Feb
09
Preparing Our Hearts
Ladies join us as we hear a special message from Beth Moore on how to get prepared for the upcoming satellite simulcast So Long, Insecurity. If you are interested in learning more about this event and want to be involved in the planning you won't want to miss this meeting. Please RSVP if attending. A light supper will be served.
Feb
10
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Feb
10
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Feb
14
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Feb
17
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Feb
17
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Feb
19
Late Night Lock in
Late Night is a trilling over night experience for Kids ages 2nd - 5th grade.
Feb
21
Church Business Meeting
Church Business Meetings are where we get updated on God's activity in the church including ministry updates, church finances, prayer and vision casting. Members of Parkway church are strongly encouraged to attend. Everyone is welcome.
We will discuss 2009 4th quarter financials.
Feb
21
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Feb
24
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Feb
24
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Feb
26
Acquire the Fire
ATF is a 27 hour event where students will be challenged to hear the voice of God in their lives through speakers, great bands, and time togehter.
Feb
27
Acquire the Fire
ATF is a 27 hour event where students will be challenged to hear the voice of God in their lives through speakers, great bands, and time togehter.
Feb
28
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Mar
02
Man Up Lunch
Join Pastor Mike for the Man Up lunch at the Parkway Church Soul Cafe. $6 gets you lunch and a drink.
Mar
03
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Mar
03
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Mar
05
Powershifters
Join this group who loves their cars and trucks. They meet to build relationships and to share Christ with other car enthusiasts.
Mar
06
Small Group Cookout
Gather up your small group and get ready to have a fun all-day cookin competition!
Mar
07
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Mar
07
Building Lives 101
Discover how you can know Jesus personally and how you can become a part of Parkway Church. 101 is free and includes lunch, materials, and childcare (K-5).
Mar
10
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Mar
10
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Mar
14
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Mar
17
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Mar
21
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Mar
24
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Mar
24
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Mar
28
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Mar
31
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Mar
31
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Apr
02
Powershifters
Join this group who loves their cars and trucks. They meet to build relationships and to share Christ with other car enthusiasts.
Apr
04
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Apr
06
Man Up Lunch
Join Pastor Mike for the Man Up lunch at the Parkway Church Soul Cafe. $6 gets you lunch and a drink.
Apr
07
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Apr
07
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Apr
11
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Apr
14
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Apr
14
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Apr
18
Church Business Meeting
Church Business Meetings are where we get updated on God's activity in the church including ministry updates, church finances, prayer and vision casting. Members of Parkway church are strongly encouraged to attend. Everyone is welcome.
We will vote on Advisors and Deacons.
We will discuss 2009 4th quarter financials.
Apr
18
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Apr
21
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Apr
21
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
Apr
24
Beth Moore | So Long, Insecurty
We're all insecure. Young and old, rich and poor, believers and non-believers-insecurity plagues us all. Join Beth Moore live via satellite as she brings her liberating new message to women all across America. Tickets available soon for $15.
Apr
25
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
Apr
28
Ignite Student Small Groups
Through straightforward teaching, personal mentoring, and relationships with other students, students will be equipped to impact the world...together.
Groups are formed and customized by grade level. Our groups meet on Wednesday evenings at Parkway Church and in the community.
Apr
28
WOW
WOW is a fun, exciting, and crazy way for kids to experience God.
May
02
Student Impact
Worship service geared for students 6th through 12th grade.
May
02
Building Lives 101
Discover how you can know Jesus personally and how you can become a part of Parkway Church. 101 is free and includes lunch, materials, and childcare (K-5).
May
04
Man Up Lunch
Join Pastor Mike for the Man Up lunch at the Parkway Church Soul Cafe. $6 gets you lunch and a drink.
February 8, 2010
WOW...what a day. Yesterday was an off the charts day for me. Why? Three words: Parkway, Superbowl, and Superbowl-food. (Yes, I just invented a new hyphenated word. Cool Huh. The services yesterday were really good. Good crowd. Strong response both the worship and to trust Christ. After the services, we had a great group at 101 and a surprisingly large group at 401. I love seeing people take steps to build their lives to honor God! And then there was the big game. Great game. Pretty good commercials. Yummy (yes I just typed yummy) food - stuffed jalapenos, bacon wrapped shrimp, dried deer sausage, plus chili con queso. I think I need to have a Roto-Rooter run through my arteries after yesterday. Well, enough of the recap, let's get so some of the highlights:
So proud of the Outdoor Expo. Glen and his hyper committed crew did an amazing job. I love his citywide vision.
I was the oldest person at 101. I don't like this. I love this. I love seeing couples in
February 8, 2010
Over the weekend, news of a brewing scandal surrounding Ed Young at Fellowship Church spread online. My initial reaction was "uh oh". The accusations centered on Ed's lifestyle including a huge salary, an enormous house, and a private jet. Would the situation be swept under the carpet? Would it go unacknowledged? How would Ed respond? What would the church do? (Click Scandalous Integrity to read more.)
February 3, 2010
Seth Godin recently wrote a facinating blog post on the danger of being busy. Here's his idea as I see it: procrastinators are often the busiest people that we know. They aren't just busy. They area vey busy. The problem is that busy isn't a measure of success especially if you were busy doing the wrong things or busy doing things that ensure you don't ever do the right things. He makes some great applications to the business world, I think you can easily make applications to church life as well. When it comes to the things that you are doing with and for God, are they the most important things that you can be doing in His name? Are they bringing life-change to you or to others? OR is your busyness for Jesus just a way to escape what needs to be done in your life or accomplished through your life. Are you busy serving Jesus so that you don't have time to listen to his voice in your life? Let Godin's quote ring through your life:
"I get that you were busy. But did you do a
February 2, 2010
As we opened the Amazing Race series, I told you the story of Matt Chandler, the pastor of the Village Church outside of Dallas. His story has been an inspriation to many within Parkway and throughout the world. Over the weekend, a story was published which details Matt's story including a very scary diagnosis, an extremely aggressive treatment plan and a rare look inside a man of faith. Read it here.
On Sunday, the big idea was that we should live like we're dying. Matt is doing that.
Chandler would rather this not have happened. But he is drinking life in — watching his son build sandcastles at the park, preaching each sermon as if eternity is at stake — and feeling a heightened sense of reality.
"It's carpe diem on steroids," he says.
Pray for Matt, his family, and his healing.
February 1, 2010
Sunday was a really good day at Parkway. I love days like yesterday where I don't feel my best but we still see amazing things. Big time reminder - even on my best days - it's not about me and what I do. The success of Parkway Church is wholly dependant on what God does. Now for the highlights: (Click Sunday Recap to read more. On FB, click view original post.)
January 28, 2010
So, why are we doing so many mission trips and focusing so much energy on intentionally serving in community? Why are we looking to meet other's needs when we have so many needs within the church? Shouldn't we get our house in order before we go looking to change the world? Good questions. Let's get at it! (Click "Why so much energy on missions and community service?" to read more.)
January 27, 2010
Why an Internet Campus? Why stream the messages and the music live online? Shouldn't we want people to come here instead of going to church in their boxers? Good questions. Let's tackle them. (Click "Why an Internet Campus?" to read more.)
January 26, 2010
Why young adults? Why are we doing a targeted ministry to reach the 18-30 crowd in Victoria? Good questions. Here's why: (Click "Why Young Adults?" to read more.)
January 25, 2010
Why? Why are we doing the things that we are doing as a church? Why are we moving forward with a targeted ministry to young adults? Why are we streaming our services live on the Internet Campus? Why are we investing so much time and resources in local outreach and international missions? Why is Mike wearing weird shoes and really cool boots? These are the questions that really matter. Okay...not all of them...we aren't going to answer the fashion question. There is no answer for that. But the other why questions will be answered this week on the blog.
Here's why "why?" matters. If we all get why we are doing what we are doing that we can all get involved in what we are doing and more people can get what they need through Parkway. Get it? I hope you are inspired by the blog this week.
January 21, 2010
In August, we launched WonderKids, our ministry to kids with special needs. We knew there was a great need both within Parkway and in the community for a ministry like this. So, our mission was clear, create a safe place for kids with special needs to learn and grow AND give the parents the freedom to worship without worry. The all volunteer team has done an amazing job chasing this mission. (To read more, click on WonderKids.)
January 14, 2010
I am really excited about the launch of our young adult ministry at Parkway. I love working with, leading, and pastoring young adults and I can't wait to see what happens when we do something new at Parkway to reach, connect, and equip the next generation. So...here's the deal. If you are a young adult (18-29) and you are ready for something new....new friends...new worship experience...new ministry opportunities, join me on Sunday night at 6:00 PM for a time vision and prayer. Sure, you will have time to meet others with a similar passion, but more importantly, we will trust God together to map our our next steps.
January 13, 2010
On Sunday, I used the story of Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village Church, as an example of someone who is doing the three things that God challenged us to do out of Hebrews 12:1-2.
1. Run your race.
2. Fix your eyes upon Jesus.
3. Find joy in the race.
If you missed the service, you can hear Matt's story here. Remember to pray for Matt and his family as they run their race.
January 12, 2010
Every now and again, I have an aha moment when I am studying. I see something like I have never seen it before and it speaks to me and I know it is going to speak to others. This week, as I was studying, I had one of those moments. Now, I know this was straight from God because I had been begging Him for my talk. I knew the passage, I knew the direction, but it wasn't coming together which was a really bad thing because I was running behind. I am usually a week or two or three out when it comes to my prep, but due to the holidays, I wasn't last week. So, Tuesday night while I was with my family and doing the usual stuff, there was a ton of conversation happening behind the scenes between me and God. I needed a talk and he gave me an aha moment. I fresh look at what God can do with our faith. According to Hebrews 11, all of these thing happen as we live a life of faith: (Click Read More to see the list.)
January 11, 2010
Wow. What a weekend we had at Parkway. It is a blast doing life at Parkway and seeing all that God is doing. Here are some of the highlights: (Click read more to read more.)
January 6, 2010
I came across a video early this week from www.cedarcreek.tv that gave me a new perspective on New Year's resolutions. This year, I made none. Yep, you read that right. Zero. Zippy. Nada. Does that mean that nothing in my life needs to change? Absolutely not, but change happens everyday, not just on New Years Day. Anywho. Back to the video and to Ceder Creek's reasons resolutions fail: resolutions fail because they are too small. They aren't big enough to challenge us. They aren't big enough to last a year let alone a lifetime. So, this year, if resolutions are your thing, be inspired and go big! (Click read more to see the video.)
January 4, 2010
Hmmm....let's think about everything that has happened since I last blogged here.
We had three off the wall Christmas Eve services. I guarantee that you have never been to a Christmas Eve service like that before! Most everyone loved it. It felt good to laugh as we remembered the true meaning of Christmas. Other's didn't get as much out of it. Honestly, I see both sides. I am so thankful that Parkway takes risks, trusts each other and reaches people for Christ. By the way, we had a huge response to the invitation at the Christmas Eve Eve service. Pretty cool.
Pastor Kim did a solid job with the GRACE series. If you have ever struggled to receive God's grace and then to give God's grace, you need to put this series on your iPod and listen to it on a regular basis. Lots of good Facebook feedback on yesterday's message on forgiveness. If you missed it, the video will be posted later today.
We have been testing the Internet Campus video stream the last couple of Sundays
December 27, 2009
For the next week, I am going to pull back from blogging a bit and take a little break. Some would say that I have already taken a break so this serves to make it official. Happy New Year.
December 17, 2009
I can't believe that Christmas is almost here! I hope that you are having a great Christmas season. Here's a quick heads up on all that is happening at Parkway to celebrate Christ's birth:
On Sunday, December 20, we will wrap up our series He Will Be Called by looking at how Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Need a little peace this Christmas? You don't want to miss the talk or the full set of Christmas music.
On December 23rd and 24th, we will celebrate Jesus' birth with "Christmas in a Nutshell." "Christmas in a Nutshell" will be a fun Christmas celebration that your whole family will enjoy. Through a blend of great music, teaching and other creative twists, you and your family will be inspired by the truest meaning of Christmas. Come and experience "Christmas in a Nutshell" on December 23rd at 6:30 PM or December 24th at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM.
Looking forward to celebrating with you!
December 14, 2009
Yesterday, I challenged the crowd that gathered at Parkway to live an atypical Christmas. What does an atypical Christmas look like? Well, I gave a few suggestions:
Adjust Your Attitude: Move From Preparing Your Home to Preparing Your Heart
Build Family Moments: Remind Yourself of the True Meanings of Christmas
Celebrate and Serve: Make Christmas About More Than Giving and Receiving
Change Your Focus: Focus on Relationships More Than Stuff (This is a budget friendly Christmas!)
If you need a little help, building family moments, check out what Kristi and I are doing with our family each night. Click here to print the Family Christmas Calendar.
What else could be added to the list of things that we can do to have an atypical Christmas?
December 3, 2009
Okay people...we need to talk. We need to talk about the snow hysteria that is spreading around Victoria. Store shelves are emptying. Milk ailses are bare. Walmart is a madhouse. I don't get it. I know that we MIGHT get a little snow and perhaps a little ice. I know that winter storms like this are rare. But, I am not worried. Here's why: no matter how bad the snow/ice is on Friday, it will all be gone on Saturday. Check the temps people. There is no need to rush the stores like a Hurrican is in the gulf. There is no spend more money than you have for more groceries than you need. There is no need to put salt shakers on the fenders and bumpers of your car to treat the roads! Have a little more perspective than that. Don't worry about tomorrow because a better day is coming. (I bet there is a spiritual lesson in here somewhere.)
December 2, 2009
It's not Thomas the Tank Engine, but it still looks cool. On Friday at 4:00 PM, the KCS Holiday Express will roll into Victoria. Looks like a fun, family friendly, free event. With snow in the forecast, this could be a really memorable event.
Speaking of snow, we kept our snow shovel from Virginia so I am available for hire to take care of your sidewalks and driveways. (Hey, a guy can dream right!)
December 1, 2009
We officially begin Christmas season around our house tonight. Each night in December, we get ready to celebrate Christmas through activities each day. I have to give credit where credit is due. Kristi developed this plan and I have grown to love it over the years. These activities include a reading from Scripture plus some questions and activities to experience Christmas together. Even the kids look forward to our special time together. Your family will love it too. Click read more to print the Family Christmas Calendar.
November 30, 2009
In today's recap, we are going to step behind the scenes. When I rolled into the office, I wasn't feeling good. This was more than a turkey hangover. I am talking headache, no energy, stuffy head. I was sick and not happy about it. I had to tough it out because last week Dave was REALLY sick with fever and other flu like symptoms. If he could tough it out, so could I. As I was doing final prep, I heard that we had a couple of vocalists out sick and we had some tech crew out as well. This was not a good way to start the day. But the perspective was soon to change. As I was getting miced up, Mike Rippamonti grabbed me and said, "This is one of those days when we are glad that God is in control." No better words could have been spoken. From that point forward, I was ready for what ever God had for us and He didn't disappoint.
November 27, 2009
Wow...what a good holiday. My family and I had a great time together in North Texas, but it sure feels good to be home. Hope you had a great time with your family and friends too. Can't wait for Sunday as we wrap up the series Unreached with a look at how we can live a life for the unreached. Do you want to have maximum impact with your life? Then show up on Sunday and take a step in that direction.
November 9, 2009
November 5, 2009
If you have been around the Parkway blog for long, you know that I love Andy Stanley. I have a big time preacher crush on this guy. He says very profound things in very simple ways so that very normal people get it. I came across this message and you should check out now. Trust me, it is worth the 18 minutes that you invest in it. If you can't give me 18 minutes, then just listen to the first three minutes or so. In three minutes, he uncovers the cause of some of our stinkin' thinkin'.
For those that won't give me even three minutes, let me hit you with one big statement and one big question from Andy:
First, the statement: Your worries and concerns refect your core devotions. If I were going to rephrase it, I would say, "what worries you the most is what matters the most to you."
Now, the question: "What if you shifted your devotion....what would happen to your worry?" Andy points is one I made on Sunday. To change our stinkin' thinkin' we have to change our foc
November 4, 2009
Take a few minutes and think about the quality of your thought life right now. To do this, use the thought test from Sunday as filter. Remember, we said that our thought patterns are uncovered as we deal with new opportunities, new relationships and challenges. Think about the way you think in these three areas and see if you typically practice stinkin' thinkin' or right thinkin'.
November 3, 2009
Recently, Ed Young announced that there is something far worse than the Swine Flu spreading through the church and since we are looking at our stinkin' thinkin' this week, I figured that I'd pass along Ed's diagnosis so that all of you can be aware. Check out the video:
November 2, 2009
Yesterday, we delt with the stinkin' thinkin' that enters our lives if we aren't careful. The good news is that God can change even these parts of our life. God doesn't just want to chang our behaviors. He wants to change our minds and transform our minds. Today, read this devotional from Pastor Rick Warren and see where God might lead you to think for change through repentance.
October 30, 2009
Okay, the last step in praying with expectancy may be the hardest. So far, you have discovered how to trust God with everything and to make requests through prayer. Now, it's time to see the power of believing that God actually works as we pray. Read Philippians 4:6-7 one last time.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Did you notice the underlined words? Sure you did. You may have even through to yourself, "How do I pray with thanksgiving?" The only way to pray with a thankful attitude to have the faith that prayer really works and that God acts as we pray. We can pray with all sortsof attitudes - apathy, boredom, unbelief, but there is only one attitude that results in praying with thanksgiving. That is the attitude of belief. Believing that prayer act
October 29, 2009
Yesterday, we discovered how to be fully present as we pray by talking with God and listening to God as we go about our everyday life. Today, we are going to discover the power of asking God for things through prayer and petetion. Read Philippians 4:6-7:
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Did you catch what Paul said? He didn’t tell us only to pray for the big hairy important sounding things – he said everything. He also warns us not to just pray like we are visiting Santa (here is what I want); or pulling the arm on a spiritual slot machine. What he was telling us is that we can bring all of our needs (both HUGE and TINY) before the God of the universe and he hears us!
October 28, 2009
Over the next three days, we are going to look at what we can do to pray with expectancy. What can we do to pray like prayer really changes things? The secrets lie in Philippians 4:6-7.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
The first five words of of these verses show us the first step to praying with expectancy. What do that step? Do not be anxious about anything instead, trust God with everything. This is tough because sometimes praying seems stressful in and of itself. What if I don't say the right things? What if God is busy with someone else? What if I am asking for the wrong things in the wrong way?
October 27, 2009
Learning how to live in God's strength means that you have to see your day-to-day circumstances in a different light. This comes as we discover the power of prayer. It also comes as we discover that no matter what we are facing God is at work and we can trust Him, talk to Him, and hear from Him through prayer.
Matt Redman's song, Blessed Be Your Name, has become an anthem for those who have discovered how to live in God's strength through and in every circumstance. If you have a few extra minutes, you can read the story behind the song here. The song comes from a quote from Job who lost it all but never lost his hope and trust in God.
October 26, 2009
How do you know who's strength you are living on right now? I think it is a pretty easy thing to look at. Read more to take the strength test.
October 22, 2009
Take a moment and read today's verse, Ephesians 4:26-27.
26"In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27
In these 26 words, we find the power of making relationships right TODAY. It maps out the reality that all anger isn't wrong but when we don't deal with our anger or relational divides correctly then it gives the devil a foothold into our life. If we hold on to our anger, if we refuse to take steps for right relationships then essentially, we are laying out the welcome mat for the devil. So, what should we do today? Have the tough conversations that are necessary when we are angry. Maybe it is a tough conversation with a person. Don't put it off. Be honest. Be real. Be loving. Be bold. Today! Maybe it is a tough conversation with God. Ask Him to help you deal with your anger. Ask him to work in the lives of the people that you are struggling with. Ask Him to work in
October 21, 2009
The big idea for the talk on Sunday is that there are things that we can do today that will change tomorrow. There are decisions that we can make today that will lead us to live the life that God has designed for us tomorrow. This truth works in many areas of life. Ask yourself this question, "What are somethings that I need to do today so that I will be ready and blessed tomorrow?" On Sunday, I hit three areas where we need to look deeply into our lives with this question.
Today, I want for you to think about one of those areas specifically. Think about your finances. Here's the question: What are you doing today that is going to result in financial freedom tomorrow? I suggested that you make a plan and work the plan. Today's passage, Proverbs 6:6-8, shows how even nature lives by this principle.
October 20, 2009
A friend forwarded me this devotional from Pastor Rick Warren. As I read it, the first three words of Ephesians 4:13 struck me - this will continue. What will continue? God's maturing process of us will continue. This raises the value of everyday with God. This raises the value of tomorrow, but more importantly it raises the value of today. What is God doing in me today that will result in maturity tomorrow. He is always working on us. Join Him in that process today. Enjoy Pastor Rick's words. "This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him" (Ephesians 4:13 CEV)
October 19, 2009
One of the things that I love about this series, is that we are discovering how the Bible speaks to some of the most destructive hurts, habits and hang-ups that we have in life. Even the focus of our attention this week - procrastination. Procrastination is all about tomorrow. God is all about today. The Bible speaks both to the value of today which we will look at throughout the week. It also speaks against putting off to tomorrow the things that should get done today. Pretty much every area of life is better if we do what we are supposed to do today rather than pushing it down the to do list. Need a little proof? Read these verses:
October 16, 2009
On Sunday, one of the things that I said is that we all have secrets that we want to hide while at the same time we have secrets that we are desperate to share. We need others so that we can be real with God and real with ourselves. With the love and support of others, we can share the secrets that we are desperate to share. There are 50 One Another Commands in Scripture that give us a framework for our relationships. Many of these commands are intended to create a safe place for us to confess our hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
October 15, 2009
Next, we need to discover how to be real with each other. Being real with each other involves a level of honesty and vulnerability that few of us experience but all of us need. Being real with each other means that we do life together when times are good and when times are not. Being real with each other means that we drop all forms of hypocrisy and be who we really are with the understanding that God is going to change us along the way.
October 14, 2009
The second step in living a transparent life is getting real with you. Get real with that person that you see in the mirror everyday. Get real with the person that you know better than anyone else. Get real with you.
Being honest with who you are and what drives you is a key step in learning how to overcome our hurts, habits, and hang-ups. If we don't see ourselves for who we really are then we will never see ourselves like others see us. Today, do everything you can to be honest with who you really are. Read this verse and discover a simple way to get real with who you really are.
October 13, 2009
How many faces do you have? Pretty aggessive question, but think about it. How many different faces do you where in a day. As you think about it, check out this video.
October 12, 2009
Take a moment and read the core passage from yesterday's message. Remember, this is a story from the first century church that has some serious 21st century implications when it comes to our relationships both with each other and with God.
October 9, 2009
Today's devotional centers on a question that Pastor Craig Groeschel recently asked in one of his messages. Here it is: Was there a time in the past when you felt closer or more united to God than you are right now? When he asked to raise their hands if this is true of them, hands went up all over the place. After that he made a very profound statement: if there was a point in your life where you were closer to God than you are today - God didn't move. Did you catch that? God is still where He always is. He didn't leave you. You may have drifted, but he didn't leave. (If y
October 8, 2009
When you think about change, if you are like me, too often you will think about the external changes that you need to make. These are the kind of things that you see when you look in the mirror. We take action based on what we see. We shave it. We pluck it. We pop it. We brush it. We cut it. We style it. We cover it. We take action on what we see. But what if God's change process was different? What if he looked at a completely different level than we do? What would you work on then? What would you change then?
October 7, 2009
Sometimes change can't be just a small change. It has to be a radical change - maybe even revolutionary change. The kind of change that we read about here:
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
or maybe like the change we read about here:
8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:8-10
There are part of our life where we must have a completely new way of doing things if we are going to take our love for God to the next level. If we are going to g
October 6, 2009
Some of us struggle to make any change because we feel like if we change anything then we must change everything. So what is the result? We don't change anything. We get paralyzed.
Today, I want for you to consider the small changes that you can make that will make all of the difference in the world when it comes to the hurts, habits, and hang-ups in your life. If you have a big problem, maybe you don't need a big solution. Maybe you just need a small change.
October 5, 2009
This series, No Perfect People Allowed, is all about dealing with life's hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Face it. You aren't perfect. I'm not perfect. No one who has ever walked this planted besides Jesus is perfect. So the question is, what do I do with all of the places where I know that I'm not perfect. What do I do?
Over the next few weeks, we are going to tackle some big time issues in your life and in my life. It is going to be awesome to sit back and see what God does through this series. Today, I want for you to start off with a little thought about where you might like to see some change in your life.
October 5, 2009
September 27, 2009
Yesterday, I preached in two countries at the same time. It was a pretty amazing experience even if I do say so myself. I preached live at First Alliance Church in Calgary and I preached via video at Parkway. It was very cool to know that God was working in both places. I kept in touch with our team throughout the morning via text and email. Just as I was about to step on stage for the second time in Calgary, I got word that two people trusted Christ during the first service. You better believe that I preached with a ton of passion knowing this. At Calgary, I was preaching on connecting to God and connecting to community. We saw a great response here, too. People were lined up signing up for LifeGroups - their version of a Small Group. We had a great weekend with the team here, including Scott and Tara, but I can't wait to get home.
September 25, 2009
On Sunday, we wrap up the You and Me Plus Two Series. I am going to look at a parents secret weapon when it comes to raising kids of all ages. It is going to be very practical and very encouraging. You don't want to miss it. We are also going to have a parenting panel as a part of the talk so that you can hear from others on how that are working through this parenting thing.
September 24, 2009
It took me this long to blog on this because of the pain from Sunday. How in the world could the Cowboys look so good and so bad at the same time? I have no idea. What I do know is that I will be watching them play the Carolina Panthers on Monday night in our Cafe and I want you there to. We will eat some burgers and then watch the game. $5 tickets will be available before and after this weekend's services. Men and their sons of all ages are welcome to attend.
September 23, 2009
I am getting great feedback from the You and Me Plus Two series. Thanks for that. Parenting on purpose is something that God has really given me and Kristi a vision for even before we had kids. I know that there are many challenges before us, but I welcome them. Why? Because I actually believe the stuff that I have been teaching you.
If you've missed out on the series, you can catch up here. See you Sunday as we wrap up the series with a look at a parent's secret weapon.
September 22, 2009
In yesterday's post, I mentioned the Scoop and what a great night it was. One of the things that you need to know is that as pastors, we usually judge the effectiveness of an event in two ways: 1. Did people show up? 2. Did I do a good job talking? We make it all about the crowd and all about us. Before you go throwing stones at me, you need to know that we all do this. Big churches do it. Small churches do it. Everyone does it. You also need to know that only using these two measures is a faulty standard. We could serve beer to draw a crowd and I could spend weeks crafting and perfecting my part, but have a failure of a night.
September 21, 2009
I know you might feel like I say this every week, but I mean it every week so I am going to keep saying it every week. We had another amazing day at Parkway. Saw 6 people trust Christ. That brings us to right at 200 professions of faith in the services this year! Simply awesome. We also had 3 people get baptized plus a couple of baby dedications. It was a full day. (Click read more t for the highlights of the day.)
September 18, 2009
Here's a sneak peak of the next ad that will hit the airwaves next week. No Perfect People kicks off on October 4.
September 16, 2009
The Scoop is tomorrow. Have you reserved your spot? If you lead or serve within the church or if you just want the inside scoop on what is happening this Fall, don't miss it. The Scoop is this Thursday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The night will feature a meal, an inspirational look at our plans for the rest of the year plus fun times for kids birth through 5th grade. Email chris@parkwayvictoria.org to reserve your spot.
September 15, 2009
My friend Glen Dry sent me this from the Sportsmen's Devotional. As a dad who is trying to train his kids up in a bunch of stuff, this devotional is a good reminder of what matters most. For those who are paying attention, the verse included in the action step is one of the verses that I used in my talk on Sunday. Enjoy!
September 14, 2009
I love the start of a new series. There is a real sense of excitement and expectancy when we start a new series especially when it a series like Me and You Plus Two. Yesterday, we were buzzing with energy in every area of the building. But the place where we really had to pack them in was in the preschool ministry which is really awesome. It's awesome because it means that we are reaching young families and as a result we will shape generations to come. How cool is that! (Click Sunday Recap to read the highlights of the day.)
September 8, 2009
I get to hang out with Andy Stanley and you can, too. Every week, we spend a little quality time together and he invests in me. He pours into me from all of his experience and expertise. I love our time together and he wants to hang out with you, too. (Click read more to discover how you can hang out with Andy.)
September 4, 2009
This weekend, you don't want to miss church, trust me. Make your Labor Day plans such that you can be a part of Parkway this weekend. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring and extra hot dog for me. It is going to be a special day. I am going to do a talk on worship. "Nothing too special, yet," you think to yourself. First of all, that is a little rude. Second of all, I am not done yet. As a part of the talk, I am going to interview Dave, our Pastor of Worship, so that you can get to know him, his heart, and his story. He is a great guy (of course, you already knew that) and his story will inspire you.
September 3, 2009
Today, I am out of the office with our Leadership Team. We are planning and praying and making sure that we are all on the same page as we head into the Fall. These next few months are going to be jam packed with activities, events, groups, and services. As we prep for this, it is essential that we all have the resources and support that we need. That is what our day is about. We are also going to begin looking at budget plans for 2010. Can't believe it is that time of the year again. (Click Today to read more.)
September 2, 2009
Can't wait for the kick off of the College Football season this weekend. Who's your team? Who's your pick for the Heisman? Let's get a little football banter going on the blog.
September 1, 2009
I am a leadership book junkie. I can' t get enough of them. It is a good one, I will read it in one setting. I love filling my tank with thoughts, ideas, and best practices from other leaders. To prep for our Man Up lunch, I am reading what at first glance is a really good leadership book - What God Does When Men Lead. The book introduces a unique angle to leading as Christ followers. Rather than just being servant leaders, we are to be steward leaders. We are to be men who steward or manage every resource that God has given even our leadership in the home, in the workplace, in the community, and in the church. (Click When Men Lead to read more.)
September 1, 2009
I think it's so important that we get this stuff. I don't want for you to miss it. Here are the four reasons that we all need a spiritual family that I talked about on Sunday. These truths provide a grid to look at your Small Group or your church experiences to see if God is achieving in you what he wants to achieve in you. I think you need to go four for four with this list. If you don't have it, make adjustments. Get your group to go in a different direction. Do something. Life is too precious to waste it. (Click 4 Reasons That I Need a Spiritual Family to read more.)
August 31, 2009
Another strong day at Parkway. Dave and the worship teams did a great job again this week. Love the song I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin especially with all of those voices on stage. For my part, I thought the talk was strong. Believe me when I say that the number one way to stop doing the "Spiritual Hokey Pokey" is to be broken and rebuilt by the Word of God and then to connect with others in Biblical Community. The example from Nehemiah's day is just too clear for us to miss it. Now for the highlights of the day: (Click Sunday Recap to read the highlights.)
August 31, 2009
Yesterday, we talked about how we can go All In through relationships. There is no better inspiration to do this than the story of Leroy and Dartanyon, two wrestlers from Cleveland. Take 12 minutes and be inspired. (Click True Friendship to see the video.)
August 28, 2009
On Sunday, we are wrapping up the All In Series. The talk is all about giving it your all. It is going to be a fun talk. I am going to reveal my inner redneck with a story from my childhood and from a crazy dinner we had in DC. I am also going to share the difference that church - our church, your small group - should be making in your life.
Also, on Sunday, we have GroupLink. If you are not connected to a group, then you need to attend GroupLink to find your spot. GroupLink is an interactive experience where you can make some friends and form a group. There is no need to sign-up. You can just show up on Sundays. Lunch and childcare is provided.
August 26, 2009
On Sunday, I challenged the church to get OFF THE WALL and notice the needs of people around them. Essentially, I was asking us to not get so caught up in our day-to-day routine that we miss the needs that are all around us. Nehemiah got off the wall. We can, too. If you weren't there, you really need to check it out. You can watch and listen here. (Click Here's Hope to discover how you can get off the wall.)
August 25, 2009
One of the high spots in the service on Sunday was the song New Hallelujah. I can't get it out of my mind. The video below was shot at Michael W. Smith's concert at Lakewood. I told Dave that I expected him to deliver this type of experience and energy at Parkway. (Click New Hallelujah to see the video.)
August 24, 2009
All week long, I prayed that God would surprise me on Sunday. I was hopeful that we would have a good week, but I was begging God to surprise me with a great week. As I got going on Sunday, I had a real sense of expectancy. God was going to surprise me. As I got to the building and heard the final moments of the rehearsal, I almost could not contain my excitement. I knew that God was going to answer my prayer. I was about to be surprised. The worship team and I prayed after they finished putting the final touches on their part of the service. I prayed thanking God for their service and I asked God to surprise us all and to give us a spirit of expectancy. Essentially, we were saying, "God, we expect for you to do something great. We have done our best to get ready, but we are trusting you and you alone to deliver!" He did not disappoint. (And hopefully, we didn't disappoint Him!) Yesterday, we an off the charts day at Parkway. Here are some of the highlights:
August 21, 2009
Okay...so I am going to add a new feature for the blog. On Fridays, I will give you a heads up on what is happening in the services and around the church. This way, you will be in the know.
So, this Sunday, we will continue in the series "All In" by looking at the places where Parkway needs to get off the wall. If you left Sunday wondering where your passion is and how to find it, this talk will help answer it plus I'm hoping it will get you fired up about the difference we will make in this community!
Sunday is also a HUGE day for Student Ministry and for our Children's Ministry. They are both hosting back-to-school rallies to get everyone fired up for school and the fall ministry plans. Get your kids here on Sunday! (and bring yourselves, too)
Have a great weekend.
August 20, 2009
Today, Steve, Dave, and I are hitting the road for a little field trip in Austin. Our primary mission is to visit a tech trade show. We will get a chance to look at the latest and greatest in sound, video, and lights. I don't know what we will find or how God might inspire us on this little trip but I do know one thing that I want to see. I want see the best way to begin streaming the services live online. I think the ministry possibilities are huge. I was a part of launching the Internet Campus at www.mcleanbible.org that is currently reaching over 2500 people a weekend. I want Parkway to have this capability as well.
Also, while we are in Austin, we are going to shoot a little video for the weekend. I am not going to give away the location or the angle of the video, but I will give a few hints to see if anyone can guess what activity I will be doing to illustrate the talk. Here are the hints:
1. Reaching new heights.
2. Atomic wedgy.
3. Trust.
August 19, 2009
I am a gadget guy. I love electronic stuff including my new toy - a Kindle. A Kindle is an electronic book reader. It's kinda like an Ipod for books. I picked it up because books are cheaper this way. I can take an entire library with me and read at any time. I am also hoping to take notes and export text for easier sermon prep. Anybody else have one? Any tips?
August 18, 2009
Last week, I shared a quote from Leah. This week, I've got a quote for Nick that you have got to hear. It is a few years old, but hasn't lost it's impact on me. He came home from 2nd grade one day with something he had to tell me. Apparently, they had been playing the name game which he loves cause many times they include his name. You know how it goes, "Nick, Nick, BoBick, FeFi FoNick, Nick." He came home and told me in a very alarmed voice. Daddy...whatever you do, never play the name game with the name Chuck. :-)
August 18, 2009
August 17, 2009
August 17, 2009
As I type, I am listening to Oh Praise Him by the David Crowder Band. The song sums up our day yesterday. It was a packed day, but a good day. Loved the change of pace in worship today. Thought the band did a great job helping us all engage in a different way yesterday. More of this is in the works for the next couple of weeks. I thought my talk was good - not great - and then I went out in the Atrium and saw people signing up to serve and dropping off their pennnies. This made me feel so much better about the message. It looked like God drove the message home! After services, we had to do final prep and shopping for the baptism party at our house. We had around 30 people show up to witness 7 people get baptized. It was very cool - felt like old times. Parkway used to baptize in swimming pools when we met in the mall. There is something special about an intimate setting for something like baptism. It just feels different - and better. After everyone cleared out from the
August 13, 2009
It is almost here. On Sunday, August 23, WonderKids kicks off. Can't wait for this. WonderKids is our ministry to special needs kids and families. God birthed the vision for this ministry while we were at McLean Bible Church. Kristi and I had never seen a church reach out to this community before and it inspired us to do the same here. Little did we know that God was birthing this ministry among people here, too. That's where the team comes in to play. WonderKids has a solid leadership and ministry team who is eager to serve this community not only because of their love for God but because their lives have personally been impacted by someone with special needs. How cool is that! So, the ball gets rolling officially on August 23. Spread the word.
August 12, 2009
On Sunday, we are going to baptize at my house. It is going to be awesome as we gather to see men, women, and children go public with their faith through baptism. Some may be wondering why we are doing it in a pool at my house. Well, the reasons are simple. (Click Baptism to read more.)
August 11, 2009
In September, we are going to do a series on parenting called "Me and You Plus Two." It should be great. I think God is already building the messages through my life. File this one under "Kids Say the Darndest Things.:
The other day we were swimming and Leah (my 7 yr. old) was playing with my hair when she asked, "Has anyone told you that you are kinda bald?" "No sweetie," I responded. "Well, they are just being nice," she says in return.
For the record, I she is wrong. I am not folicly challenged, yet.
August 10, 2009
For the dog days of Summer, we had another strong day yesterday. We wrapped up the Incredibles series. I loved this series. Teaching stories from the Old Testament plus a story of life-change was lots of fun and from what I hear very impactful. Looking forward to jumping to in our next series All In. This one is going to be really good, too. We are changing things up a bit with worship for this series...you don't want to be late and you don't want to miss. (Click Sunday Recap for the highlights of the day.)
August 5, 2009
Sunday after the services, I had a cool conversation with a guy about failure. He wanted to pass a thought along to me that he wrote down as I talked. I thought it was a good thought so I will share it with you: Failure is only failure when you give up or when you fail to learn from your failure. Good stuff! What did you take away from Sunday's message?
August 4, 2009
Late last week, the Advocate called for comment on an article they were writing. This is a common occurrence around here so much so that Kristi asked me if I was the only pastor in town who would comment on things. This was no run of the mill article. It was a part of their pro & con series where they tackle an issue from both sides of the argument. Some are for it. Others are against it.
August 3, 2009
Something unusual is happening at Parkway. Really, what we are experiencing is not normal. I couldn't believe the response that we had during the second service. Hands went up all over the auditorium when I asked if anyone had prayed to trust Christ with me. There were so many hands that I couldn't count them all. This never gets old. I am so grateful to the Lord for what he is up to. I think we are gearing up for an amazing fall. If Sunday was any indication, it is going to be a blast to be a part of all that God will do through us! (Click Sunday Recap to read the highlights from Sunday.)
July 28, 2009
I have gotten a few questions on this and a few comments about how much people loved the little clip that we showed from by buddy, Chris Seay, so I thought I would share the clip here on the blog as well. Enjoy! (Click Really Big Boat to see the video.)
July 27, 2009
I love Mondays. I know that I am weird, but I really love Mondays. Here's why. Mondays are all about celebrating what God did on Sunday and getting things in gear for the next weekend. We open our day around here at the office as a team recaping the day talking about what worked and what needs improvement. Most of this time, we talk about people and the lives that are being changed. Then, we share some prayer requests and pray together. The rest of my day is spent in meetings with the staff team and putting the final touches on the talk for the weekend. I typically prepare a couple weeks in advance so Mondays are more about how to say what I am going to say than figuring out what I am going to say. So that is why I love Mondays. (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
July 26, 2009
Lots of folks lately have been asking me when I am going to start with Twitter. "Hurt when are you going to Twitter?," they say. Well, I haven't gotten into the craze for a simple reason, why would you want to know what I am up to in real time. I just don't get it. That reason was good enough to keep me out of Twitter. Then, I came across an even better reason from an old friend David Crowder. (Yes, that David Crowder that has written most of your favorite worship songs.) What's does Dave have to say on this? Twitter will kill you. Click on Twitter Will Kill You to see the rockumentary.
July 20, 2009
Okay...so I am supposed to be on vacation - not blogging...not emailing...not texting....not answering the phone...not doing creative sermon planning....not getting ready for weddings - so I will need to keep this quick. Sunday was a very solid day. We say a few people trust Christ. What blows me away about this is that these people have been around Parkway for a while. They have been investigating the claims of Christ and yesterday was their day to trust Christ. That is awesome. (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
July 13, 2009
What a day. Some good...some not so good...but mostly great! We rolled the dice a bit by bringing Worship Celebration to Sunday morning. Would people like a time of extended worship plus baptism and communion? Would this be enough? These are the questions that were rolling through my mind as we prepared for the day. My question was answered with a resounding YES during both services. I guess I should have known that if you do God stuff - worship, communion, and baptism - then people will not only like it. They will love it. (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
July 10, 2009
You don't want to miss this Sunday, July 12. Did I just type July 12? Wow. I can't believe how fast the summer is flying by. Anyway...this Sunday is going to be a special one with an extended time of worship plus communion and baptism. We are going to celebrate all that God is up to and look at the commitments he is calling us to. It will be awesome. If you are in town, get here! (Click Mike's Top 5 to read the Top 5 things you need to know this week.)
July 3, 2009
Hope that you all have a great 4th of July with family and friends! I am in Dallas with family. We have a weekend full of swimming, fireworks, and fajitas. I love 4th of July in Texas. This Sunday, Andy Stanley will be wrapping up the One Prayer series with a great talk - God is in control.
July 1, 2009
When you go on a mission trip, one of the greatest challenges is living what you have learned on the trip. Here are some of the lessons that I am going to try to live as a result of our trip. (Click Honduras Takeaways to read more)
June 29, 2009
Despite the coup, yesterday was a very restful day. We were able to spend the day with each other within our hotel which feels a little like a compound with its walls and security team. Now that I think about it, it is pretty cool that God had such a safe place for us to go in the midst of everything that happened. The guys and I spent most of the afternoon and evening watching movies. We found a channel that showed movies in English with Spanish subtitles. The ladies spent most of the afternoon and evening down by the pool. All of us needed this break before returning home. (Click Honduras Day 7 to read more.)
June 28, 2009
Today began with a surprise. There was a military coup in Honduras. Perhaps you have read about it. If not, you can get the low down here. We heard the news when we were on the way for a litte rest and relaxation at the beach. Our plans changed and we are now in a hotel in San Pedro Sula. We will fly out in the morning as planned. The team is safe and sound. Now is the time to pray for the people of Honduras along with our safe return.
If the situation changes, I will post here.
June 27, 2009
I just rolled in from my little adventure in the mountains. It was amazing - more on that later. While I was away on my field trip, the team did some amazing stuff. They had a HUGE medical clinic on Thursday. Three days in a row of this can be very exhausting, but they didn't let it get to them. Their ability to work with a great attitude is something special. Today, they set a foundation for a home in the "Invasion". Think lots of digging, big rocks, hauling water, and mixing concrete. This is what they did. They are all sore and very sunburned which makes me laugh.
June 26, 2009
I am blogging early today because I will not have my computer tonight. Why you ask? Before I get to that, let me tell you how proud I am of our team. We are seeing God work in and through us in some pretty cool ways. Through this, I have gained a little perspective on spiritual gifts and the fruits of the spirits. In the US church, we have turned spiritual gift discovery into a test or a class, but what if it is different. What if our spiritual gifts are what we naturally do when we see God at work? What if our ministry is our response to God's activity - not just a self discovery process! We know what we should do in ministry by what we do when we see God moving. Our team has done this in spectacular ways this week. Each one has applied their gifts to specific God moments or assignments. Then it hit me, the Spirit of God doesn't just tell us what to do. He guides us in how to do things as well. Think fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, f
June 25, 2009
Today, we were in the mountains again doing another medical clinic. We were at the same place as yesterday, but we had many new patients plus a few that we couldn't get to yesterday. On top of the patients, many of the kids who came yesterday for medical help, dental work, or a hair washing, came back today to play. They were waiting for us when our trucks rolled in. Not only were they looking to play, but they were looking to help. They helped us unload all of the boxes full of gear, medicine, clothes, blankets, etc. I spent the morning washing hair. Richard, Sylvia, and our interpreter washed with me. We were all struck by the love that can be communicated through a simple act like this. (Click Honduras Day 3 to read and see more.)
June 24, 2009
Wow...what a day! We just wrapped up our first day of medical missions in the mountains of Honduras. Our team served over 200 people today through first aide, medical help, dentistry, hair washing, playing games, prayer, and spiritual encouragement. My favorite thing was watching everyone on the team function in their gifts and work together as a team. It makes all of the passages that talk about the church being the body of Christ come alive. (Click Honduras Day 2 to read and see more.)
June 23, 2009
This blog post is my last act of the day. It has been a long, but very good day. Most of us were up before 3:00 AM so that we could be at Parkway by 3:45 AM. Did I emphasize the AM enough? We made it smoothly to the airport, through check in and to Honduras. In fact, everything has gone according to plan today. Richard and Julie have done a great job putting the trip together. We did a little orientation with the mission leaders (love them!) tonight capped off by a cool time of prayer. Tomorrow, we head out to do medical stuff. Some of us will be doing dental work (not me), others of us will be treating medical illnesses, others of us will be treating people for head lice which to me is the equivalent of washing feet in Jesus' day. Should be exciting to see where God gives us open doors. (Click Honduras Day 1 to see more.)
June 22, 2009
Wow...what a great weekend! Father's Day was just what I needed. Got to preach, got to eat a steak, got to watch NASCAR, got to watch golf, and I got to play with the kiddos in the pool. As for church, I was really encouraged by the crowd. We are up over 100 people a weekend compared to last year. Yea God. It felt really good to be back up front after 3 weeks on the bench. I needed the breather, but I couldn't have sat much longer. I loved talking about Moses and the burning bush and the fact that God is Ready. God is ready to use you and me. If you were out, check back here on Monday afternoon and watch the message.
(Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
June 17, 2009
Given the awesome response to Perry on Sunday, I thought you might want to have another dose or two of Perry. Click More Perry to see the links.
June 17, 2009
You read that correctly. Rick is LIVE at Parkway today from 9:00 to 4:00. Come and see. Join us for the Purpose Driven simulcast. Even if you just have an hour or so it will be worth your time.
June 16, 2009
What happens when Perry Noble preaches at Parkway? God things happen. Sunday was another off the charts day in our One Prayer sereies. Seriously folks if you are missing this, you need to go online and listen to the talk. Click Sunday Recap to read more.
June 10, 2009
This Sunday, we will hear from Perry Noble from New Spring Church in Anderson, South Carolina. Perry has become one of my favorite leaders in the church world. He is passionate. He is bold. He is visionary. He is Godly. What a mix! You will love him.
(Click Meet Perry to check out some classic Perry messages.)
June 9, 2009
Had a great day on Sunday. One Prayer kicked off with a bang. I loved Criag's talk. If you missed it, you want to take the time to listen to or watch it. Walking into this series, I wasn't sure how Parkway would respond to video teaching. To say that I was more than pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
June 4, 2009
Today, I am in Austin at a Leadership Network event. It is called Innovation Exchange. I brought Julie and Kim with me so I sure hope it is good. The idea behind the day is that we share what God is up to within our churches so that we can learn from each other. It's not really a conference. It is more like a grouping of conversations. Click LeadNet to read more.
June 3, 2009
This weekend, Craig Groeschel will be preaching as part of our One Prayer series. Craig is the pastor at www.lifechurch.tv. He leads one of the most creative and innovative church teams. Craig and his team have been pioneers in the multi-site movement. LifeChurch has 13 campuses with over 25,000 people in attendance every week. Click Meet Craig to see more.
June 1, 2009
Yesterday was a very good day at Parkway. It was a weird day for me because I didn't preach and I wasn't on vacation. Kim preached and did a great job. He looked at the Luke 15 and the Parable of the Prodigal son. Did a very good job pulling out stuff I had never heard or thought of. Plus, we had a really cool experience to wrap up the service with open doors and blank keys. If you missed the talk, you should make sure and check it out when it is posed on the site later in the day. Since I was "off", I was able to walk around and check out everything else that happens on a Sunday at Parkway. Here are some of the highlights:
May 25, 2009
Today is a big day. Today, we pause to remember the service men and women who are actively serving and who have served in the past to protect our freedoms. Today is also my 13th wedding anniversary. God has truly blessed our relationship and he has led us to build our lives together for Him over the years. On top of all of this, today is also the one year anniversary of God bringing us back to Victoria. (Click Big Day to Read More.)
May 17, 2009
Waht a day. Full day...good day...God stuff kind of a day. We hit it hard during week two of the Singled Out series with a talk on Choosin' to Do It Right. Love looking at God's Word for relationships for both single and married adults. Continue to hear amazing feedback on this series. Here are some highlights of the day:
May 11, 2009
Okay...you know what I am going to say. Sunday as an amazing day at Parkway. I really believe it was. We kicked off Singled Out by looking at what it is means to Live Single in a Married World. We did a little myth busting. From what I hear, it spoke to the heart of single adults while at the same time building into those who are married. That is what is cool about God's Word. It is relevant to all of us and speaks to every season of life. If you missed the message you can view it or listen to it here.
May 6, 2009
I have always believed that leaders are learners. I have also always believed that I am a leader. The funny thing is that I haven't always been a learning leader. But recently, I have been in hyper learning mode. Here is what I have been doing:
(Click Leadership to read more.)
May 5, 2009
Check out this video on a virus that is spreading faster than the Swine Flu. Click "The Whine Flu" to see the video. It is classic Ed Young stuff.
May 4, 2009
Yesterday was a strong day at Parkway. We wrapped up the Next series and honestly, I am glad it's done. I loved researching and preparing to teach on the End Times. I loved the response. Lots of life-change. Yesterday, we had 3 people pick up New Believer Kits. Last week, we had 9 people pick up kits. That means that we have record of 114 people accepting Christ this year. This is not normal. It is amazing. My favorite story from yesterday involves a mom and a daughter. God was tugging on both of their hearts. The mom did some big time recommitting to Jesus while her daughter prayed to accept Christ. Neither knew what the other was doing, but God was calling them at the same time for his purposes. Very cool.
May 2, 2009
It amazes me to see how people are reacting to the Swine Flu. Schools are closing. Graduations are being cancelled. Sporting events are being rescheduled or being played in empty stadiums. Masks are the new fashion statement for the jet set crowd. We are doing all of this to protect the health of the masses, which is a good thing, but I think there is a message for the church here as well.
Some churches are Swine Flu paranoid churches. They only let you come if you aren't "sick." Your life for the most part must be clean and good. No fevers of relational problems. No coughing up challenging language. Definetly no vomiting of obvious sin in your life. Like the mask of today, these churches even have an accpetable dress code. So if you life is in relatively good shape, you are not an obvious screw up and you can dress like we dress then you are welcome. Otherwise, stay home. Don't be a part of what we are doing. We would hate for you to "infect" someone here.
I know
April 27, 2009
Walk into any church and you can get a feel for the kind of church that it is within seconds. Look around what do you see? Listen up, what do you hear? If you are in a more modern church you probably hear upbeat, band driven music. You probably see people gathered building relationships with each other. You may also smell freshly brewed coffee coming from the church's uber cool coffee shop. The people are likely to be dressed in casual, everyday clothes. Walk into a more traditional church and the experience is a little different. People are still gathered, but their conversations are a little more subdued. Rather than upbeat band driven music, you may hear something a little more classic perhaps with a piano or maybe even an organ. The smell of coffee is probably still in the air, but it is coming from the Mr. Coffee pot at the end of the hall. As for the people, there is nothing everyday about clothes they are wearing. They are wearing their Sunday best.
For generation
April 24, 2009
Last night's Town Hall for Hope was amazing. I have been listening to Dave on the radio for over 12 years. As I drove back and forth to seminary, I would listen to a business talk station in Houston which was one of his first affiliates. Then, when I moved to DC, I still needed me some Dave so I would listen to the webcast. So cool to see how his message has spread. I was also proud of my friends at LifeChurch.TV. They put an outrageous amount of time and resources into this event. As always, they give everything that they've got to be a resource to others.
Dave's message plus Q and A time was a blend of his classic message plus some very time specific advice. We had over 200 people at Parkway for the event. This response far exceeded my expectations and it excited me more than you will know. Here's why: if you do the math and 6000 sites averaged 200 people each, then 1.2 million people gathered in community to hear Dave's message. That's not even counting the TV audienc
April 23, 2009
Haven't been blogging much lately. That has led to some wondering what's up with Mike and the blog. Well, nothing is up besides the fact that I am crazy busy. But being busy is no excuse for not blogging! So, I am back. Hope you will be back, too.
April 12, 2009
As promised here is the video that we used in our services today. Click "That's My King" to view the video.
April 12, 2009
Wow! Where do I start. This was my first Easter as Senior Pastor at Parkway. All week long, I had a strange feeling inside of me. Not bad just strange. I think it was my expectancy meter. I always expect big things to happen on Sundays. I never take one "off" because of this. Every Sunday is of equal value, but somehow this one felt different. I think this is because we all took it to another level this week. From our staff team to our amazing volunteers and ministry leaders, everyone cranked it up and that was awesome to see. Together we were all expecting God to do great things.
Click Sunday Recap to read more.
April 8, 2009
Easter is almost here. Wanted to make sure that everyone is in the loop with the service schedule. We are having 3 identical services. The first is at 8:00 AM. This service has childcare for birth to 1 yr only. This is a great opportunity for those who don't have kids or for those who want to worship as a family. Then, at 9:30, we will have the second service. At this service, we will have Children's MInistry for birth through 5th grade. At 11:00, the third service starts. At this service, we will have full Children's Ministry plus Student Impact, a worship service for students 6th - 12th grade.
Now that you know when we will be meeting, you need to know why you should be here with a friend or family member sitting next to you. We are going to present the truth of Easter in very creative and clear cut ways.
And one more thing, you don't want to miss the start of the service.
April 6, 2009
Check out the video that we played yesterday during the services. What a perfect way to wrap up a talk on love, sacrifice, and laying your life down for others.
April 5, 2009
I have to be honest. Today was one of those days when I wish that I could ask for a mulligan. I just didn't feel good about the talk. I was prepped up and prayed up, but I didn't feel like I was hitting on all cylinders. (For those of you who are catching my analogies, yes I did watch golf and NASCAR this afternoon.) While I don't plan to have days like these, I am okay when they happen for a couple of reasons. First, I get another shot at it in seven days. Sunday comes around with amazing regularity. Second and more importantly, God works even when I don't feel like I am on my game. Today was a prime example of that. We had 7 to 10 people trust Christ in the services. Whole families raised their hands. Husbands and wives didn't even know the other had raised their hands but there they sat together raising their hands to let me know that they had just prayed to receive Christ. It never gets old to see this. I hope that it never does.
Overall, we had a big weekend at Pa
March 30, 2009
Wow. What a day! It was great to have Scott back. Apparently, he brought a few hundred of his closest friends with him. I was so proud to see our church love on Scott, Tara, and the kids. I was also excited to see how people responded to Scott's message. God was definitely at work among us.
I thought that you might want to hear a little of what Scott thought of the day. What would Weatherford write if he were doing the recap?
Lots of energy in the church.
Amazing spirit among the people.
Band did a great job. Dave is a talented guy with a heart for God.
Mike looks good in pink. Really he does.
Back to Mike...I meant what I said at the end of the service. If you came on Sunday to see Scott and you aren't connected to a church, it is time to come home to Parkway. You will find that our love for each other is strong. Our commitment to reaching people and building lives is unshakeable. Our team is committed to saying what we do and doing what
March 26, 2009
Can't wait for Sunday. I know that I always say that. Just so you know, I always mean it, too. I am looking forward to this weekend's talk. Why? Well, it's because I am not giving it. Scott Weatherford, the founding Pastor of Parkway, will be back in town for the weekend and he is going to preach. This will be his first time back at Parkway in almost 2 years. If you know Scott, you don't want to miss Sunday. If you don't know Scott, you don't want to miss Sunday. Pretty much, you want to be here. I have seen his talk. He is going to encourage your socks off.
March 24, 2009
Easter prep is in full swing. We are praying for and planning the services. We are working on graphics and we are designing pieces that will be used on our site, in the paper and throughout the building. We are dreaming about stage and lighting design.
Also today, we shot a little video for a commercial which will air for the two weeks leading up to Easter. Advertising like this will hook some people who have never been to Parkway before. It will also give all of us a tool to use to invite our friends and family to church this Easter. Should be fun.
Yep. Easter prep is in full swing.
March 22, 2009
Had another good day at church. We baptized a bunch of folks and had a great time in worship today. I love seeing people go public with their faith through baptism. It is such a humbling and yet powerful experience for those who are getting baptized. For those of us who are witnesses, it is a big time encourament and reminder of our own life change. It's kinda like how you flash back to your wedding when you go to a wedding. So, too, do you flash back to your baptism everytime you see someone else go public.
Days like today also remind me of why we exist as a church. We exist to reach people who don't know Christ so that they can come to know Christ and grow in their faith. We call this building a life that honors God. I am so glad that God using us as he is and I am glad that you are a part of the journey.
I love Parkway Church. I love her people. I love her passion. I love her mission. I love the difference she is making in the world.
March 18, 2009
Sunday, I threw down the challenge to get into the Bible everyday. Many of us are doing just that through www.youversion.com. At www.youversion.com, you can follow along with a daily reading plan in a variety of translations. It is a great tool, but it's not the only tool that is out there. If reading isn't as easy for you as listening, you need to check out Faith Comes by Hearing. At Faith Comes by Hearing, you can stream the Bible. You can also download the Bible and play it on your Ipod. If you commute to the plants or if you spend a little time on the treadmill, then this is the tool for you. By listening to the Bible for 28 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire New Testament in 40 days. Take the challenge. No excuses.
March 17, 2009
For the first Sunday of Spring Break, we had a great day. Heck for any Sunday, we had a great day. The building was full of energy with lots of new faces. On a day when I thought we would be a little flat, I was more than pleasantly suprised. Here are some of the highlights: (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
March 11, 2009
Hey everyone,
Check out these requests from Dru and Brandy the leaders of our prayer team. (Click Prayer to read more.)
March 10, 2009
Check out the video we played on Sunday to promo our next series, 3:16 Numbers of Hope.
March 8, 2009
We had another solid day today at Parkway. Very cool to see two people trust Christ in our services. God continues to amaze me as HE uses this church to reach people that are far from HIM. We wrapped our the Everything that You Wanted to Know series with an interesting (I think.) twist (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
March 3, 2009
Today, I am in San Antonio with the Group Life Advisory Team for the Willow Creek Association. It is a privelege to be a part of this group. This gathering of people probably includes some of the greatest community building leaders in North America. (To read more, click I Love Small Groups.)
March 2, 2009
Sunday was another good day at Parkway Church. It never gets old to see people trust Christ with their lives. Yesterday, I had more action at the couches than we have had in weeks. If you aren't a part of Parkway, let me explain. (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
February 25, 2009
This weekend, we are continuing the Everything You Wanted to Know Series as we answer questions about discovering the will of God. As a part of the talk we will look at:
How do you know when the Lord is speaking to you?
If God’s will is predetermined and perfect, what is the point of prayer? Will my request actually change his plan?
What is the point of praying “Let your will be done” – won’t it be done anyway?
When praying for something, are you supposed to pray over and over and over again? (Click This Weekend for a sneak peek.)
February 24, 2009
Okay...as we work through the Everything That You Wanted to Know series, I want to answer a question that I have been asked a few times over the last 6 months. The question: "Mike, what do you think about the Shack?" I purchased the book a few months back BUT I have not read it. Honestly, I am not sure that I will. Fiction isn't my favorite reading material. So, how can I answer a question about a book that I haven't read? I can point you to Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill. (Click The Shack to read more.)
February 24, 2009
Check out Sunday's message from my friend Todd Phillips at Frontline. He is kicking off a series on the differences befween religious beliefs. In this talk, he is focusing in on "Tolerance and Truth." (Click Tolerance and Truth to watch the video.)
February 19, 2009
Last week, I got an email from my best friend from High School. Her name is Aly Calvo. Why am I telling you about Aly? Well, it's because she is one of the most amazing people that I have ever met. She and her twin sister, Andrea, are big time leaders and their story is an inspiration to anyone with a pulse. You can learn more about their story here. (Click Friends to read more.)
February 17, 2009
This wouldn't be funny unless it had a ring of truth to it. (Click worst wedding ever to click a funny but sad video.)
February 16, 2009
Well, I can honestly say that I have NEVER experienced what we experienced yesterday during the second service. If you weren't there, let me fill you in. (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
February 10, 2009
As promised, here are some resources to continue the journey as we face up to the issues inside of us:
(Click Keep Going to find resouces.)
February 9, 2009
Wow - what a day! We kicked off the new series, Everything that You Wanted to Know...But Were Afraid to Ask. Answered the questions that you submitted and took a straight up look at alcohol, porn, and our continued struggle with sin. Great crowd. Thought everyone really connected with the talk especially in the second service where we had a little uninitiated audience participation not once but twice. (More on that later.) We saw a few people go public with their new faith and pick up a New Believer Kit. (Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
February 6, 2009
I can't wait for Sunday as we kick off the new series, "Everything You Wanted to Know About...But Were Afraid to Ask." You asked the questions. Now, get ready for the answers. This week, we will tackle questions like these:
(Click Top 5 to read more.)
February 5, 2009
Today, I am calling you to examine your heart before the Lord. How sensitive are you to the sin in your life? Is there a sin that you need to confess and turn over to God? Is there a place in your life, where you need to admit that God is stronger than the sin that is in you? Is there a place that you need to believe what is written about you in the Word of God? Take time and ask God these questions and see what he says. Then, watch the video and celebrate the fact that you have just lifted God high up in your life. (Click blog title to view video.)
February 4, 2009
Today, we are going to look at some prayer requests from Brandy and Dru, our prayer team leaders. Happy praying. (Click prayer to read more.)
February 3, 2009
Welcome to the Sunday Recap - Tuesday edition. I was (and still am) under the weather so here we go. Sunday was a really good day. We had some tech issues, but everything else was very good. I even liked the talk this week. Here are some of the highlights:
(Click on Sunday Recap to read more.)
January 29, 2009
Today, take a moment and listen to this song and check out the video. Then let your praise ring out to God. Spend some time praying and thanking God for all that he is and all that he has done for you. Let your life sing of the risen king and give God your highest praise! (Click on the blog title to see the video.)
January 28, 2009
Today, I am going to share some of the feedback that we received about the church at 101 on Sunday. Remember, we had 21 people join. Some have been here a long time others have only been here a few weeks. There comments told me volumes about what we are doing here and how we are on the right track to build lives that honor God. (Click What People Are Saying to Read More.)
January 26, 2009
Yesterday was a full day, a really full day. Here was the rundown:
(Click Sunday Recap to read more.)
January 22, 2009
Enjoy week to of worship Thursday. If you are struggling today, take heart in the depth of the Father's love today. If you are worried today, never let go of God. If you are doing great today, thank God for the foundation that his love has provided for you. (Click the blog title to view the video.)
January 21, 2009
If you ever needed a reason to share your faith or bring someone to church...check out this amazing video. It will blow your mind. Really it will. (Click The Gift of a Bible to see the video.)
January 20, 2009
Today is a big day for our country. I guess that goes without saying, though. Having been in Washington for both of W's inaugurations, I amazed by what I am seeing on TV and hearing through friends regarding today's events. Such a different level of expectation. Such a different level of hope. Such a since of history.
What are you going to do to mark this historic moment? We are going to gather as a staff team to watch the swearing in and pray for President Obama and his administration.
(Click Big Day for Presidential Prayer Requests)
January 20, 2009
You will never believe who showed up to our Inauguration Party. Click "You will never believe who..." to find out about our special guest.
January 19, 2009
Yesterday, we kick off the "More Than Enough" series in a big way. Let me hit the highlights. The music was off the charts good. I mean really good. The second service was worshiping their guts out. Dave and the team did a great job. So proud of them. So proud of Parkway, too. I let you know that we were talking about money and you still showed up to church! We had a great crowd. Plus, we saw people continue to give their lives to Christ and pick up New Believer Packets. (Click on Sunday Recap to read more.)
January 15, 2009
If you are like me, you need a little almost end of the week encouragement so the next weeks, that is exactly what you are going to get. Each Thursday, I am going to post segments of worship services from my friends at Frontline. Enjoy. (Click the blog title to see the video.)
January 14, 2009
Don't miss Worship Celebration tonight at Parkway Church. We will get together at 6:30 for a time of extended worship, prayer, and communion. Grab your small group and see me there!
January 13, 2009
You read that headline right. I am shifting my allegiances to a new team. Who are they? Who will replace the Boys? It's the Denver Broncos. Why? You ask. It's pretty simple. They took a risk by hiring a young leader to become their next coach. While I know very little about Josh McDaniels what I do know is that he is 32 years old. What a bold move to higher a young coach to lead one of the premier franchises in the NFL! Hopefully it will be a genius move. Only time will tell. The Broncos aren't the only ones in the NFL who are into young leaders. The Browns have a new young coach. The Ravens have a young coach. The Steelers have a young coach. The Raiders had a young coach. If McDaniels is more like Tomlin with the Steelers and less like Kiffin with the Raiders then the trend should continue. Click read more for more.
January 12, 2009
Wow! What do you say after a day like yesterday? Great crowds. Great spirit. Great move of God. Well, that sums it up. I guess that is what you say after a day like yesterday. My message focused on the state of the church. While it was nothing earth shattering and there were few surprises for those who have been around Parkway for long, there seemed to be a real excitement about what God is calling us to be and do in 2009. People were locked in and listening with their hearts the whole message. Then at the end of the talk, (Click read more to continue.)
January 8, 2009
For the last couple of weeks, I have been following a pretty intense workout and eating plan - Body for Life. I have been keeping a lid on this in case it didn't take hold in my life. Well, it has. And I have learned a couple of things in the process. First, I need a system to get healthy. If I eat like I want and workout like I want, I stay the same, but if I have a system to follow, things change. Second, it is virtually impossible to keep a lid on something in Victoria. Through our network of friends, word spread of what I was doing and believe it or not others are following my lead on this and taking the Body for Life challenge themselves...
January 7, 2009
I love www.youversion.com. I got hooked on www.youversion.com as I was looking for a Bible reading plan for this year. I had heard about it before since it was developed by Terry Storch and some other friends at LifeChurch.tv, but I had never given the site a real test drive late last year. A quick Bible search on my phone and then a quick visit on my laptop and I knew that I had my tool that would pull me through the Bible this year. Click read more to learn more.
January 6, 2009
My former Pastor, Lon Solomon, was featured in Esquire magazine recently in a section that they call "What I've Learned." They talk to movers and shakers from around the county to get they best advice and life lessons. Click read more to check it out.
January 5, 2009
We had a solid day yesterday at Parkway. It felt good to get back into life's normal routines with people I love so much. Plus, I got to preach through our Core Values. Yes, I am more than passionate about this church and what it's purpose is in Victoria. And yes, I am blown away by all that God is doing among us. We saw more people go public with their faith yesterday - very cool.
December 23, 2008
You may have already seen this, but I haven't so I'm guess maybe you haven't seen this 12 Days of Christmas Video either. Enjoy.
December 22, 2008
It is almost Christmas. The phrase overheard at my house over and over again is, "I can't wait for Christmas." The kids have a countdown going that ends on Christmas morning. I am excited about Christmas morning, but my countdown ends on Christmas Eve. I can't wait to be with Parkway Church and see what God does at our Christmas Eve Services. If you are anywhere close to Victoria on Wednesday, get here. You don't want to miss it.
Now for my thoughts on Sunday:
December 15, 2008
Check out this video and consider it fair warning. Don't end up in the dog house this Christmas fellas. Choose your gifts wisely. If you can plug it in, don't buy it. If it results in weight loss, don't even think about it.
December 15, 2008
Wow, what a day. Yesterday, we dug into the life of Mary and discoverd how her faith made her faithful. We also batized 9 people during the service plus we saw other give their lives to Christ. It doesn't get any better than this.
I think we showed what the church should look like when it's on mission for God. Jesus told us to go, reach the world, baptize them and disciple them. We did all of those things yesterday. Many people are coming to Parkway on the arm of a trusted friend as you "go" and invite them. As their hear God's Word, and experience his church, they are trusting Christ. Then, we are seeing them go public with their faith through baptism and begin the growth process through our services and through small group.
I need days like yesterday that give me a snapshot of the life change that people are finding in Jesus Christ.
December 11, 2008
Unity in a church is a beautiful thing. Unity shows that we trust each other. Unity shows that we love each other. Unity shows that we are going in the same direction and have the same purpose. Unity shows the watching world that the church of Jesus is different than the very divided world around us.
Why am I so charged about unity today?
December 8, 2008
Yesterday was a solid day. We kicked off the new series, Christmas Behind the Scenes by looking at Joseph. This question hit me when I was studying for the talk: Who would God choose to raise his Son? The answer: a righteous man. This is what I talked about yesterday.
December 3, 2008
The Hurt family doesn't have a ton of traditions. I like to change things too much to have traditions, but there is one tradition that we hold to that I want to share with you. We do family activities everynight as we prepare for Christmas. We read Scripture, do an activity, and pray togehter each night. Kristi came up with whole thing a few years back. Being the spiritual leader in my home, I know when I should do exactly what she says and this is one of those times. These short times (about 10 minutes), keep us focused on what Christmas is all about.
December 1, 2008
I can't wait for Sunday when we kick off the new series, Christmas Behind the Scenes. I have had a blast teaching on relationships with the Love Dare, but honestly, I am ready to move on. I am ready to dig into the lives of the people in the nativity story. I am ready to see how God stretches our faith as a result. I am ready to see people have the true meaning of Christmas come alive in their life.
November 20, 2008
I have received more feedback from Sunday's talk than any other that I have given at Parkway. Apparently, the loyalty conflict is one we all have issues with from time to time. It's a good thing that God's Word has the solution mapped out for us when it comes to removing parasites from our relationships. Read this passage and tell me that the Bible isn't relevant to today's world.
November 18, 2008
November 17, 2008
Wow...what a day. We had our largest crowd in the last 8 months yesterday. November is usually a time that attendance dips as we head toward the holidays, but this year we are growing. Very cool. This growth represents life-change and how God is using our church. I am hearing countless stories about relationships being restored and challenged through this series. We are also seeing people come to Christ each week. This week, we had six people pick up New Believer Packets with more people raising their hand in the service. God is ambushing people all over the place right now at Parkway.
Here are some of my quick thoughts on the day:
November 12, 2008
Today, we had a great team meeting to talk about Christmas. I'm not going to spill the beans on what we have planned but mark your calendars for December 24th. We are hosting a Christmas celebration that you, your friends, and your family don't want to miss. Much more on this to come.
November 11, 2008
Enjoy these videos from two of the smartest guys on the planet.
November 10, 2008
November 4, 2008
Throughout the Love Dare series, I am going to post some great content from a couple of relational experts that I love. Who are they? Well, they are John Townsend and Henry Cloud. I met Henry a few years back when he was the speaker at our Small Groups Conference at MBC. He is an amazing guy. He is scary smart and yet down to earth. I could really relate to him except for being scary smart. His partner in ministry, John Townsend, over the years has played a significant role in some of my friends lives. Check out these quick videos:
November 3, 2008
Wow...what a day. Yesterday, was another strong day at Parkway Church. We kicked off the "Love Dare" series. Through this series, we are going to look at how we can take our relationships to the next level. Each week, I will throw down a love dare and walk through how we can live it out. Yesterday, my double dog dare was "Dare to Fight." Most couples don't need to be dared to fight. They do that just fine on their own, so let me clarify it. I dared couples to fight for the relationship that they are in. Don't get beat up by conflict, but grow through it. It was a good talk even if I do say so myself.
October 30, 2008
It's not too late for you to be a part of the Fireproof My Marriage Conference. It should be a great day as we hear from some of the leading marriage and family leaders in our country. Don't let the video simulcast keep you away. After a few minutes into the talks, you won't even remember it is a live video rather than a live person. Face it. Most of you watch me on the screens event though we are in the same room. Tickets will be available at the door. Registration starts at 8 AM. The event starts at 8:30 AM.
October 30, 2008
I know that I say this all the time, but I mean it so I am going to keep saying it. I am more than excited about what God is doing at Parkway Church. I was blown away by how God encouraged me through the interview with Kimberly Woodhouse on Sunday as we wrapped up the Generations series.
October 27, 2008
We had another great weekend at Parkway Church. The highlight of the services for me was my interview with Kim Woodhouse. She told her families story and how God as used Extreme Makeover Home Edition to change their lives and give her a platform to share Christ. If you missed it, you will definitely want to check out the video which should be up later today.
October 24, 2008
I am fired up about what God is up to in our church. We continue to see people come to Christ. This week, 9 people trusted Christ. Our worship together was awesome this weekend with the blended band of adults and students. I couldn't have been prouder of our students! I can't wait to see what happens next. This is another HUGE week at Parkway. We have our Patio Party. We have baptism. We have special guest Kim Woodhouse. It is going to be fun. To get baptized, bring something to get wet in (shorts and a T-shirt) and a towel.
Now for my top five things that you need to know:
October 22, 2008
My friends at Frontline are launching into a new series on who Jesus is. Check out the video that they created by talking to young adults from around DC.
October 21, 2008
Today, I want for us to focus our prayer on families who are struggling as they raise their children. Pray for those with elementary children who are struggling with school. Pray for those who have middle school students who are struggling with behavior issues. Pray for those in high school who are making poor decisions that are leading them to dangerous sin patterns. Pray for those who have kids of any age who aren't walking with the Lord. Pray that God change their hearts and lead them back to himself.
October 20, 2008
Yesterday, we had 9 people give their lives to Christ in our services. Week after week people are opening up their hearts and lives to God as they attend our church. This never gets old. Today, I want us to center or prayer on those who made decisions for Christ at church over the weekend.
October 20, 2008
On Sunday, we are going celebrate baptism at our patio party. If you have not been baptized after trusting Christ, then make Sunday your day. Go public with your faith through baptism. Invite your family and your friends to be a part of this special day.
October 20, 2008
This morning, I rolled out of bed at 5:15 to make a 6:20 flight to Nashville. If you aren't from Victoria, you are thinking how in the world did you make a flight on this timetable? Well, one of the benefits of life in Victoria is very quick access to the airport, free parking at the airport and you don't have to show up two hours before your flight. In fact, if you do show up that early, you will be the first one at the airport.
Today, I am going to do a quick conference with LifeWay.
October 16, 2008
Today, I want for you to pray for everyone who is connected to a Small Group, a Bible Study, or another form of community connection through a church in and around Victoria. Jesus says that our love for each other will show that we are his disciples so we need to pray for the loving relationships that are formed in community. We also need to pray that as relationships deepen spiritual growth happens.
October 14, 2008
Tomorrow, I jump on a plane to speak at the Willow Creek Small Groups Conference on Thursday and Friday. I just came across this promo video and got really excited about the trip. Looking forward to equip leaders and connect with friends from around the country.
October 14, 2008
Today, I want us to pray for the marriage relationships that are going great. Pray that God would bind husbands and wives hearts together so that if times get difficult nothing can pull them apart. Pray that they are giving God the credit for their relational success. Pray that they are sharing their success and the lessons they are learning with others who are in need of help.
October 12, 2008
Today, we are going to pray for the single moms and single dads in and around Victoria. Pray that they can balance all of the demands of their life. Pray that they can love their children dearly and raise them in a good, God-honoring home. Pray that other family and friends help the single parent when needed so that the children are raised in a supportive environment.
October 9, 2008
Yesterday, I heard that my mom may have had a stroke. We spent the day waiting for results and waiting for action. As I waited, I prayed and asked you to pray at the Worship Celebration. It looks like she didn't actually have a stroke and they are treating her with meds. Yea God for this!
October 8, 2008
With news of economy dominating the headlines again today, I ask you to pray for the people in Victoria who are struggling financially. Pray for those who can't make ends meet. Pray for those who are unemployed or underemployed.
October 6, 2008
Today, I had the privelege of praying at an event to remember those who have been impacted by domestic violence. As a part of this event, two things hit me. First, the sherriff said that the majority of their calls are related to domestic violence.
October 4, 2008
Today, we need to pray for the families of Victoria. Saturdays used to be filled with cartoons and projects around the house. Now, they are filled with soccer games, football games, and everthing else that life throws our way. So today, pray for the pace of life that families are living. Pray that their pace doesn't keep them from loving and honoring each other.
October 3, 2008
Today, we are going to pray for all of the wives in and around Victoria. Pray that they can love their husbands when it is easy and when it is hard. Pray that they can communicate clearly with their husband. Pray that they can follow his leadership. Pray that they can set a Godly example for their husband if he doesn't know Christ.
October 2, 2008
Today, I want for you to pray for all of the husbands that are in and around Victoria. Pray that they can love their wives as God has called them to love their wives. Pray that they can lead their families as they should. Pray that they can have the right priorities. Pray that can be the men that God has designed them to be.
October 1, 2008
Today, I want for you to pray for the relationships that you are in. If you are married, pray for your spouse. If you aren't married, pray for your family. Pray that God's love would be expressed in your relationships and that you could be an encouragement to those with whom you are in relationship.
September 30, 2008
Today, I ask you to pray that love and respect could be known in our relationships. According to Scripture, it takes both for our relationships to be what God wants them to be.
September 29, 2008
Yesterday in the services, I challenged Parkway Church to join my in a 40 Day Prayer Dare for the relationships in our town. As a church, we will be praying for the marriages, families, dating relationships, work relationships, and friendships. We will be lifting up these relationships because we know two things:
September 28, 2008
Yesterday was a strong day at Parkway Church. I felt really good about the whole day. Probably the most exciting thing was seeing people in the atrium making the ask and starting new mentoring relationships. Now that I think about it, these weren't the most exciting moments of the day. The most exciting moments where when 4 people (2 in each service) raised their hand to let me know that they had trusted Christ. It is amazing to see God call people to trust him every week at the end of the services. We also had a ton of new people and registrations for 101.
