Football Is In The Air!!!

I have to be unspiritual today! Well, not really as I have learned football is as important as going to church in southern Alabama. Sometimes football seems to be important than church. Sounds like a frustrated preacher. Not really because I love football. There is a smell that gets in the air this time of year. Tonight while driving home with Laurie all I wanted to hear were scores and highlights. Everyone had their Alabama shirts on tonight and noone wanted anything to do with Auburn. I am going to go on the record here before the season gets rolling.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ENTERPRISE WILDCATS. I am predicting a 6-4 season for the Wildcats. I think they will make it into the second round of the playoffs.
Troy won last night they will win all their games that do not include the big shots. Ohio State will kill them!
Alabama had a great recruiting season. Julio Jones is the talk of the country. Yet they will be one game better than 500 this year. BUT ALABAMA WILL HAVE A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
I hope Auburn loses all their games! Or let them be undefeated when they come into Morgantown against the mighty Mountaineers.
West Virginia will lose one game and play in the national championship. If they go undefeated they will win it all. Pat White will be Heisman trophy winner. They better win this year because they will struggle the next 3 or 4 seasons. All that talent will be gone.
MICHIGAN WILL WIN FOUR GAMES UNDER THE RULE OF THE TRADER!!!
Surprise team will be Notre Dame..Don't overlook Pitt or Penn State. A bad year will bring the retirement of Joe Paterno.
USC will lose two games...over-rated. Ohio State and WVU may match up in January.
Ken Tuck has changed churches because the preacher lets him out in time to watch the kick off..he is now influencing Harvest to hire Redskin fans. The Terps will spend most the season spinning on their backs...may 3 wins...I predict 2.
The Dolphins will be 500, Brett Favre will flop in New York. Browns will make it to the semi-finals. Dallas will cry..all what's new. I hope they lose every game! Super Bowl champs will be...the Giants again...and I cannot stand the Manning boys. Maybe a repeat of last years Super Bowl....Long shot Pittsburgh/Cleveland vs. Dallas in the Super Bowl. Sorry Ken the redskins 2 or 3 games over 500.
For my old high school in West Virginia...Oak Glen will have a 500 season and upset Weirton in the playoffs!

DECISIONS DECISIONS DECISIONS

Life is so full of decisions. I really would appreciate some of y'all joining with me in prayer over some important decisions that need to be made.
First, I am praying over a trip to Uganda. I cannot be out of the country as long as they would like me to go, but I do have a desire to take advantage of this opportunity. Pray that God will give us clear direction and a time period that works for all of us.
I have committed to launch a new campus in New Smyrna Beach, FL. I will be the lead pastor and my precious brother, Shane Braucht, will be the campus pastor. I am praying that The Potter's House will help in this endeavor. NSB has an immediate population of approximately 50,000 and the Daytona metro is over a half million. This area could really use a church that is focused on getting the message of Christ out to those who need Him.
Finally, as some of you know our church has found itself in a very unique situation over the ownership of the land. Almost nine years ago, before I was in the picture, a group came in as a "spiritual covering". They made tons of promises, and took advantage of a struggling little church. In the process they managed to have the deed shifted to their name. As we have grown we have had the desire to relocate into the city. This group agreed to sign the church property back, but they have done nothing but manipulate and mislead. I have to lead the church in a major change as we know we will have to relocate, and basically start fresh. There are a couple of options we must choose from so please pray with us over this.

Being in leadership requires decision making that cannot be handled alone. I have an awesome group of 3 to 5 people that I meet with anytime I have a major decision to make. I also listen the opinions of others once I have made my proposals. To many people try to lead churches from a my-way or the highway concept. Its like a dictatorship. I beleive that other people on my team have great ideas and sometimes see things that I don't see. That's why I have people that help me in my decision making process. Scripture teaches that there is safety in counsel. When you have a decision to make...gather a few people around...people that will be honest...people that have wisdom...not yes-men!! Not flakey prophets or people that God is always speaking audibly to them.
Ask God for wisdom as He promises to give it in the book of James.
Then, be patient and wait upon the Lord...He will lead, guide and direct.

It Takes A Team

Over the past few years I have been blessed with a great team of leaders. I have come to realize that it takes a team of committed believers that buy into the vision and desire to make it happen. The Potter's House has faced some serious challenges over the past couple years and God has had the right people on board the whole time. Yeah, people have come , pretended to buy in, and then bolted when they realized it wasn't about them. But how 'bout these folks that have hunkered down...survived our storms...and still see great things ahead for our church. I have asked God to make us grow...spiritually and numerically. For that to happen we need His blessing...that's a given. We also need everyone on board committed to the vision and doing what it takes to make it happen. I have been blessed as the leadership core we have now has remained committed for nearly eight years. We have even added a few here and there. It will take a team that is willing to work hard and go the extra mile to see this vision come to pass. The old saying that there is no I in TEAM has to apply. What God has shown us...where God is taking us...what He desires to do in and through us...will require that we all work together. Even if at times we don't get our way. I look forward to watching God grow our church, our influence and our team...

New Ministry Ideas

In an era of technology I am excited about beginnning this blog as an attempt to interact with those that know of my ministry efforts but don't know me. Also, this is a way for those of you who do know me to hear and follow my thoughts. I am working hard to transition the way I do ministry. That does not mean I am changing my message. The message does not change but the method does. God has recently opened some crazy doors. This past Monday I was sitting on the couch with my wife watching a documentary on the Chad-Sudan crisis. I asked my wife if she thought I was crazy because I wanted to go and minister to people in those areas of Africa. That I really wanted to go to the places where people still live on dirt floors. The next day a group of young believers whom I had never met was in a meeting that I was attending regarding and inner-city Atlanta outreach. They approached me and asked who I was...this blew me away...they said we were praying last night (while I was sitting on my couch asking wondering on how I could go to Africa on a missions trip) about someone to lead us to Africa and God put you on our heart...we didn't know you...we had know idea who you was...and here you are...WOW. So I did the super-spiritual thing and said I have to pray about it!! There is so much more that God is doing right now that I cannot wait to share what is getting ready to happen!