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!!

To me mentoring is all about seeing the potential in an individual, helping them see it and then calling out the individual to reach that potential. I love being mentored and what I have just described has been my personal experience through being mentored. Several great men have seen what I did not and called that out in me. To those men I am grateful!

Most of the people who have mentored me have done so in an up-close and personal way. On rare occasions I have been mentored from afar. Being mentored from afar has most often been done through books, pod casts, articles, etc. Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting one of the few men who have mentored me from afar.

In the early days of pastoring the church I recall driving to the theater every Sunday morning and listening to Dr. Joseph Stowell, then President of Moody Bible Institute, preach on the radio. His sermons were always encouraging to my heart and were also a primary challenge for me to develop my own preaching. Around that same time I purchased Dr. Stowell’s book, Following Christ. That book still stands out as one of my favorites both for its content and its timing in my life. Several years ago I had the opportunity to take our staff and wives to a conference in Miami at which Dr. Stowell was a keynote speaker. Once again God used him to challenge me and encourage me. Yesterday I was invited to a breakfast where Dr. Stowell would be speaking to pastors. During the morning I had the opportunity to speak with him on two occasions and they were both wonderful conversations.

If you would like to listen to Dr. Stowell you can click here to find some of his resources.

In closing, who is mentoring you and who are you mentoring? Also, who has mentored you from afar?

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!

1. My wife – Denise is amazing. In fact, she never ceases to amaze me! She is loving, loyal, encouraging, and causes me to want to be a better person. She loves God and loves her family! We laugh often and enjoy life together. Like any couple we fight – and almost always at the heart of it we are fighting for our marriage. The other times that we fight it is just me being stupid:) 20 years and the best is yet to come!
2. The leaders around me – At this time of year I am watching the staff work to the bone! They are committed to celebrating the birth of Christ and are trying to draw as many people as possible to the Messiah. Our elders have my back and embrace vision that is destined for failure without divine intervention. Tonight I met with our finance team and just love being with those guys. I got choked up twice in our meeting just thinking about God’s provision for His vision!!

God is good and way better to me than I deserve!!!

1. Click here for a good view on when the church disappoints.
2. Click here for how to speak up when you need to.
3. Click here to read about effective leaders.

Which article was your favorite and why?

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.

Click here to read about your rhythm with God

Click here to read a good article on leadership

Click here to read a good article for marriage

1. Lifecoast Church is hosing a night of worship with Jared Anderson & Desperation Band on Friday, Sept 9. Click here to get additional information.
2. We are hosting Entreleadership with Dave Ramsey on Friday, Sept 30. At EntreLeadership 1-Day, experience Dave Ramsey live, as he shares how to grow your business and lead your team from a biblical perspective. EntreLeadership is Dave’s premier leadership training program where he personally teaches individuals, teams, and businesses how to grow. Whether you’re an individual who wants to develop your leadership abilities, a business or organizational leader who wants to develop your team, or an entrepreneur who wants to build a business on solid, proven principles, EntreLeadership is for you.  If you desire to grow in your leadership, I can’t think of a better opportunity that you can leverage for your personal growth!!!!! Click here to get more information or to register. I hope to see you at this great event!!!

Knows how to pray                                    Prays

Has a Bible                                                  Reads his Bible

Cares about his wife                                  Loves for his wife

Works hard                                                 Works as unto the Lord

Talks about faith                                        Lives out a personal faith

Hides his flaws                                           Admits his flaws

Doesn’t need anyone                                 Lives with accountability

Hides his emotions                                    Is emotionally healthy

Has no dysfunction                                    Acknowledges his dysfunction

Looks for ways to lead                               Looks for ways to serve

Knows about Christ                                   Knows Christ

What would you add to the list?