Greg Peters Live

As we continue thinking about toiling in the the soil, I thought I would share a post by James MacDonald. James is probably my favorite preacher. He has a way of putting it out there and not holding anything back – love his boldness!

Click here to read his post.

• This weekend I noticed a number of volunteers who arrived early and were totally prepared to serve others! We are so blessed to have such a great group of people who are involved.
• My voice is just about shot. Denise says it is allergies.
• Loved teaching the parable of the sower in Matt 13.
• The key thought was short and sweet – it is our responsibility to toil the soil!
• The farmer spends more time on preparing the soil than he does spreading the seed.
• The harvest is the responsibility of the Lord.
• When the seed doesn’t produce a harvest the farmer doesn’t sell the farm, he goes back to working the soil.
• Evangelism is a process
• the best spade I know of is right here!
• I received an email this afternoon from a couple who has been bringing their neighbor to church. After church today the neighbor received Christ!! Thank the Lord!! They invested, they invited and the Lord gave the harvest!
• Seth took the message to heart – he came home and asked the neighbor if they knew Jesus!
• So glad that our parking lot is paved!!
• Already VERY EXCITED about next weekend. I have been working for several weeks on the next few weeks messages.
• We are not advertising or promoting what we are doing for the next 3 weeks – you will just have to come and see what we are doing.
• The next few weeks are really going to require my boldness!!!!
• God is good!
• Have a great week!

No question in my mind that Mark Batterson is one of the best bloggers out there – here is another case in point!

By the way come to church this weekend and you will see something you have never seen before!!!

Last weekend we focused on global evangelism and yet we brought the message home. We spoke of foreign missions and yet we talked about our mission.  We spoke of missionaries and yet the focus was not on them as much as it was on us.  I will pick up on a similiar line of thinking this weekend. I will talk not so much about the world as I will talk about our world.  What is our responsibility in our world? What can I do that will impact my world and make a difference in the lives of people who live in my world? While these questions would seem to bring very “normal” answers and “typical” strategies, that will not be my angle this weekend. In fact, I will talk about things from a whole different perspective. I will teach  a principle that I have never taught before. I promise you that you will leave with a different perspective on missions in your world. We are going to have an awesome weekend this weekend and I am praying that God shakes us from head to toe!

Even if this is not your weekend to attend, you do want to miss it! If you were there last weekend and are there again this weekend you will have a great picture of missions. If you missed last weekend click here now to listen to Dr. Ed Gibson’s message. See you this weekend!!

I am currently reading and journaling my way through the book of Daniel and really enjoying my study!  In Chapter 2 Daniel not only interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream but he first of all tells him the dream because Neb couldn’t remember it. After God reveals the dream and its intepretation to Daniel, Daniel immediately prays – Daniel 2:20-23. In verse 22 Daniel says, “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding”. This jumped off the page at me!  God does not waste wisdom on the fool and He does not waste knowledge one those who lack understanding. I am praying for wisdom and understanding – I am seeking wisdom and understanding – I desire wisdom and understanding – I want to position myself for wisdom and understanding. In doing this, I believe that the Lord is then free to give me more wisdom and more knowledge. I can’t see God just continuing to waste wisdom and knowledge on anyone who doesn’t act on it or implement it!

May God help us to increase in wisdom and understanding so that we can “interpret” the hard things in life!

• Went to bed late, got up early and somewhere in between the weekend flew by!
• Met some new families and had a few returning guests – always love that.
• Loved Missions Empahsis Weekend!
• Really appreciated Ed Gibson’s message. Practical and from his heart, just like always.
• Truly believe we now understand God’s misssion and we will continue to move towards engaging in that mission!
• Ed brought a message that just seemed to turn on the light for alot of people.
• A real privilege to host the Steve Aenis family and the Jason Powers family!
• Our church was so kind and hospitable to our guests. Thanks to our entire church for being so friendly!
• AWESOME job by our missions team!!!
• Food at the Expo was excellent!!! Thanks to Tim Viens and all who helped!!
• Really appreciated Mike Snider working so hard with facility and technology issues!!
• Had many new families at the Expo!
• I personally enjoyed just getting to fellowship with everyone.
• The band did a phenomenal job this weekend.
• Loved the music selection this weekend – thanks Derek!!
• Sure hope to see some asphalt being laid this week!
• Our staff met with the architect for the third time last week – good things are coming!!!!
• There are so many people who make Parkview what it is!!!
• I listened in on a couple small children environments this weekend – so proud of our Kids Zone team!
• Looking forward to a good week!
• I know I have been a little slack on the number of recent posts – I sense inspiration and improvement this week!

John Piper – We were made for global missions

• 5 people stood and trusted Christ this weekend – that is AWESOME!
• Loved teaching on Jacob’s encounter with God. Genesis 28:10-22
• Loved teaching through the lives of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau!
• A Big thanks to Denise for her help in this series!
• A Big thanks to Dr. Randy Poyner for his help in this series!
• Really enjoyed sharing my heart and everything I am learning about relationships.
• Love the people of parkview – so many friends and so many people that love me!
• Seth told Denise and me that we did a good job in this series.
• Last night he made up a song about following Jesus and sang it as he played his tennis racket(guitar). He brought tears to our eyes!
• My throat is in serious recovery mode. Nasal drainage is rough on the vocal cords!
• Had a great Discovery Pointe yesterday! Our volunteers did an awesome job!!
• I am blessed to be surrounded by such a high caliber staff.
• Our church is blessed with some amazing lay leaders.
• Bruce Scott, Dan Willis and the entire team did a phenomenal job pointing us to God this weekend!
• Rumor has it that the parking lot is going to get paved this week – that sure would be nice.
• I have a great week ahead of me and am really looking forward to it!
• Totally fired up about STAMPED this coming weekend!!!!
• We have given out over 400 tickets to the missions expo – DON”T MISS IT!!!!
• I have been doing some advance prep for sermons and series’ - really excited about the Spring!!!
• The first 7 words of Isaiah 63:9 really shook me this morning! Think about it!

• In so many ways, Relationship Rehab, has been such a challenge.
• In so many ways, Relationship Rehab, has been a learning experience.
• In so many ways, Relationship Rehab, has been a blessing.
• Denise and I have really enjoyed the last few weeks of ministry together.
• Great spirit at church this weekend.
• Really sweet time of Parent/Child dedication. I think we had 8 or 9 families participate.
• Had a good attendance this weekend, especially considering it was Daytona 500 and Valentine’s Day.
• Had a real good number of people sign up for Discovery Pointe next weekend.
• REALLY looking forward to STAMPED, Feb. 27,28.
• The Missions Expo on the evening of Feb 28 is going to be awesome!
• We gave away a bunch of free tickets for the expo!
• Our parking lot can’t get finished soon enough. Looks like at least a couple more weeks.
• I have a couple friends in town and we are enjoying catching up.
• Seth is really looking forward to having off Presidant’s Day!
• I absolutely love pastoring Parkview. It is the most challenging and exciting thing all at the same time!

Meetings can be a very unfulfilling and frustrating experience!  A few years ago I read a book entitled, Death by Meeting. The book’s title said it all and gave great insight as to how to conduct meetings so that they don’t feel like they are going to kill you. We have all been in meetings that were laborious, pointless, directionless, etc. The saddest part is that I have led and been in charge of meetings like that! Because of my position, I have alot of meetings in my life – one on one, small group, medium group and large group.

This morning I had a meeting with our elders from 6 to 8am. I have this meeting at the same time every other Thursday morning.  I love these guys! They are  a real blessing to me personally.  This morning we were also privileged to have our pastoral staff present with us as we met (the pastoral staff now attend the elder meeting every 6 weeks). Our meeting was great and I want to give you a few reasons why I think God is rewarding and blessing our time together:

• Each man has a genuine passion to know Christ. They have a heart for God and the things of God.
• Each man possesses a spirit of humility and desires it as a quality of their life.
• Each man owns the mission of our church – Guiding people to life change in Jesus Christ.
• Each man is in the trenches. They are not coaching from the sky boxes, but they are actively involved in serving. They model servant-leadership.
• Each man loves me and my family. I know you have heard me say this before, but forgive me for repeating - I have never felt so supported in all my years of ministry.
• Each man loves the people of our church.  They have a heart for loving others.
• Each man recognizes God’s hand of favor on this ministry and each man gives ALL the credit to God.
• Each man believes that God has awesome things in store for Parkview.
• Each man is willing to do the hard work and go toe to toe with the Enemy. They know Satan hates us. They know that in Christ we can be victorious.
• Each man is not afraid to lean into conflict. They will deal with it and speak the truth in love.
• Each man is not afraid to be honest with me. I love our honesty. We have built enough trust that honesty and love simultaneously flow.
• Each man is gifted and desires to use their gifts for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom.

I could go on, but I think you see why it is that I enjoy meeting with these men. Lord, may your hand of blessing rest on our elders and staff today and may you use us for your glory!