Our first grandchild, gifted to us by God just over three years ago, was Peyton. As any first grandchild, he was looked at, talked to, and received by all of us wholeheartedly. He is growing up in the home of a football coach and has bought into the Floyd Priority List: Jesus, Family, Church, Football. This is what my boys adhered to, and Peyton has pretty well bought into it at age three.

Now this has resulted in him getting in trouble in the preschool department from time to time because he tackles other children when they have a ball in their hands. I mean, that is what he has been taught to do. His cousin Reese and his little brother Parker have received absolutely no exemption from him on this behavior.

Peyton has a great, winsome personality most of the time, especially when he is happy. Since he is our first grandchild, we had to work through matters like saying “no” and types of discipline that needed to be exercised. Poor Parker and Reese, as well as many others to follow we hope from Josh and Kate and Nick and Meredith, will be under a tighter scrutiny by all of us.

Now Peyton shows the quality of leadership, meaning he likes to be in charge, influencing those around him. I am amazed at his ability at this point, as well as his imagination, which is remarkable. He is the real deal. When you get Peyton and the other two grandchildren together, it is something to behold, at least for us.

Enjoy these couple of pictures of him at recent football games. When I think of Peyton, I think of his strength and his imagination. God is building a leader already.
May you be the leader God wants you to be, coupled with the imagination you had as a child. Now that is a winning combination for all of us.

Hope you have enjoyed me writing about my grandchildren this week. Again, we are more than blessed.

1000 Thank Yous, God! Have a great weekend.

Reese Caroline is our only grand-daughter and she is one special, beautiful little girl. She is God’s gift to Nick and Meredith, as well as to our family. Jeana and I await other gifts like her.

Having a little girl in our home is very different from our history. We raised two boys. We have two grandsons as well. Peyton and Parker tackle each other and on earlier visits, Reese has not quite known how to take that. This past weekend, she and Nick came home for 24 hours. I could tell she has been in a church nursery much of her life because she was not disturbed by it and not afraid to get into the fun herself.

I am not sure there is a child in America who has ever had her picture taken more than Reese Caroline. Nick and Meredith are always sending us photos, plus with Jeana and Kate in the mix, you feel as though they are the paparazzi.

We love Reese Caroline. There is nothing like holding her, hugging her and kissing her. When we iChat with them, it is really specia,l as she is becoming more and more expressive, even offering kisses over the iChat. She is 17 months old now and what a special little sweetheart.

Grandchildren are a gift of the Lord … thanks, God for Reese Caroline.

Parker was playing with Peyton on Thursday night in their home, and ran into a piece of furniture, which led to a major cut on his forehead. Therefore, he had to have three stitches. This was the first emergency room experience for any of our grandchildren and was memorable. After getting there at 8:30ish, finally around 2:30 in the morning on Friday he was able to go home. Wow.

I went up for the first hour, as did Don and Mona, but Jeana stayed with Kate and Parker for the remaining part of the evening. Peyton went home with Don and Mona. Later in the night, Josh went home to rest a few hours before his major Friday ballgame day kicked in.

Of course, Parker has recovered well and is supposed to get his stitches out today. He is one tough dude, even smiling some during the ordeal. He was playing at our home on Saturday, and he has not slowed down one bit. He wears the badge on his forehead with pride.Parker smiles most of the time, and his smile “can fill a face!” His demeanor is just absolutely incredible.

I tell everyone he gets that from me, but no one who knows me believes it. Therefore, I guess he does not get it from me. He is one special boy – he loves people and people love him.

Have a great day, and what a great reminder his photo is today about life – you have to go on, even when life hits you with something unexpected.

Go forward.

Yesterday, Jeana and I were honored by our fellowship for our 22 years here in our church as Senior Pastor. I still remember coming over that mountain with our family, ready to embrace the new challenges before us.  Josh was 6 years old, and Nick was almost 3 years old.

What the Lord has done is really amazing. For a pastor to be here for 22 years is a commendation not only for the pastor, but our church.  The Pastor-Church experience is a relationship.  Our church has always worked hard to have a great relationship with their pastor.  My immediate predecessor was here 16 years and his predecessor was here 16 years as well.  So our church has only had 3 pastors in the past 54 years.  In our 138-year history as a church, I have had the privilege of being here longer than any other pastor.

Yes, we have had many fabulous moments together. As well, we have had some challenges along the way.  The church’s patience with me has blessed my life.  I am grateful.  Of course, there have been moments where I have also had to exercise a little patience with our fellowship. Together, we have had a great partnership in ministry.

I am so thankful to God for the privilege of being here and for the blessing of having such great folks to be around. My heart overflows with deep appreciation to you and gratitude to God.  Only God knows our future, whether it is for another 22 years or more or even less, but we know one thing – we have had 22 years together to the glory of God.

Church Family, 1000 Thank Yous!

Experiencing Sunday worship with God’s people is vital to your spiritual life. In the world of technology, we think we can “catch up” if we desire via CD, webcast, podcast, or DVD.  Yet, this should be a rare exception for us, rather than experiencing worship with God’s people.  Sunday worship is vital to your Christian life, probably more vital than you may realize.

Irregularity, attending worship one or a couple of times a month, is a growing epidemic among many saints of God. Somehow, there is a major disconnect going on in regards to “need” as well as a “poor theological understanding of the Christian life in relationship to the local church.”  Our ecclesiology, what we believe God teaches about the church, is now as weak as water in the lives Christ-followers.

Personal schedules, entertainment, the sports craze, and travel passions are serving to  shipwreck many Christ-followers and their families. Oh my friend, please re-evaluate matters. Look at what really matters in life.  Consider the Word of God.  Consider Christ.  Consider His Church.

There is no way vital Christianity can be lived without a vital connection to the church and the experience of worshiping with God’s people around the table of the Word of God. Distance may separate and limit you from seeing your family only a couple of times a year.  Yet, do not let selfishness or slothfulness keep you from seeing your spiritual family weekly.

Nothing grieves me more as a pastor than to know how God’s people do not recognize this value in their lives. In my 32 years of pastoring local churches and 22 of those years serving here, I am know a few things, but I am absolutely convinced of one thing and that one thing is . . .

Sunday worship is vital.

Faithfulness is a great testimony of our faith. Are you being faithful? Through the storms? Through the valleys? Through the victories? God wants us to be faithful. Let’s evaluate today.

Are you being faithful in your time with God daily? Personal time with God is the secret to a powerful and fulfilling life. Are you being faithful? Or could you be sacrificing faithfulness for sleep or slothfulness? Perhaps your schedule has been tough, but is that a real reason for not being faithful? Be faithful to God in your time with Him daily. It is a an appointment that you cannot afford to miss.

Are you being faithful to your family? My friends, do not get caught up in emotional or sexual temptations with the opposite sex or perhaps the same sex. Be faithful to your spouse and children. Faithfulness is the key ingredient needed to have trust in your relationship with your family. They must be able to "count on you."

Are you being faithful in your job? Regardless of what we get paid or whether we are appreciated or not, we need to be faithful to our boss, our company or job. Faithful to give our best. Faithful in our relationships there. Faithful to insure the company succeeds.

Are you being faithful with giving the first-tenth of your income to Christ’s local church? This weekly practice is so important in the Christian life. The state of the economy does not matter. What matters is our faithfulness to God at ALL times. The best way I can protect my family and all God has given me is to honor God with the first-tenth of all He gives to me. Be faithful in giving the first-tenth to Christ’s local church.

You cannot be everything, but one thing you can be is faithful.

I asked the question on both of our campuses yesterday, "What would happen to the U.S. economy if the media would say NOTHING for one week about it?" That question, asked on both of our campuses, received a surprising response … applause! I was shocked, especially when it happened on both campuses. Why should I be shocked?

Obviously, that response means that many of us believe that reality is hard to see and reckon with because of so much information barraging us 24-7, most of it about "how bad things are." I saw one report last week where the reporter said, "Finally, something good to report about the economy …" It caught my attention immediately. Of course, the one who made the statement on one of the national broadcast media acted as though, "I hate to tell you this, but here is something good!" Well, I am ready for some good balanced news, how about you?

I think one of the commentators the other day had the right idea as he stated, "Everyone needs to stop looking at the stock market. If you want to help the U.S. economy, go out and buy something!" Those words are rather profound. Of course the stock market has been hard to measure, but it has always had ups and downs, just not as extreme as we have witnessed lately. The advice to go out and buy something was pretty good advice. Matters being frozen have chilled everything; however, in time, matters will come around.

Therefore, what would happen if, for one week, the media and everyone else would say nothing about the U.S. economy? I suggest to you, matters would improve. Perhaps not dramatically, but people would eventually loosen their pocketbooks, releasing monies for various items of need.

Well, I still say the answer to all of this is to "Run to God." I am a believer in our future, especially when we run to God. These are days where prayer must dominate our hearts practically and with conviction.

Just what would happen to the U.S. economy IF WE WOULD PRAY?

On this day 37 years ago, I gave my life to Jesus Christ.  I remember it like it was yesterday. God had been moving in our small church.  I know what small church life is like.  I was raised in a church with 30-40 people a week and every now and then we might creep close to 50 people.  A young pastor who was about 20 years of age had been called to our church, and he set the place on fire for God.

I had been raised in the church, going to church at least three times a week. If there was an event, I was there.  If there was a revival for one or two weeks in length, we would be there nightly.  In other words, when the doors were open, I was there as a child and young person.

However, somehow I had missed the personal relationship with Jesus Christ experience. I was becoming aware of that more and more.  This young pastor was being used of God to stir me greatly.  Our youth group was developing a little life. Interestingly, it was happening through prayer meetings.

On a Saturday night, October 16, 1971, at a youth fellowship which turned into a prayer meeting, at the altar of that small church which was about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of our choir loft, I knelt on my knees and my Pastor walked me through receiving Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I knew God had done something in my heart.  No, I did not become perfect.  I am still not perfect.  But God erased the penalty and dominion of sin in my life that night.  My spiritual birth resulted in the beginning of my personal relationship with Jesus.

On the next morning, I walked the aisle of that little church, made my profession of faith and on that Sunday evening (one day after I was saved), I was baptized by immersion as a testimony of my faith commitment to Jesus. Through these spiritual moments, God started me on a journey that I am still on to this day.  God gave me a passion that was great in my life.  My growth was slow initially, but then excelled with great intentionality.  God graciously looked past my sin and faults, came into my life, and with great patience and mercy began to grow me up in Him.

Yes, I happen to remember the day and the place I met Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  Not everyone can remember the day or date they came to Christ.  However, something I tell our people regularly is the following. You may not remember the day and date you came to Christ, but you will always remember the PLACE you came to Christ.  Do you remember the place you came to Christ? If you do not, then perhaps you have really never come to Christ.

I appeal to you today to give your life to Christ.  God loves you.  Jesus died for you and for your sin.  Open your heart to Jesus. Right now with an earnest and sincere heart tell God these words:

Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner.  I know Jesus died for my sin. I turn from my life of sin today, open my heart, and ask you to take away my sin and save me.  I ask you right now Jesus, come into my life.  Take away my sin.  Save me.  By faith right now, I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.  I surrender my life to You.  Thank you for saving me.  Amen.

Did you tell God those words today?  If so, call someone.  Email someone.  Go to a Bible-believing church on this Sunday and tell that pastor what you have done. If he does not get it, you are in the wrong church.  Follow Jesus in baptism by immersion immediately. Do not wait.  Baptism is a testimony of your commitment to Jesus.  It declares your allegiance to Him.

Well, that is my spiritual story of how I came to know Jesus.  I hope you have a story.  If you do not, make today your spiritual birthday. Then we would share this day forever as being the day we came to Christ.  Years may separate those experiences. However, the main thing is that we have been born again and saved from our sins.

Amen.  Thank you Lord.  You are merciful to me.  I am grateful.  Thanks.

We saw the Lord do some great things this past Sunday. Besides thousands attending this FRIEND DAY, we saw people come to Christ, follow the Lord in baptism, others join our church, and the Lord move powerfully among His people.  The Lord is bestowing His special anointing on our church at this time.  To God be the glory!

The Lord is blessing His Word in this series in the book of Isaiah.  It is amazing how relevant the Lord’s Word is to our generation. Last spring, when I began to sense the Lord leading us to preach through Isaiah this fall, we had no idea how relevant this series would be.  Well, that really should not surprise us at all.  God always has a way to speak through His Word to His people.

In preparing for this coming Sunday, do not miss the Word being shared. I can assure you, this message will be very relevant for our day.  God is so awesome, and His Word is outstanding.  I am more excited about preaching the Word today than ever before in my ministry.

On this occasion let me say to you, I am so blessed to have been called into the gospel ministry.  I met Christ personally on October 16, 1971.  This means I have followed Christ for 37 years this week.  The Lord has been good to me and I praise His name.

God is good, isn’t He?  Absolutely!  All the time!

The picture you see of Nick, Meredith, and Reese was taken yesterday by someone at the opening of their new church campus. Nick is the Adult Pastor for the North Prestonwood Church Campus, located in Prosper, Texas. They have been meeting in a school for over two years, setting everything up and taking it down weekly.

On their opening day, they had 1,746 people present, after averaging just under 800 weekly while meeting in the school. This is a great moment for our sister church, Prestonwood of Dallas, and we congratulate Pastor Jack Graham, his Campus Pastor for the North Campus, Mark Rylander, and the entire church and staff team. This is a superb accomplishment.

As the Adult Pastor of that campus, Nick had the responsibility of organizing and leading the church to distribute materials to over 19,000 homes and apartments. This was a huge undertaking for the entire church, but they did it, and God blessed them greatly. There is no telling where that church will go numerically now they have opened this campus.

We rejoice and thank God for all of it.