When we attend a Southern Baptist Convention, leisure does not exist. Jeana and I have been involved in various meetings, as well as convention programs and activities. We have not stopped since we have been here. On Monday night (really Tuesday morning, I guess) I was involved with some ministry matters until 1:00 a.m. On Tuesday night (really Wednesday morning, I guess) we did not get to our room until after 12:00 midnight after spending time with a pastor and wife who we finally got to touch base with on this trip.

Even lunch times and dinner times are filled with conversations of all kinds. This year ministry has gone on, and we have been catching up on what God is doing along the way, what is happening in America and also the activities of the Southern Baptist Convention. The convention meetings are long and there are multiple programs, so we stay rather engaged. For example, today we will attend the Alumni Luncheon of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The program tonight will highlight the North American Mission Board and its new President, our friend and former church member, Dr. Geoff Hammond. Of course, in between all of this, emails, text messages and at times calls to and from our church ministry in Northwest Arkansas over various matters. No, it never ends.

The Southern Baptist Convention for us is a busy time. I get exhausted even writing about it. Everything comes to an end tonight, and we will be home tomorrow.

Hey, it is still pretty hot in San Antonio, but beautiful!

Through a sequence of events one year ago, I was nominated to be the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Due to several events, many of which were senseless and unfair, I came under incredible attack in every way possible five weeks prior to the actual election. It began within 24 hours of the announcement of my nomination. As most of you know, due to the tenor of these attacks, a disastrous situation followed. So many times I have wondered and prayed about what I should have done. I even thought about getting out the night before the election, which is what I really felt I should do and begged God to let me do. Even in the early morning of the election while walking, I begged God again, telling Him I felt it was not going to be good at all, but it proved impossible to retreat because of various matters. Well, that is another story and one I wish I would rewrite, including having never even being persuaded by leading pastors and others to do it.

The past is past and I am so glad it is; yet, the day is only beginning and will be a very unique day as I live through it. I can assure you of this one thing thus far; God has given me unusual grace since my arrival in San Antonio. I have not dreaded the week, nor have I walked with a downcast spirit. God has done what only God can do, for He alone has lifted me above the stuff and towards Him . . . I will not retreat from where God has me at this moment in my life. And I want all to know – I love this denomination in spite of matters a year ago which were 180 degrees different from any experience I have ever had with it as a whole. Sure, there have been moments and there always will be moments, but I am a Southern Baptist by conviction and choice, unashamedly I might add.

What have I learned this past year? There are so many things:

• God is sovereign over all affairs in our world, including the details of our lives.
• Many things we will not understand until later or until heaven, and some of those things just will not matter.
• God’s grace is strong and His Word is dependable in times of extreme injustice, untrue accusations, embarrassing experiences, and real-life disappointment.
• God has a different plan for me and that plan obviously does not involve me serving my beloved denomination as its President . . . I have served in every major leadership role there is in this denomination from leading pastors, to restructuring it, to leading its most influential committee . . . I have been more than blessed with leadership privileges . . . this one has just not proven to be in the will of God.
• This personal pain has pushed me to Him, helped me identify with certain elements of pain in the lives of others, and helped me become better for God . . . that is what life should always do for us.

From the moment it occurred, my commitment has been to operate at the highest level with all persons and I have been able to do so to the glory of God. Only by the Spirit of God’s leadership have I been able to do so, but I bless the name of Jesus for His Spirit.

Therefore, during this year, building up to this day, and including this day, I have been faithful to pray for our President, Dr. Frank Page, and I thank God for his leadership today. I hope you will pray for him as this convention convenes for the next two full days, now that the Conference for Pastors is over. Above all, we need revival in our churches, and that was my heart before I went through this, while in it, and today more than ever before.

Finally, pray for me at noon today as I participate on a distinctive panel of leaders on the subject of revival. I am the least of these on the panel and I will pray for them, joining them in speaking as requested of me.

Be blessed today . . . NEVER let anyone outside your circle of love.

Today is a pivotal day for three of the women in our fellowship of believers. They have responsibilities that will influence at least hundreds and perhaps thousands of pastor’s wives. Please pray for them today.

Kathy Ferguson, our Director of Women’s Ministries at Pinnacle Hills, is the keynote speaker this morning for this gathering. Kathy is a gifted communicator, but greater than that, a woman of God. She has a
tremendous commitment to delivering God’s truth from the Bible. I just prayed with Kathy over the phone this morning, that God would anoint her with a double-portion of His Spirit as she imparts LIFE to those women. I
prayed for God’s Living Water to flow through her. I hope you will do this same this morning. She will speak in the latter part of the morning session.

Becky Graves, the wife of our future church launcher of our San Diego project, will serve on a panel for Question and Answers. As the wife of a church planter, she has faced several challenges in both New Hampshire and Cleveland, and is also preparing now to go to San Diego, leaving in the latter part of the fall. Pray for God to use Becky to minister life.

Jeana, my wife, will have the privilege of assisting in leadership for this program. I hope you will pray for Jeana and the other ladies who will also be bringing leadership in some capacity. Do not underestimate this platform of responsibility; some of the most hurting people in church life are the wives of pastors. We must pray for God to do great things.

Tomorrow I participate on a revival forum during a luncheon with Henry Blackaby, John Avant, and Sammy Tippet. Thisevent is led by Life Action Ministries, a ministry committed to seeing revival in the nation. I am honored and humbled to participate on this forum with such an esteemed godly group of men. Pray for me to have something to contribute of God’s own work in my life and church.

Have a super day….by the way….as Jeana and I ran this morning early…it is VERY HOT and HUMID in San Antonio!

Sunday is coming, and God is moving big-time in our midst. I am so encouraged by the movement of the Holy Spirit in our church. God is up to something big, and I want us to embrace His movement completely.

The ministry of prayer is happening on both of our campuses. The Lord responds to His people when they pray. It is important for each of us to humbly come before Him.

This past week on a summer Sunday without a special event at all, we saw 48 people baptized through our ministries on both campuses. Yes, God is moving. The Great Commission is being exercised by our people daily around the world, beginning right here in Northwest Arkansas.

When God moves like this, get ready: The enemy Satan will try to disturb, distract, or destroy the movement of God using all kinds of people and all kinds of situations. Let’s make a commitment together: We have a person and a power within us greater than the enemy . . . the person of the Holy Spirit who always gives testimony to Jesus Christ being Lord.

Nothing is more important than this Sunday . . . pray and be there. Bring someone with you. As we continue in this series on EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, let’s expect God to meet with us powerfully.

I look forward to sharing the Word of God with you this Sunday . . . so pray for me as I pray for you!

My grandson, Peyton, who will be two years old in October, is at a fun stage. He is becoming “a real person,” if you know what I mean. He is beginning to communicate, putting words together, and is always moving and then moving some more. I tell you, he has been a real blessing to us.

He has finally begun to call my name; however, he is redefining my name . . . I am not “POPS” as originally intended by all, but “POPPY.” He does two syllable words really well, and thus far that is where he is – which is fine with me. What a joy he is to us.

We had some time with him last night as we left yesterday afternoon a little after 5:00 p.m. We drove to Tulsa because his dad has his team at the University of Tulsa for a team football camp. He entertained a sports utility full of people, as well as kept us moving much of the night. We got home rather late, but he did really well.

As Peyton is growing and maturing, it reminds me of our own spiritual development. One of the saddest things is when we do not continue to grow and mature. Many Christ-followers just stop growing and cease maturing. I cannot imagine the trauma we would all face if Peyton would just cease growing right now. Just imagine how God must feel when we just stop growing.

This week, make a strong commitment: I am going to continue to grow in Christ!

Have you considered what the next great move of God will look like? Obviously, none of us know for certain what it will look like, but I want to share a few thoughts I have on my heart. I believe the next great move of God will . . .

*Come out of a major prayer movement: I am convinced that God really does want His house to be a house of prayer for all the nations. He is committed to redeeming the nations of the world, every person have an opportunity to experience His Son, Jesus Christ. This past Sunday, we baptized many people from the various people groups of our region. I think this is happening because of a renewed commitment to prayer.

*Involve a major destruction of various walls that exist: These walls may be relational walls within families, friends or churches. I believe that when the Holy Spirit ushers in the next great move of God, many of the existing walls will come down. As we anchor our lives and churches on biblical truth and sound theology, the walls that diminish the effectiveness of the gospel message being distributed need to come down. We never shift from the centrality of the cross and resurrection in our message, but God would never lead us to do anything contrary to this.

*Usher in a major outpouring of the Holy Spirit: Yes, this next great move of God will involve a major outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the world. While there may be places with major spiritual famine, there will also be places with a major spiritual flooding of the Holy Spirit. Where sin abounds, thank God, grace does much more abound!

*Result in great numbers of people coming to Christ: Hallelujah, Jesus saves! Yes, Jesus wants to save and will save millions in that next great move of God. We will see all the God-given resources appropriated and applied to placing the Good News of Jesus around the world. We need to remember: the power is in the gospel!

Let’s pray for . . . this next great move of God!

Reese Caroline, our first granddaughter, is just over a week old in these pictures. Jeana has been with Nick and Meredith for a few days, and she sent me these pictures to post on my blog today. You can tell by one of the photos that Nick is already dressing her in Arkansas Razorback attire. I am confident this will not go over well with Meredith’s folks as they are Auburn graduates and Florida residents. It should be interesting to see what her future attire will be.

Just wanted you to see these pictures today.