We believe God is calling our church to a week of prayer and fasting from September 9-16. Why is this week of prayer and fasting being called at this time? We believe God is preparing us for our greatest days ever, beginning to do a deep work through our “Downpour” Connection series going on right now. We believe as a church that we must beseech God about our future in every way. As well, we are believing God that each of us, including yours truly, has a burden or an issue or a need that needs to be addressed.

Nothing addresses needs personally or corporately like prayer and fasting. God has deepened this truth in my life in so many ways. Through the years, the Lord has used this biblical truth and practice to deepen my walk with Him, but also to launch various dreams and visions in my life. I believe that God wants us to enter into this dimension with Him.

Breakthrough 2000 is our theme for this week because we are asking God for a breakthrough personally and corporately. You will have to define your personal need for a breakthrough, and we have prepared a document for you to use in order to do that. However, we believe God has put on our hearts what to lead our church to do in regard to this corporate fast. We are asking God for a breakthrough to our future:

• Spiritually: We need a spiritual downpour.
• Strategically: We need a defined direction.
• Financially: We need financial miracles.

We want you to enter into this corporate and personal fast with us at whatever level you can.

What level is acceptable? You will have to solve that personally with God and determine what you believe He wants you to do. It may be that your schedule or health will limit or prohibit you to participate at any level of a “food fast;” however, we can all fast (give up or abstain) from something. Why is this important? Fasting is abstinence from food (or whatever you can do) with a spiritual goal in mind. In other words, you are neglecting some element of yourself to pursue the God of Heaven doing something powerful in your life. The time you would spend on whatever you are fasting from – withdraw and spend it with God in prayer, presenting to Him your need for a breakthrough plus the breakthrough to our church’s future.

You can begin to sign up this Sunday. Pray about it. Seek the Lord about it.

It will be a special week with prayer, sharing, and worship each evening. Many may not even be able to make one of these times together, but we are doing it for emphasis and to provide 60-75 minutes of nightly encouragement to you on this journey.

Come and journey with us….see you Sunday, and have a good Labor Day Holiday.

I thought today I would tell you how excited we are about the Summit Business Persons Luncheon that starts back on September 13. You can secure tickets by calling 479-271-7799.

September

13 – Grant Teaff, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Association
20 – Mark DeMoss – President, The DeMoss Group
27 – Dr. Michael Catt – Executive Producer, Facing the Giants

October

4 – Mart Green – Founder, CEO and Producer, Bearing Fruit Communications
11 – Jay Jacobs – Athletic Director, Auburn University
18 – Truett Cathy – Founder & Chairman, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
25 – Dr Ronnie Floyd

November

1 – Dr. Gary J. Oliver – Executive Director, The Center for Relationship Enrichment, John Brown University
8 – Cpl. Aaron Mankin, Corporal, United States Marine Corps
15th – Johnelle Hunt – Co-Founder, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
29th – World Trade Center – Panel: Congressman John Boozman, Chancellor John White and CEO Dan Hendrix

December

6 – Christmas Summit

I am learning so much from studying God’s Word. It is amazing how much there is to learn. As I have entered into a new and fresh look for the present series out of 1 John, I am learning so much. I could not even tell you how many times I have read the book. I have even taught the book here on one occasion, right after my arrival in Northwest Arkansas almost 21 years ago. Regardless, I am still learning.

What does this say?

• There is much to learn in God’s Word: we never run out of things to learn from Him. His Truths are inexhaustible and His Person is unexplainable.

• We must work hard to remain teachable: we must always be learners. Our knowledge is limited and our needs are plentiful.

Be a learner today, in fact, start with God’s Word right now.

Hallelujah, it is football week! Summer is nearing an end, schedules are beginning to become routine, and yes, football is here. There is nothing like it.

It all begins this week in High School Football, climaxed toward the weekend with college football. Whatever team you support or have been involved with in your past, go out and support these young people. It is a privilege to be part of a team, a fellowship of people going towards the common cause of victory.

Competition is exciting and fun. It makes us work together to achieve the common goal of victory. So much of what I do today comes off of much experience gained as an athlete in high school. The lessons learned, whether on the field of football, court of basketball, court of tennis, diamond of baseball, or running on a track, ALL go together to help me today.

I have stated for years; the three most influential people in the life of a student are:

• His / Her Dad
• His / Her Coach
• His / Her Student Pastor

I have seen this to be reality through the years.

This is why I have had such a heart for coaches through the years, coaches of ALL sports. They hold in their hands the lives of students and young adults. They can train them up in the right way or drive them away with harshness. I believe most, if not all, coaches desire above all to make a difference. The attitude of Coach Tony Dungy tells the story when he said in his new book, Quiet Strength, “I do football in life, but football is not my life.” This is the attitude of a great coach, a Super Bowl winning coach.

This fall, pray for All of our coaches of ALL sports. They are influencers, and it is my goal to help them become all God wants them to become in their lives.

Are you ready for some football?

I am encouraged by many things I am witnessing right now in the ministry of our fellowship. I want to share a few of these with you as we move towards the weekend.

I am encouraged by what we experienced last weekend in our services. There was a level of intensity and excitement over both of our campuses. There was an excitement and atmosphere existent in our worship services. Through our Downpour study, I think God will greatly show us favor.

I am encouraged by the ministry reports of our new “Impact Van” Ministry. This ministry “goes into the community” where the people live, leading them into experiences that will introduce them to God as well as to the fellowship of our church. This ministry replaces the ministry tool of “bus ministry” which existed in our church for many years and most of those years effectively. As the American culture has changed (long discussion) and mainly the lives of people, bus ministry has annually become increasingly more difficult. Even though we celebrate what God has done through it over these years, after numerous study sessions and discussion, we began this Impact Van ministry. It is not about “numbers of people” we are reaching, but about “the greatest way to do it in today’s world.” Ministry tools transition in every ministry and generation, but the gospel never changes. This we will never negotiate or change in any way.

I am encouraged by ministry that is happening within our fellowship. It is obvious that true New Testament ministry is happening in the life of our church. There is a dynamic of people ministering to people and people reaching people. It cannot be replaced.

I am encouraged by the ministry of prayer that is growing on both of our campuses. A new “prayer culture” is being created which is signified by God’s activity among us. He wants His house to be a “House of Prayer for all the nations.” To the Lord alone, we give glory. This is so timely in regards to our week of prayer and fasting you will begin to hear about in detail this coming Sunday. This set aside week is September 9 pm through September 16. God will use this week to provide us with some major spiritual breakthroughs!

Yes, I am encouraged by all of this and the weekend is coming … enjoy it … see you Sunday.

I am overwhelmed this morning with the Word of God. You know, the Bible is one incredible book. As I have prepared intensely over the past three mornings for Sunday’s message out of 1 John, I am overwhelmed by the Word of God.

Overwhelmed by its Richness . . .
The Word of God is so rich! It is such a well of truth. In these days while most just “glance at the Word” when they preach, we really need to “gaze at the Word” because it is so very, very rich.

Overwhelmed by its Relevance . . .
So many people question whether the Bible is relevant. The Bible is very relevant; however, occasionally it is presented by some who do not do so in a relevant manner. When I think of what I am doing on Sunday, it is so relevant to our lives; we should stand in awe of Him, yet fall on our faces before Him.

Overwhelmed by its Resources . . .
Anyone can study the Word of God today. There is so much assistance offered through various resources. There is no book more written about than God’s Word. Gather “the right resources” to help you wade through some of the deep waters of God’s Word. Any of us can be misled, so always remember, “Let the Bible interpret the Bible!” The Bible is the greatest resource on the Bible that exists today.

Become overwhelmed!

You have heard, “a picture is worth 1,000 words.” Well, this is probably true concerning this picture. In fact, what I want to do is to just use this picture to tell you what it represents.

A Friday Night: On Friday nights at this time of year, you will find “the Floyd Family” at some high school football stadium. We have done football for years and still do football. At this traditional “Blue and Gold” game at our school, excitement is building towards the opening game two weeks from the night this picture was taken. On this Friday night, Jeana and I went by to pick up Peyton and bring him to the ballgame, and he was fired up!

A Relationship: This picture represents a relationship between Peyton and me. He is my first grandchild of three. He already understands many things, football being one of them. He can go “down, set, hut” and act it out. He is holding in his hands two football figures Jeana found the other day that Josh and Nick played with as children. Peyton loves them too. This relationship now spans a generation. Of course, in the picture you see Peyton pointing upward to his Gigi (Jeana) …yes, a relationship! It is all about relationships, is it not?

An Experience: This experience we had was a great one. It is really special to go by your son’s home, pick up his son, and experience with him what you and your son had experienced so many times.

A Game: Hey, we are teaching Peyton, “football is a game.” “It is not “life.” We taught our boys this and he will learn it too. Sure, it is important while you are doing it, and you should do it with all of your heart to the glory of God, BUT it is just a game. God is so creative, He has blessed us with the privilege of having fellowship with Him and others, even around a game. These kinds of experiences He grants to us in life are privileges, yes privileges we do not need to take for granted.

While my kids were with us, we did Jesus, church, and football. We kept it in order the vast majority of time and had one great ride.

Whatever you do, try to keep perspective and remember, much of life is a “game” and that does not make it bad, but do remember it as you live life. Stop long enough, take some pictures, and hold in your heart the memories.

All across Northwest Arkansas today, school begins. This means schedules and routines kick in for masses of people today. The summer is good, but most people are more than ready for some “normality” again, whatever that may be. I talked with a young boy yesterday who was fired up with a smile on his face because school was beginning. I mentioned it in church last night and “Amens” resounded from parents. Oh yes, I believe everyone is ready to head back to school.

Even though we are encouraged that many of our people were back in church life yesterday, the reality is it that for some people, it was their last weekend away. So the potential for next Sunday is even greater. Ask God (with me) right now, “Lord, create in your people everywhere a desire to worship You with Your people.” As God answers this prayer, we will see many great things occur.

Yesterday was the 6th Anniversary of our Pinnacle Hills location. We celebrated some of the things that God has done in these years. As I consider both of our campuses, I shared with our people these words last night:

When I think of our Springdale Campus, I think of VISION and HEART. This incredible faith-driven congregation had a big vision and a big heart to do the Pinnacle Hills campus and look what God has done. Now, when I look at Pinnacle Hills, I also see both VISION and HEART. Yes, Pinnacle Hills got it! Both campuses united on one mission to see this region impacted with the Good News of Jesus Christ all because of our people’s VISION and HEART.

What a people of God we have in Northwest Arkansas….God is good to me.

I am convinced that God wills for us to have a big-time future. This does not mean that we will not face adversity or challenge, but it means that God has a major, big-time plan for each of our lives. If you were God (and you are not), but knowing yourself as you do, what would you do for you to maximize yourself?

I am convinced that God has greater things in mind for you than you will ever be able to have for yourself. These greater things may not look like or come in packages like we might prefer, but in the big scheme of things, they are perfect because they are what God wants for us.

A big-time future cannot be equated with geographical change or economic upgrades, even though, who knows, it might occur. Our goal does not need to be these as much as getting in on what God wills for you that is big-time for you right now in your life.

Parents want the best for their children. At least, godly parents want the best for their children.

I can assure you: God is the greatest parent of all and He wills the best for your life. If He wills it, it is big-time. Whatever it is, good and bad, it is big-time.

We serve a big-time God with big-time plans for you … spend this weekend thinking over what that might be for your life, then PRAY about it!

Yesterday I spent some time doing a television shoot for our international broadcast. It was a reminder to me of what a great opportunity we have to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth each week. We are truly blessed.

Each Sunday morning, I stand before the large world map that covers a wall in my office. I stand and pray asking God to use that global broadcast that occurs each Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time to reach people for Christ and for people to become strengthened in the faith.

Yesterday also reminded me of the great staff team that it takes each week to produce this broadcast. Under the leadership of Zach Kennedy, several folks were involved in the making of yesterday’s television shoot that will go all over the world in weeks to come.

It takes a team to realize a dream, even a dream of taking the Good News of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Yes, it takes the team of staff, prayer warriors, and financial givers to pull this off on a weekly basis.

Pray for this team of workers, prayer warriors, and givers to rise up in a new way to help us share the Gospel around the world.

Yes, media can be a blessing.