet and continual exercise has an amazing influence upon health – more than we know. God is very good to me and I give Him all the glory for it! Thanks God!

I really have to go. It is time to get back home…see you very soon. Just wanted you to know I have not disappeared!

That’s right, Peyton, at age five weeks, did his 1st television interview following our game Friday night. It is amazing…his ability to answer questions posed to him by the gifted Bo Mattingly. Of course, if you watch Bo nightly on our local NBC station, you realize that whether Peyton responded to his questions did not matter…Bo can cover it!

Peyton went to his 1st Fall Festival last night in a pumpkin suit! Hello…my grandson in a pumpkin suit? Where is the football helmet and uniform…bring it on! That should be his attire. Regardless, when Josh and Kate brought him by last night to see us, he was quite handsome. Of course, my mother would say, "He was plum pretty!" Help me Rhonda! Who is Rhonda? Just an expression….

Steve Spurrier is coming to town on Saturday from South Carolina to play the Razorbacks. I have followed him for years and he is one of my favorite coaches in the world. I love his confidence, which often gets mistaken for arrogance. I admire his commitment to winning, which is also often misunderstood. His taking on the South Carolina job is absolutely incredible. Here is a guy who could have gone anywhere in college football, but ended up at South Carolina. They fill their stadium, which is larger than ours, regardless of their record or who they may be playing. Why? They are committed and love it!

The next time you feel you are losing in life with little hope to come back, call the University of Texas Longhorn Football Team. What a great comeback from trailing profoundly at half-time to Oklahoma State. Of course, Vincent Young, their QB, could be elected Governor of Texas. What a gifted athlete and quarterback.

Okay, enough football talk…are you coming to church this Sunday? We are counting on you as we have: BODY OF CHRIST DAY, "Every Member Present of Accounted For." Hey, I am counting on you. Remember, wear your Red & White in support of the University of Arkansas. it will be a great day!

Does anyone have a football uniform and helmet that will fit my 5 week-old grandson? Help me…now!