Pray For Me Today

If you see this and you’re so inclined I’d really appreciate your prayers for me this week. Specifically in 3 areas…

1) I’ve got a HUGE meeting at 7:00 am this morning that could have HUGE ramifications for where Palm Valley meets for the next few years! If God opens the door, this would be a HUGE step forward for us. Did I mention this is HUGE Pray for wisdom for me and God’s favor for those we need to help us in this process.

2) Lori and I, and some of the staff, are heading to the C3 conference in Dallas. We’ll fly out Tuesday and come back Friday. Ed Young and his wife Lisa have been great friends to Lori and I, and have had a big impact on Palm Valley Church. Each year at this conference I find that God really refuels me and He’s always used this conference to speak to me about next steps for Palm Valley.  Pray that I’m refreshed spiritually and challenged in my leadership; both prayers I’m praying! Thanks. On a personal note, I love this conference because it’s like a reunion with ministry friends from all over the country. Us pastors are a weird bunch, but we get each other and it’s fun to hang with my tribe for a few days

3) Pray for my message preparation this weekend. I’m stoked to be teaching on the temptation of Jesus, His holiness, and what it means to our relationship with Him. I’m fired up for this weekend at PVC. BTW, bring people who don’t know Jesus: they’ll thank you!!

Weekend Reflections

Crazy week, awesome weekend…

• My 7-9 year old basketball team lost a nail biter, 8-5. The boys put in a great effort.
• I didn’t know what to do with myself Saturday afternoon since I wasn’t teaching.
• I had a blast just walking around church all weekend.
• Our nursery, pre-school and grade school areas are knockin’ it out of the park. Forget portable, there’s just not many kids ministries operating at this level!
• Ditto for students, the energy in that area is “off the chain”
• Darius brought it this weekend! God’s hand is all over this guy.
• From Darius: bring hope to others by 1) going to them, 2) listening to them, 3) praying with and for them, and 4) following up with them. 
• Those are great parenting tips also
• It was very moving to pray over people at the end of each service, but more moving to see everyone praying for each other!
• The staging is ridiculous for this series; blows me away each time I look at it!
• Had a veggie pita for lunch, get serious. I need a steak :)
• Helped a friend move Sunday afternoon, cool to see some guys from our Home Team show up.
• GREAT home team meeting Sunday night. You know it’s the real deal when everyone in the room is crying together.
• PVC’ers, don’t forgot your memory verse for the week: Psalm 94:19.
• Heading to C3 in Dallas this week. Looking forward to hanging out with ministry friends and recharging my batteries!

Creative Team Hits a Home Run!!

I wasn’t involved much in the look of our new series, Snapshots Of The Savior.  As a matter of fact, I hadn’t seen it before I walked on stage to teach. And because I was staring at the crowd I never saw how cool the staging looked behind me; until I watched the weekend video. Sean and his team truly hit it out of the park with this set! Check out the video…

He Might Surprise You – Snapshots of the Savior Series from Palm Valley Church on Vimeo.

Weekend Reflections

I know it’s been a few weeks, but I’m back in the blogging mood. I even have a re-design coming, with lots of extras being added to the blog.

• my 7-9 year old basketball team lost our 1st game. Incredible match-up, glad we get another shot at them next weekend.
• Personal confession: I really enjoyed not having Saturday services this week. We felt like a real family, having all day Saturday together, including a date night for Lori and I
• Thanks to the couple who bought Lori and I dinner at Claim Jumper, that was awesome!
• Couldn’t sleep Saturday night, too pumped about starting “Snapshots“.  Finally fell asleep about 4:00 am.
• 3 packed services Sunday morning. It was fun to have the whole body together on Sunday morning again.
• We need more people to move to Saturday night. If you can, I dare you to move
• Awesome opportunities to pray with people on the patio Sunday; lots of hurting people clinging to Jesus. I love being there for people who are trusting during tough times!
• The message really flowed Sunday; very cool to help people leave guilt and shame in their past.
• What’s with people leaving before the worship is over?
• Our memory verse for the week is 1 John 1:9, join in and “hide His Word in your heart”.
• The volunteers who built the staging did an awesome job!
• I love what God is doing at Palm Valley right now, it’s a blast watching the maturity develop within this young body.
• Had an awesome Home Team Sunday night. Our group is really coming together. As tired as I am Sunday afternoon, meeting with our HT refreshes me.
• Great workout at the gym this morning. Love working out with my bride, so much fun.
• Looking forward to staff meeting tomorrow, some fun surprises for the team and a special guest sharing with us.
• PVC’ers, bring people with you this weekend, it’s going to be awesome!