Our entire ministry is marching to Sunday, our FRIEND DAY. Many of our laypersons and all of our staff team are working hard to make Sunday a special day. Together we are marching to Sunday.

Remember: Our #1 goal is to see our ministry STRETCH in reaching our friends. This involves inviting others and doing your best to see them attend with you. We have always seen God use this day greatly. Some will have their lives change forever and others will begin to engage with our church for the first time.

As God’s mighty army, we are marching towards Sunday. Let’s pray and work together for a super day.

March with us.

How do you read what is happening in our nation?  This is the #1 question talked about today. This is one fall season where even football or the final lap to the World Series is not the #1 topic of discussion.

I am not sure anyone knows exactly what is happening at this moment in our American history.  This is why there is so much uncertainty among people. It seems there is always a calm voice of maturity and experience that rises during moments like these.  However, that calm voice with maturity and experience is missing.  Many are trying to say things, but no one honestly understands exactly what is happening.

This is why the church can rise during this moment in our nation.  The church’s voice is one of authority and hope.  The authority is the Bible, God’s holy infallible Word.  The hope is in Jesus and His Spirit that indwells us and overflows through us, as we walk in His commands.  There is no voice of authority in the world and not one of genuine hope.  Yes, the church must arise at this moment.

The church can be that shelter of hope, offering prayers on behalf of all people and their needs.  Yes, even Northwest Arkansas, home of some of the great companies of the world, is feeling this present challenge. However, the church is positioned for this moment to rise up with hope, prayer, and a future.  Yes, there is hope.

We must join together right now in prayer for our nation.

People and nations need to be delivered. We have troops in both Iran and Afghanistan for the purpose of liberating the people there. America is threatened today by economic collapse – we need to be delivered. We need deliverance from the extreme division that plagues Americans because of so many issues. Churches need to be set free from rebellion, pride, arrogance, and selfishness that is so rampant. In your own life, I am sure you need to be set free from something that has you in bondage today.

I have good news for us all – we CAN be delivered! Take time to read Isaiah, chapters 36 – 37 today. You will be strengthened and encouraged by Hezekiah’s response to an evil king and his approach to a loving and powerful God who was able to help him and his nation be set free. Even in the extreme situation described in these verses, God granted deliverance.

Read and memorize the steps of action we need to take to be delivered from whatever holds us:

1. Talk to God about your problem. This was the first thing Hezekiah did. Go to God first, not last. You can go to God anywhere, anytime, about anything.
2. Go to church. This was the next thing Hezekiah did. Go to church for worship, for prayer, and for the Word.
3. Ask a man of God to pray for you. Even though Hezekiah was the most powerful man in Jerusalem and in all of Judah, he humbled himself and asked Isaiah to pray for him and their situation.
4. Go to God in deep prayer. Hezekiah went back to the Temple, spreading out the letter of threats over the altar and appealed to God for deliverance. We need to do the same. Enter deep prayer to God about your problem.
5. Get a word from God. Anchor your feet in God’s Word. Anything else is sinking sand.
6. Watch God move. Exactly what God said, He did. He did all in response to humility and prayer.

Even yesterday, we had church members following these words. There were people in our worship centers spreading out their papers and problems over the altar, coming to God in humility and asking God to move.

Do you want deliverance today from your problem? Talk to God. Talk to Him today.

Let me catch you up on a few things today.  Some are personal, others are church-related.  Others may be just “stuff.”

Nick and Meredith are working with adults on the Prestonwood North Campus, and next Sunday they will move to their new campus. For over two years, they have been meeting in the Prosper High School Gymnasium.  The church has grown, people have been won to Christ, and they have pulled off quite a challenge to the glory of God.  They will work this week to prepare all matters in finality for this major day.  I believe when they move in to their first real campus on Sunday, the church will explode.  They have had 1000 people on some Sundays, even in their school setting, but now, look out North Dallas, Prestonwood North will emerge in a powerful God-glorifying way.

Josh and Kate are busy into football season.  Josh’s team has a record of four wins and one loss.  They have won two games and lost none to date in their conference. They are competing now at the 4-A Classification level.  His team is ranked #1 by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, #2 by the Associated Press, and #4 by the Hooten’s Football Magazine.  I love what Nick Saban, Head Coach at University of Alabama, says about rankings, “They mean nothing until the season is over.”  However, thus far, with this young ball club, Josh’s football team is doing well, improving weekly.

Peyton, Parker, and Reese Caroline are growing.  Peyton is now 3 years old.  Parker is 14 months old.  Reese Caroline is 17 months old. While we get to see Peyton and Parker regularly, we miss seeing Reese as much. We usually iChat with Nick, Meredith, and Reese at least two to three times a week, which enables us to watch her interact with us online.  Thank God for technology.  How blessed we are with these three grandchildren.

Our church is preparing for a major day on October 12th.  It is our Friend Day, a day when we really try to stretch the entire ministry the entire week.  Pray for this week as our people engage others with greater intentionality, inviting them to Worship and our Connection Group Ministry.

By the way, we hear from all kinds of people weekly who engage in our worship services online. Dear precious Alice West, I believe in her nineties, encourages us by constantly letting us know that since she has had to move from us to Austin, she watches online weekly.  We hear from people like sweet Alice, but we also hear from people all over the world.   The future is limitless of taking the gospel to the world via technology.

I have probably lost you by now, see you tomorrow.

I am not technically a futurist, but I love talking about the future.  Every four years when America goes through the incredible process of electing a President, we hear a lot about the future.  This really inspires us to become more conscious of the future of our nation.

I have not looked into any “crystal balls,” nor am I the kind of spiritual leader who would make prophetic statements about America’s place in biblical prophecy. Yes, I love biblical prophecy, do believe we are in the Last Days, but I just would not even suggest America’s place in the final events of the world, at least at this point anyway.  I have said all of this to assure you, anything I write about Future America is purely my personal thoughts, as any other American would have the opportunity to write.  These are my brief thoughts.

America will continue to change. Oh I realize the buzz word of “change” that happens every four years as well, but I am not referring to that change. Remember, it was within months after our present President was inaugurated that America and the world changed due to one event.  That event is still moving Future America to change.  From here on out, what will happen?  I cannot give specifics, but I know this one thing:  America is going to continue to change.  Some events out of our control, and some events within our control, will spark this change.

America will adjust to new economics. What does this mean?  I have no idea, but I believe it is happening and will continue to happen.  We can see from the events of this past two-week period of time how we are so connected to the global economy and vice-versa.  Yes, I will say this I believe prophetically:  There will be a one world economy in the end and we are racing to that point. As the Revelation indicates, there will be a constant, rapid succession of events that will kick in towards the end.  Our race to the final days will involve some level of new economics.

America will have a new President. Of course, this is no great insight, but this new President will shape the future of our nation.  His ideology and core values will move this nation somewhere. Every leader we elect, from local to state to national positions of leadership and service to our great nation, will shape the future.  Individually and collectively, they will build a Future America. This should call each of us to pray, to learn, to engage in the processes afforded us in this great nation, and then express where we desire this nation to go in the future by casting votes on persons and issues this coming November 4. If you are going to be out of town on that day, take the effort to vote absentee.

Future America will hopefully afford us a better future. Please note the word, “hopefully.” I am hopeful.  I believe in our nation and love it dearly.  Each of us should do what we can to help build a better America for the future.  None of us can guarantee it will be better, but one thing I can guarantee is this:  America will be different. How different?  In what way?  I am not sure and do not know.  What I do know and feel deeply in my spirit – things are changing  and will continue to change in rapid succession.

My final words to you on this subject. Based off what I do know and am beginning to sense, you might better start . . .

Looking up every now and then.

I am in Branson, Missouri this morning, concluding a retreat with about 200 pastors and wives. This group asked me to come and speak to them from my newest book, “10 Things Every Minister Needs To Know.”  What a great group of pastors and wives.  I spoke to them for an hour on Tuesday afternoon, then worked for the rest of the night on a forthcoming manuscript I am preparing to publish. 

Being around these pastor-leaders and their spouses reminds me of how each of us work through the issues of family and ministry matters. It is not a respecter of persons.  Each of us are uniquely challenged.  The day of easy answers is over.  Life is very complex.  Yet, we have the Word of God to hold onto, stand on, and claim for our families and ministries.

For those of you who are not pastors, please begin to intercede for them, their families and ministries.  The challenges are huge and the warfare is great.  The demands and expectations of others are unreasonable to say the least.  The forum of public opinion is wreaking havoc upon the self-esteem of these leaders. This is why we all must get our self-esteem from who we are in Christ, not in our  performance or what others opinions are concerning us.

I return this afternoon following an address to the pastors only this morning.  Anything I can do to help pastors is a blessing and a personal joy.  It lights my jets!

Look towards Sunday with great anticipation.  This past Sunday, God met with us profoundly.

I believe He wants to do the same again.