My dear wife, Jeana, will be releasing her first book this Sunday called, An Uninvited Guest ‘One Woman’s Journey From Cancer To Hope.’ What a blessing this will be to thousands of people. The book will arrive in bookstores nationally on October 1. Are you aware that at least 1 out of 5 people in America has cancer? This means that virtually every family in this country is touched by this disease through some member of their family and/or a close friend.

Finally – a resource written from a Christian perspective will be available for you to give to people. I have wanted Jeana to do this for several years, but it has just now been able to occur. The thing that sets Jeana apart from so many people who have had cancer is that she shared her story publicly, went through the challenges publicly, and began to invest in the lives of other cancer victims and their families soon after she finalized all treatments. This is unusual, and without question makes her story very special. Let me tell you why I love her book:

• It is filled with the transparency of her experience … all will identify.
• It shares her struggles not only physically and emotionally, but spiritually, yes, even struggles with God … all will identify.
• It invests not only as an encouragement to those with cancer today, but also invests in their families … all will appreciate.
• It coaches people through the journey in a subtle, but meaningful manner; therefore … all will be blessed.
• It provides hope for persons touched by this disease in any way … all will say, “I am so glad I read this book.”
• It is biblical and practical, informative and helpful … resulting in people knowing … “I will be better for reading this book.”
• It shares a foreword by one of our special friends, Johnelle Hunt, Co-founder of J B Hunt Transport, adding credibility and verification of Jeana’s story … of which all will say, “Jeana is the real deal.”
• It is applicable to both men and women, even though the story comes from a woman’s heart … all will identify with the journey.

You can secure a copy this week on each of our campuses, and we encourage you to help us get the book out to masses of people across the world. We need your help. You can point people to Christian bookstores across the country. Hopefully, secular bookstores and other major retail outlets will eventually sell the book. As well, you can secure the book from www.amazon.com.

When someone deals with cancer and the fear it brings into their lives, there will come a time when they are ready for encouragement. Now, as a friend or family member, you have a resource you can place in their hands.

Again, thanks for helping us get the word out. Jeana will be doing several radio and television interviews in various settings … please
pray for her as she enters this new territory.

Share hope with someone soon.

Last week on Monday-Wednesday, I experienced a powerful three day segment. I helped arranged and then attended with nine other mega-church pastor leaders, a seminar on Leadership led by the Soderquist Center Group. It was very meaningful, challenging, provocative, and penetrating into my life. All 10 of us were blown away with several things, but greatly encouraged to become better and more successful leaders.

Why was it powerful in my life?

• We had two assessments that helped us evaluate our lives and leadership, unlike anything I have ever gone through personally.
• We had learning experiences in brief recreational moments that were very challenging.
• We were instructed by gifted, influential business executives who have a proven track record in corporate America.
• We experienced life together for those three days, 10 pastors of larger churches, as well as the staff of the Soderquist Center.
• We worked hard for three solid days from early to late, being challenged in ways unlike anything any of us have ever experienced.

In our final moments together, I summed up my feelings with this statement: “It is obvious that I have thought way too highly of myself in leadership.” Yes, I meant it, even though laughter was the response by our participants. You see, it is a great lesson for all of us: Always continue to be a learner, with humility become a student, and by God’s power act upon what you learn about yourself and your leadership.

I am thankful to Don Soderquist and to Andy Wilson, the CEO of the center, for investing into the lives of 10 pastor leaders from across America. What great men and great leaders . . . more than that, godly men.

The actions of Coach Mike Gundy, Head Football Coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, in a press conference over the weekend, demonstrated his complete frustration with the media pertaining to one of his players. Being a highly visible leader in our culture is not easy at all. The media is a dominant and determining factor in so much of American life. What is shared through any of the venues from the Internet, printed page, or newscast can become “truth to the reader or listener” even if it is not truth. Obviously, this is what Coach Gundy was so concerned about as he demonstrated his concern with the members of the media. I felt so much for him because I identified with his frustration, and yet have never taken the actions he took in that press conference, which were unique to say the least. What I have always tried to remember and know in my heart…

I have discovered there are many wonderful Christian men and women who serve in various media outlets. They have a very difficult job with major pressures placed upon them by various people. As well, the nature of the news today gives us “real time news” on most occasions. We are in a new day in this media world – new for the observers, new for the objects of news, and new for the media professionals themselves. As we carve out our future together, we need to remember a few things.

*Truth is truth – and only truth needs to be shared with complete accuracy and with great sensitivity. Accuracy does not lean to conjecture or spin or personal bias. The accurate truth is what everyone needs to desire. Equally, whatever that “accurate truth” may be needs to be shared with great sensitivity. People have only one life to live on this side of eternity, and all people deserve an element of sensitivity extended to them if they find themselves as newsworthy.

*When you hear, read, or see news, evaluate matters fairly. Insure the provider of news is accurate in content and spirit. As well, weigh “this news” by the greater yardstick which is the long-term reputation of the person or situation that has become newsworthy, of course coupled with the reality of the actual truth itself.

*Be careful not to equate ALL members of the media in a poor manner, when we know many members of the media really desire to serve the public with truth alone. Yes, as in ALL professions, there are people who operate by their own agenda rather than a truth agenda. It happens from media to ministry, from business to entertainment. It happens everywhere, so we need to be wise in our remarks, always honoring people. I know many born again members of the media and respect them greatly. As in all professions today, we need young adults to enter the field of media, ready to demonstrate truth and love in relationship to news.

*As born again Christians, we are held to a higher level than others -whether we are members of the media or recipients of various news stories, we are held to the high level of truth and love. Regardless of what others may say or do, we have a higher standard. We must be committed to the standard of truth and love.

Thankfully, I know what it is like to have members of the media do their jobs in the highest manner by the standard of truth and love. Unfortunately, I also know what it is like to be the subject of poor journalism with bias and spin cast against me. I guess my appeal to you today as it is to myself – let’s gauge all by truth and truth alone. Because it is news does not mean it is truth, and because it is truth does not mean it should be news. My heart is that as born again Christ-followers (whatever our role is in relationship to news), let’s remember that our standard is higher.

Let’s reach for that standard together.

Yesterday was a demonstration of the blessing of music. Music can express many times what we are unable to verbalize personally. I was blessed by the music in all of our worship services yesterday.

Our special guests, Keith and Kristin Getty, were gifts to our church yesterday. Their roots in Ireland shaped them into being creative, yet simple, song writers and worshipers. Our people loved them and were attracted to their music for many reasons. For me, it represented so much of what music needs to be:

Biblical, theological, simple, clear, singable,

with the lyrics being the dominant force.

Yes, our hearts were taken into the Throne Room of Heaven through the blessing of music.

Our Springdale location was blessed not only by the Getty’s yesterday, but by our new Worship Pastor, Kim Noblitt, also a tremendous song-writer. As we were ushered into the presence of God through the music of Kim Noblitt, our hearts were praising God for the mighty name of Jesus.

I am convinced with the outstanding leadership of Kim Noblitt and Josh Stanbery, this ministry can emerge into becoming one of the most special worship ministries in the world. These two gifted and godly men can become a spiritual force to influence music generationally and globally. Support them in every way. Above all, pray for them. This is a great God Moment for all of us. Let’s follow Him.

I am grateful today . . . for the blessing of music.

As our work week nears the end, I want to remind you once again to Stay Connected to the Source of every good thing. I John 2:28 says, “So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” If we persevere in our faith, we will do four things:

1. We will remain in the church. This is a great sign that we are really born again.
2. We will remain in doctrinal truth. So important – so that we do not stray from God’s absolute truth.
3. We will remain in the Spirit. What a wonderful gift – with the Spirit within us, we have the ability to know Truth from Error.
4. We will remain in Jesus Himself. Continuing in, staying in, abiding in – the key to our lives not being in disarray!

Sunday will be a monumental day for our church. We have a special couple, Keith and Kristyn Getty, joining Josh Stanbery, Kim Noblitt, and our choirs on each campus. The Getty’s are having a dramatic impact on the churches they minister in. Their modern hymns are really taking hold, bridging generations and reaching people in an unusual way.

Sunday will also be Kim Noblitt’s first formal Sunday with us. It will be a great day as he leads us in worship. I will also be continuing our iSteps series from the book of I John.

See you on Sunday!

We had a wonderful day at both campuses on Sunday! Many people had breakthroughs as a result of their week of prayer and fasting. Many others did not see the breakthrough they had hoped and prayed for, but God did give them grace to deal with their burdens in the meantime. The key to our continued spiritual victory this week is for us to REMAIN IN HIM.

Jesus is our source for anything and everything that is good. Our challenge and also our great opportunity is to stayed connected to our Source. In John 15, we are told to “abide or remain in Christ.” The word literally means:

• A continual being in Him
• A continuance in Him
• A continuing, staying in Him relationship
• A persevering, a permanent remaining in Him

I John 2:24 – “What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.”

Stay connected to Jesus today as you work, as you study, and as you walk through relationships. If you feel your life sliding into disarray, check your connection.

This week we have had over 1,300 of our people who recorded that they would go on some level of prayer and fasting with us. We have called this week “Breakthrough 2007,” asking God for breakthroughs personally and corporately as a church.

This week prayer meetings have been held each morning by our staff team, each noon our buildings have been open for prayer, and each evening we have had Spirit-led and directed prayer meetings. We have seen many people come, some different people nightly, and God has met with us. Each evening has been different. Burdens have been shared and prayers have been offered. Only our God is able to bring the Breakthrough; however, many of those have occurred and will occur by the end of Sunday night. If they do not occur “the way we had prayed,” we are praying God will give us a breakthrough in the way we see it, handle it, or deal with it in our lives.

This week we have been moving with anticipation towards Sunday. No, we have no “special guest” or “special emphasis,” but we are praying that God will show up mightily. Our heart is to see this Sunday be a beginning of a mighty spiritual breakthrough, personally and corporately. Our hearts need to be engaged in our Savior and His words to us wholeheartedly.

This week we are praying for God to make it a “spiritual marker” for all of us. A day that ushers us into the mighty presence of God, experiencing the dynamic of His full power. A day when our mission of reaching this region, America, and the world will go up to a new level. A day when lives will be changed, leading to thousands of other changed lives in the coming months and years.

Come and let God “set His mark” on us together. . . this Sunday is only a beginning!

We are in the midst of a week of prayer and fasting at various levels in our church. Prayer meetings are occurring each evening at 6:00 p.m. on both campuses. Last night, I participated on our Springdale Campus, and tonight I will be at the Pinnacle Hills Campus. We will wrap up the week on Sunday evening at our Springdale Campus.

What a joy it was last night to come and participate in prayer with friends. Burdens and walls are real, but so are breakthroughs! The presence of the Holy Spirit was great upon the prayer time.

In this one week of prayer and fasting, we are already seeing God give some breakthroughs. People have come to Christ, peace is being given concerning some great burdens, joy is being restored, and overall, we are getting strongly connected to our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know the fall is a tough time regarding schedule, but at least be faithful to pray with us. You can view our prayer guide here and download here. These were also handed out in a printed version on Sunday. If all we did for two or three days this week was beseech the God of Heaven by using this guide, it would result in many miracles. This is what hundreds of our people are doing, participating in all levels of fasting and prayer.

We will see God move strongly and profoundly.

On this strategic day, we need to remember what happened six years ago. An enemy of our nation attacked our nation on “our soil” and was quite successful in their attempt to take the lives of thousands. Beyond that, their actions caused our nation to “freeze” for a period of time, being stunned by the events of the day. Without any question, Americans became the victims on that day of a heartless movement against humanity.

Now our nation is in a global war against terrorism. Continual discussion occurs in Washington D. C., as well as around the world, about this global war. Additionally, we have countless thousands in harms way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world. The result is that we do have a safer and better America because of our American troops.

I remember the events of that day like yesterday and also remember the evening of September 11, when almost a thousand of our people came to pray in our Worship Center. At that moment, the unknown of the day created so much fear and uncertainty. Our hearts were broken for the lives lost, the families shattered, and the uncertainty of those days.

You see, it was a “real day” with “real emotions.”

We need to remember what the terrorists tried to rob from us six years ago today. Yet, they failed. While America may still debate about how the events of that day should have been handled, we do agree about the need for genuine freedom to be preserved in our nation. While we wrestle politically in these days over global terrorism and how to confront it, we must keep the main thing the main thing: freedom!

In this continual wrestling match, we must pray. We must pray for our President and all of our elected officials who will determine the outcome of the way we fight terrorism.

We will remember . . . this strategic day.

Each Thursday for the next several weeks, we will have our Summit Business Persons’ Luncheon. The purpose of this luncheon is to help you make the climb in the business world by equipping you, motivating you, and helping you to keep your dreams alive.

Who can come? Anyone can come, but in reality, it is mostly people (men & women) in the present business community, and there are also some retirees who attend. At times, spouses join their mates for various functions of interest. It is a fabulous time and all are welcome.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 271-7799. Sometimes you can just walk up, but at times, it is sold out and we just cannot accommodate you. Please join us, you will love it. Lunch is served at from 11:45 a.m. through 12:10 p.m., and then the program begins. You will be dismissed at approximately 12:50 p.m. to return to work for the afternoon. As well, our buildings can be used for you to have brief meetings with friends or colleagues. This campus belongs to God and His people, and oh by the way – The Summit is held at The Church at Pinnacle Hills Campus.

Please come and bring a friend … here is a list of our guests for this fall session.