The eyes are very critical to the way you view life. What you permit your eyes to see will determine your attitude and actions in life. So many times we are viewing things wrong because we are not looking in the right direction. I want to share a few simple hints for us to remember as we live life daily.

Do not gaze at people, they will usually disappoint you. No, I am not being cynical, but realistic. In this age of “high expectations,” we expect way too much from others. When you gaze and expect others to respond as you desire and they do not, then disappointment, criticism, and a judgmental attitude abounds.

Do not gaze at situations. They will usually discourage you. We always want situations and circumstances to be perfect. The problem is, they are not and never will be. Last Friday afternoon, I went to the LSU and Arkansas game, and the weather and circumstances were incredible. It was an absolutely gorgeous day in Arkansas. As I sit here and write this morning, I know I will be going to a High School State Semi-Final Game that will be played on Friday night. The weather will be cold and very frigid and snow may be on the ground today in this region. If players or coaches or fans gaze at the weather situation, it will discourage you and then becomes a possible influencer in a game. If they know it exists and keep their focus on the game, their chances of winning are greater. Great teams overcome it all. You do not play weather. You play teams.

Do not gaze at yourself or disappointment and discouragement may both set in. When you take yourself too seriously, you will usually be the hardest person to please, and even you cannot please yourself. You will be overwhelmed with the “should haves” and “should not haves” that will greatly paralyze you. Yes, we can be our own worst enemies. We usually imagine things from one extreme to the other – worse than they really are or better than they actually are!

Gaze on Jesus and only give quick glances at others, situations, and even yourself. Loving others and yourself is important and getting on top of situations is a part of life. However, all of these people and things change dramatically when you gaze at Jesus and only glance at the others.

Jesus was right: the eye is the lamp of the body. Be careful what you gaze at in life this weekend. One of the secrets to life may be: learning when to glance and when to gaze!

Congratulations to the Rogers Mounties for an outstanding run this year, even though they lost the state championship within the last few seconds. Coach Ronnie Peacock did an outstanding job this year and we applaud his commitment to spiritual matters and moral values. He is a man who loves the Lord and his leadership among students is highly encouraging for those of us who follow high school football. Therefore, to all the players, spirit groups, school administration, and coaching staff, I say “you did great and represented Northwest Arkansas in the highest manner.” We are so proud of you. Folks, support students in every way. Believe in them.

How about those Hogs? We are the Western Division Champions in the Southeastern Conference, playing the Florida Gators for the overall championship this Saturday night. What a great honor and privilege. This team has some outstanding intangibles in leadership and performance that is very unique, but not to winning teams of which they are. Even though we lost to LSU on Friday (I was there for the 1st half in person and watched the rest of it from a Hotel Room before I went to a high school game), the Hogs have had an outstanding year. Congratulations to Coach Houston Nutt, his staff, and the entire Hog football team. We are rooting for you against Florida. I believe we have a very legitimate shot at winning the game so perhaps we will do what no other Razorback team has ever been able to do since entering the SEC.

My Shiloh Christian Saints won on Friday night and play in the State Semi-Finals game here at home on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.We will play the undefeated Harding Academy and they are the real deal. Their history is incredible and have been a great winning football program. We need to have you here to go for our Saints on Friday night. It is the only game in Northwest Arkansas that night, so let’s have standing room only getting behind these fine young men who stand at 12-0, ranked #1 in the state. Come and watch some great football and enjoy some great fun on a cold Friday evening in Northwest Arkansas. Go Saints!

Yes, I do love football!

What is the deal? Stores opening up before dawn on the day after Thanksgiving for people to get their “deals for Christmas.” This is incredible and what is even more incredible – people camp out and prepare to do it! This is really amazing to me. Whoever came up with that idea in marketing needs a raise or correction … depends on your perspective.

This indicates that the acceleration to Christmas has now formally begun. I love the Thanksgiving to Christmas holiday season. I just want to be able to enjoy it without it running my life … don’t you? We need to pray for each other in regards to this.

Thanksgiving has not come to our church for many years now without the Blessing Basket Food Ministry. This year was a huge success, and we give God praise for it. Doug Sarver, our gifted World Missions Pastor, the missions staff team, the entire staff team, plus hundreds of volunteers pulled off the greatest day of Blessing Baskets in our history of doing them. Here are some of the statistics:

• Over 2,300 families assisted
• Over 4,300 people present (in those families)
• Over 480 people received Christ personally
• Needs were met, lives were changed

This is a tremendous ministry of our church and is just the beginning of the ministry season we are calling “Shelter Our Community.” This passion to shelter our community with love and care extends greatly through the meeting of many needs to the various shelters of all kinds located here in Northwest Arkansas. Pray for this ministry this holiday season. This is our first attempt at this ministry and
we are excited about its possibilities.

Let the Season Begin!

We tell ourselves that we will not do it again this year. And yet, here we are again, Thanksgiving week and we are still so busy that stopping to be thankful almost seems out of the question. Something must happen with the coming of fall or the changing of leaves. Someone … somewhere speeds up our calendars in order to try to rob us of our basic need to be joyful and thankful.

Wait a minute; let’s take a moment to think about Thanksgiving or just the everyday version of giving thanks. As far as I can tell, our calendars are not going to slow down anytime soon and being thankful should be much more than a once a year holiday. Isn’t it interesting that the apostle Paul places that thanks-giving reminder right in the middle of a whole host of other general admonitions? It could almost be lost in the crowd much like it’s almost lost in the midst of our busy schedules, and yet there it is in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”.

Think just minute … think about all that you have to be thankful for in your life. Grab that cold and callous calendar that supposedly runs your life and mark out time this week to not only be thankful but to actually thank God for all of His endless blessings He has bestowed upon you. And while you’re at it, go ahead and personally thank those around you who have blessed your life and have invested in you this year. Remember, while being thankful is important, actually taking the time to thank someone expresses from your heart just how grateful you really are for their love and contribution in your life.

Now, just think … you have already started being thankful this year by just reading my blog! Don’t stop here … find those in your life and say: “Thank you!” Oh, by the way … “Thank you”!

One year ago tomorrow, my Dad died while sitting in a chair. From the burdens that life brings, the Lord took him into the peaceful reality of eternity with Him. It is really difficult even reflecting on the morning I got that call. I had just reached the decision on the night before that I would not attend Dr. Adrian Rogers’ funeral in Memphis that was to take place on Thursday. In my heart, I just knew I was not to go. Little did I know that within hours I would understand the reason.

So as the sun rises tomorrow, it will be Dad’s first anniversary in heaven and Mom’s first without him by her side after the 55 years they had together. It was probably around 9:00 a.m. CST (we are not sure because he was alone) that Dad entered into his eternal reward. My reflection began last night in a greater way after talking with Mom. We knew this day was coming, but neither of us even mentioned it. We will, but not last night.

So our hearts must look upward tomorrow, upward to the plan of God with hearts filled with gratitude for the great life Dad was given on earth and his investment into each of our lives. There is a big picture we must gaze towards, the big picture only the Lord sees and one day we may see. We will gaze at that picture. We are Christians, committed followers of Jesus, and the one lesson death teaches you if you are a Christ follower is that we have hope.

Hey, tonight or tomorrow, just pray for Mom. Pray for God’s rest and peace to be in her heart. She is peaceful with God’s plan even though her heart aches over the loss to her personally and to our family. I will cling to the memories, thank God for the love and faithfulness, and know that one day I will see Dad again in heaven.

Until then, we are filled with hope. Have a blessed day, a day filled with hope. Hope for today, hope for tomorrow, and hope for eternity.

You are loved.

This past Sunday was a great moment for our church and members at our Pinnacle Hills campus. We had our grand opening with more than 3300 in attendance in the morning services, and over 2000 for the evening service. Travis Cottrell, band, and singers led us in worship that evening, and we concluded with the lighting of the crosses. Below are a few pictures from the days events.

We had a fabulous day on both of our campuses last week. God is good! This Sunday, we begin a new six-week series that will take us all the way to Sunday, December 24 – Christmas Eve. It is hard to believe that we are that close to Christmas!

The title of my new series is MySpace. I am sure you are familiar with the phenomenon that has become so successful on the internet. MySpace is a social network, a place for friends to network with friends. What does this have to do with church today? Everything! The “me mentality” displayed through MySpace affects everything in our lives – our relationships with others and especially our relationship with God.

This is a great time to look at the life of Christ in a contemporary way. We are going to find out what Jesus said about the MySpace mentality. There is much in Scripture about this very subject. Isn’t it amazing? The Bible is always up to date, speaking about the issues we face every day.

Please invite people to come to church with you on Sunday. Use this series as a tool to encourage your friends and co-workers to attend with you. And the most important thing … please pray for this Sunday.

Invite and pray!

This morning I am moving slowly, but moving, after the huge day yesterday. I even slept in an hour later! Unique for me on a Monday morning. We have had Claude and Janice Thomas in our home since Friday night. He was our guest pastor yesterday at Springdale while I gave complete attention to Pinnacle Hills for the day. We were up very late since we did not get home until late from our special service last night at Pinnacle Hills.

I was blessed all day yesterday with the opening day at Pinnacle Hills. God was awesome in every way. The crowds were incredible. The movement of God among us was obvious. It was a special day because of all the Lord did, from the initial drive onto the campus in the morning until the lighting of the crosses last night. Thank you God.

I have heard great reports already from our Springdale Campus that was led in worship by Travis Cottrell and Claude Thomas. What I have been told is that it was a “great morning!” God is answering our prayers over these 50 days of committed, strategic praying.

Pinnacle Hills and Springdale Campuses have morning services each Sunday (now that opening day is behind us at Pinnacle Hills) at 9:15 and 10:55 a.m. This is outstanding for both campuses. We are grateful to God for these opportunities to join Jesus in building His church.

Pinnacle Hills will have an evening service for the next couple of Sunday nights. This Sunday night, Tony Evans will be preaching and on the following Sunday night, The Crabb Family will be in concert. These are two great offerings for both of our campuses to experience. Regardless of the campus you attend, support these special evenings.

Moving on …

This weekend promises to be “A Moment” at each of our campuses! Our Springdale campus will have the privilege of hearing Dr. Claude Thomas, a national communicator of God’s Word and a great friend of mine. And Travis Cottrell, the worship leader for Beth Moore and her conferences, will be leading in worship. It will be a fabulous morning in Springdale!

At The Church at Pinnacle Hills we will experience the “moment” we have prayed about for over five years – the opening of our new Worship Center. We are going to “Seize the Promise” together as we dedicate the beautiful facility the Lord has provided for us. There is only one “opening day” and we are going to enjoy it to the fullest!

Sunday will be the highlight of the weekend, but we cannot forget the excitement of the Razorbacks vs. Volunteers football game on Saturday! What excitement! What a clash this will be! On Saturday morning, ESPN’s College Gameday will air “live” from Razorback stadium! I am FIRED UP! And we get to take two Tennessee people with us to the game on Saturday night – our friends, Dr. Claude Thomas and his wife, Janice. These Tennessee natives are going to be sitting with me … right in the middle of RAZORBACK RED!

And then, on Sunday night at the conclusion of my message and the service, we will have the formal Lighting of the Three Crosses. This will be another great “moment,” a beautiful ending to our weekend, a defining moment for our church as we symbolize “sending out the Truth and the Light!”

Don’t miss the MOMENT!

Results at the polls are appearing to represent more this year the true condition of where our nation is at this time.  While some results I am sure are exactly what the nation needs, regardless of what you may think, it is obvious God’s sovereignty is not at all at stake.  He is never surprised nor dismayed by the politics of our nation.

While each county court house, each state house, and even the White House, will resonate with concerns and celebrations, let’s keep all in perspective today.  America is a great land and nation.  The people have spoken.  Prayerfully, our freedom will continue and grow upon the great history of this nation. Now, we embrace and pray for those who will be in authority over us.

The church house must sound forth a clear message on a day like today and after each election, and that message is, “Our God Reigns! He is far more powerful than politics and far more in control than any political party or persuasion.  Our concern needs to always be over the spiritual condition of people in our nation and in the world.  It is a concern of this Christian and Pastor that we have way too much emphasis by many believers “living or dying upon the latest election”, rather than living and dying to see people come into a relationship with Jesus.

Yes, Christians must be involved in the processes that our nation’s liberty affords to each of us, INCLUDING running for office as God leads various ones to do.  I pray from our own ministry here in Northwest Arkansas will arise the next great political leader in our state and our nation.  It is a battle that needs to be fought and I pray for God to call out those who need to fight in that battle as leaders.

In the meantime, we support, love, and pray for our leaders. The critical point for each of us as believers will be the issues.  Over the issues we do battle, but with and for the leaders we pray.

May God bless America.