Sitting here, thinking about our weekend and the upcoming week… Worship yesterday was incredible.  And by that, I don’t just mean the band and vocal team (although that was pretty sweet).  I mean the whole congregation, lifting up praise to the Lord.   I am so grateful for Tammy’s honesty and transparency in sharing part of her testimony.  I pray TPCC will always be people who love out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and a faith without faking (1 Timothy 1:5).  You sure met Tammy there, and it transformed her life and ministry.   Did you hear the question that Carrie asked Tammy after she had come to TPCC for a few weeks?  It was about her son, Taylor, who has Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD.  Carrie asked, “How can we serve Taylor?”  That has me thinking… in what other arenas can we ask that question.  How can teachers ask that question of their adult class members?  How can... (read more)

This Week's Grow! theme is on pleasing God with our performance. One of the central themes of the chapter is Philippians 2:13:  For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of HIs good pleasure.   Personally, because of the many changes I and we have been facing, I've been thinking a lot about recasting vision lately.  It's time to dream some new dreams and seek the Lord about the future of our ministry together.   Interestingly enough, these two ideas come together on page 54 in the "Writing Your Story" section.  Here's how this little visioning exercise goes:   Take a few minutes to pray.  Ask the Lord to tune your desires to His desires.  Then write out your future in the language of desires.  Here are some ideas to guide you: I wish.... I imagine or picture myself as.... I will be very disappointed in myself if somehow I don't.... When I think... (read more)

Sunday I mentioned that every day we have a choice - to be conformed (changed from without) to the world or to be transformed (changed from within) by the Holy Spirit.   Chapter 4 of the Grow! manual mentions three things that govern the world's values - pleasure, prosperity, and pride (1 John 2:16).   Here's my question for you: How do you see the world trying to influence you and/or your family in those three areas? And how does the Holy Spirit transform us to His value system?   I'd love to see your ideas. (read more)

Here are some resources that will assist you in your growth, and will arm you to help others in their growth for Week 3 and Week 4.   Tim Challies shares six ways our prayers are hindered here:    Mart DeHaan has a great article about “praying to pray."  Click here.     Is prayer really that simple?  Yes, it is.  Click here for more.    James Sieffert has a discussion on his site about what people are learning from last week’s service and their personal time with the Lord. Click here to participate.      Share your favorite story of answered prayer at the SynerJACK site.  Click here:  And share how you decide what to read, or share what you're reading and learning in Scripture by clicking on the previous Nfusion article and adding your thoughts to the discussion. (read more)

Hey!   So how's your Six-Day Challenge going?   In case you missed it, I'm challenging everybody to spend SOME time with the Lord in Bible study and prayer each day this week - actually six out of seven days.  Remember, consistency is more important than diving headfirst into a two-hour study once a week or so.   I mentioned yesterday that I've been reading through Psalms.  Right now I'm in Psalm 110 - and being reminded that the Lord (Jesus) will reign until He has made His enemies His footstool.   Quick Question:  Where are you reading/studying (or HOW do you DECIDE what to read), and what is the Lord speaking to you about? (read more)

This week one of the things we're focusing on is what the Bible calls our "blessed hope."  Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us, that where He is, there we can be also.   There are a lot of interesting ideas that float around about heaven.  Some people, like Randy Alcorn, believe that most of what we refer to as "heaven" is actually a New Earth.   What does your "sanctified imagination" think Heaven will be like?  Have some fun if you want, but give it some thought, too.   Post your reply below. (read more)

As we're wrapping up Week 1 and looking toward Week 2, here are some online resources available to enhance your participation in the Grow! Campaign. Grow! Book If you don't have the Grow! manual yet, pick one up in the foyer Sunday for a suggested donation of $7.50.  (Don't have the funds?  Get one anyway.  It's that important).  OR you can download the Ebook version by clicking here.  Week 1 - The Jesus Touch Change involves: Union with a Person (Christ) Separation from Old patterns Application of New Principles Here is an article about what two businesses can teach you about getting rid of the stuff that holds you back.  (Hint:  It isn't always sin we're talking about!) Week 2 - Confidence for the Future Mart DeHaan of Radio Bible Class, shares the struggle of a friend over assurance of salvation here. Discussion Forums In addition to the Nfusion Blog here, you can also find discussions on different Grow! related subjects... (read more)

The Re-new track for Chapter 1 of the Grow! book (p. 13) asks you to write your story by sharing how you would most like to grow or be renewed over the next 12 weeks.  I would like to know what YOUR growth goals are.  Here are my top 3: 1.  Witnessing.  One of the challenges of being a pastor is that we're surrounded with believers all the time UNLESS we intentionally cultivate relationships with non-believers.  I have talking to the Lord often lately about this. 2.  Fullness.  My (our) friend Rich Smith once spoke to me about the need to walk in a New Testament anointing rather than an Old Testament anointing.  The difference?  In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come and leave, often based on events.  In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, and they walk in the Spirit with power.  I am praying that during these days in my personal life, prayer life, and... (read more)

Your Grow! book has opportunities at the end of each chapter to "write your story" in relation to that chapter's content.  Each chapter runs along two tracks - a "New" track, and a "Re-new" track.  The "New" track is designed for anybody; the "Re-new" track is designed for believers who have at least some history with the Lord.  Of course, in writing your story, you can feel free to do either, or both writing projects. The first opportunity to write your story asks you to write a letter.  It could be to someone you haven't seen in a long time, someone you care about who is no longer living, the devil, or the Lord.  Would you be willing to share your letter with other readers?  This will encourage them to celebrate your growth with you, and to share their own stories.  Some of you leader-types - you go first! To share your letter, simply fill in the information below, and type... (read more)

As we continue to live in a crazy-stressful world and economy, here are some affirmations and Scripture verses you can use as a reminder that there is no recession in Heaven! BELIEVE GOD! "And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."  (2 Corinthians 9:8-9) I will take God at His word. I will give generously I will trust Him to provide abundantly. BREAK FREE OF YOUR PAST! "Owe nothing to anyone " except for your obligation to love one another."  (Romans 13:8) I will fulfill my past commitments. I will not impoverish my future by borrowing today. I will not be a slave to past painful experiences. CREATE YOUR FUTURE! "The wise have health and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get."  (Proverbs 21:20). I will live by purpose. I will dream God-sized dreams. I will save time and money to invest and use in the... (read more)

Sixty-five.  What a cool number.  It's the number of teams in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  It's the year that "My Fair Lady" won the Oscar for Best Picture and the arch was completed in St. Louis.  Some people still look at this as the magic age of retirement. It's also the number of children, preschool to Grade 5, we had Sunday.  That's incredibly exciting to me. One of the things I'm seeing is that a significant number of children are beginning to respond to God's love and the message of the gospel.  I believe that over the next several months we may see a harvest of children coming to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  That, too, is very exciting to me. Often parents ask how they can know if their children are "ready" to be baptized, or to receive Christ.  That's a valid question, and the way we respond to those children can have a significant impact... (read more)

During Old Testament times, when farmers approached harvest time, they would go into the fields and harvest a representative portion of their crops. They would bring this to the priests, who would offer these crops as a sacrifice to the Lord. These offerings are referred to as the "first-fruits," and became the foundation of our practice of tithing. A person of the first-fruits is one who offers his first and his finest to the Lord with a spirit of gratitude and commitment. I want to challenge you to make a new and lasting commitment to the Lord Jesus to be people of the first-fruits. That means being willing to give of your first and your finest to our wonderful Lord. Give Him the first of your week. Set aside the first day of the week as a time to fellowship with other believers, to study and grow from the Word of God, and to worship. Give Him the first... (read more)

In response to our request for love stories, Gayle Willson sent the following account of how God has taught her how much He loves her, and how she can be an expression of His love to others. Enjoy!... I am surrounded by love---I am helping to plan two weddings that will take place within 2 months of each other! In our house LOVE is spelled, budget, and plans, and H-o-b-b-y L-o-b-b-y! I watch as our children love on each other by showing affection, call each other numerous times a day, and giving each other little surprises. WE have watched romance bloom over the past 2 years, as friendships sprang up, and then became dating relationships and then—not to our surprise—but a young man is nervously sitting on our couch anticipating what Blair will say when he announces his intentions, and then asks, “May I have Lisa’s hand in marriage?†and several months later—“May I have Lauren’s hand in marriage?â€... (read more)

This past week, I had a thought roll through my head that hasn't been there in at least a year: "Today would be the perfect day to go to the park and fly a kite! I wonder where I could get one?" Lubbock's weather, Thursday through Saturday of last week, was absolutely beautiful. The tinge of spring was most definitely in the air, there was certainly no blowing dust (quite an anomaly this time of the year), and the sun was making everything a gilded tint of utopian beauty. 70's and on into the near 80's yesterday afternoon. And then? This morning, we wake up to near-blizzard conditions! So it is on the South Plains, the place where God patted Earth with His mighty hand and completely flattened it for some 250 miles! At least, that's what I like to tell people... But seriously, a snowstorm following some of the most beautiful days we've seen in quite some time?... (read more)

A lot of us tend to live in this lingering cloud of presumption. We have been taught from very early ages that Jesus loves us "just the way we are." But, isn't there a problem with this, whenever we're constantly bowing to the World and worshiping other gods? Does God love it whenever we put our jobs, money, sports, material possessions or (gasp) even kids and family in front of Him? I beg to say that, although these are all great blessings and show God as being our ultimate Provider, He does not like the fact that the majority of us tend to put these things in front of our worship of and walk with Him. Jesus doesn't love us just the way we are when we're committing idolatry. In fact, He's beating down the walls of the World that we are content to be penned in by. Like a bunch of cattle penned in a trodden, dry, corral... (read more)