Okay, let me be just casual with you today.  You know, "blogging personal."  Is that not the purpose of this blog… to let you into my life?  Well, it is definitely one of them.  Let me just make it easy on me today. 

1.  Christmas is coming and I have not purchased one gift.  I asked Jeana last night, "What do you want for Christmas?"  She stated, "I just want you!" to which I replied, "You got me baby!"  Okay, can you even imagine on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day me saying to her, "Here I am and Merry Christmas."  Oh yeah… do you believe that?  Okay, I need help… what can I get my wife for Christmas?  Get creative.

2.  The Christmas Dinner Theatre at our location at Pinnacle Hills was packed out last night and we have one more night to go… it is a sell-out.  It had some fun moments, some great moments, of which my favorite was the Silent Night Video and Song that shared the history of that great Christmas hymn.  It sure adds value to what we sing when we know and understand some of its past.  

3.  Our Springdale location will observe its major Christmas celebration on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.  It will only last about 75 minutes and will be another great way to celebrate Christmas.  It is open to everyone for attendance and absolutely no charge.  So please come to our Springdale location at 4:00 p.m. this coming Sunday, December 11th.

4.  Christmas Day, we will have a 60-70 minute worship experience from the time you walk into one of our locations, to the time you walk out,  Our goal and intention fully is 60 minutes, but we desire a little "flex time" to help you prepare.  Here are your options for Christmas Sunday:  We have a service at our Springdale and Pinnacle Hills location at 9:15 a.m. and a service at Pinnacle Hills at 10:45 a.m.  Choose one of these options that will fit your family schedule, but come as you dress normally on Christmas Day.

5.  Do not forget… Christmas Day is Jesus’ birthday… how can you celebrate Christmas and not COME TO THE PARTY WE ARE GIVING HIM?   Yes, we love all of the holidays, but hey, Christmas on Sunday is cool… do not miss it!  Come early and be ready to start on time with us.  If you are away, find a Bible-believing evangelistic church to attend.

6.  On Sunday, December 18th, our Pinnacle Hills location will have the "Blessing Basket Ministry" for all of the needy in that part of Northwest Arkansas.  We have such a need for ministry to these people and we need as many of you as possible to help us that afternoon.  What a tremendous way to not only give a bag of groceries for Christmas Lunch, but to give them love, care, prayer, and the message of Jesus.

7.  Prayer needs abound in my life, so please pray for me. Stuff is all around me in every phase of life. By the way, pray for my Mom… she had surgery on her eye… due to the grief and weeping she has experienced, the previous surgery on the other is struggling.  She has a need for both of these eyes to heal completely.  She is optimistic and the doctor is as well.  So please, assist her and stand with her in prayer.

Thanks for letting me be just… blogging casual with you! 

As you travel down life this week, remember that people are always hurting and suffering. After my quiet time this morning from 4:00-5:15, I received a call from one of our members. Conversations occurred that were extensive and long, but very needed. Life is a challenge. An email came that one of our Support Staff Members lost their house to arson last night. Life involves unforseen hurting. An email came a few moments ago from a man whose wife has had numerous physical struggles this year. Another email came last night from one of our men informing me that his wife will exit earth and go to Heaven within days if the doctor is correct. Life is filled with suffering.

As you travel down life this week, remember that people matter to God. Take the time to listen. Take the time to invest in them. Take the time to minister if you are God’s choice to do so. Take the time to walk slower than normal just to see what God may choose to do around you and through you as His vessel. The thing we must all remember is this: since people matter to God, they should matter to us.

As you travel down life this week, remember that prayer is where you take people. Why? It is simple: prayer means you depend on God, while prayerlessness means you depend on yourself. As well, the only way peace comes about is through prayer…that is it!

And now for the rest of life…

Congratulations to our Springdale Bulldogs, who won the State Championship on Saturday night in Little Rock. It was a sterling performance by Coach Gus Malzahn and his assistant coaches, exercised through their players, who are second to none in this state of Arkansas and even beyond. This team is ranked very high nationally…with a couple of breaks, they could win the National Championship in High School polls. What favor and blessing. Thanks God, and bless this team and its future.

Enjoy your day the best you can, wherever you may be in life. Yes, above all, pray. Give matters to God. He is in control.

This is incredible…Springdale Bulldogs are everywhere in the news…players are receiving national recognition…coaches are favored by God and people. I am loving it! Northwest Arkansas has been known for retail, trucks, chicken, and Razorbacks; but now, Springdale Bulldogs! That fires me up. So many of these young men and coaches are just phenomenal individuals.

It all begins at the top…Coach Gus Malzahn…one of the most gifted and innovative offensive minds in the game of football leads these Red Dogs. Yes, he is a leader, a teacher, a motivator, an innovator, a husband, a father, a churchman, but most of all a born again Christian. A man who is unapologetic for his faith whose career is not for sale. His integrity is everything. He is a dear brother and friend, a man who I met in 1996 when he became the Head Coach of Shiloh Christian School, our ministry’s school. I love him like a son and believe in him 110%.

This top-ranked national high school football team is playing for the state championship in Arkansas’ largest classification. They kick-off Saturday night at 6:30 in Little Rock. They have a major opponent, but I am confident that the Bulldogs will prevail. Somehow, someway, this team of champions will find a way to win. Good luck Bulldogs…all of Northwest Arkansas is counting on you.

It has been two weeks since my Dad died suddenly. Mom’s heart is broken. She told me last night, "Your Dad never went anywhere without me and now he went to heaven without me…every time I come home I expect him to be in that chair waiting on me, but he is not there…it just does not seam real." My Mom’s story is one snapshot of thousands of people during this time of the year. We must be very careful and very sensitive to the masses of people that walk in the pain of grief, especially at this time of the year.

So please continue to pray for her, my sister, and my brother. They deal with Dad’s loss daily in many more ways than I do since I am 12 hours away. Yet, we all hurt and feel the loss deeply in our own separate ways. On top of that is what we call life…job pressures…personal issues…family challenges…yes, we all have them, even though I feel so blessed, even in the midst of my extreme busyness.

I love you folks who take time to read this periodically. Share with your friends about Between Sundays. We want to get as many people as possible to read this blog, so help us get the word out. You are they key to that, so please pass this site on to others.

Have a phenomenal weekend. If you do not hear from me again before Monday, please pray for me.