If you missed yesterday, you missed one of the most special days in the life and history of our church. What made it special? Why was it successful?

Yesterday morning we ordained 10 young men to the ministry of the gospel. The map above indicates the present location of these men all over America. Each of these men have been greatly touched by this ministry. They are special men with unique giftedness. Our hearts were moved as we laid our hands upon the heads of these men along with their spouse, praying over them. Yes, it was a special moment, one that you must see and witness with us. Click here to download the service from yesterday at our Springdale or Pinnacle Hills campus, which will be available by Tuesday afternoon.

Yesterday morning we also commissioned our San Diego Ministry Team to reach that city for Christ. Much planning has occured, the team is assembled, and now is the time for us to launch forward. Scott and Deanna are located there already and Brad and Becky will be leaving on Wednesday. Continue to pray for them.

Last night was a special moment as well, as we interviewed extensively some of the denominational leaders who will help us do this San Diego project. It was informative and challenging. Of course, all of his followed great and special moments of worship.

Let’s understand: God has given us a vision that can change the world.

There are times in your life, family, business, or team that can make you or break you. These moments usually come at some point of crisis or on the brink of it. These are moments that will thrust you forward into some great days or can easily result in a downward spiral.

I believe there have been moments in my life that could have been like this. Moments when if I did not respond correctly I could have been sent into a downward spiral very difficult if not impossible to climb out of. I know moments have existed as well that have provided a lift to my life in a powerful way.

Those of us in the state of Arkansas who are Razorback fans realize that this Saturday’s game with Auburn University is one of those moments. Our team has faced a unique and challenging schedule, not one that has been filled with #1 opponents, but one that may prove to have been a detraction to our success rather than addition to it. We will not know until Saturday night whether our schedule has helped us or hurt us. Regardless of the schedule, our Razorbacks will have to line it up against a very good football team and somehow pull out a victory that will LIFT us up to a new level. If by chance this does not occur, then the moment may be one that is difficult in weeks to come. We are pulling for them, so hopefully we will land our first SEC victory this year.

Ah yes, this principle is even true for our church. I believe this coming Sunday will be one that can provide THE LIFT FOR OUR CHURCH! This Sunday, unlike any we have ever had, provides a super opportunity for each of us. Oh my friend, this is a moment, a great moment. A moment that can lift us up to a new level.

Share the moment with us on Sunday at either of our campuses.

This coming Sunday in our fellowship will be a day you will not forget. What will make it special? Why will it be an unforgettable experience? I want to tell you why today.

It will be a Sunday of celebration. I promise you that one thing we all need to improve on in our lives and in our church is celebration. You know, God has done some outstanding things in our midst through these years; therefore, we need to celebrate these victories. Sunday, in a very unique and special way, will be a Sunday of celebration.

It will be a Sunday of vision. You will see personified before your eyes the reality of vision. You will witness how your church has influenced the lives of young leaders. The deposits made into their lives will go beyond the present and the next generation.

It will be a Sunday of global influence. You never know where people will go and what they will end up doing. In fact, we limit what we perceive people can do with their giftedness, yet God will surprise us all at what He can do with them. This Sunday, you will see the future global influence that can occur through our church.

I have said it many times, DO NOT MISS this coming Sunday!

Do you ever struggle going forward in your life? It is so easy to get bogged down in the details of daily life that you live life paralyzed. Are you identifying with this reality in your life?

Go forward over the distractions to your life. When you are running a race, you keep your eye on the finish line. You do not look to the left and to the right to seize the beauty around you, but you run with intentionality. Even if others are distracting you, you go forward. Whatever is pulling you away from finishing your race, ignore it, and go forward.

Go forward over your past defeats. We have all been defeated. No, we do not like defeat and yes, defeat can paralyze you. However, you must go forward over your defeat. Will you go forward over your defeat? Keep the faith, live in confidence, and remember, you are a winner. Oh yes, you have been dealt a setback, but remember, every setback is really a set-up for something great in your life.

Remember, Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back. That is a very good insight . . . there is no benefit in looking backward.

The benefit is in going forward.

October is a very big month for our church. Let me share the reasons:

1. We began our fiscal year on October 1. Our budget need over the next 52 weeks is $14,430,000. This is a minimal increase, but we must all pray and participate in this challenging year. I pray we can all give at least what we gave over the past 52 weeks to our Ministry Budget. Join us as we increase our giving personally to help meet this budget need, which is the lifeblood of the entire ministry.
2. Next Sunday is a huge Sunday, a great Sunday of vision and future. Do not miss it, for it will be one of our greatest ever. If you are thinking about being away, do not miss next Sunday. Let’s be on time to worship, and let’s begin working hard to do that weekly.
3. October 21 is Friend Day, a day we ask you to bring a friend or friends with you. Yes, this should be a weekly goal for each of us; however, we emphasize it on this day to focus our efforts. We have a fabulous Sunday planned with Jamey Ragle serving as our guest speaker. He is a blast to listen to, and the Lord will use him powerfully in our lives. Do not miss this blessed Sunday.
4. On Sunday night, October 28, at 6:00 p.m. we will have a “Night of Worship” at our Springdale Campus. This service will be for both campuses combined. Why is this such an important night? The largest and most dominant Christian network nationally and internationally wants to take this night and air it “free of charge.” It will be a “taped event” to be aired in the coming days. The Trinity Broadcasting Network has chosen our church for this, and the evening will be filled with worship, prayer, preaching, and various interviews with guest. Therefore my friends, we need you here. Let’s fill the house for this special evening.
5. In October, you can begin to sign up for the Holy Land Trip in 2008…the dates are March 11-20. Trust me my friend, this trip is the trip of a lifetime, one of the greatest investments you can ever make in your spiritual life. Brochures are available, so call at 751-4523 and secure one today. You can also view details and register online here.

Let’s make October a winning month in every way personally and in our church.

On March 11-20, I will be taking a group to the Holy Land of Israel. This will be a Pre-Easter Journey of walking where Jesus walked. Jeana and I will be taking a group of people with us. It will be a great time of learning, but also of fellowship. Please consider prayerfully.

Nothing will give you a greater love for the Bible than a trip to Israel. It will open up the pages of the Bible, leading to a mighty spiritual impact upon your life. This is an investment into your spiritual life and growth. Let me place matters in perspective for you concerning the timing.

We will leave on Tuesday afternoon, March 11, from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, flying into Atlanta, and then direct into Tel Aviv. This will be on the Tuesday afternoon before Spring Break week, which begins March 17 and concludes on March 21, with Easter being on March 23. We have done this time of year for three reasons: The climate in Israel, for families to experience it together if desired, and being close to Easter will be very, very special.

On Palm Sunday, the day that begins the Passion Week before Easter, you will be with us on the Mount of Olives, journeying down the Palm Sunday Path just as Jesus did 2000 years ago. You will hear Dr. Gary Frazier speak on, "Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future." After this we will walk down the pathway, going into the Garden of Gethsemane for a very special time spiritually. Of course, on this day, much more will occur, but this is just your morning experience on Palm Sunday morning. Can you imagine spending Palm Sunday in Jerusalem and then going to the Garden Tomb, walking inside of the Tomb where Jesus was laid, on Wednesday before Easter? Wow!

There are many details of the trip and you can register online at www.discoveryministries.com. You can call them for any clarifications once you have looked at all matters at (817) 789-1771 or call Anita at (479) 751-4523. Please go online or call and request a brochure before asking too many questions … in other words, the brochure in print or online will answer most those. So my friends, let us hear from you soon.

Yes, people who are not members of our church can go on this trip with us. Please remember that. This is a great adventure for a couple, or for a family, plus we have always had singles on this trip with us. My friends, this is a life-changing experience spiritually speaking, and I hope you will consider prayerfully. The hotels are as fine as available in Israel whether we are on the Mediterranean Ocean, the Sea of Galilee, or in Jerusalem.

Here you can see details, register, and learn all matters concerning the trip. Pretty well everything you need is on this site.

We only have room for 50 people initially and will begin a waiting list after that, believing we can get more to Israel; however, travel is at an all-time high to Israel. Is it safe? As one dear brother says, "Probably much safer than many American cities." The bottom line: if it is not safe, we will not go. If it is not safe, Israel will not let us come. Tourism is their #1 industry and they are very, very conscientious of security at all times.

Consider and sign-up as soon as possible … it would make a great Christmas gift … all in one decision!

I believe in being grateful to God for His blessings upon our lives. We live in a culture filled with ingratitude. This is unacceptable, especially in the lives of Christ-followers. Let me share a few things for you to consider today.

*All you have comes from God: ALL you have! Did you pay attention to the emphasis of ALL? Sometimes I get the drift that some people operate in the mindset that certain things they have are because of God’s blessings, but others have been personally secured. Sorry my friend, I just do not buy it. That mindset will not hold water with the Word of God.

*You have what you have because God has given it to you. What you have in quality or quantity is not the issue. The issue is: whatever you have – you have because because God has given it to you. Therefore, our response needs to be gratitude to God alone for all He has given to us.

*Live acknowledging God is your source for everything. How is this done?

• Live with hands open . . . He gives and takes away.
• Live with hands up . . . He deserve our gratitude and praise.
• Live with hands moving . . . moving to actions of giving to others, mostly to God and His Kingdom causes through His church.

You never go wrong living like this.

*Live making verbal appreciation to God and to others. Praise and Thanksgiving, many times demonstrated through worship, need to be filled with verbal appreciation to God. Sitting stonefaced with mouth closed in a worship environment may be sending the wrong signals. We need to verbalize our thanksgiving and praise to God. Of course, when people acknowledge you with gifts or thoughts or words, always be overflowing with gratitude to them.

Blessings . . . they are everywhere and never forget . . . they all come from God.

I just finished completing the message for Sunday morning, a message I have worked on for two to three weeks. I promise that when you leave, you will be enlightened. This is not because of me by any means, but because I will deal with a delicate, but powerful passage for our generation. Please do not miss it.

Hey, invite people to join you on this Sunday morning. Right now, look for others that Jesus may want you to invite.

Last night, Jeana baked some homemade bread for a new neighbor of ours down the street, taking it to them right out of the oven, introduced herself to them, and invited them to church. They visited extensively with her, demonstrating deep appreciation for her gift to them, plus the invitation. Yes, she believes they will soon come to our church, perhaps even this Sunday.

What Jeana modeled last night could be reproduced hundreds of time in our church every week by each of you. Does Jeana do this often? Yes she does. Can you do this or something else to welcome people into your neighborhood, plus extend to them an invitation to our church? Yes, you can. Do something that is within your giftedness, resulting in inviting others to church.

Just think what would happen in our church if hundreds of our people did this weekly . . .

Permit me some moments this morning to share a few of my reflections from yesterday. I believe it is always important to look back, learn, remind, and to launch forward from our experiences with God’s people. Okay, are you ready?

Reflection #1: The message on “Love” was very well received by our people and gave each of us a personal challenge. You know, I think the key to this as a church is to remember, “If we do not excel in doing anything else as a church, we must excel in loving people…when they leave here, they need to know they have been loved by our church.” I think the key to this personally is, “If we are going to be good lovers, we must be good forgivers.” In other words, love keeps no accounts.

Reflection #2: The worship song at Springdale yesterday, “Love Has a Name,” was a great moment and a super set-up to the message. We really need to capture the power of that song. The only way we are going to really love others is through Christ and Him alone.

Reflection #3: Our bookstores at both of our campuses are a super success, proven again as Jeana’s book was launched yesterday. Our partnership with those stores is placing helpful resources into the hands of our people weekly. They have also provided a place for our people to hang out and fellowship together. Express your thanks to the folks who assist us on both of our campuses.

Reflection #4: Jeana’s initial book release to our people was a strong and superb success! Already more books are having to be ordered to place into the hands of our people. Thanks for making this investment, and I pray you will share it across America with others. Jeana goes to Little Rock this week for a television interview and will interview by radio in several major cities across the country, but she will do ALL radio interviews from Northwest Arkansas. Pray for her.

Now, let’s move forward for the week.