Well, I just very well might have gotten through to my kids. I've been trying to explain to them and get them to understand that the acquisition of certain things require time... and money.

For the most part, as an aspect being an adult, we understand this. Some of us, better than others. Getting kids to arrive at this understanding? Not so much. The world of instant and fast consumption keeps increasing, particularly, as we are ever more connected, often with one less middle-man.

So getting them to understand that the bigger hopes, dreams and desires take time and money has been a process. Every time we do this little thing, we go to this place or that, we purchase this little thing or that over there... it all takes away from our truest, desired, yet-to-exist realities.

As I was discussing this in terms the kids could understand, I had my epiphany. Is this not what we do with God?

He knows what He has in store for us.
He knows what He desires to accomplish in our lives.
He knows our hearts, yet He knows what's best.
He knows His love, but understands our will.
And in the midst of it all, exists grace. Because of His love.

But what is our response when He says "Wait."?
What is our response when He says "No."?
What is our response when He simply sits in silence?
(as if to say what I've often told my kids... "asked and answered")

Sometimes I think adults have a harder time in our relationship with God and the working out of communication and understanding of faith matters than we do in the relationships with our kids and the working out of communication and understanding of life principles.

How this phenomenon happens, I'm not sure. But I know it exists. Sadly, in my own life. Realistically, probably in yours. Most likely and perhaps even recently, also in the life of your pastor.

On that note... pray this #youthPastorWednesday for pastors dealing with tough and frustrating realities. For those frustrated by their current realities compared to their desired existence, pray that God would strengthen and encourage them. May God bring revelation to their hearts and minds. Pray for a clarity from the Holy Spirit regarding any sense of frustration or confusion regarding their lives and ministries. May God restore a sense of hope and energy to those exhausted and tired. Pray a new day would dawn, that a turn would be made, as the press in ever-closer to the throne of God and a fresh sense of His presence, even amidst the trials and trouble daily living.

To retain the faith of a child,
Even when our patience level is null.
God help us anew,
As we balance life on Earth,
While Heaven is home.
May we look to you alone,
For your glory, we pray.

- PNC

Well, first things first, on this incredibly somber Monday morning.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the pastors, leadership team, congregation and community of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

I'm shaking my head in disbelief, yet simultaneously frustrated on a number of levels.

Of course, society's commentary is already well under way.

How the church should respond.
How government should respond.
How legislation should respond.

These are incredibly complicated times. And yet they are blatantly simple times.

What is at work in the world has been a long-time coming, even more so as the created world continues to want nothing to do with it's Creator while simultaneously crying out for something greater than itself.

I don't know.

All I have right now, is the words of Christ.

Don't be surprised when this happens. The world hated Me. They will hate you also.

Yet somehow, the Christianity community will be known by there love for one another.

I don't know what tomorrow holds for any of us.
I do know that God holds tomorrow. Furthermore, He holds the whole world in His hands. And if we are to get through tomorrow, even if the whole world stands opposed to us, we will need the strength and grace of God to abound in our lives, homes and churches.

And lest we forget... let us be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Wisdom... comes first. May God fight for those who are His as we stand for Him.

Pray this #seniorPastorSunday for wisdom to navigate these certain, yet uncertain times. Pray for the strength to persevere in the face of evil and overwhelming odds. Pray for favor between church and community; that our love and passion for good and righteousness would emerge victorious. Pray for peace and comfort for this Sutherland Springs. May the Holy Spirit bring healing and restoration and may joy rise from this tragedy. A day of new beginnings. A day of revival.

God, come quickly.
Heal this very broken land.
That we turn from our wicked ways
And fall at the base of the Cross of Christ.
In surrender to your glory.
For the honor of your Name.

- PNC

Motivational speaker Justin Young says that “Great achievements are nothing more than a collection of small accomplishments.” 

It really is true. It's amazing how much can be done when even the littlest of tasks and responsibilities are taken care... even if they are not urgent or important. The couple of seconds or minutes it takes to get it done and out of the way does motivate one towards the next "what's next".

The principle is such a great reality that it's the driving force behind why Dave Ramsey's suggests in how financial plan to move from the smallest to largest balance when working on the elimination of debt. Knocking out the smallest balances gives you a relatively immediate sense of "win" and accomplishment, which motivates you to the next big thing. One after another, the momentum builds, until the great achievement is fulfilled.

How did you do that?

One day at a time. One focused attack. One payment at a time.

It's not that you aren't taking care of other things on your radar, but you are clearing the screen with what shows progress and working the process.

Pray this #effectiveSunday that God would help us tend to what needs to be done. May God grant strength and energy to remain focused, both on the larger picture and tasks but also determination to take care of the matters than can be the smallest and most dangerous hindrances if ignored. Pray for wisdom as we navigate the responsibilities God has entrusted to the body of Christ. May today be a day of great achievements because we have taken care of the small accomplishments while today is called today.

For yesterday is past
Tomorrow is yet not arrived.
Do today what is your hand and power to do
For the glory of God.

- PNC

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

What is wrong, slowly becomes more acceptable. What was rare and infrequent has become the oft-repeated normal.

A pastor relayed the contents of a conversation he had recently with a young man from India who had visited the church. The two of them talked for a few moments, when the young man asked the pastor to keep his hometown in prayer; for the in the week prior to their conversation, tragedy had struck.

More like evil, actually.

As it turns out the local mob had paid a visit. To the missionaries. Where the broke both their arms and the legs. Solely for being Christian.

It was the same pastor who stated a perspective that we don't often think of... at least I don't, for reasons unknown. The very first recorded act of persecution. Do you know the answer? It also happens to be the first ever recorded act of murder.

Cain and Abel. Cain killed Able because Abel's sacrifice was acceptable and righteous and Cain's was not. Able was killed for his faith and relationship with Almighty God.

As this pastor stated:

The first to be murdered was the first to be martyred.

One source estimates that anywhere between 100,000 to 150,000 Christians are killed annually for their faith. A British study from a year or two ago, put out a conservative estimate at 105,000.

105,000 killed annually.
288 per day.
12 per hour.
1... every. 5. minutes.

One martyr every five minutes.

At 150,000.... 411 per day. 34 per hour. 1.4 every 2.5 minutes. How utterly insane is this? Yet we should not be surprised when this happens. It's also going to become more frequent.

Yet society and culture continue to push for openness and diversity, acceptance and tolerance; freedom to be and do whoever and whatever one desires and feels like, truly, on any given day.

But for the Christian...well, you're reading the same social media status updates and commentaries as I am. And the 100,000+ that aren't being murdered, hundreds of thousands more are being ridiculed and mocked. And never making headline news are the bodies being beaten and broken for the cause of Jesus Christ; even though they are a worse human rights violence than one's "right" to be offended. God help us all.

And pray this #missionsFriday, for those missionaries and Christians around the globe that are experiencing unbelievable persecution, beyond our belief, but quite the norm over the centuries. Pray for this society and culture who continues to reject God and mock and torture those who profess their belief in Him. Pray for a strengthening and a quickening for those suffering for the sake of Christ. May God work the miraculous through their lives, through their testimonies, and through their ministries. May their labor not be in vain, but produce the fruit for which the seeds of the Gospel were planted.

May God bring a healing to the land
As we are brought to a place of repentance
That we would turn from our wicked ways
And fall at the face of God and the feet of Christ
For His Word will not return void.
Every knee will one day bow.
What a day that will be.

- PNC

Yesterday morning, I managed to catch part of a political talk show and as the host prepared to play a clip regarding the recent tragedy in NYC, (our thoughts and prayers go out to those families and friends impacted in that community and city-at-large), I thought, how important of a perspective to keep in mind, not only for any leadership role, but especially church leadership.

The show host introduced the clip by offering their personal opinion on the matter and it was simply that the man speaking in the audio clip said too much. Of course, the audio clip was shocking and I as I listened, I couldn't help but talk to the radio! Why are you sharing that? Wow, that's a little much. And the guy kept going.

Suddenly, I was in awe. Not only did I not want to know that information, but the guy stated it for public, and worse, global consumption. Seriously?

I understand. For the longest time society kept some pretty horrendous existences behind closed doors, both in private and public life, whether at home, church or business. So, I get, for certain circumstances the need and desire for "transparency". I utilize the quotes though, because so much more has changed in our culture, especially when it comes to misunderstandings and the power of offense, that certain situations, details and plans are better kept to those who directly involved.

Not everybody needs to know everything. Not everybody can be trusted with everything.

The world is getting smaller. News travels faster. And things get out of control and out of context faster than the 0-60 time of your favorite exotic sports car.

Thus, of all organizations, if anyone should have a proper understanding followed by a wise and balanced approach between a leadership that is transparent and one that is discerning, it should be the church. But in reality... the church still struggles, both at the local and global level.

And on that note, let's pray to that end on this #deaconThursday. May God impart supernatural wisdom and discernment to the leadership of the church. Pray for a keen understanding and respect for the time and place regarding the dissemination of information. Pray for a humble spirit and a desire for wise counsel as they navigate the power of today's communication tools and how words and deeds are received and perceived in these difficult, 21st century days. May church leadership possess and continue to advance with a spirit of unity to the situations and circumstances they face and the people that are involved in them. Pray the spirit of offense would be far from us; that God would heal and restore such instances where trust has been broken and betrayed.

For we are not perfect,
But daily being transformed.
God help us navigate the process
To live, lead and serve with integrity.
For the glory and honor of God.

- PNC

There are two days that you can't control, or so says Dr. Tony Evans.

7 days a week. 365 days in a year (366 in a leap). And there's only two days which are beyond your control right now.

Yesterday. And... Tomorrow.

And yet regardless of our age, status and position in this life, we continually find ourselves battling between two states of mind while we live in the gift that is called today. All too often we live today frustrated about what went wrong yesterday or freaking out about what could go wrong tomorrow.

Even sitting here now, thinking about what's next, I find myself wishing that this particular life skill of enjoying today and not worried about the before and after was one that I had mastered sooner in life.

Some matters are not that important, and it the moment is a short-lived, "ugh" moment. Others have long-lasting impact and even longer-lasting consequences and for those that directly impact eternity or can played through to an eternal perspective... those circumstances and the thoughts of them that consume and preoccupy our hearts and our minds can be debilitating.

We are adults... surrounded by kids, wishing we had done things differently as kids and hoping that tomorrow we will be better adults. While we try to teach them what to do, we continue to search for ourselves what we should do. And in light of our faith, what God would have us to do.

For our calling, our anointing, our gifting. For the plans and purposes He has ordained in advance for us that we should walk in them. But we don't and can't... when we try to control what is beyond us. The yesterday that has passed. The tomorrow that awaits. There is only today.

Pray this #youthPastorWednesday that God would work the miraculous in the lives of pastors who still have their moments and even days where the past frustrates them and the future overwhelms them. Pray God would grant to them strength and peace; as He work in them to cast all their cares on Him. May pastors hold ever so steadfast to the promises of God and what He has declared and spoken over their lives. Pray that God would intervene in lives where the need to be better stewards of the time He has given exists.

For indeed He does have a plan.
And God is at work in our lives
Through the power of the Holy Spirit.
May we live faithful to the calling He has placed upon us.
For His glory, as we live and learn in His grace
And His mercy that is new every morning.

- PNC

I caught part of sermon broadcast yesterday morning from a local pastor and I kind of wish I had heard more of it. But a profound point was made through quite a humorous analogy.

The pastor was talking about the early church and how their efforts to spread the Gospel was not a competition. In proving his point, he talked about the one conversation we don't see in Scripture. The power of Peter's shadow compared to Paul's shadow. And of course, we don't hear about the power of Paul's shadow... he's too busy traveling on all the missionary journeys!

There isn't one ministry that is greater or more worthy within the body of Christ. There's not a pastor that is more important than another. There is not a volunteer that is more valuable than the next.

So here's pastor's profound point.

The church is not meant to compete against each other, but to complete each other.

One letter changes the entire dynamic of the relationships within the local church and with churches as a part of the global Christian community.

Oddly enough, or coincidentally, whichever suits your preference, that same concept also changes the entire dynamic of every personal relationship an individual aside, regardless of the realm or arena of life in which that relationship exists.

So, it begs the question... are churches, their pastors and leadership teams and the ministries that come forth from them in competition with each other or working to complete each other in the eternal mission of the body of Christ?

Let's pray this #associatePastorTuesday that churches and their leaders would continue and begin anew where necessary, to work to find ways to complete each other. May we not get so caught up in what is in front of us that we miss what other opportunities God may have placed before us to help others rather than try to get ahead of them. Pray for wisdom and discernment in how relationships are handled, how teams are managed and how the work of the ministry proceeds. May everything that is said and done be for the glory of God; let nothing become a hindrance to our witness that humanity would look upon the church with disgrace.

A beacon to the world;
A city set on a hill.
To testify of the glory and grace of God
Rather than to best one another in the flesh.
For the advancement of the Gospel of Christ.

- PNC

I had somewhat of an "ah-ha" moment yesterday afternoon, as a series of thoughts passed through my mind, hoping that something would stand out as inspiration. And I didn't see this one coming. But somewhere between pastor's message on having a hunger for God and Isaiah Thomas' writing on commitment and the connection was made.

So here it is.

Everything that we do in life is acted upon from one of two driving modes.

We walk and progress in our journey with either a driving hunger or a driving fear.

We are either in passionate pursuit or disabling doubt. As much as taking risk with consideration of consequence can be problematic, so to can living in hesitation with too much consideration given to the unknown create undue stress and frustration.

Life and faith requires careful consideration of planning and purpose, for sure. But at the same time, past experiences, failures and trials that "didn't work out" can become a debilitating hindrance. As a result, we are moving forward with strong intentionality or we are moving forward with even stronger restraint.

One would think, or more likely assume, that pastors automatically have a passion and hunger for God and ministry. And for the most part that is correct. But the reality of burnout cannot be denied or ignored. Which means at some point, something has changed. The hunger has diminished, which creates room for fear.

Something changes in the approach to ministry, in the handling of problems, in the communication of vision and in the health of relationships. And rarely do such circumstance turn out like the happy endings of the Hallmark movies vortex to which my wife has made me fall victim. But they have the potential to do so, as we continue to lift them up in prayer and encourage them in their life and ministry.

On this #seniorPastorMonday, pray that God would indeed strengthen their pursuit and passion of Him and the work to which He has called them. May they move forward with purpose, unhindered by fear, but walking with confidence. Pray that past mistakes and failures would not have a debilitating influence in the lives, but by the power of God, may they use those lessons as a positive source of discernment as they are led of the Holy Spirit. Pray they would remain ever so and even more hungry for God, His Word and His church.

A force to be reckoned with.
Because they are not dominated by fear.
But controlled by the Spirit.
For the glory of God
And the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

I've been slowly reading my way through a book written from my favorite NBA player and I'd recommend getting a copy. The stories of what he's endured are pretty incredible.

The book is titled The Fundamentals and it's written by one of the great Bad Boys of the Detroit Pistons, Isaiah "Zeke" Thomas.

On a section headlined with the phrase "A life committed to success" he shares these words.

"Commitment powers dreams and goals into reality. It is the engine that powers the wheels. Without commitment, you go nowhere. People who never commit fully to their goals often feel lost or stuck. They are out of gas. They blame their "stuck" circumstance for their misery instead of taking responsibility for their own happiness and success. Their lack of commitment is a result of their lack of inner motivation."

Contrast that with the opening of next paragraph.

"With commitment, you can change not only your life, but the world around you. Those whom we honor and remember the most are generally those who have committed their lives to bettering the world and then lived that commitment."

Isaiah goes on to write, "You are fully committed to your goals when you decide that nothing will throw you off your course in pursuit of your dreams.... no one can stop you. No one can make you give up."

I know life is hard. Emotions and feelings and circumstance can really sway and pull on our hearts and minds to not do or desire to do or be the thing or place that we are. Even Christ understood and experienced this. Hence His cry on the cross, if possible take this cup from me. His life is replete with opportunities to step out and walk away and call for an entire different situation, outcome or result. And yet He remained committed. Even to death on the cross. Not an attractive end on a human level, but He allowed nothing and nobody to stop Him, nor make Him give up.

So that's my encouragement this morning. No matter what, stay committed. To the calling God has placed upon you, to the place God has positioned you; to the people He has surrounded you with; to the plan and purpose He has laid before you. Let nothing nor anyone discourage or distract you from pursuing and fulfilling what God has placed within you to accomplish for His kingdom and glory.

Pray this #effectiveSunday for God grace and strength to those feeling lost, stuck and demotivated. May they be encouraged, even this hour, to continue and stay the course.  Let not distractions and discourage detour and derail their lives and ministries. May they continue to progress forward under the power of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Pray today would be a day of results, as lives are transformed and eternity forever changed because of the commitments that are made, renewed and fulfilled.

Effective for the ministry.
Committed to the cause.
Unwavering despite our feelings
As we walk in His footsteps.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

We all stand frustrated with the evil of  humanity and yet when asked, we fail to recognize the evil that resides in the heart of every individual. We ask how we got to this place as a society and a culture and yet we don't view our words and deeds in light of eternity.

We fail to recognize God, let alone seek to see and understand Him.
We wish for a purpose to this thing called life, but miss the opportunity to have a relationship with the One who designed us with and for a purpose.
We desire meaning and long to be loved, yet deny what Christ did for us and what it means for our lives.

We wonder why people don't do right nor even know what is right, while we teach that there are no absolutes, there are no eternal consequences and that you should trust your gut, do what you feel is best for your and operate by your feelings.

We are teaching and living lies.
All because we fail to believe the One who says that they and their Word are true and truth.

Yet, James McDonald says that hope takes work. Despair is nearly a default.

It stands to reason then, that if we are to have hope and it will require effort and time on a daily and sometime moment by moment basis, that would we put it our hope in someone/something that has stood the test of time; has never failed, never left, never missed a detail, never wasted an experience or a tear to bring about a divine, sovereign and glorious plan.

But that would be sensible and logical, even if it was a risk and a step of faith. And it amazes me how much risk we will accept and what steps we will take, for things far less impersonal and important in light of eternity. Yet when given the opportunity with God, far too many write it off as good for someone else... as if it's possible for humanity to be too good for the grace and love of God. For not only is that not possible, but quite the opposite is true.

People need hope. And the people of God need His help in communicating such to a world fill will evil living a default state of despair.

On this #communitySaturday, pray that people eyes would be opened to the truth of God and his plan and purpose for humanity. Pray that hearts and minds would be opened to the opportunity and risk to engage with Almighty God, Creator of the Universe. May we not be people who live in despair and frustration, but that would be people people who live in peace and hope, ready to give an answer to all who inquire as to our Source. Pray our active faith in Christ would shine to those around us.... like a city on a hill.

For God has not left us in our lonely state
But has made every effort and ultimate sacrifice
To display His love, plan and purpose.
For though He is frustrated with humanity,
We are not utterly destroyed.
Because of His love and His grace.
May we engage people with the same.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

I recently heard the testimony and story of Emily Colson, daughter of well-known Chuck Colson and the story of her autistic son, Max. In fact, she and her dad wrote a book together before Chuck passed, telling their story, titled Dancing With Max.

But as I listened to her final remarks, she made an interesting point; that not only applies to pretty much everyone, let alone Christians and church leadership.

In discussing her son, Emily states that God's plan for Max, is not for him to be healed or changed so that he lives, acts and communicates like the rest of humanity. God's plan for Max is to be like Christ! This point she emphasizes, also happens to be God's plan for the rest of humanity.

Not that people would act like us, believe like us, look like us or live like us. We all should be ever changing and transforming towards the reflection of Christ.

And here's the part that stood out.

Too often we are concerned about having a perfect life, perfect moment, perfect experience.
Imagine if our focus was geared towards helping others, have the perfect life, a perfect moment or the perfect experience.

We worry, stress and all but freak out over the circumstance of which we will be directly affected. But what would happen if we stepped aside and served those around us; that they would walk away changed and impacted, refreshed, revived and renewed.

In our marriages. In our families. In our workplace. In our communities. And by all means, in our churches, as pastors and parishioners partner together for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Let's pray this #youthPastorWednesday, that indeed pastors and believers would take the lead, not to live for a series of "perfect" for our own lives, but to create life-changing moments for others, whereby we might be the blessing of God as God has blessed us. Pray for pastors who are not feeling refreshed as they endeavor to refresh others. May God return it to the them 10 and 100 fold. Pray for strength to continue the good work that God has called each of us to fulfill. May we not be consumed to compare ourselves to others, but consumed to bless others rather than ourselves. As God works in us, pray we would not hesitate to change how we interact with those around us and all the more, with those closest to us.

For we were created for fellowship with God
And relationship with each other.
Filled with the love of God
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
To be the hands and feet of Christ
For those who've yet to be transformed
By the love and grace of Almighty God.

- PNC

Well, our neighborhood lost power last night for a couple of hours. It wasn't even a full blown storm, just a cool, windy fall rain. However, at least one transformer blew and hence, an area was left in the dark.

I didn't know what to write for this post, until I had a light-bulb moment, thanks to the joys of technology. It worked out for us, as we had a prior engagement, so we weren't left sitting in looming blackness; we just left earlier than planned. As we were headed out, the text message came through from the energy company... crews had been dispatched. A little while later, another notification that they were on-site.

We stayed out a little longer, in hopes the power would be on sooner than the 4-hour window they were predicting and sure enough, two and half hours after we had left, the lights were on.

We've all been in the dark. About life. About faith. About relationships and careers; moves and finances and a whole host of who knows what, both on a significant and important, or not; on matters of eternity and carnality. Sometimes for a few hours; a few days... weeks and months, even. The worst are the periods of darkness that last for years.

Pastors are there and many don't notice when they are living in such period, not to mention what battles, struggles, challenges they face and what is going wrong in the darkened state.

Yet, in light of pastor burnout, as I ask you once again to join me in prayer, consider this...

What neighborhood do you support, as a crew-member who is involved in bringing light to those feeling and living as though they have been left in the dark?

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for pastors that are living in the dark. Spiritually, emotionally, relationally, financially and more. Pray that the congregation would be a place of encouragement and support, even if very few know the details of the darkness. Pray pastors would not disappear into the blackness, but seek and search for those in whom they might confide and confess and reach out for guidance, wisdom and insight. May God give churches and congregations wisdom as well, to know how to help and discern potential situations, for times and circumstances where pastors might not know how to speak up and ask for help.

For we are the body of Christ
And as the physical body was designed to heal itself,
So too can the church help itself,
By knowing what is going on and recognizing when things are wrong.
With God's help and the power of the Holy Spirit,
We are stronger together than when we stand alone,
Especially in the darkness.

- PNC

I heard a statement the other day, that of course, I haven't been able to recall who made, but at the same time, I haven't forgotten about it either. But I thought it was an intriguing and profound picture and it's this:

The devil isn't concerned with dead pastors, but half-dead pastors.

The danger isn't found in the ones who are already burnt out, having nothing left to give and are no longer making a difference for the kingdom of God. It is however, found in those who while they may very well be on their way to such a state of existence, also still have opportunity to be revived and renewed, restored and brought back to a place health and wholeness.

And obviously, we aren't discussing a literally death. But in every other realm. Emotionally. Mentally. Spiritually. The dream is dead. The vision is lost. The hope is missing. The passion neglected.

The pastor who is well on his or her way to such a status of misery is the danger, for what if one intervenes and helps them find their way back. Where the dream is revived. The vision regained. The hope returns. The passion revisited.

To such an end and such a return we pray.

On this #seniorPastorMonday, pray for those pastors who feel as though they are indeed, existing in a half-dead state. Pray their strength and energy would be renewed and refreshed. May they be encouraged, even this day! Pray for the healing and revitalization of dreams and vision, hope and passion. Pray that the power of God would fill anew in the hearts and minds. May the Holy Spirit breathe a second wind into their lives and ministries.

That their efforts and abilities would be quicken and empowered
Like never before.
That they would be more dangerous than ever to the devil's schemes.
May the kingdom of God forever reign.
From now to all eternity.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

"Exposition is only effective as the receiver" - Chuck Swindoll.

In part three of his series Discouraging Signs of a Dying Ministry, Pastor Swindoll shared how over his years of ministry and dealing with congregations, it was amazing that he could preach through every book of Scripture, every topic, chapter and verse, line by line and after everything he had done to deliver the Word, some people were just as carnal as when they first stepped into the church as they were after all his preaching.

It was after describing this phenomenon that he made the opening statement. And it couldn't be anymore true. In fact, it is the very parable of the soil that Jesus describes in His ministry. Furthermore, we see this all throughout today's culture, as many people are speaking the truth on any number of matters and circumstances that consume our days and yet, some remain unwilling to hear and act accordingly. So what happens if we do nothing with hearing the truth that is the Word of God?

The greatest preaching is nothing if there is not an active connection that responds appropriately.

On this #effectiveSunday, pray that the words that are spoken would indeed fall on good soil. May hearts and minds be opened and prepared to hear from God the exposition of His Word that will be delivered from pulpits across the globe. Pray that would people would be changed to greater reflect the person and character of Christ as we are transformed by the power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. Pray today would be a pivotal moment for many, for the kingdom of God and the plans and purposes He desires to accomplish in and through our lives.

That we stand this day
As those who are on the Lord's side.
Forever changed by the Word of God
And the exposition that is the preaching.
Foolishness to some, but the power of God
To draw us unto Himself.
For the advancement of the Gospel.

- PNC

"It takes determination to remain different." - Chuck Swindoll

Daily, almost by the hour, society and the modern day culture continues to decline. It seems like every other headline is more unbelievable and mind-dropping than the one that appeared in our social media newsfeed just a few minutes ago. Meanwhile, the push against the church continues, even to the point where certain groups want to find a course of action to influence what is preached from the pulpit.

Yet, the church is a team, as much as the family is a team, as is the marriage itself. So if the goal or the enemy seeks to gain any ground, the starting point is pick off the leader or any of the higher-ups. If it's not the husband can't be defeated, the wife becomes the target. Same for the family... if not dad, then mom. If not the parents, the kids. The senior pastor. No luck? Someone else on the team. A deacon. The enemy is full of weapons and while it can be argued that he is very methodical in his approach, there area at times, that he is simply shooting as many arrows as he can in hopes that there will be such a sense of overwhelming bombardment that he'll take whatever access point he can to infiltrate and destroy from within.

The headlines are getting ridiculous. It's hard not to miss that society's tension is indeed a spiritual battle. Sadly, the victories the church is experiencing nobody ever hears about and the defeats are praised and heralded, is if to be used as an argument or indictment against us. Of course, in the middle is compromise... on the message and the theology and the doctrine. It's another access point. One more that we don't need, nor do we have the time to engage by creating it.

Pray this #deaconThursday, that God would strengthen the leadership team of the church. Pray that God would give them wisdom and discernment as they navigate these interesting and befuddling times. May the renew and fortify their resolve to the ministry. To love God. To love people. To preach the Word. To speak truth. Pray for a hedge of protection over marriages and relationships; that the leadership of the church would stand united in their efforts to impact their community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Dare to be different.
Determine to be different.
For the glory of God
For the love of humanity

- PNC

I had an interesting line of thought yesterday... one that wouldn't go away. It's the concept that in this world, we live at some point in the day, one of five lives.

1) The life/person we project or display in public
2) The life we live at home
3) The life we live alone

The next two lives are where things get interesting.

Number 4 is our reality... a culmination of our experiences, emotions and attitudes that exist somewhere along the spectrum of the previous three defined states of existence.

Number 5 is the life God has planned and purposed; ordained for us to exist.

The journey of life is never easy. And it doesn't help when these lives don't line up. One's public life fails to align with the home. The home life is inconsistent with alone time. Reality is filled with joy and sorrow, good decisions and horrible regrets; longings, desires and wishes in various states of fulfillment and satisfaction or lack thereof. Thus we find ourselves trying to live them out, while having to live with ourselves at the end of the day... and every moment leading up to it.

We live with decisions, some we'd rather forget. Bad choices, wrong thoughts, misspoken words... it's no wonder life seems filled with frustration, confusion and a general sense of angst and agony.

Then, for the believer, is what God has in store for us. But for the everyday Christian or the everyday pastor, when anything is amiss with God's plan... well, whatever is inconsistent with our lives on their own merit could be even further from God's purpose than if we were living a consistent reality without God.

I'm not trying to be all negative; for certainly, many have seen, witnessed and lived incredible lives that have been true and honest, in public, private and alone while fulfilling God calling and plan for their lives. Of course the difference between those two states of existence are astoundingly noticeable and notable.

And on that note, let's pray this #associatePastorTuesday. For the struggle of these realities and difficulty in navigating them affects us and all and pastors are not immune. May God reveal those areas of life that are not only inconsistent on their own, but are also amiss with the will and plan of God. Pray for clarity as to how we can correct and how to pray that the Holy Spirit would bring about change and correction to us. Pray for healing for the decisions, frustrations and regrets that seek to haunt, destroy and annoy the days and nights as we progress and strive to fulfill all that God has for us. Pray for strength to persevere in the face of challenging conversations and confessions as the Holy Spirit pinpoints the unfinished areas and arenas of hearts and minds; attitudes and behaviors.

For the work of God is never done
His plan never complete.
But He is faithful to us,
Despite our flaws and faults.
May our realities be opportunities
To display the grace and glory of God.

- PNC

We've talked on numerous occasions on the topic of legacy and impact and the teaching and training of the next generation of pastors that senior and lead pastors engage in when it come to church longevity and it's leadership. And yet part of what brought this back to the forefront as an article I read yesterday morning regarding a well-known megachurch and the succession plan as the pastor plans to step down next year.

If you've read this site for anything length of time, you know I intentionally try to avoid names and places of specific churches and this one in particular; perhaps you've read the same article or could figure it out without much effort. I mention this, though as the article outlines that the succession plan of this particular church and the solution they've arrived at is unheard of to date.

Without getting into the specifics, what's really cool and interesting about their solution is how they are moving to a team approach to church leadership. As I read the article, I could see the understanding and wisdom behind it. The founder of the church will be leaving incredibly large shoes. It's near impossible to consider one person stepping into it's existence.

I could see the benefit of this unique solution; in terms of the balance that it brings to those involved in church leadership; their areas of focus, their lives outside of ministry. It was hard to not think that their solution was fairly brilliant in terms of preventing burnout. However, not only does it remain a ministry, but in this case, it's a mega-church, so the potential for burnout remains at high odds.

That said, long-term church leadership and church existence itself benefits greatly from the vision and foresight to look for the best possible solutions that ensure such an environment. Obviously for this church, whether their unique decision works as planned or not remains to be seen for the next few years at least. But they seem confident and on paper, it's an interesting approach.

So how do we pray this #seniorPastorMonday? Well, first and foremost, for continued wisdom and insight as church leadership moves forward in ministry and in particular, what's the plan for who steps to the pulpit after the current administration. While the end results may be a ways off, pray for the vision of what steps can be taken now so that when the time comes, the church and its' leadership will be exactly where God desires to place them. May burnout be far from their door as they work to implement and live a healthy, balanced life, both at home and at church, with the congregation and with the community. Pray God would continue to use their experience and encounters to advance the kingdom of God, both for spiritual growth and spiritual depth of calling, understanding and purpose.

Life long ministry
Full of stories
Mark by grace
Compelled by love
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Advancing the cause of Jesus Christ
For the glory of God the Father.

- PNC

For the past few months, my mind has been wondering in a number of different directions. For those who know me well, that's nothing new. Except for certain things it hinders the process of life and progress. Over a prolonged period of time, is the essential equivalent of stalling out.

Even as I was getting ready for church this morning, I had a few ideas of what to write, but again, nothing really stood out as an obvious direction of what God wanted. This is where we stand in the way. Sometimes knowingly, others unknowingly; but we can miss what God has for us.

In ministry, in our living of daily life, in our faith, in our conversations and interactions; here's my question for the day (and perhaps it's more for me than for you)

What is God unable to accomplish because we are holding out and perhaps unwittingly holding up the process through our indecision?

It hardly makes for an effective and efficient approach to anything that we say or do.

And don't miss the point that I'm overlooking. Some decisions do take time and thought, much prayer and many conversations. But I speak from experience and my friends can attest... it can be over-done. And then some.

Pray this #effectiveSunday, that God would help those facing similar circumstances. May God grant clarity to those having difficulty in the decisions and problems they face. Pray wisdom and discernment to fill their hearts and minds; not to be consumed with whether they see the end of the field, but to see their next steps down the field. Pray for the confidence and peace of the Holy Spirit as they walk in the calling and purpose God has called and ordained them to fulfill.

Without hestitation
Without reservation.
May we live and move
By the strength and power
Of the Sovereign Hand of God.
For His glory and honor.

- PNC

Community is an amazing phenomenon. It's possible to be present and even plugged in, without feeling energized and empowered. This is seemingly normal and the stories of such an existence are abundant.

Yet such instances detract from the power of community. In fact, if you consider the analogy from the perspective of real life, being "plugged in" while not doing anything is actually a drain on the system. From the television to the toaster, the transfer of energy is still drawn, even if the unit is not on and functioning according to it's abilities and purpose.

So to, the power of the church community and it's engagement with the rest of world is affected when those within the church are drawing power, but not using it for the purpose for which they were created.

Yes, it is a balancing act, for there are seasons of rest at different times for different reasons, but by and large, the power of the church to impact it's community lies in the church using its power for which it was purposed and created.

On this #communitySaturday, pray that God would help to be plugged in; at the right places and times, in order that we might be best used for the purposes for which God created us. Pray for a strengthening of the church community, that we would be empowered and equipped to be a greater impact in the region in which they reside. May God grant wisdom and direction for churches struggling and those in the community feeling as they are being a drain rather than being used. Pray for the miraculous in such circumstances and situations.

May we live as God intended.
Fulfilling His calling and purpose
As He designed for us to be and do.
For the glory of God
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

Life.

Full of choices.
Full of decisions.
Full of joy.
Full of sorrow.

And stress. And anxiety. Worry. Points of concern. Points of contention. Moments of frustration and agony. Time filled with awe and wonder and much more time spent simply wondering.

Yet, through it all. God never changes. He is Sovereign. He is an ever-present help. Yet in the midst of this life, we find ourselves trying to understand and attempting to make sense of the what, why, how and where things will go and proceed to work out... both in the short term and for the long haul.

It truly is amazing what kids go through. And worse, what we put them through. But so much of life is filtered from what we can handle to what they can handle. And no matter how long one has been a believer, we keep coming to God, hoping to get full understanding and information of what is happening or what is in store.

But know... He gives us what we need to know; what we can handle. That's the sovereign nature.
It's hard as an adult. Even harder as a parent. Harder still as a pastor.

Thus, we look to, rely and place our trust in God.
Not only for our lives; but also on behalf of our kids... for they too will one day need to have the strength and fortitude in their relationship with Christ that we all work towards daily.

Let's pray, this #youthPastorWednesday for youth and children's pastors that are struggling in their own lives and with matters of faith in their walk with God. Pray that God would give them wisdom as they navigate the circumstances and situations that they face. May God help them as they relate to the young people they minister to; that God would give them the words and perspective to build up and encourage the faith of today's youth. Pray that no matter our understanding of the day; that we would continue to trust in the sovereign Hand of God. May we daily rejoice in the knowledge and beauty that God does not waste a single experience for His glory and good.

For God is a good Father,
Who has good things in store for His children.
A plan and purpose.
A destiny and a calling.
For His glory.
By His grace.
With His love.
Daily, as we walk this life

- PNC