Countdown To Fellowship In The Park - TUESDAY

God is unfolding an awesome plan. Some of you have asked me to look at different passages of scripture. Last night I read over Ephesians 3:20 as Glenda had mentioned. Also, as you can see in yesterdays blog Justin sent me a passage from 2 Samuel. All of it has been great. I believe those Words are right on with our situation. Everybody stay in the Word. If God lays something on your heart post it to todays blog. Also, I want to encourage you to stay in prayer. Keep yourself humble in the sight of God. His promise is to lift you up once you have humbled yourself. So, stay humble!

Quick update: Tony DuBose is doing a little better since his surgery. Missy Young had a really rough Sunday. Please pray for both. If you are in the Dothan area they are in Flowers Hospital.

BE SURE TO INVITE PEOPLE TO FELLOWSHIP IN THE PARK....LET'S GROW WHILE WE ARE IN THE PARK!!!

Countdown to Fellowship In The Park - MONDAY

Word is getting around. People all over town are talking about our church having fellowship in the park until we are able to locate a building. Praise God the church is not about a building. Its about God's people. So many believers have joined their faith with ours that it is going to be better than ever. I am so pumped! I honestly thought I would be anxiety riddled by now, but the Lord has given me so much peace. Guys I am more excited than I have been in a very long time. I think IT is happening! Imagine the possibility of someone coming to the park to walk their dog...and leaving a born-again Christian! I still believe we can grow to 1000 people. We have no excuses now. Its all on God, but fulfilling the call is up to us. Let's be faithful to the call!

EVERYBODY INVITE SOMEBODY...LET'S GROW WHILE WE ARE IN THE PARK!!!

Final Service In Current Building Conducted Today!!!

Wow! What a great service! I am so proud of all of you that attended service. Todays message was on forgiving others. When I asked everyone who would come forward to pray for those who have done us wrong, to pray for them and to forgive them....THE ENTIRE CHURCH CAME FORWARD! It was beautiful to see all the love and compassion in church this morning. I look forward to what God is going to do...I just wanted to give you all a chance to post comments about today message....

TAKE TIME THIS WEEK TO INVITE PEOPLE TO OUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE PARK!!!

Is God Up To Something?

Today I realize God is up to something bigger than what any of us can truly see. The world scene is CRAZY! Iranian leader in US blasting us at every opportunity. Russia seems so wishee-washee in their relationships overall. Georgian president giving what seems to be sound advise that our leaders need to listen to. Pakistan and USA exchanging fire on the border. China constantly producing defective products. America looking at a finanacial collapse.

My question in all this is, Where do we turn? Imagine if our economy cascades into a depression... we as believers will have to trust God for mere existance, neighbors will have to help neighbors, frugality will need to be a way of life, credit will not be instantaneous, shortage will be unavoidable, and world war could be a harsh reality. I am not typically one to keep an eye on so many world events and try to produce intelligible commentary. But this is to monumental to turn a blind eye.

I sense that God is on the move. That there is a shaking that has begun.... Scripture tells us that this will happen. Now, I have never been a dooms-day gloomy the world is going to hell in a hand basket type of preacher. Yet, what will it take for people to turn to God...I think some Christians have even had it so easy that their dependence has never been 100% upon the provision of God. I will go out on a limb...there may even be some persecution coming for the church. We have had verbal assaults but how will westernized believers respond when their faith is tested to the core? What will happen when our positive confession of immediate health and wealth comes up as empty as the doctrine itself. We have bought into the instant gratification culture as much as the secular humanist. Evidenced by consumer driven churchology. Kinda like if the Community Church Super Market doesn't have it I will just go to the Baptimart.

Ironically, I feel like God is pulling some things together both eschatologically and immediately. My spirit leaps at the fact that we are being forced to do church in a way that we have never done it before. Next week we have decided to meet in the park...because we have nowhere to go...and do you know whats crazy .... I AM PUMPED. I can see lost people checking us our and getting saved. I can see believers gathered around in lawn chairs and worshipping while the sun sets. Maybe in a crazy world God will have to birth some crazy churches that will minister to a crazy world!!! Call me crazy but I think God is up to something! What about you?

Come To Our Church Moving Sale

Hey everyone! Don't forget to come buy some stuff at the church moving sale. Those of you that have some free time we could use your assistance. Come and get it ...cheap, cheap, cheap. Friday & Saturday 8 to 3.

God Will Not Give Us More Than We Can Handle

I Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God will not give us more than we can bear. The proper context of that passage is in handling temptations. But all the stuff that goes on around us is sometimes the conduit of temptation. We get burdened down and temptation creeps in trying to entice us.

Our church situation has been a sore spot for me for a few years. The past year has been extremely stressful in dealing with people that are intentionally deceptive. For the last couple of weeks we have had to plan our exit strategy because of the greed of people that parade around like they are annointed of God. I have been tempted to call them up and tell them exactly how I feel about their conduct....then this week came. We still have nowhere to go. We are planning our final service and to sell all the stuff we cann't take with us in a big yard sale. This takes serious time....and this is what has happened this past week.

First my sons motorcycle locks up and he is in the middle of motocross series in which he is the points leader. That may not sound like much but Mikey has prepared for the past couple years to start racing. Not only that this has cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. The bike will cosst hundreds and hundreds to get repaired. Not only that he had a few bad crashes that he did not tell me about on a friends bike. That bike is worth $6000 alone!! Thursday, Brooke calls crying. I am on the floor my back has locked up I cann't move. The other problem was that there was a 4 month old baby stranded on the couch because Brooke could not get to her. Good thing she was carrying her phone when she fell or who knows how long she may have laid there in pain. We spend Thursday and Friday with that situation. Monday, my wife calls me while she is sitting for my niece in Atlanta. She says that she needs me to sit down and not be upset with her, and told me that I cannot worry. Well too late! She tells me that the only eye that she can see out of has hundreds of floaters and she is afraid her vitrus is leaking, that she has possibly detatched her retina. Now, detatched retinas have already equalled blindness in our family so this is real serious matter to us. So she goes to the doctor at Emory University (the one who diagnosed her years ago). They check her over and tell her the vitreous is leaking ...praise God no tear...but she is at extremely high risk. That if it worsens it could possibly be a detatchment next time. Then yesterday I get a call at 7 in the morning that Tony has been taken to the hospital with a possible heart-attack. Now, Tony is not just a member or an elder. He has been like a spiritual father to me since coming to Enterprise. He is a pillar in our church. Debbie is one of the sweetest women on the planet and I know she cannot stand alone in this (praise God they both have family that gives them loving support). Yet I want to be there for them. Then, my golf partner and good friend has to go through the fear of watching his wife battle cancer. She has to have part of her lung and rib removed. Today, I come in the office only to have a letter from Whittaker Warren threatening to sue the church for not paying the property insurance. We call them to let them know that the property is not ours and they simply say it was made out to us so we have to handle it. They will file suit by October 6th if we don't pay the bill. The owners will be notified! There is so much more that a book could not contain it all.

Okay...with all that said. God must be on the move because the devil has pulled out every stop and tried to use every situation to drag me down. God will not give us more than we can handle, but I think I am almost there. I believe so strongly that God wants to do something major in our church. The devil must know something that we don't because he has been really busy with out church. I had a conversation with him...it was like this .... devil, in the name of Jesus, that's enough, stop what you're doing. We are in a battle. We have to press-on towards the prize, the high-calling that Christ has called us to. NEVER GIVE UP!

Inviting People To Church

I wanted to thank everyone for a very good Sunday service. I really appreciate those of you who invited people to church. That was the Sunday assignment...just invite people. It was great to hear so many people talking about who they invited. I was blessed to know that DeWayne and Sandi's neighbor came with them. Matthew had his step-son and his friend. Just a joy to meet them. I think Jeremy better marry that girl he invited (oops she wasn't a visitor...good to see you in church Jenny-fur!!!!) Even if the person or persons you invited did not come it was still a success. Why? Because I realize for some of you that was a major step outside of the box. Just keep inviting them! Eventually, they will come. I bet I invited 20 people and not one showed up! Laurie and I targeted one in particular and he just couldn't make it this Sunday. We have been working on him for a long time. His son has committed his life to Christ at TPH and he will be next! Those folks you were inviting are the people you need to spend time in prayer over. Asking God to save them and to draw them by His Spirit. In the midst of the crazy adventure we are about to embark upon let's still keep trusting God to add people to our fellowship.

Thank you to everyone who helped with the cookout after Sunday service. I have never seen that many people stay. I think that 100% of the people in attendance stayed for the cookout. It was amazing! As a matter of fact, there was hardly a left over to be had. I noticed all of our visitors were greeted by several of our church folks. Praise & Worship was awesome! Good job praise team! What happened this Sunday can not be a one time event. This needs to be the nature of our ministry... How about the response at the conclusion of the message. I have been told that when I get save God will really use me (I'm still praying about all that). I was blown away by Sundays altar time. To be honest I wanted time to freeze so I could just stand there and take it all in as God moved on different hearts. Anyway, just wanted everyone to know that I thought Sunday was a success...keep IT going!!!!! Please take a moment to post your thoughts!

Brooke Taken To Hospital...She's Okay

I was on my way to the office today when Brooke called us crying and laying on the floor in pain. She works for a family in their home and she was there alone with the 4 month old when her back just locked up and knocked her to the floor. After about an hour she got on the couch. That was right about the time Laurie and I was able to find the house. A friend kept the baby while we took Brooke to the hospital. Oddly, her back just absolutely locked up...they shot her up with cortezone and pain medicine. Then they sent her to a Chiropractor to losen her up. I about punched the doctor when he comes in and says...well she's not in pregnant. I said obviously as I am not in prison. Her back still hurts but she is trying to sleep it off with hard drugs. Please pray for her. It appears just to much tension and stress...you know the old first semester in college and on your own. She has found herself in heated theological debates, playing powder puff football, and being offered alcoholic drinks all day during football games. She is doing good. Just a big adjustment.

Should We Change Our Name?

I have several people suggest that a name change is in order with our location change. Some people have just questioned whether we would change it or not. I have never viewed our name as a relevant name. It was a play on TD Jakes if you ask me. An attempt to draw attention with a big name. Our church has built a good reputation in the community, and many know us as The Potter's House. On the other hand, we have been confused with a Glory to Him, TD Jakes, a cult in Australia, and a counseling/recovery center. Some people have called about our pottery.
Because I have now engaged in developing a sepeterate campus church in Florida. I think it would be okay to have a name change. I like Christ-Life Church. That is the name of the campus in Florida. This might be a good time to bring it all under the same name. What do you think?

Vision for the Future: I want us to get IT!

I have to admit I have not been real comfortable of late. My world has been rocked. I am losing a building, but I am not losing a vision.....I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO INTEND ON MAKING THE CHANGE WITH ME... For years God has put ideas in me that I have never put forward in full force. Early on this Wednesday morning I want you to know my vision for the future of our ministry together... that is to teach the Word of God in such a creative way that more and more people will want to follow Jesus. If we have to assemble in a field, a run down warehouse, in a park, or where-ever IT will happen. You may not get IT now, but you will!

Leadership Meeting Tonight 6:30

Tonight TPH will be having our leadership meeting. We will be organinzing a couple of events. FIRST DON'T FORGET THIS SUNDAY IS THE DAY TO INVITE THAT LOST FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMEMBER...HECK I DON'T CARE INVITE PEOPLE THAT HATE YOU OR MAYBE THEY HATE ME JUST INVITE PEOPLE AND TRUST GOD TO SAVE THEM!!!!

The other thing is the situation we find ourselves dealing with. I need to address each team so they know what their going to be responsible for in our transition. ANYONE THAT HAS ANY THOUGHTS DON'T BE TIMID FIRE THEM OVER AS I AM WILLING TO ENTERTAIN JUST ABOUT ANY THOUGHT....TONY, BE NICE!!!!

I LOVE YOU GUYS AND GOD WILL SEE US THROUGH THIS I AM CONTACTING SOME GUYS THAT I TRUST. I KNOW THEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ME. JUST SOME MINISTRIES THAT I THINK WE HAVE ALOT IN COMMON WITH...THERE IS WISDOM IN COUNSEL.

BY THE WAY THANK YOU TO TONY, DEWAYNE, JIM, JUSTIN AND LISA FOR YOUR CONSTANT INPUT I COULD NOT MAKE GOOD DECISIONS WITHOUT YOUR CONSTANT INPUT...

Please Pray For Our Church

As many of you know we have been in a real battle to retain our church property. We were under the covering of a group that promised the world and delivered very little. The Potter's House came out from under the spiritual covering of this group in 2007. They have lead us to believe that they would sign the property back to the church. This week we received and official letter from their lawyer that appears they never intended to do that. Instead they want us to vacate so they can sell the church out from under those of us who worship there. There is so much I just don't feel like getting into because it is so aggravating. Please pray for The Potter's House as we are being forced out of our church. Feel free to ask any questions and I will respond if I have an answer.

I Am GOD And I Approve His Message

After watching the last couple of National Conventions for both political parties I am tired of hearing...this is so and so and I approve this message. They slam each other and then say ... I approve of this message. My first thought is always who cares? That's just one of the things that gets under my skin during political seasons. The great thing is that they didn't come up with the old ... I approve this message...God did!
Do you remember when John the Baptist was approached by Jesus. John told Him that he needed to be baptized by Him. When John finally agreed to baptize Jesus the story continued with the Heavens opening and the Spirit of God descending upon Him. Then God says..."This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:13-17). He wasn't just pleased with His son He was approving the message that Jesus had been preaching. HE IS MY SON AND I APPROVE OF HIM AND HIS MESSAGE. We need to be so caught up in the purpose of God that He would be willing to proclaim...I AM GOD AN I APPROVE HIS MESSAGE.

Feeling Down?

I can remember years ago having a real battle with anxiety attacks due to a stressful situation in which I found myself. I learned that I was slightly depressed causing me to have these anxiety attacks. There was one night that the attacks were so severe my wife called the ambulance because I thought I was having a heart-attack. The second night she called them the ambulance driver asked if I had been under alot of stress. I told him yes! He said I think you are having anxiety attacks...I had never heard of them.
I was depressed because of all the adversity I had been dealing with in the church I was pastoring. Decisions I made to relocate to another part of the country appeared to be bad ones. I felt like a failure because I thought I had let my family down. There were issues surfacing in our marriage. I wanted to commit sins that would nullify me from ministry. Without going into alot of detail I felt like my life was crumbling around me and I was an absolute loser. I WAS DOWN! I DIDN'T JUST FEEL DOWN I WAS DOWN!
That time period was some of the worst in my pastoral career. Yet in those awful situations I now draw from that time as a leader. Adversity has been one of my greatest teachers. I have been forced to learn about me and change things that weren't appealing as a leader.
Even since coming to Alabama I have had moments of feeling down, but nothing like I felt in those days. Yet, when someone left the church or caused me problems I would go back to that feeling like a failure...through the past eight years of pastoring some of the greatest people on the planet I have grown through that. What am I saying? God never promised a rose garden. He just promised to be there in the good, the bad and the real bad times. Find out what's getting you down...and deal with it. As you do...in time you will actually grow from it. Hey..its late...I'm tired and heading to bed!

The Labor of Love

Yesterday in church I shared a message titled 'The Labor of Love'. I began by talking about how difficult it is to love people, especially if you have a hard time liking them. We focused on Matthew 22:34-42 where Jesus tells the disciples (that's us!) to love the Lord with ALL our heart, ALL our hearts, and ALL of our minds. Then he went on to tell that we should love our neigbour like we love ourselves.
Dr. James Dobson wrote a book on marriage a few years back called "Love Must Be Tough". I have come realize that love must be tough and that there is time for tough love. Yet the challenge to truly love everyone is a so laborious. Honestly, it is so difficult to love those whom you don't like. And the reason you may not like someone is so widespread...it could be a personality clash, attitudes in general, their lack of integrity, unforgiveness on one side or the other, the way the live, and the list could go on.
I have found that alot of Christians have no problem loving others, but they struggle with self love. ITS OKAY TO LOVE YOURSELF. I had a good friend in college, Craig Gray. He and I worked together waiting tables. Of course, we worked with tons of women. So beauty talk was a big issue in the breakroom. One day Craig and I started acting out ( I know you may find that hard to believe). We acted like beauty queens...and I would like to thank all of you who voted for me...I want you to know that I love myself...I will make the world a better place...we can live in peace...but most importantly I just want you to know how much I love me. You can imagine we were ripping it up. Had the walk going...the talk going. It was hilarious. Do you believe that was almost 20 years ago, and when we see each other we still do that. His brother David (whom most of you know as Pastor David) does it just about every time we talk on the phone. I am not talking about beauty pageant/fake self love when I suggest you love yourself. Honestly, how many people don't love themselves because of past mistakes they have made? I made the point that a young girl who begins to act out sexually to get people to like her does not respect herself...and if she has trouble respecting herself the how will she love herself. How 'bout critical Christians always talking about others...I have found usually talking about themselves....insecure. Hey, listen, I didn't start getting others saved until I got me saved. Maybe you need to forgive yourself of some things you have done. Your personal failure does not write you off as unworthy of love...especially not Gods love.
As you learn to be at peace with yourself...you learn to love others. But that thing about love God with ALL our heart, soul and mind. That's what I challenged the church to commit to Sunday morning. Getting back to loving God with ALL,ALL,ALL. This may seem like strange talk in our culture, but we have to love God more than ourselves, our family, our money, our hobby, and so on. I have learned the more I express my love for God and to God. The more I sense God filling me with His love. I love my wife like I do because I truly love my God. And because I love my God He gives me His love in turn that allows me to love my wife like Christ loved the church even willing to lay down my life for her. The more I love God...and He in turn reveals His love to me...I can then love my children better because I know the love of my Heavenly Father. That even includes in disciplining them...if you don't discipline you don't love them. LET'S BE REAL GOD LOVES US LONG BEFORE WE LOVE HIM. While we were at our worst in rebellion and hatred towards Him He loved us and sent His Son to the cross to show how muh he loved us. So today I am asking you to re-commit you love not just your life to God. God Bless and Pray for those in Gustav's path.