10 Things Every Minister Needs To Know is a book which will hit the market in about two weeks, a book I wrote last spring. It is a book targeted for ministers in all roles of church life, as well as ministers of all denominations, ministers of all ages, location, or tenure in ministry. This month I have been pastoring churches for 30 years. On the last Sunday of October, I will have been here for 20 of those 30 years.

I need you to help us distribute this book around the world to ALL ministers. Most of you have ministers in your past life or in your life today that you could purchase a copy for. I just received the first copy yesterday.

It is a beautiful book, just under the size of a Bible, very readable with only 144 pages. Whether a minister or a lay person picks it up, they will be impressed by the product look and size, before they ever open it for content. The pages are "aged in look," giving it the look of a classic. Anyone who picks it up will think "I could read this book," just by its size and feel.

Dr. Ed Young, Sr., who serves one of the most phenomenal and largest churches in the world, the Second Baptist Church of Houston, has written the foreward to the book. It also has major endorsements from some of America’s greatest pastors in some of our wonderful lighthouse churches. Just a few of these I will mention: Robert Lewis, Fellowship Church in Little Rock; Tom Mullins, Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach County, Florida; Steve Gaines, Bellevue Church of Memphis; Johnny Hunt of Woodstock, Georgia; Greg Matte of First Houston; H.B. London, Focus on the Family; several seminary leaders and so many others.

I am asked many things about being a minister by other ministers. I really wanted to have this book finished this fall in light of the fact that it is my 20th year here and 30th year in Pastoral Ministry. It is not a "how to" type of book, but more of a "life principle" book. It is practical for any minister to read and digest and regardless if he is in a church with
25 people or a church with 25,000, it will relate because of its "timeless principles."

Also, it is being released in time for "Minister Appreciation Month" which is in October, so it can be a great gift item for every minister on your church’s staff team or your minister in a smaller church where he is the staff. Love your ministers by giving them the book, and thank them for encouraging you in your past or present. You can never say thank
you enough. The book will only retail for $11.99 and again, it is a classic product look.

Please join me in doing all you can to help us get this book out….I wish every minister in America could have one, because ministers everywhere are struggling. Whatever you can do in talk or gift, I hope you will do.

Hopefully, we will be able to begin selling the book on Sunday, September 24, and I hope that it will be in Christian bookstores across the country by October 1. Again, pray for "open doors" for it to go out across this world. Helping ministers is my personal ministry burden right now, second of course to the incredible challenge of pastoring our wonderful church in Northwest Arkansas.

Thanks for praying about helping us help others who serve the Lord.

Yes, history was made on Saturday at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The history was not only that Mitch Mustain, a true freshman, started his first game as the Razorbacks Quarterback, but Peyton attended his first Razorback game! He was overwhelmed to say the least.

When BOSS HOG walked by, he wanted me to take him to see BOSS HOG.

We sit on the 3rd row so it was easy and within distance; however, when he had the chance to reach out to him, he pulled back quickly! Yet Peyton’s eyes followed him everywhere, as far as he could see him. For some reason, he was intrigued with him.

GIGI has many pictures of this episode for you to see, but I realize you can only take so much. Therefore, all of you Razorback fans can chill – the little guy is a true Razorback!

Hug someone you love today.

A gripping anniversary occurs in our nation today. Five years ago on this day our nation was attacked by world terrorists who stand against Jesus as God and who also stand against our nation because we stand for freedom. Not only was a nation changed forever on that day five years ago, but more so, families were changed forever. Things will never be the same again.

There is no need for me to recount the story or various accounts of personal stories that testify of the tragedies of September 11, 2001. I could never improve on what the media has told so dramatically, recounting the endless tragedies resulting from that day. It was a horrible and chilling day in American history. It opened for our nation an endless battle against global terrorism. The President and his entire presidency has been influenced by this tragedy. History is still in the making related to all of these matters.

My question is: What do we do about the situation, and what can we do about the future? Yes, I could give you “my perspective” of what we could have or should have done then or even speak to it in regards to the future. Yet I would be speaking from personal ability, rather than from authoritative reality. However, as a spiritual leader, I can speak.

One of my team members recently sent me a song entitled “Cry Out To Jesus.” He is giving some perspectives for my present sermon series on the book of Job entitled, “When My Pain Is Real.” Zach Kennedy has blessed my life so much and God has used this song to really bless me, especially today. Third Day nailed it on this song … incredible!

You must listen to this song on September 11 and beyond. On this sobering day, there is nothing else for me to say. Let it speak to you.

By the way, here are the lyrics to “Cry Out To Jesus.” Look at them while you listen. I have nothing else to say to you … just read and listen.

I begin a 7 week series this Sunday morning on the book of Job, built around the theme When My Pain Is Real. I believe this is a phenomenal opportunity to really reach some people in our region with this message. The services will be filled with the message of God’s Word, incredible music, and some major personal stories shared in various ways. It is something that you really need to invite and bring people with you weekly. It is a time as well to permit God to do something incredible in your life.

All of us have experienced pain in our lives. None of us are excluded from this experience in life, even though at times, we wish we would be. This is a powerful moment for us to experience God’s encouragement and healing.

We are also doing 7 Sunday nights where I will be preaching at the Springdale Campus at 6:00 p.m. This begins on September 10 and will conclude October 22. I look forward to some concerts happening each evening, plus choirs from both campuses, plus Josh Stanbury giving leadership in this Sunday night series. This Sunday night I am speaking from Ephesians 3:20-21 and talking about how God can work in your life. My dear friend, do what you can do be here over these 7 Sunday nights.

50 Days of Prayer will begin for both of our campuses on September 24. I have designed a customized prayer agenda for both campuses that I have designed personally. I am believing God for incredible moments to occur during these 50 days, resulting in an endless Pentecost on November 12 and beyond at both of our campuses. God is up to something phenomenal.

Until I write again…

How about this picture of 11 month old Peyton? It was taken last Friday in Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys….yes, America’s team! He felt at home in that place and you can tell his “game face” was on for this picture.

Josh played his game in Dallas on Friday night, but prepared his team via “a walk-through” on Friday morning in Texas Stadium. Before they did their final walk-through on the field, they toured the stadium, spending moments in the locker room before going on the field. It must have fired our team up as we defeated the #1 ranked private school in Texas, the Prestonwood Christian Academy, 45-17. The newspapers estimated 4,500 people present at the game. Prestonwood did a great job hosting the team and fans. We are grateful for our relationship with them. Please come and see our Shiloh Christian team, if you do not have a “favorite high school football team” already that you support weekly. We play at home this Friday night at 7:30 against a team that went deep into last year’s playoffs.

Our church’s own, Mitchell Mustain, will become the Quarterback for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Mitch is a graduate of Springdale High School, “Mr. Everything” nationally last year, and on Saturday night will get his first start as a true freshman. Mitchell was won to Christ and was baptized through our Student Ministry here. He has been active in our church. We are proud of him! Pray for him this week and the coming weeks.

Yes, I do work during the fall and do more than just football … in case you were wondering. I have been in my study this morning since about 3:15 a.m. and rolling forward. Please pray for me today … we have a big meeting about being the lead church in planting a major church in the city of San Diego, California.

Later…

Oh my, a short week and I feel behind already. However, I will keep perspective and grind through the day victoriously. I pray the same for you.

We are facing a big week here in Northwest Arkansas. Now the summer is behind us, I am praying for a few consistent weeks where our people can unite and do all we can together to join Jesus in building His Church. Our people have been so scattered this entire summer, even with fuel prices at their highest level. It obviously did not influence travel negatively on Sundays.

The big week here is to get ready to run to Thanksgiving each week, leading to a great Sunday weekly. We are doing what we can to engage people in the process weekly to move them towards great days in the Lord each Sunday. So much is involved to make Sundays special, but none is more important than our people joining us in praying and working towards the success each Sunday.

We begin a new series this coming Sunday which will go for 7 weeks … it will be a series on the book of Job. The theme will be built around one of the hottest subjects of our time … “pain” … “personal pain” … and how to respond to it when we face it. Yes, this is what we talk about because pain is something each person has faced, is facing, and will face as long as we walk on this earth. This encouraging, motivating, and inspirational series will be a great entree for you to invite others to join you weekly.

Let’s pray … work … and prepare to have a great day on September 10.