I am very committed to the following: our mission, values, top-notch environments, first-class publications, creative stage sets, an inviting campus, cool student activities, media that is engaging, promotion that connects, events that attract, series titles that stick, etc. Not only am I committed to the previous, but I also think that our wonderful staff often delivers on the a fore mentioned. In regards to the list, I also acknowledge that those elements are very business-esque. In other words, many corporations are shooting for the same targets. So I will just go ahead and acknowledge up front that in many ways the church functions like a business. Yet, the church is no a business. Indeed, if we only have the above practices and principles then we might as well just become a business and for one, I am not interested. I am all for the slick, but slick by itself stinks!

What I am even more committed to is: Creator God, Christ the Redeemer, the Guide into all truth, the gospel, salvation, sanctification, soul transformation, genuine repentance, personal holiness, the power of prayer, kingdom expansion, biblically functioning community, global missions, etc. When it comes to this list slick won’t do – what we really need is the super-natural.

I am not asking God for the slick but the super-natural. I am not looking to build something that can be born in my brain, I want to be a part of something that can only be accomplished by the One born in Bethlehem. I am asking for the divine, the unction, the empowerment, the filling, and the super-natural.

I will take the super-natural over slick any day!

The best way to describe last night is “Grand Slam”!! We had two training events – one at 4 and the other was at 6:30. Let me give you some of the details:

• Attendance was excellent at both sessions!!
• Many people who have never served were present!
• So thankful for all who faithfully serve who came out to prepare for Easter and improve our overall serve.
• We talked about our responsibility to provide the absolute best environment.
• With everyone equipped and on the same page we are better prepared for this Easter than at any time in our history.
• We introduced our process, which is also a brand new print piece – Celebrate, Grow, Serve, Reach
• The MAJOR announcement that I shared is that we are in discussions with Hammock First Baptist in regards to the possibility of them merging with us. I will probably shoot a video later today and post it on my blog. I will use the video to give similar information as to what I shared with all those in attendance last night.
• All of our staff and leaders did a tremendous job in preparing for the training event. Thanks!!

At Parkview our mission is to guide people to Life Change in Jesus Christ

Life change does not happen in our lives apart from the Gospel.  The Gospel is what changes us.  Our salvation has been accomplished by what God alone has done, not by what we have done.  From cover to cover, the Bible is all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the Gospel that shapes everything about us, producing life change.  We cannot know God or His Gospel without knowing His Word.  As we understand and embrace God’s Word, we find it so dynamic that is begins to define us, sanctify us and motivate us.  This is why one of our values at Parkview is:

Fueled by God’s Word
We believe God’s Word has the answer to all of life’s questions, and therefore, we surrender willingly to its timeless truths.
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (NKJV)

In order for each of us to experience life change we must be people of God’s Word.  This means we need to know how to study it and do what it says. As James 1 tells us we must not only be a hearer of the Word but also a doer of the Word.

At Parkview, we have incredible pastors, teachers and leaders, and we desire to help you grow in your faith and in the knowledge of God’s Word.  But more importantly than that, our heart is for you to discover God’s Word for yourself.  We believe God’s Word holds the answers for all of life problems and we know that it brings purpose and meaning to our lives.  God created us for relationship with Him and in His Word is where you will find that relationship.  He made us to respond to Him and it is in the truth of His Word where we are able to respond in obedience by His Grace.

One of the things that have helped me to be able to study the Bible has been Inductive Bible Study.  This is simply a method of study that opens Scripture up to us so that we can discern what God is saying to us as individuals.  Because we believe that it is God’s Word that changes lives and that God longs to meet you in the pages of His love letter to you, on February 16-18 we are bringing a Precept Inductive Bible Study Training Workshop to Parkview.  My wife, Denise, and several of our women leaders have attended this training over the last several years and have grown from the principles and study habits they have learned.  I will be attending this workshop and am looking forward to growing in discovering God’s Word for myself as well.

Click here to find out more information about learning the Inductive Study Method.  I want to encourage you to take a look at the information and giving prayerful consideration to attending. You may attend only one day or all three, but to receive a 25% discount, you need to register before January 23! I know it will be life changing!  If you have any questions in regards to this great training opportunity, please contact Sylvia Shows at (386) 586-2291 she will be glad to help you in any way she can.

Join me as we learn how to effectively study God’s Word and experience life change together!

October is Pastor Appreciation month and in honor of that I would like to share a few words about my pastor.

My pastor is Tom Messer. Pastor Messer leads Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fl. He has pastored that church for about 19 years and has done a phenomenal job. Let me share a few ways that he has been a blessing to me:

• He rarely misses an opportunity to tell me he is proud of me.
• He led Trinity to be our mother church when we launched Parkview
• They invested several thousand dollars into our ministry in the early years.
• He still buys my lunch regularly:)
• Even though our churches are different he has always encouraged me and not tried to change the philosophy I embraced
• He has taught me more about preaching than anyone else
• I have benefited from hundreds of his sermons over the years
• He has stepped in and helped me through some very challenging seasons of my own ministry
• In recent weeks he stepped up again
• He brags about me like a proud dad
• He has trusted me in his pulpit on countless occasions
• He is a great leader
• He has faced very difficult times in his own ministry and remained steadfast
• He has modeled how to love a congregation
• He has modeled how to shepherd a congregation
• He is a faithful friend

I can’t think of a finer mentor and friend! You can check him out here and here.