We have a great responsibility as Christians to impact the next generation. They are the future, and we must insure that they are equipped to handle life and in turn, impact the generation to follow them.

This is one of the reasons we have invited Ron Luce to be our guest this Sunday for Student Day. Ron is the leader and founder of Teen Mania, and has become one of America’s foremost experts on teen culture. He has spoken to over 12 million students since 1986; more than 200,000 students last year alone! Ron is the author of 22 books for and about teens. Our Student Ministry encouraged our teens to read his most recent book, Battle Cry for A Generation, which casts vision for how they really can make a difference in “their world.”

Ron will be speaking in all of our services on Sunday – 9:15 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 10:55 a.m. at The Church at Pinnacle Hills, and again at 6:00 p.m. at First Baptist. If you are interested in learning more about Ron’s ministry, check out his website at teenmania.com. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity. Invite, invite, invite – particularly families with students and children!

I will see you on Sunday!

I want you to know what a ministry our church is blessed to have to this region of the world. The reach of our church is worldwide, but it all starts right here. In this corner of the world, where numerous major corporations are based or have representation in Northwest Arkansas, we have such an opportunity. It is so important for us to see all of our possibilities.

What a ministry took place two weeks ago when we hosted the LEADERSHIP ROCKS seminar under the leadership of Jay Strack. We need to grasp the power of what took place when over 800 students, leaders from multiple churches in our region, were impacted for Jesus Christ. In fact, many students came to know Christ.

What a ministry took place this past weekend when almost 2,000 women gathered on our Pinnacle Hills campus in a joint campus event which partnered with LifeWay. Lives were impacted from all over our region and beyond. Lives were changed. I mean, “what a ministry!”

This ministry continues to grow and to expand. No, we are not perfect and we have not yet embraced all God has for us, but we are on our way.

Let’s continue to pray . . . to unite . . . to work . . . to win Northwest Arkansas, America, and the World for Jesus Christ.

Jeana and I are in Dallas for a couple of days attending the GuideStone Financial Services Board of Trustees Meeting. My morning starts with a 7:00 a.m. meeting on Monday, and I will go literally all day and into the night. This is a fabulous entity, highly talented in its assignments in the financial realm. Our great leader, Dr. O. S. Hawkins will provide leadership throughout these meetings.

On Sunday night, Jeana and I had dinner with my dear friend, Dr. Claude Thomas, of the Dallas-Fort Worth region of Texas. Dr. Thomas has just left his ministry at Injoy Stewardship Ministries to join the ministry of Larry Jones at FEED THE CHILDREN. Claude will be the Senior Executive Vice President for Strategic Ministries. Feed the Children is a powerful and influential ministry in all of the world. This is a great honor for Claude.

The series I just completed on Sunday is now available on CD and will be available on DVD. The title of the series is, “Standing Strong Through the Storms of Your Life.” We are also putting a bonus message in the series that I recently preached on Sunday night. Do your best to share this with others. So many people are in great need for encouragement. God’s Word CAN and WILL encourage them.

Pray for us this week. The schedule is strenuous and just adds to our normal daily challenges.

As you are now entering the day that sort of begins the transition to the weekend, let me share a few words with you. By no means do I have it down at all on any of these issues, but perhaps I just desire to insure we at least bring some matters to all of our attention.

1. Work hard until your weekend begins. Far too many people today do not seize the moments in the workplace. Slothfulness abounds in all sorts of ways from wasting time in hallway conversations or office conversations to surfing the internet. Do not destroy your Christian testimony by not working until you walk out the door for the weekend.

2. Do something you enjoy this weekend. Enjoying a ballgame or a movie or whatever refreshes you, is good for you. We need moments where we slip away from “our reality” and enter into a reality that requires nothing from us. Enjoyment can come in all kinds of ways, so find something you enjoy doing and do it.

3. Worship somewhere this weekend. If you are traveling with business or away for some reason, find a place to worship. If you are at your home this weekend, obviously, worship on Sunday needs to be the #1 priority of your life. Sunday is God’s day . . . we need to act like it.

4. Rest without apology. God rested one day after creation. Surely, we can rest. Rest is good for all of us. Rest refreshes us physically, emotionally, socially, relationally, mentally, and even spiritually. Rest makes us better. By the way, rest without apology. Rest does not mean you are soft or lazy. Rest is important. Get some rest.

I hope some of these help . . . have a great weekend.

I am amazed at the spinning of truth we are hearing on all of the newscasts concerning the Presidential election of our nation. While our nation is in great need for truth, the truth is spinning per the Spinmeisters. I am amazed at the level of spinning that continually goes on.

Spinning the truth does not lead to truth. A half truth is not the truth. In fact, it is a lie. Just because we hope something could be so does not mean it is. Just because we say something is truth does not make it truth.

Truth is truth, and God is the author of all truth. My passion should always be for truth. Truth will prevail. God’s truth always wins out.

As you listen to various newscasts and read various periodicals, work hard at discerning the real truth. Ask God for wisdom to help you to be able to judge matters as they really are.

In this generation that accuses the church of having a lack of authenticity, I have one question: Where is the authenticity? All generations can be influenced in all kinds of ways due to the Spinmeisters. However, authentic Christianity demands you to not just accept truth because one shared it brutally or emotionally. It is truth because . . . it is truth.

Don’t buy the spinning . . . get to the truth!

When I walked into the house last evening I was greeted by Peyton and Parker. They spent the night with us again. We are helping Josh and Kate out as she is still recovering from surgery last Tuesday. It has been a long journey for her, resulting in us, along with Kate’s folks, taking care of grandchildren rather consistently.

It is always good to be greeted and to experience “noise” from laughter to crying to whining. Peyton is in an imaginary world some of the time and he is interesting to watch. He gives speeches to his football men.

Next week one night, we will get to see our darling little grand-daughter, Reese. Jeana and I have a meeting in Dallas, so we will get to see her one night. We have not seen her since January 1 so we are looking forward to that experience. Of course, we are also looking forward
to seeing Nick and Meredith as well.

Life is a blessing with the constant changes and additions of personalities into our family. How things have changed from it being Jeana, Josh, Nick, and me. While that was a blessing and joy, this is a super time in life.

It reminds me to remind each of you, count your blessings. You know, you are blessed. Stop long enough today to look at and listen to the people around you.

Have a blessed Tuesday.

I want to thank you for making “I Love My Church Day” a very special day a few days ago. Obviously, God met with us in a special way. Last week our ministry touched over 7,000 people in Northwest Arkansas to the glory of God. Great work was done by our staff team, supported by wonderful laypeople who believe in the work of the ministry. Thank you so much.

I also want to follow-up with you on our “Invent The Future” process. Our Vision Team is at work and engaged in this process. Right now, prayer is the #1 thing you can do for us. As the process rolls out over the next few weeks, our entire staff team, lay leaders, and eventually the entire church, will hear at least some of the results of this process.

I use the word “process” because that is what it is. It could even be said that we are “inventing the future from the inside out.” The process is rigorous, but rewarding. We are excited about what God is showing us and how He is guiding us. Again, pray for us. There is much work to be done in this 120-day period of time.

Our Impact Ministry (which replaced our Bus Ministry) is exploding under the energetic leadership of Philip Becker. We are taking real live worship, preaching, and teaching into various neighborhoods weekly. Adults and children are all participating. The future in this ministry is unlimited. Pray for and engage in this ministry. While Bus Ministry was relevant to the culture of the last century, Impact Ministry is relevant for these days. The receptivity and results are proving that weekly.

God is doing some marvelous things.

Hey everyone, Sunday is coming! It will be a great experience. Please encourage each other to be in church and invite someone to come with you.

We are continuing our series on, “Staying Strong Through The Storms In Your Life.” I do hope this is ministering to you. If you were not able to be at church on Sunday night, you ought to pursue getting a CD of it. Response to that message has been very positive and it will be a “bonus” to this series.

Engage others and invite them to be with us on Sunday.

Grandchildren have energy. On this new journey that Jeana and I are on as grandparents, we are discovering that grandchildren have energy. Last night due to some matters, Jeana and I had Peyton and Parker all night.

When I walked into the house about 6:15 last night from work, I could tell the energy was alive and well. Peyton was in fine form again, full of energy. Parker’s energy is increasing as he is able now to turn over, resounding various sounds from his mouth.

These two energetic guys decided to display their energy at 2:30 a.m. this morning. I helped for a while, then returned to bed, and of course, got up shortly after that. When I went back to bed, Parker was smiling and Peyton was laughing. Again, energy.

How I love their energy and all we need is Reese here, who is now able to crawl, and we would have a whopping energetic time! We will get to see Reese in a couple of weeks and we are looking forward to seeing her.

Back to energy from grandchildren, now I realize that the cliche is reality, I mean really, really reality: NOW I KNOW WHY GOD GIVES CHILDREN TO US WHILE WE ARE YOUNG! I am convinced that the hardest working people in the world are the Moms of Preschoolers! Blessings to all of you!

Grandchildren are not only a bundle of energy, but some of the greatest joy life will ever afford you. Thanks Lord for these gifts of energy!

We have some open seats for the Holy Land if you want to consider getting on asap! Last night we had our meeting to prepare matters for the trip to Israel. We are excited about all the possibilities that await us. I believe as of today we have 75 people signed up and ready to go.

Due to some cancellations last week, we are now able to accommodate a few other people. I would encourage you to call my office or go online to www.discoveryministries.com. From that page you can navigate to discover my tour group, the schedule, and all matters about the trip. Then you can call Discovery to get answers to any questions you may have.

There is no place like the Holy Land. It is the center of the world’s activity. You will hear again and again matters pertaining to that country all over worldwide media. It is very exciting to visit there.

One of the exciting things about this group we have going is that out of the 75 presently going, we have only 8 who have been to Israel before. This will make the trip very exciting as these first-timers engage with us.

The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. This is a very good time to do this with the situation in the world today.

Preparing and praying for the journey to Israel.