This is a pretty big week for those of us who live in Northwest Arkansas. I will keep it rather simple today for all of us to see.

1. On Monday, the President of the United States was here. This does not happen every day or even every year, so it was very special for the entire state, regardless of political persuasion or preference. He is the leader of all the nation and of the world.
2. On Tuesday, the 142nd Field Artillery returns to Northwest Arkansas after being in Iraq and other places in the world for the past 18 months in service to our nation. They will return here, onto our Springdale Campus parking lot, to greet their families and friends. Some 1,500 will gather for this occasion at 2:00 p.m. today, and it is open to the public.
3. Our Shiloh Christian School Band played for the President yesterday and will play for the event this afternoon. Yesterday, they did a splendid job for the President, even receiving commendation from him. It is an honor for our school to represent our ministry under the fine leadership of Matt Pohl, our Shiloh Christian School Band Director.
4. On Friday, area football teams will begin in the State Playoffs. In our immediate region, Rogers, Bentonville, and Fayetteville will play Friday night. Shiloh Christian has a week off and will begin playoff action next Friday night due to receiving a bye for playoff round #1.
5. On Friday, people from across the nation will flood into Northwest Arkansas in preparation for Saturday’s game with Tennessee. The entire Friday and Saturday will be dominated with Red and Orange. What a clash!
6. On Saturday morning across the world, ESPN’s COLLEGE GAMEDAY will air “live” from Razorback Stadium. This two-hour show is the premiere show for college football fans. A little insight on my favorite secular song? The opening song for College Gameday! I love it, and it fires me up weekly! Oh, do not get me started!
7. On Saturday at 6:00 p.m., ESPN 2 will air the Razorbacks vs. Volunteers football game. I have two Tennessee people who will be staying with us this weekend, my dear pastor friend, Dr. Claude Thomas and his wife, Janice. They are two of our favorite folks, and they are going with us to the ballgame on Saturday. If you see them with me, harass them greatly!
8. On Sunday, the biggest event of all that will rival and be more significant than any of the above events: The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God upon both of our campuses in response to 50 days of prayer! Regardless of which campus you attend regularly, this day is very, very significant! Invite and bring!
9. On Sunday, for our Pinnacle Hills congregation, we will open up our new Worship Center at 10:00 a.m. for the opening service. On Sunday evening, our Springdale campus will join us at 6:00 p.m. It will be a significant day.
10. On Sunday night, at the conclusion of my message and service, we will have the formal Lighting of The Three Crosses (190′ being the tallest of them). A great event – signifying sending out the Truth and the Light!

#’s 8, 9, and 10 . . . the best of all!

Without any question at all, our church is in one of those “This Is It!” moments. For at least six years, we have envisioned what it would really mean to be “One Church in Two Locations.” Yes, The Church at Pinnacle Hills began over five years ago, but this Sunday will move into a new campus.

With this incredible move, the Lord will have placed here two gospel stations as bookends to our entire region. Both are large campuses with multiple staff members leading multi-ministries, and both have a superb future! Wow, God has blessed us greatly. Space will no longer be an issue on either campus. The beginning to be more of what God wants us to be is here!

Both campuses will have a Super Sunday on this coming Lord’s Day, so we must invite and bring people with us. By the end of November 12, we will have prayed for 50 days for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to be upon our church. Our prayer is that on this day God will customize His Pentecost for us, leading us into an endless Pentecost.

Yes, THIS IS IT! This is the week. This is more important than what happens on Wall Street, any new advancement occuring in our region, Tennessee coming to play the Razorbacks, or even ESPN Gameday coming to Northwest Arkansas this weekend. What God will do this week and on Sunday is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than any of these. Yes, they are big events and important for this world, but what God does is bigger and more important than all of those things. Sunday is our “THIS IS IT” moment as a church so …

Who will you invite to join you on the campus you attend?

We are a nation at war, and I am so proud of those who are attempting to preserve the freedom of all people in the world. America cannot retreat from the intimidating tactics of the terrorists and the nations who want to dominate the world politically or spiritually with their false propaganda. Our nation must become united states again, not divided states, especially over the major cause of preserving freedom for our nation and others in the world.

I am proud of Rich Hayes and the thousands of men and women who are in Iraq defending the cause of democracy in the world. If they are not in that territory of the world, then the battle will come inside of our own nation’s boundaries. We are a nation that is jeopardized by a cultural war that seems to divide us more by the day, but we cannot become a nation that is jeopardized within our boundaries. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away.

I read yesterday that Iraq and Afghanistan are two of the ten most dangerous places in the world. We must do all we can to support and pray for those from our nation who are located in these dangerous places while representing our United States of America. Casting suspicion and doubt about our involvement should cease. Supporting with resources to finish the job and praying for those who risk their lives for us should dominate our thoughts. Already, more Americans have died than we would have ever dreamed. Our hearts ache as we see the flag-covered caskets filled with men or women who have died in the field of battle. We cannot even imagine the pain their families must feel in those moments of despair and grief. What they must know is that they have our support, love in action, and prayer for them.

Rich Hayes, as seen in the above picture, is a born-again, committed believer of Jesus Christ. His family personifies why this church is great. They are always here. They are always supportive. They are always encouraging. Let’s permit Rich Hayes on this day to represent to each of us the thousands of Americans all over the world representing our great nation. Pray not only for Rich and his safety today, but others in our church, as well as all who serve our nation in America and across the world.

Our goal is not control or direction concerning the challenges worldwide. OUR goal should be to pray for those in authority over us and to pray for those who serve our nation worldwide. To Rich Hayes and every man and woman in uniform, know on this Thursday, November 2, I for one American, salute you and thank you for your service not only to America, but to the world. Thanks for preserving what God holds dear in His Word …

Justice for all …

There is nothing like going to a Razorback game, holding your grandson, and watching him experience the entire environment. He is so taken back by everything!

This picture is with us at the Mississippi game a couple of weeks ago. From the game before to the Mississippi week, his entire expressions and involvement changed. I hope he will be okay when his eyes, about 10 days from now, see Tennessee Orange! While brightness may warm his heart with Texas Orange (even though he is 100% Razorback!), I am not sure HOW he will respond to Tennessee Orange.

Saturday is a key game for the Razorbacks. Out of all games in the past several weeks, this one concerns me the most. The environment for the game – an ESPN game – which we have not fared well in the past, and being away from home concerns me. IF we can just get by South Carolina … oh my … November 11 will be crazy in Razorback Stadium. I get fired up thinking about it!

What a great weekend on November 11-12: Arkansas vs. Tennessee, and our entire day on Sunday at both campuses concluding a 50 Day Prayer Emphasis should be historic! Yes, I do get fired up for the Tennessee game, but I am already on fire about November 12 at both campuses. Oh my … what a day!  By the way …

Who will you invite and attempt to bring on November 12?