Michael's Blog

"Big Ol' Egg Drop" Pics

2010-04-05T14:10:00.007-05:00

Thank you to all who came out and made "The Big Ol' Egg Drop" a huge success. Here are a few pics. If you missed it this year, make plans to be there next year!

Why We're Dropping 20,000 Easter Eggs

2010-03-29T10:44:00.005-05:00

This Saturday, Peace Community Church has its 3rd annual "Big Ol' Egg Drop" (www.bigeggdrop.com). This event is something we love to do for the community, and it's always a blast for the kids. But there's a greater purpose for the event. This year's egg drop will benefit the "No Child Without Initiative"* of Sumner County Schools, a program committed to assisting the poor and eliminating homelessness in our community. Here are a few ways they help the kids in our area:

Delivering weekend food packs
Providing clothing
Purchasing school supplies
Tutoring
Distributing donated items like gifts at Christmas

We've talked with Maureen Wright of Sumner County Schools, and she suggested that we receive monetary donations at the egg drop. So please come this Saturday. Bring the whole family. And please consider how much you may give to this worthy cause so that we can help defeat poverty in our community. We can make a difference--together!

*If you'd like to find out more about the "No Child Left Without Initiative," please click here or here. Also, I would encourage you to contact Maureen Wright for more info: maureen.wright@sumnerschools.org.

The Birthday That Really Matters

2010-03-01T14:51:00.005-06:00

Today I celebrate birthday number 33. My folks are coming over tonight to watch the kids so that my bride and I can go out to eat. I can't wait to have some chicken fingers and a little carrot cake at J. Alexander's!

Over the last few years, my birthday has been a day for me to really reflect on the brevity of life and on what really matters in life. For my 30th birthday, I wrote a little piece called "In My Next Thirty Years." Everything I said then is exactly what I feel three years later.

Today, I also reflect on the birthday that really matters. Over and over again, the Bible talks about the need for every person to be "born again." What this means is that every person needs God to change them from the inside out. Until God changes our hearts, it doesn't really matter what we commit to do. Here's how Andy Stanley puts it:

“Until you’ve been born again, it doesn’t really matter what you try to do. If there’s not a rebirth experience, nothing else really matters. . . . Before you try harder. Before you try to turn over a new leaf. And before you try and change all those habits. And before you try and commit to be a better husband and wife and parent. First, you must be born again.”

Being "born again" is not something that we earn or deserve. It's a gracious gift of God that allows us to surrender every area of our lives to Jesus Christ. When we're "born again," we are never the same because our priorities, our desires, and our lives experience a radical makeover. As Ephesians 2:4-5 explains, we're spiritually dead, and nobody but God can wake us up:

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

So yes, I'm thankful to God for birthday #33 today. But I'm much more thankful to God for the day that He woke me up spiritually--the day He rescued me from sin, adopted me into His family, and gave me eternal life. That's the birthday that really matters to me.

New Small Group Study

2010-02-23T13:05:00.008-06:00

What do I do when I'm stressed? Where can I find true satisfaction for my soul?

These practical questions are just two of the many that will be addressed as PCC kicks-off a new Bible study in our small groups this week. It's a DVD-based Bible study on Philippians. The teacher will be Matt Chandler, a young pastor in the Dallas area. He's a passionate, gifted teacher who keeps people's attention and helps people focus on Christ in every area of their lives.

Here's the video promo if you'd like to check it out: http://vimeo.com/6971494

If you're interested in joining us for this study, please email me: michael@peacecc.org. We would love to get you plugged-in!

JustStayMarried.com

2010-01-17T15:53:00.003-06:00

Peace Community Church has created a month-long blog for all couples who want to pursue a healthy, God-centered marriage. Check out these daily readings at www.juststaymarried.com. Our goal is to add much more content in the near future so that the website will be a great resource for couples who are serious about just staying married. For now, enjoy the blog written by the members of PCC!

Prayers for 2010

2010-01-05T13:43:00.004-06:00

For many, New Year's Day is a time of serious reflection. It's a time to reflect on the past year. It's also a time to reflect on the year ahead--on where we are now and where we want to go. On this New Year's Day 2010, I got out my Bible and thought I would just look up verses that mention the word "new." As I read these verses, I also wrote down some prayers. Here are a few of them. Pray them for yourself if you feel so inclined. And Happy New Year!

LAMENTATIONS 3:22-24

²²The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
²³they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."

PRAYER--

"God, Your mercies, love, and faithfulness are without boundaries. Your mercies are new every morning AND every year! Therefore, Lord, I hope in You alone in 2010."

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

PRAYER--

"God, You are all about changing lives and giving people new purpose and new life. Thank you for giving me a new life even though I lived a rebellious old life. In 2010, don't let me get over the simple fact that You changed me 4-ever!"

GALATIANS 6:15

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;

what counts is a new creation.

PRAYER--

"At the end of the day, year, and life, nothing matters more than being a new creature who is totally surrendered to Christ and unimpressed with the world. Lord, in 2010, I just want to be attracted to You and Your cross and not distracted by the temporary, futile things of the world."

2 PETER 3:13

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

PRAYER--

"God, You promise us that history will come to an end when Jesus returns, and the world will be renewed to its original glory. I look forward to what You have planned for me in 2010, but I'm more eager to have unbroken and perfect fellowship with You and all Your children in the new world.

Until then, let my hope in that promise of eternal life be the means by which I persevere in this life."

16 Christmases Ago

2009-12-15T22:48:00.001-06:00

16 Christmases ago, I was asked to sing a song called "Thank God for Kids" for the Christmas-themed service at my church (see video above). Little did I know then, but 16 years later I would be a father of two, making the lyrics much more meaningful and personal.

Christmas time can be crazy. But let me encourage us all to pause long enough this Christmas to thank God for who and what He's given us. All we have is because of His grace. May we respond with gratitude and gladness, just like the mother of Jesus did when she heard that she was going to give birth to the Savior of the world: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47).

Why Pray?

2009-11-18T15:13:00.004-06:00

Today I was listening to a message by Matt Chandler, a pastor in Texas. In this message titled "The Art of Prayer," he talked about the importance of prayer. He shared 7 reasons why we should pray. I found his reasons very helpful as I think about my need to pray intentionally and passionately. Here's the list:

1. Prayer expresses our absolute dependence upon God. It’s a simple, daily act of humility on our part. Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).

2. Prayer allows us to interact and communicate with God. We speak to God through prayer. It’s all about this personal relationship we have with God.

3. Prayer gives us an opportunity to be involved with global activities that are eternally important. At any moment, we can pray for others in England or Italy, China or India. There is no geographical limit on prayer.

4. Prayer changes things. It changes circumstances, hearts, and lives. What would you like to see changed? Pray about it.

5. Prayer is a means of confession. When we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9).

6. Prayer is a means of fighting sin. Through this Spirit-driven activity we call prayer, we ask for and receive God’s power to overcome temptation in our lives.

7. God commands us to pray. God has ordained prayer as a means to accomplish His purposes.

Orphan Sunday

2009-11-03T14:41:00.005-06:00

This coming Sunday, PCC is promoting "Orphan Sunday." According to The Christian Alliance for Orphans, it's a day that's set aside to "rouse the church, community, and friends to God's call to care for the orphan." As many of you know, my wife and I adopted a boy from Russia last year. We may share a little of our story this Sunday, but we also plan to have a few other families there to share about their adoption journey. It's going to be a great Sunday!

Below is a little biblical taste of the priority that God places on orphan care. After reading these verses, Christ-followers should be compelled to ask themselves: Do we care for orphans like God cares for orphans? If so, then what are we going to do about it? If not, then what are we going to do about it?

GOD'S LOVE FOR ORPHANS

Psalm 68:4-5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.

Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 10:14, 17-18 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the - fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Jesus vs. Religion

2009-10-14T16:03:00.001-05:00

This weekend, PCC is starting a new message series called "Losing Your Religion." We will focus on the crucial difference between having religion and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In this video clip, Mark Driscoll does a great job explaining the difference. Also, I really love what he has to say to us men. It really does start with us being "Jesus people." Our wives and our kids need to see us leading with humility, confidence, and joy in God.

Note to a Friend Turning 30

2009-09-28T15:33:00.003-05:00

I'm always reminded of just how short life is and how real death is. In fact, tomorrow morning I'll be attending the funeral of a 31 year-old young man, a baseball teammate of mine from Goodlettsville. Sobering to think that his life (on earth) is over.

Birthdays are also reminders of the brevity of life. I recently received an invitation to write a note to a friend who is turning 30 this week. Here's the note I wrote, and I thought I'd share:

Man, how time flies. Just 10 years ago, we spent the summer singing together in different churches. 10 years later, we’re husbands and fathers, each of us with two boys!

As you know, life is a vapor. In your next 30 years, keep making your life count for the Kingdom [of God]. Like Jonathan Edwards, resolve “never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God.”

Let me know when you come down to Music City so that we catch up face-to-face. Miss you in good ol’ Goodlettsville!

Happy 30th!
Michael

Pictures from Sept 13

2009-09-15T15:20:00.005-05:00

Peace Community Church held two great events this past Sunday: baptism at the YMCA and a new Bible study that started in a local apartment complex. Here are a few pics from these events, courtesy of Mark Kelly.

A PCC Member's Blog

2009-09-01T14:14:00.003-05:00

Brian and His Son, Luke

I want to recommend a blog that has just been started by one of PCC's members, Brian Manning. In his first post, he talks about a topic that is very practical and relevant: priorities. I don't know anybody who hasn't struggled with living out what they say they believe. Below is the link. I think you will find his blog encouraging, interesting, and thought-provoking.

http://briandmanning.wordpress.com/

The Oak Ridge Boys Elvira

2009-08-24T17:25:00.001-05:00

Enjoying a little "Elvira" at the Kentucky State Fair last night! Giddy up!

Bryan's Baptism Story

2009-08-19T14:22:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday, I showed this video of a PCC member talking about the difference Jesus has made in his life. I love these baptism stories!

Baptism: What's the Big Deal?

2009-08-11T11:10:00.009-05:00

This Sunday morning, we're going to talk about the purpose and importance of baptism. No doubt that baptism is an emotional topic for many people. There are so many opinions about baptism, depending upon one's religious background and tradition. Our goal for this Sunday is to simply unpack what the Bible says about baptism. Because ultimately, it doesn't matter what we think or what church tradition thinks. It's all about what the Bible says.

As we gear up for this Sunday, I thought I'd post some FAQ about baptism. You'll have to come this Sunday for further explanation :)

BAPTISM FAQ

WHY BE BAPTIZED?

1. Because you want to follow Christ’s example.

Mark 1:9
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.

2. Because Christ commanded it. (Matthew 28:19)

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM?

1. It is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Christ died for our sins…he was buried…and he rose again.

Colossians 2:12
For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.

2. It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. Baptism is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.

2 Corinthians 5:17
What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

Romans 6:4
By our baptism then we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead also we might live a new life!

WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

Every person who has made the decision to believe and commit their lives to Christ.

Acts 2:41
Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized.

Acts 8:13
Simon himself believed and was baptized.

HOW ARE WE TO BE BAPTIZED?

1. Like Jesus was baptized—by being immersed in water.

Matthew 3:16
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.

2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water.

EXAMPLE:
Acts 8:38-39
Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…

3. The word “baptize” (the Greek word “baptizo”) literally means “to dip, to plunge.”

4. It is the best way to picture a burial and resurrection.

WHEN ARE WE TO BE BAPTIZED?

As soon as you have believed! You shouldn’t delay.

Acts 2:41
Those who believed…were baptized…that day!

5 Fearsome Facts of Christianity

2009-07-30T14:57:00.006-05:00

My wife and I host a Community Group (small group Bible study) at our house every week. Currently, we are reading through a study by Ed Young, Jr. called "I Need to Change." Tonight's topic is VERY interesting as he offers what he says are "The Five Fearsome Facts of Christianity." All 5 facts go against culture, but all 5 facts go with what Jesus said clearly. I just thought I'd list these 5 facts below, along with the words of Jesus on which they are based. If a few of these facts make you a little uncomfortable, that's okay. A lot of what Jesus says causes a little discomfort.

FACT #1 > Not everyone is going to heaven.
-

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

FACT #2 > More people will go to hell than heaven.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

FACT #3 > Many who think they are Christians aren't.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' " (Matthew 7:21-23)

FACT #4 > You will not get another opportunity after you die.

Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

FACT #5 > This could be your last chance.

"When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ " (Luke 13:25)

These facts/truths would sound pretty arrogant if they came from you or me. But they didn't. These facts are from the mouth of God Himself. Our response to these facts has eternal implications. What's so amazing about God is that He offers eternal life while there's still time:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Obvious Living

2009-07-13T10:06:00.007-05:00

Obvious, adj. > easily perceived or understood; quite apparent

Yesterday, I showed a video about a couple with two young children (one newborn) who recently decided to leave the comfort of home and move to Indonesia. Why would they want to do that? Well, for them it is a matter of fulfilling God's purpose for their lives: showing and sharing the love of Christ with those who are not yet followers of Christ. In the video, this young couple said something that I found very thought-provoking:

"We need to live our lives in such a way that demands an explanation."

What they mean is that we (Christ-followers) ought to be so in love with Jesus that our lives are radically different from those who do not yet know Jesus. In other words, our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members should notice something obviously different about us--about the way we spend our time and money, about the way we talk, and about the way we love others. And noticing this OBVIOUS difference in our lives, they should be inspired to ask: What's so different about you? Why are you so crazy about this Jesus guy?

I hate to admit it, but I'm just not sure I'm obvious enough. If I were to interview my neighbors or friends, I'm not confident they would call me a radical, crazy, sold-out follower of Christ. Sure, they might say I was a good guy or a nice neighbor. But following Christ goes way beyond the good guy or nice neighbor kind of living. The world desperately needs to see unmistakable Christ-followers, followers who OBVIOUSLY love God, love the church, and love the people around them. God, give me the desire and the courage to be more obvious.

To see the video I showed yesterday, go to http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/special/media_player.html and view the message by Francis Chan titled "What Do You Need in Order to Be Happy?"

Hudson Comes Home

2009-06-30T14:01:00.001-05:00

After almost 5 weeks in the NICU at Baptist Hospital, Hudson Thomas O'Neal comes home for the first time! We are so thankful for all the prayers!

4 Types of Fathers

2009-06-17T15:52:00.002-05:00

Father’s Day is only a few days away. I’ve only been a father for a little over a year now, but I find myself asking: “What type of father am I?” I think it’s healthy for me or any father to ask this question periodically.

According to Jesus, there are 4 types of fathers:

(1) The Indifferent Father (see Luke 8:12)—The indifferent father is a father who is not really open to hearing the truth about Jesus Christ. This father would rather not think about God or the implications of becoming a Christ-follower. Unfortunately, this father’s unbelief is what is keeping him from being forgiven and having a relationship with the God who created him.

(2) The Intellectual Father (see Luke 8:13)—The intellectual father is a father who is open to hearing the truth about Jesus Christ. He professes to follow Christ at first, but his shallow faith proves to be merely intellectual. Sadly, his unwillingness to love Jesus Christ with all his heart prevents him from becoming an authentic Christian. Growing up in a church-saturated country, many American fathers fall into this camp. They say they believe in God and Jesus. They are even open to attending church. But when the storms of life hit, or a test of faith comes, they ultimately bail on Christ and His church.

(3) The Interested Father—Jesus says that these fathers appear to be very interested in hearing the truth about Jesus Christ. Eventually, however, they are distracted by “the cares and riches and pleasures of life” (Luke 8:14). The interested father looks very similar to the intellectual father. Both profess to be genuine Christians. Both lack a radical commitment to Christ. For the interested father, it’s not necessarily the problems or trials in life that turn him away from God. It’s actually the “riches and pleasures of life.” In other words, this father’s commitment to this world (money, comfort, work, sports, family, etc.) prevent him from becoming committed to Christ.

(4) The Sold-Out Father—This father not only professes to know Jesus Christ, he actually proves by his actions that he is sold-out to Jesus. The sold-out father loves the Bible and lives under its authority. He loves the local church and serves others faithfully. The sold-out father is truly “born-again,” meaning that he has been forever changed by God from the inside out. Knowing that there is a cost to following Jesus, the sold-out father still decides to surrender every area of his life to Jesus. A favorite Bible verse of the sold-out father might be 2 Corinthians 5:15: “He [Christ] died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”

So the question for you and for me is: What type of father am I? This question is important to answer because the type of father you are determines how you treat your wife, how you raise your children, and how you conduct every other arena of life. The type of father you are also indicates whether or not you have eternal life. Out of the four types, only the sold-out father is the real deal. The others are false and fake. I don’t want to be a false or fake father, do you?

No matter what type of father you are right now, the great news is that God loves you and is willing to forgive you and give you a fresh start in life. All you have to do is trust Him with your entire life. And if you do, be prepared to be blown away by your Heavenly Father’s care for you. There is no earthly father that compares to Him.

Go to www.juststopandthink.com for more info about what it really means to become a Christ-follower.

Hudson Is Here!

2009-05-28T21:41:00.004-05:00

Our baby boy, Hudson Thomas O'Neal, was born last night (May 27) at 5:38 p.m. He was 2 lbs and 11 oz. Mom and Baby are doing great. To read more and to see some pics, check out our family blog: http://www.oneal-ourfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

The journey is not over. Hudson will have to spend at least a month in the NICU. Please pray for God to give Hudson the strength he needs to be healthy and grow. And pray that God would give me and my wife the patience we need because we can't wait to bring him home!

Crazy Love

2009-05-21T22:18:00.006-05:00

One of our church's small groups is studying a book together called Crazy Love, written by Francis Chan. I just talked to the group leader tonight, and he said they LOVE the book so far. I read the book last year and was seriously inspired. You MUST give this book a chance. Go to http://www.crazylovebook.com/ for more info.

Let me whet your appetite with a powerful quote from the preface of the book. With passion and clarity, Chan expresses his book's intent:

"This book is written for those who want more of Jesus. It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don't want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do. I hope reading this book will convince you of something: that by surrendering yourself to God's purposes, He will bring you the most pleasure in this life and the next."

(from Crazy Love by Francis Chan)

I'm begging you to go get this book. It will mess you up--in a good way!

Silas Visits Mommy

2009-05-13T22:34:00.001-05:00

Tonight, Silas (my son) visited his mommy in the hospital for the first time. Mommy's on bed rest until the baby comes in the next month or so. If you're interested, you can check out updates on my wife's blog: http://www.oneal-ourfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

A Prayer for America

2009-05-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

May 7 is the official National Day of Prayer. Here's the prayer I'm praying:

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for your grace and love. We thank you for our country and the freedom we all experience. God, I thank you for our country's leaders. I thank you for their commitment to serve and their commitment to work together to meet the various needs of our communities.

Father, we know you tell us to trust in you, and not lean on our own understanding. I pray that we would be the kind of people who will lean on you alone for wisdom, guidance, and direction.

Father, we know your Son prayed for your will to be done. I pray that we would be the kind of people who seek your will and above our wills, your purposes above our purposes.

Father, we know that apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing. I pray that we would be the kind of people who will not take one step without the leadership of Christ in our lives.

Father, we know that you command us to love you with ALL our heart, all our soul, and all our mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I pray that we would be the kind of people who love you supremely and love people passionately.

Father, your Word promises that “If your people humble themselves, and pray and seek your face and turn from their wicked ways, then you will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” God, I pray that you would wake us up as a nation. Give us the desire to humble ourselves and repent. I pray that you would bring a spiritual awakening to our country. You’ve done it before, and we know you can do it again. I pray that you would bring a global spiritual awakening. And God, by your grace and power, may it start right here in America.

It’s in the name of Jesus Christ, the only Savior, the only one who offers forgiveness from sin and eternal life to all who follow Him, it’s in his name I pray, Amen.

Silas at His First Braves Game

2009-04-25T08:48:00.004-05:00

Silas (my son) and I, along with Uncle Gilley, decided yesterday afternoon that we would drive up to Cincinnati to see the Braves play. I was a little worried about taking a two year old, but he did GREAT and LOVED the experience! He's a huge Braves fan already :). Here are a few pics from his first major league baseball game.

Town Hall for Hope

2009-04-17T10:05:00.001-05:00

Here's a little promo video for Dave Ramsey's "Town Hall for Hope." PCC is hosting this FREE event at The Hyatt Place in Hendersonville on April 23 @ 7 p.m. Come one, come all!

Big Ol' Egg Drop a HUGE Success!

2009-04-15T11:38:00.010-05:00

Thousands of people came out for the second annual Big Ol' Egg Drop. I just want to give a "big ol' thank you" to all who participated, especially to all who donated food and money.

At the end of the event on Saturday, I talked with the folks from Second Harvest Food Bank. They were so impressed with the amount of donations they received--over 1,000 pounds of food!! Hundreds of dollars were also given!

Below are a few pics from the event. We'll see you next year!!

Why We're Dropping 20,000 Eggs

2009-03-30T10:14:00.015-05:00

This year, PCC holds its second annual Big Ol' Egg Drop. There are several purposes for the event. We want it to be a fun, safe experience for the whole family. With Chick-fil-A food, jumphouses, and the egg drop, this event is obviously going to be a blast for the kids.

There's also an even greater purpose. Last year, this event benefited victims from the devastating tornadoes that struck Sumner County in February of '08. This year, especially as many families have been affected by the recent economic crisis, PCC has decided to partner with Second Harves t Food Bank. All donations (non-perishable foods and monetary donations) will go directly to feed hungry families. As you might guess, the need for food increases as unemployment rises. One r ecent article in The Tennessean commented that Second Harvest Food Bank is experiencing their "most difficult and challenging period in more than two decades."

So this Big Ol' Egg Drop is more than just a fun-filled community event. It's an attempt to bring the community together for a greater purpose: to help families who are in need. We invite anybody and everybody to participate. Go to http://www.bigeggdrop.com/ for more info. Look forward to seeing you there!!

To give you a little glimpse of what The Big Ol' Egg Drop looks like, here are a few pics from last year:

Thankful for the Flu

2009-03-18T19:15:00.006-05:00

Well, I spent most of today in bed today--sick with the flu. I've never been a fan of being sick. I don't know anybody who is. I would rather be out and about and enjoying the warmer weather. However, there is a plus to resting and taking a break. It actually forces me to slow down enough to catch up on some work that needs to be done, such as reading, blogging, planning, and grading papers.

What's so hard for me tonight is that I'm having to keep my distance from my wife and my son. My wife is 22 weeks pregnant, and the last thing she needs is a case of the flu. My son just turned two years old, and I definitely don't want him to catch what I have.

I did go downstairs for a few minutes during supper tonight, but coughing fits drove me right back upstairs. I pray that I'm better tomorrow because I'd like to get back to my nightly routine: playing with my son, giving my son a bath, putting my son to bed, and spending time with my wife.

It's just funny how I miss the routine that I've grown accustomed to living. I would never wish to be sick with the flu again, but I'm at least thankful for the flu for reminding me to appreciate what I sometimes take for granted: the daily routine involving the most important people in my life.

So if you happen to be reading this blog post, say a little "get well" prayer for me if you don't mind. Also, take some time in the next few days and thank God for the daily routine He's given you. Trust me, you don't want to wait until you have the flu.

Simon's Baptism

2009-03-09T14:35:00.001-05:00

I love watching baptisms! Baptism is a picture of a changed life, of somebody who has been given a new life because of God's amazing grace, of somebody who has surrendered every area of life to Christ.

Here's a great clip I showed at PCC recently. The clip is actually from a church in the Atlanta area that shows video testimonies before each of their baptisms. In this case, the video didn't work. But watch what happens instead!

In My Next Thirty Years

2009-02-28T21:35:00.007-06:00

It was 32 years ago today when I was born in that hospital room in Nashville, TN. For me, birthdays are always a time of reflection, refocus, and recommitment. On my thirtieth birthday, I wrote down some commitments that I resolved to keep from that day forward. These commitments have not changed. And today, I set aside a few moments to read these words again, reminding myself of the need to make the most of this short life God has given me. In case you're interested, here is the little piece I wrote called "In My Next Thirty Years."

"In My Next Thirty Years "
by Michael O’Neal
March 1, 2007

I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord, have mercy on my next thirty years
(lyrics by Phil Vassar, performed by Tim McGraw)

Whether I like it or not, today (March 1, 2007) marks a new chapter in my life. Whether I like it or not, today I turn the big 3-0. I have never been thirty years old before, so I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel. Should I feel older? Should I feel depressed? Should I feel a sense of excitement about the future? I’m not sure. However, over the past few days, I do know one feeling has consumed me, even haunted me. It is the feeling of personal regret. As I have reflected over my first thirty years, there are so many things that I should have done, but I didn’t. I should have trusted God more. I should have been a better husband. I should have been a better son. I should have been a better friend. I should have made more of a difference with my life. And the list goes on.

Personal regret is a powerful feeling. It can weigh us down, even knock us down. It also has the power to prevent us from focusing on the future and fulfilling God’s purposes for our lives. So on this monumental birthday, I have decided that I will not allow this personal regret to defeat me. Actually, this personal regret motivates me today. It is time to press on to the next thirty years of my life, “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Phil 3:13, NIV).

Relying on God’s grace and pleading for God’s power, I make the following commitments:

IN MY NEXT THIRTY YEARS, I will make God’s kingdom my primary concern (Matt 6:33). Nothing matters more than living out God’s purposes for God’s glory. I will worship more passionately, love people more selflessly, follow God’s Word more faithfully, serve more willingly, and witness more boldly.

IN MY NEXT THIRTY YEARS, I will care about the whole world. God’s heart beats for the world, and so should mine. Yes, I will continue to reach out to my family, friends, and neighbors. Yes, I will continue to reach out locally through my church. Yes, I will continue to love America and sing along with “God Bless the U.S.A.” every 4th of July. However, I will not be satisfied until every people group around the world has a chance to hear, understand, and respond to the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. I will go overseas whenever God gives me the opportunity. I will be a part of what God is doing in the world. I will take more risks for his global cause. I will do whatever I can to lead ordinary people like me to get involved with what God is doing in the world.

IN MY NEXT THIRTY YEARS, I will be the spiritual leader in my home. I will model Christ-like love and service for my wife and my children. I will pray for my wife and with my wife. I will pray for my children and with my children. I will teach my family to believe the Bible and cherish the local church.

IN MY NEXT THIRTY YEARS, I will spend more time and more money on eternal matters. I’m tired of playing “trivial pursuit.” Throughout my first thirty years, I spent way too much time watching sitcoms and Braves baseball. I also spent way too much money on food and entertainment. With the time and money God has given me, it’s time to focus on what will last forever. As the old proverb says,
“Only one life, ‘Twill soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

On my thirtieth birthday, the bottom line is that I refuse to waste my life. Now I ask all who read my words: Will you refuse to waste your life? Will you forget about the past and focus on how God wants to use you in the future? Will you forsake all your distractions, including your personal regrets, in order to make your life count? Will you make God’s kingdom your primary concern? Will you care about the whole world? Will you love your family like Christ loves you? Will you spend more time and money on eternal matters?

I ask that you pray for me as I strive to fulfill these commitments over the next thirty years. Indeed, my prayer for all of us is that we will not waste our lives. Life is so short, and I pray that we will make the most of our years here on earth by no longer living for ourselves, but for the One who died and rose again (2 Cor 5:15). Let me close with the compelling, motivating words of Rick Warren from The Purpose Driven Covenant:

Today, I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering, I’ve made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!
To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, Whenever, Wherever, and Whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Any way. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, “Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!”

Union University in Hendersonville

2009-02-19T11:21:00.004-06:00

My wife and I are graduates of Union University in Jackson, TN (West Tennessee). My sister, her sister, and her oldest brother are also graduates. Her youngest brother is now a junior at Union. Needless to say, Union has had a profound influence on our lives. By the way, my time there did not just impact my education. When I arrived there in 1997 as a transfer student, I met my future wife for the first time. SO, Union holds a special place in my life history.

Now as someone who resides north of Nashville, I was so excited to hear that Union has started a campus in Hendersonville. I believe, as do the leaders of Union and the leaders of the Hendersonville community, that there is so much potential for this new campus.

So if you're thinking about the next step to take in your educational journey, I would encourage you to consider Union. For more info on the Hendersonville campus, click here. Go Bulldogs!

What Is the "Best Question Ever"?

2009-02-05T10:33:00.004-06:00

PCC started a new message series last Sunday called "The Best Question Ever." In Part 1 of the message series, Andy Stanley introduced us to this "best question ever"--a question we should all ask when we're making decisions (big or small).

SO, what is the "best question ever"? According to Stanley, it's "What is the wise thing to do?" The Bible says in Ephesians 5:15-17: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

Oh, how I wish I would've asked this question when i was a teenager! I made so many dumb decisions! I made too many decisions based on what I wanted, or what made me feel good, or what made others like me more. Obviously, I can't go back and reverse the decisions of the past.

But this message series is reminding me that I can and should be more careful with every decision that I make in the future. I'm a husband and father of two now. The decisions I make have an effect on my wife and sons. I can't afford to live carelessly. I can only afford to seek God's will as I ask: "What is the wise thing to do?"

Part-Time or Full-Time Christianity?

2009-01-16T17:04:00.004-06:00

At 5 p.m. today, I checked out several news stations to catch up on the news for the day. As I came across Fox News, I noticed that one of its well-known journalists (Brit Hume) no longer has his early evening show. Curiously, I googled "Brit Hume" and discovered that he was leaving his job to spend more time with his family and pursue his faith more fervently.

In one article I found, the Hollywood Reporter asked him what he would like to do after leaving the TV journalism business. Here's his thought-provoking response:

I certainly want to pursue my faith more ardently than I have done. I'm not claiming it's impossible to do when you work in this business. I was kind of a nominal Christian for the longest time. When my son died (by suicide in 1998), I came to Christ in a way that was very meaningful to me. If a person is a Christian and tries to face up to the implications of what you say you believe, it's a pretty big thing. If you do it part time, you're not really living it.

Brit, you've given me something to think about. What if Brit is right on the money? After reading Brit's words, I can't help but be reminded of Jesus' call for radical, absolute commitment: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23, NIV).

Am I a part-time or full-time follower of Christ? What about you? It's definitely something all of us should ponder. After all, eternity is at stake.

Great Parenting Resource

2009-01-11T16:28:00.004-06:00

This month, PCC will launch a new season of Community Groups--small groups that meet weekly for Bible study, encouragement, prayer, and service. I'm so excited about the book that my group is going to study, so I thought I'd share a little about it. The book, Shepherding a Child's Heart, focuses on what the Bible says about parenting. So many parenting books mention helpful techniques and strategies, but most parenting books fail to give you a parenting model from the pages of Scripture.

Here's a basic summary of the book:

"Shepherding a Child's Heart is about how to speak to the heart of your child. The things your child does and says flows from the heart. Luke 6:45 puts it this way: ' Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ' Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life."

You can see why my wife and I are excited about reading through this book with our small group. If you're a parent, I encourage you to check this book out!

Make the Most of 2009

2009-01-02T07:58:00.005-06:00

The New Year is often the only time of the year that people get serious about making a change in their lives. Some commit to exercising more. Some make bold career goals. Some want to be a better husband, wife, father, or mother.

Personally, I've been challenged by one man lately. His name is Jonathan Edwards, a pastor and theologian in the 1700s. He's actually considered to be one of the greatest thinkers in American history. Recently, as I was reading a biography of Edwards, I stumbled across some resolutions he made as a young man. Here are a merely a few:

> Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most
profitable way I possibly can.
> Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
> Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it
were the last hour of my life.
> Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to
God' s glory.
I don't know about you, but I look at these resolutions and am challenged to make the most of 2009. What have you resolved to do in 2009? This year, you can bet that there will be plenty of things that will attempt to distract you and me from living the life God intends. The important question for us is...

How will we stay focused on God and make the most of 2009?

Silas and Santa

2008-12-22T21:59:00.001-06:00

It was just a year ago when we met our son in Russia for the first time. One year later, he meets Santa for the first time.

One Year Ago Today

2008-12-11T22:13:00.004-06:00

One year ago today, Carrie and I received our adoption referral for a little boy (Silas). Carrie wrote about this Christmas miracle on her blog today: http://oneal-itsasmallworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/one-year-ago-today.html

We can't believe it's been a year. All we know to do is praise God for giving us a son to raise and train. God is good!

Grandma's Braves Prediction

2008-12-11T11:03:00.001-06:00

I joined my grandma for Thanksgiving Dinner at the nursing home. She's always been full of wisdom. She's also a huge Braves fan. SO, I asked her to predict how the Atlanta Braves would do in 2009. I hope she's right...

Christmas Brunch and "Choosing Christmas"

2008-12-05T13:49:00.004-06:00

This Sunday at Peace, join us for Christmas Brunch at 10 a.m.

Also, I'm really excited about kicking-off a great message series called Choosing Christmas. In the Christmas story, the message of Christianity is clearly seen: God loves us so much that He sent His Son into the world to save whoever chooses to trust in Christ. Good news is good news once you choose to believe it. In this series, we're encouraged to celebrate the best news the world ever heard.

Come check us out this Sunday @ the YMCA in H'ville!

World Aids Day

2008-12-01T09:14:00.003-06:00

Today (Dec 1) is World Aids Day. HERE is an article written by Mark Kelly from our church that offers some info about how you, your church, or your organization can help fight this horrible disease.

The Blessing Box

2008-11-24T12:45:00.007-06:00

A lady in our church told me about this "Blessing Box" idea last week. It's a great idea if you're looking for ways to give back and make a difference this holiday season. Here's what you need to do if you're interested:

THE BLESSING BOX CHALLENGE

Have a box or a bank ready and determine where you will give the money that will be in the box at the end of 24 days. This begins on December 1st .

Dec 1. One out of 5 children live in poverty lacking adequate clothing. Give 2 cents for each pair of socks or tights each child has.
Dec 2. Are you thankful for the gift of electricity? Give 2 cents for each light bulb in your house.
Dec 3. Most people in the world have never touched a computer. If there is one in your home, put in 50 cents, an extra 50 cents for a scanner and 50 cents for the printer.
Dec 4. Most of the world’s population lives beyond the reach of medical care. Give 10 cents for each box of band-aids in your house…an extra dime if they are not flesh colored.
Dec 5. Are you thankful you have a roof and doors to keep out the wind and rain? Give 10 cents for each exterior door your house has.
Dec 6. Are you thankful for all your clothes? Give a nickel for each closet in your house.
Dec 7. Are you glad you have indoor plumbing? Give 5 cents for every roll of TP in your house, counting all the stored away rolls.
Dec 8. To people in refugee camps, even a thin sliver of soap is precious. Give 5 cents for each bar your family has…A dime for each soap pump.
Dec 9. Do you walk to town to get a bucket of water for washing, drinking, bathing or cooking? Or are you blessed with faucets that bring precious water to you? Give 10 cents for each faucet you have and don’t forget the outside ones.
Dec 10. What a blessing to be able to see and have eye doctors to help us. Give 10 cents for each pair of glasses your family members wear.
Dec 11. Jesus loves the little children. Give thanks and a dollar for every child in your family and do a secret good deed for them today.
Dec 12. How would you like to live in your car as some families do? Give a dime for every vehicle in your family.
Dec 13. Epidemics often follow natural disasters. Give thanks if no one in your house has been too sick this month to go to work or school and donate 50 cents.
Dec 14. Did a cozy blanket cover you last night? Give a penny for every blanket in your house.
Dec 15. Was it cold enough to wear a coat today? Were you thankful for your coat? Give a penny for every coat, jacket or raincoat in your house.
Dec 16. In some countries of the world, most people can’t read. Are you thankful you can read? Put in a penny for every book in your home….(Yes, for most of us this is an expensive one)
Dec 17. By now you have received many Christmas cards from many loving friends and family members. Give a penny for each card and be thankful for God’s love.
Dec 18. Most people in the world cook over an open fire. Aren’t you glad your parents did not send your out to chop wood this morning? Give 5 cents for every burner on your stove and a nickel for every oven.
Dec 19. Aren’t you glad that you have people that love and think about you? Put in 10 cents for each gift under the tree that is for you.
Dec 20. Unfortunately this is the time of year in which many people suffer loss in house fires. Give 10 cents for every phone in your house in which you can dial 911 in case of emergency.
Dec 21. Many people in the world suffer excruciating pain from the lack of dental care. Have you ever been grateful for toothbrushes? Give 5 cents for every toothbrush in your house.
Dec 22. Many children in the world barely get one meal a day. How many did you have? Give thanks and five cents for each meal and 10 cents for each snack today.
Dec 23. “Give us this day our daily bread”. Thank God for feeding you today and give one penny for every slice of bread in your house.
Dec 24. Make a list of all the fruits and vegetables God created that you can name and put in a penny for each one on the list.

Doing this "Blessing Box" is a win-win deal. Money will go to help people in need, and you get the joy of being a blessing to others. Our church is actually adopting some families for Christmas, so the money we collect will go to help those families who are hurting financially. If you'd like to participate with our church, please email us: info@PeaceCC.org.

Silas and Elmo

2008-11-14T10:33:00.001-06:00

Thought I'd share a clip of my son playing with Elmo last week. Elmo sure is a tough little guy.

Providential Relationships

2008-11-07T13:40:00.007-06:00

FIVE THINGS GOD USES TO GROW YOUR FAITH

Part 3: Providential Relationships

For Part 3 of our message series this Sunday, we're focusing on the providential relationships in our lives. I don't know about you, but sometimes I don't think about why God has put certain people in my life. But the truth is God has put neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members into our lives for two purposes:

(1) God wants to use others to help us grow in our faith.

AND

(2) God wants to use us to help others grow in their faith.

The questions I keep asking myself:

(1) Am I allowing God to use others in my life to grow my faith?

AND

(2) Am I allowing God to use me to grow the faith of others?

How would you answer these questions? Something to think about. But make no mistake. God wants to grow your faith, and He wants to use people in your life to make it happen. The people at your work, the people on your street, the people in your church, the people on your ball teams--they are not there by accident!

A Big Ol' "Thank You!"

2008-10-27T13:59:00.010-05:00

A big 'ol "Thank You" to everyone who came out to the "Make a Difference Day Toy Drive." What a great day it was! Leaders from the Goodlettsville Help Center were so encouraged by the generous spirit of our community. Also, PCC is so grateful for the many sponsors who helped with this benefit event. Sponsors included Qdoba, Great Clips, First Baptist Church of Goodlettsville, Dunkin' Donuts, Southeast Venture, COI Foodservice, The Parent-Teacher Store, and the City of Goodlettsville. The Tennessean also ran a nice article on the day of the event. Thank you all for making a difference!

Here are some pictures from Saturday's event:

You can view more pictures on my Facebook page.

Official Press Release for the "Make a Difference Day Toy Drive"

2008-10-19T16:38:00.004-05:00

Through toy drive, church encourages community to come together on “Make a Difference Day”

For Immediate Release

Goodlettsville, TN: October 25 is officially called “Make a Difference Day.” In an effort to bring the Goodlettsville community together to assist families in need, Peace Community Church(PCC) is organizing a benefit event for that day. On Saturday, October 25, PCC, along with corporate and organizational sponsors, is hosting a “Make a Difference Day Toy Drive.” There will be lots of food and plenty of games for kids. The event will be held on the parking lot of the Publix/Caldwell Square in Goodlettsville from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Admission is free, but people are encouraged to bring a new toy for kids 15 years old and younger. All toys will go directly to the Goodlettsville Help Center, a relief organization committed to helping families in need. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

“This event will be fun for the whole community, and it will serve a great purpose on such a special day,” says Michael O’Neal, pastor of PCC. “Because of our country’s economic situation, there are families who are really hurting right now. This event is all about people coming together for a common cause.”

For more information on this “Make a Difference Day Toy Drive” and on how you or your local organization can make a difference through this event, please contact Michael O’Neal with Peace Community Church at Michael@PeaceCC.org or (615) 528-1321.

5 Things I've Been Learning

2008-10-15T14:11:00.009-05:00

I spend time with two great friends every morning: my Bible and my prayer journal (see picture above). By the way, I love the picture of Big Ben on the front of my journal. I've been to London 3 times, and I'd like to go back soon and do some mission work there. Anybody want to go with me?

Anyway, for whatever it's worth, I thought I'd share at least 5 things God has been teaching me over the last few weeks...

(1) Love others. Serve others. That's why I'm on planet earth.

GALATIANS 5:13-14

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

(2) Don't give up doing good. Keep doing what I know God wants me to do.

GALATIANS 6:9

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

(3) Everything and everybody (including me) are created for the purpose of knowing and treasuring Christ.

COLOSSIANS 1:16

All things have been created through Him and for Him.

(4) Be bold. Speak up for God. God is with me, even on days when it feels like very few others are with me.

JEREMIAH 1:7-8

"You must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

(5) Work hard, but depend totally on God's power as I work.

COLOSSIANS 1:28-29

So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
d

Maybe what I've been learning will prove encouraging to you. What truths or insights are you learning? I hope you'll write them down somewhere and maybe share them with others.

Pictures from New York

2008-09-29T13:56:00.014-05:00

We just returned from NY early this morning. What a GREAT trip! Here are a few photos:

Having dinner with the pastor (in green shirt) of the church we're helping start...

Passing out water to the 700+ runners...

Passing out free dessert...

Briana and Mary, professional facepainters...

Trying on my "Bob the Tomato" outfit...

"Big Sunday" in New York

2008-09-19T10:09:00.008-05:00

A group of us from PCC are heading to New York next week to help plant a church. I'm so excited about this trip. We're actually helping this new church launch its Grand Opening Celebration on September 28, and we're calling it "Big Sunday." Thanks to Cleve Persinger, http://www.thebigsunday.com/ is now live if you'd like to read more about it.

Also, please pray for us--that God would give us strength and that He would use us to make a difference in people's lives. I look forward to sharing stories and pictures!

Where Were You?

2008-09-11T13:33:00.006-05:00

On that September day?

I was in a seminary class in Louisville, KY. Somebody sitting at the front of the class said something about a plane hitting a building in New York. That's all we knew...until class was over. We soon found out how bad it really was. As country singer Alan Jackson wrote, it was a day when "the world stopped turning."

Where were you on that September day? Let me encourage you to take a few moments and remember the families affected by 9/11. Pray for them. I was actually at a local high school this morning, and it was good that the principal stopped all school activities for a moment of silence.

Also, let me encourage you to take a few moments today and ponder just how short life is. Pray like David prayed in Psalm 39:4-5...

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

So enjoy the life God gives you. Trust God. Pursue Him. Love Him. Follow Him. And on this September day, pray that your friends and family will do the same.

Options for Writing Your "Letter to the Next President"

2008-08-28T14:15:00.005-05:00

As part of this exciting new message series, Letters to the Next President, we are wanting to hear from you! If you had the opportunity to write a letter to our next President and you knew it would show up on his desk in the Oval Office, what would you say? What advice would you offer? What changes would you suggest?

If you'd like to write a letter to the next President, here are some options:

1. Email your letter to me: michael@peacecc.org.

2. Mail your letter to Peace Community Church: P.O. Box 392, Goodlettsville, TN, 37070.

3. Submit your letter online. Click here to begin writing your letter!

I promise that we will send these letters directly to the White House. Thank you for your participation!

To find out more about the "Letters to the Next President" message series, please visit http://www.letterstothenextpresident.com/.

Maybe Later?

2008-08-20T13:24:00.001-05:00

I showed this clip several weeks ago at church, and everybody thought it was hilarious. It's my kind of humor--the truth communicated in a sarcastic way. The truth is that everybody is committed to something. Even if they don't appear to be committed, that just means they're committed to being non-committal. Well, just watch the video and laugh. Then ask yourself a serious question: Who and what am I really committed to?

Obama and McCain this Saturday Night

2008-08-12T13:06:00.003-05:00

PRESUMED PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES MCCAIN AND OBAMA TO MAKE FIRST JOINT CAMPAIGN APPEARANCE ON AUGUST 16 AT SADDLEBACK CHURCH;
Pastor Rick Warren to Host Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion and Question Candidates on Faith and the Common Good

LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama, respective presumed Republican and Democratic presidential nominees, will end the primary season by making their first joint appearance of the 2008 campaign at Saddleback Church on Saturday, Aug.16 at the Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion. Dr. Rick Warren, founding pastor of the 22,000-member Orange County, Calif. mega church and moderator for the event, made the announcement today upon confirmation by both campaigns.

"We’re honored that the candidates chose The Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion for their first joint appearance, an unprecedented opportunity for America to hear both men back-to-back on the same platform," Warren said. "This is a critical time for our nation and the American people deserve to hear both candidates speak from the heart – without interruption – in a civil and thoughtful format absent the partisan ‘gotcha’ questions that typically produce heat instead of light.

"The primaries proved that Americans care deeply about the faith, values, character and leadership convictions of candidates as much as they do about the issues. While I know both men as friends and they recognize I will be frank, but fair, they also know I will be raising questions in these four areas beyond what political reporters typically ask. This includes pressing issues that are bridging divides in our nation, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate and human rights."

Warren confirmed that, at the candidates’ request, this two-hour event from 5-7 p.m. (PDT) will be held in a non-debate format and open to all media. Both candidates also requested that questions be posed exclusively by Warren, instead of a panel or members of the audience. Each will converse separately with Warren for approximately one-hour, beginning with Sen. Obama as determined by a coin toss. This historic forum will be the only joint campaign event prior to each party’s national convention.

Check out the following websites for more info:
www.saddlebackcivilforum.com/index.html
http://www.rickwarrennews.com/

Is Skip Caray in Heaven?

2008-08-11T15:45:00.003-05:00

As I work this afternoon on a few projects, I'm listening to the memorial service for Skip Caray, long-time broadcaster of the Atlanta Braves. I grew up listening and watching Skip, so I feel like I lost a family member. I know that sounds strange, but it's true.

As with any family member or friends, we want that assurance we will see them again in heaven. I would love to sit in a broadcast booth in heaven and call a game with Skip Caray one day, perhaps a Braves vs. Yankees game with guys like John Smoltz and Mickey Mantle on the field. And won't it be great to watch Smoltz and Mantle play without their shoulder or knees bothering them?!?!

So is Skip Caray in heaven? Clearly, he was a good broadcaster. His family testifies that he was a loving father and grandfather. He did a lot of charity work. But that doesn't answer my question, does it? Is Skip Caray in heaven? Of course, I don't really know the answer. I did not know Skip personally. I'm not the Judge. God's the Judge of human hearts. But I do know what the Bible says about how to get to heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus also said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). In other words, a personal relationship with Jesus and a absolute commitment to following Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven/eternal life.

I can only hope that somebody shared the love of Christ with him, how Jesus came to pay the punishment for our sin. I can only hope that somebody shared the message of repentance with him, that we must turn from our sin and our selfish ways and surrender every area of our lives to Christ. I can only hope that he accepted God's grace and forgiveness. I can only hope that he did repent. I can only hope that what he did here on earth was evidence of a man who was committed to Christ and His church.

That's my hope for Skip. That's my hope for my family members. That's my hope for my friends and neighbors. Did Skip go to heaven when he died last Sunday? I don't know. Are you going to heaven if you die this week? I don't know, are you? I hope you do.

Good Morning America, Larry King

2008-08-04T18:00:00.002-05:00

Music artist Steven Curtis Chapman will appear on both shows this week. Please watch, and invite others to watch. Should be powerful stuff...
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/TUNEIN03/80804043

Baptism Party!

2008-07-21T09:43:00.004-05:00

Last night, we had a baptism party. What I love about baptisms is that they are a picture of the change God has made in people's lives. When a person is baptized, he/she is saying to the world: "I'm surrendering my life to Christ. There's no looking back. I'm done with living life my own way. I'm living life God's way from now on!" The Bible says in Romans 6:4 (NLT):

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Here are a few pictures from last night...

Family Ties

2008-07-15T16:22:00.002-05:00

I ran across an article today that caught my attention. The article is based on a recent study done by The University of Virginia. The study's main point...

Men who attend religious services regularly are more likely to have happy and stable marriages, more likely to be involved with their children and less likely to divorce.

Here are a few statistics from the study:

70 percent of husbands "who attend church regularly report they are 'very happy' in their marriages," compared to "59 percent of husbands who rarely or never attend church."
Men and women who attended religious services several times a month or more "were approximately 35 percent less likely to divorce between 1988 and 1993, compared to their married peers who rarely or never attended religious services."
Fathers who attend church several times a month or more "devote at least two hours a week more in youth-related activities," "are significantly more likely to engage in one-on-one activities with their school-age children" and "are also at least 65 percent more likely to report praising and hugging their children very often" compared to fathers who don't any religious affiliation.
Mothers "who attend church weekly or more are about half as likely to have a child outside of wedlock, compared to mothers who attend church less often or never."

What do we do with this research? How do we respond to this information? For me personally, I have experienced how church involvement has made my marriage and my relationships more healthy. Of course, let me also say that THE secret to a healthy, long-lasting marriage is not church attendance. THE secret is a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ changes the hearts of husbands and wives and families so that the focus of our hearts shifts to loving God and loving others. So that's THE secret. However, according to the recent research, "A" secret to a healthy marriage is a commitment to the local church.

A few questions to consider:

How healthy is your marriage?
Do you have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ?
Are you involved in a local church?
If not, why not? Don't you care about your marriage and your family?

Riding My Son to Sleep

2008-07-10T22:37:00.002-05:00

Usually we rock our son to sleep, but Silas' mom (my lovely bride) is out of town tonight. So after I gave him a bath (about 8 p.m.), I put Silas in the car, and we went to go get me something to eat for supper. He seemed so tired, and I thought he would go to sleep pretty quickly. It took some time, however, so I decided to drive around Goodlettsville, TN for a little while. In fact, I decided to drive down my old neighborhood where I spent the first 10 years of my childhood. Surprisingly, the neighborhood and the house have not changed much since 1987.

While I was driving around, country radio played a recent Brad Paisley hit called "Letter to Me." It's a creative, unique, and thought-provoking song about a grown man in his 30s who imagines what he would tell himself if he could write a letter to himself at 17 years old. Follow me?

Anyway, it got me to thinking. I'm in my 30s. What if I could write a letter to myself at 17 years old? As an older Michael, what would I say to Michael O'Neal, the teenager? What do I wish I knew then that I know now? Here are a few things I'd say in a letter to that 17 year-old kid...

Michael, first and foremost, surrender your life completely to Jesus Christ. Love God, treasure God, and make it your greatest ambition to know God more and more every day. Don't ever get over the amazing grace God gives to you. View yourself as Jesus Christ's slave.
Michael, commit yourself to a church, especially as you go off to college. Don't view church as a social club or as an institution that exists to meet your needs. Instead, learn to love God's family, and learn to serve in God's family. Church is not about you! Church is about fulfilling God's purposes with other Christ-followers.
Michael, pursue a life of holiness and purity. God uses holy and pure people.
Michael, fall in love with the Word of God. It is true, trustworthy, and without error. Read it, read it, read it--daily! Why would you not want God to speak to you every day?!?!
Michael, pray about everything. Don't wait until you're 21 until you realize that you can do absolutely nothing without Jesus Christ (John 15:5). Memorize and mediate on John 15:5 right now! (John 15:5 is a verse in the Bible that quotes Jesus: "Apart from me you can do nothing.")
Michael, last (but certainly not least), make it your priority to focus on the greatest cause in the world: showing and sharing the love of Jesus Christ with those who are not yet followers of Christ. If you fail to make this a priority, you will waste the next few years of your life. Don't waste your 20s! Don't waste your life!

Alright, that's my "letter to me." Who knew riding my son to sleep would lead to such serious reflection?!?!

Proud to Be an American

2008-07-05T12:00:00.001-05:00

My little tribute to America and my 51 seconds of fame :)

"Judgmental"

2008-06-24T16:55:00.006-05:00

"Judgmental" is just one of the terms that young people use to describe Christianity. Sadly, Christianity's reputation has taken a hit over the last few years. It seems that as though we're known more for being hypocritical, judgmental, anti-gay, and too political. The Barna Group has done some groundbreaking research recently that gives us a picture of what the next generation thinks about Christianity and why it matters. Check out these sobering stats:

PERCEPTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY AMONG 16-29 YEAR OLDS

91% of non-churchgoers believe Christianity is antihomosexual.
87% believe Christians are too judgmental.
85% believe Christians are hypocritical (saying one thing, doing another)
78% believe Christians are old-fashioned.
75% believe Christians are too involved in politics.

My hope is that Christ-followers in America will wake up and start engaging culture like they should, with love and compassion for ALL people. And if we really wake up, I guarantee that the world will take notice and those perceptions will change drastically. And perhaps 30 years from now, Christians and the church will be known more for love, service, holiness, and respect.

Over the next few Sunday mornings, we're going to talk about these negative perceptions and what it will take to change those perceptions. Hope to see you this Sunday!

"Reflections from a New Father"

2008-06-14T20:34:00.002-05:00

Here is a link for an article that I wrote this week for our adoption agency, Children's Hope International: http://www.childrenshopeint.org/E-News/June08/email.htm

Happy Father's Day!

Date Night @ the Opry

2008-06-05T04:32:00.008-05:00

On Tuesday night, Carrie (my wife) and I had our first date night since we brought our baby boy home. Carrie likes Carrie Underwood, so I bought her tickets to the Grand Ole Opry. The Oak Ridge Boys (my favorite group) also happened to be there. Thought I'd share a few pics...

Jesus' Wife

2008-06-03T12:39:00.002-05:00

Did you know Jesus is married? A lot of people don't realize this, but the Bible refers to the church as the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:23-32; 2 Corinthians 11:2). This means that just like my wife and I go together, Jesus and His wife (the church, his followers) go together. You can't be committed to Christ and not be committed to His wife. If you're not involved in a local church, I think you have to question whether or not you're a Christian.

Because PCC has its first membership class coming up on June 22, I've been reading books and articles that talk about the importance of being a member of a local church. I'll just share a few that might make you think a little...

"The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment. Attenders are spectators from the sidelines; members get involved in the ministry. Attenders are consumers; members are contributors. Attenders want the benefits of a church without sharing the responsibility. They are like couples who want to live together without committing to a marriage." (from Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, pp. 136-37)

"The plain fact is, when we resist passion and commitment in our relationship with the church, everyone gets cheated out of God's best: You cheat yourself. You cheat a church community. You cheat your world." (from Joshua Harris, Stop Dating the Church, p. 18)

"We need to give up trying to live the Christian life on our own. We need individually to covenant together with others to follow Christ. Christians must stop being selfish in their understanding of the Christian life. The Christian life is not just about you..." (from Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, p. 138)

93 Days

2008-05-30T01:22:00.002-05:00

There are 93 days left until Labor Day. That means you and I have 93 days to make our summer count. So how can we make the most of this summer? I would encourage you to go to the "From the Stool" section on www.PeaceCC.org and listen to my message from last Sunday called "Don't Waste Your Summer." I don't know about you, but I don't want to get to Labor Day and look back on my summer and scream out with regret, "I've wasted it!"

StevenCurtisChapman.com: Video Blog 14: Dishwashin Dad

2008-05-22T12:33:00.001-05:00

My wife just told me about this video of Steven Curtis Chapman and his youngest daughter, Maria, doing the dishes together.

Please pray for the Chapman family.
NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

2 Tragic Accidents

2008-05-22T09:59:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, there were 2 tragic accidents here in the Nashville area, one involving the adopted 5 year old of a famous music artist and one involving a precious toddler. Below are links to the stories.

http://www.wkrn.com/global/story.asp?s=8362975

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=8360918&nav=menu5_2

The good news is that we can help simply by praying for these families. How do you pray for such unexplained, horrific tragedies? I'm not entirely sure, but I'm trying my best to find some direction. Right now, I'm just praying for God to comfort them. And I'm so glad that God "comforts us in all our troubles" (2 Corinthians 1:4).

A.R.K.

2008-05-18T14:18:00.003-05:00

This morning, I tackled the question: What do you do when God is not answering your prayers? I came up with a little acronym that I believe is helpful: A.R.K. (Assess, Remind, Keep)

1. ASSESS your relationship with God.
Prayer is about a personal relationship with God. So the quality of your relationship with God determines the quality of your prayer life. The Bible says in James 5:16: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

The word “righteous” is talking about a person who lives a life that is focused on Christ and follows His teachings. A righteous person is a person who has a healthy relationship with God. According to this verse, then, the prayers of such a person are effective.

If your relationship with God is unhealthy, then your prayers will not be very effective. So if God is not answering your prayers, you have to make sure your relationship with God is healthy.

2. REMIND yourself that God's timing is perfect.
Very rarely does our 14 month old want to go to bed. He wants to stay up and play. But we have to say, “No, not right now. It’s time for bed.” He cries and screams, but as his parents we think it’s best for him to be on some sort of schedule. And we think it’s best for him to sleep a little bit. He just doesn’t realize that’s what’s best for him.

In the same way, God knows what’s best for us. And when we pray, and He says, “No, not yet.” It’s a hard pill for us to swallow. We don’t take it very well. We’re not a patient people. And we’ve already assessed our relationship with God, and so we complain to God, “God, you and I are okay. There’s no unconfessed sin in my life. I’m committed to love and obey You. Why aren’t you answering my prayers?” And God just says, “No, not yet.” And sometimes it’s because God has a bigger and better plan, even if that plan doesn’t feel good.

3. KEEP praying--don't give up!
Jesus tells us: “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10).

For that direction you need with your career, God may not answer at first, but keep on asking, keep on praying. For that stronger marriage, God may not answer at first, but keep on asking, keep on praying. For that physical ailment that won’t go away, God may not take it away at first, but keep on asking, keep on praying. For that person who needs to experience the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, God may not change that person just yet, but keep on asking, keep on praying.

God is not bothered or irritated by our persistence. In fact, He loves it! He wants us to express our need for Him. After all, isn't that what prayer is all about?

Unanswered Prayers

2008-05-16T13:58:00.002-05:00

Can you think of a time when God did not answer your prayers? Maybe you're dealing with unanswered prayers in your life right now. It’s so frustrating. It’s why some people give up on church or abandon God.

So what are the unanswered prayers in your life? You’ve prayed for the right job opportunity to come along, but it hasn’t come along. You’ve prayed for a relative or a friend to get well physically, but they’re still not well. You’ve prayed for a marriage to be healed, but it’s still not healed. You’ve prayed for a relationship to work out, but it still hasn’t worked out.

This subject is a very personal and tough topic for many of us. So what do you do when God doesn’t seem to be answering, when it seems like you’ve knocked 100 times, but God just ain’t coming to the door? It's not a question that's easily answered.

But this is the question that I will attempt to tackle this Sunday as we close our "Living on a Prayer" series. Hope to see you there!

2 Year Old Sings "The Lord's Prayer"

2008-05-08T10:59:00.001-05:00

I talked about The Lord's Prayer this past Sunday. It's the most recognized prayer around the world. Even 2 year olds are singing it. You gotta watch this!

Thursday Mornings @ Chick-fil-A

2008-04-29T14:41:00.003-05:00

I believe prayer has the potential to impact our lives like nothing else can. Most people believe in prayer, but sometimes we're too busy to pray. Of course, there's a simple solution: let's just schedule a time and pray!

SO, I thought I'd invite anybody and everybody to pray with me for the next 4 weeks @ the Rivergate Chick-fil-A on Thursday mornings from 6:30 to 7:00. All we're going to do is share prayer requests and pray. You can even grab a chicken biscuit if you'd like!

If you can make it and you live in the Nashville area, I encourage you to come. I know I need prayer, don't you? Again, it's just for 4 weeks on Thursday mornings. And please feel free to invite anybody and everybody who may be interested.

I hope to see you on Thursday!

I Love New York

2008-04-29T12:31:00.005-05:00

4 of us from PCC went to New York this past Friday and Saturday. When I think of New York, I think of New York City, traffic, busy, etc. But we were in the Albany area, and that’s some pretty country. I just can’t believe I was 45 minutes from Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame) and did not go. I have a feeling I’ll be going back up there soon.

We are so excited after our trip up there! It was a huge success! I’m still spiritually high from this trip. We met with several church leaders up there to talk about how we could partner with them and their churches to meet the needs of the Albany area. Our goal was to encourage those church leaders, but I think we were more encouraged than they were. I love New York!

Our next step is to send some teams from PCC up there. We just want to show and share the love of Christ with the people of the great state of New York! Here’s a picture of us with one church pastor who is starting a church (Refuge Church) in beautiful Cobleskill, NY.

Livin' On a Prayer

2008-04-25T16:12:00.000-05:00

We're about to start a new series that focuses on what I believe is the most important habit we can develop in life. And it has the potential to impact our lives like nothing else can. It has the potential to move us from the good/average/mediocre life and into a life that is great and purposeful in God’s eyes. It's called prayer. And we're calling the series "Livin' On a Prayer."

This series has nothing to do with Bon Jovi. We're going to look at what the Bible says about prayer. However, before the end of this series, I might just practice my Jon Bon Jovi impression and break it out. I haven't done this impression since 1994, but we'll "give it a shot."

Hope to see you this Sunday!

We are HOME!

2008-04-16T09:56:00.001-05:00

We got back home late Saturday night. As you can imagine, life is a little hectic right now. But it's GOOD! We have been gone a long time (28 days), and we are so thankful to be back. We saw God answer prayer after prayer, so thank you for your prayers!

Now it's time to get back to work! I'm excited about wrapping up the "Snapshots of the Savior" series this coming Sunday. I hope to see you there!

I now leave you with a few more pictures from our first few days at home...

Meanwhile, back in Russia...

2008-04-07T14:33:00.009-05:00

Well, we’re STILL in Russia! In 6 more days, however, we will be HOME—church, family, friends, good food, drinks with lots of ice, and Braves baseball!

This past Friday (April 4) was “Gotcha Day!” In adoption language, this day is the day when you go and pick up your child to live with you—permanently! It’s been a long journey of faith for me and Carrie. And we realize that this new season of life is the beginning of another faith journey for us. By the way, initiation into this season of life has been a blast. I’m changing a lot of diapers, playing a lot in the floor, sleeping a lot less, and I’m loving every minute of it!

God is so good, so I should not be shocked that He has put this baby boy into our family. It just so happens that I ran across these verses as I was reading my Bible a few days ago:

Father of the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy (Psalm 68:5-6, NLT).

So as I sit here in my quiet hotel room on this Monday afternoon in Russia, I watch my new baby and my loving bride take a nap, and I am overwhelmed at what God has done for me. And I say a little prayer: “God, thank you for being so good. Help me not to take your blessings for granted. God, I don’t want to let a day go by that I don’t stop long enough to acknowledge all that You’ve done for me.”

Wherever you are right now, whatever you’re doing right now, just take one minute to thank God for what He’s done for you. After you take a minute, then you can look at a few pictures from our first few days with our child…

Just moments after we first “got” him…

My first time to feed him (or any baby)…

Feeding him before he went to bed that first night with us…

The little man and his tired papa taking a little snooze…

A picture from today before we left for the Baskin Robbins in Tver, Russia…

A picture from today at Baskin Robbins…

The Big Ol' Egg Drop 2008

2008-03-27T01:17:00.001-05:00

Man, I wish I could've been there...The Easter Bunny still scares me. Thanks to Cleve Persinger for putting the video together! And thanks to all the volunteers for organizing this amazing benefit event!

Happy Easter from Russia!

2008-03-23T07:33:00.004-05:00

My wife and I are spending another holiday in Russia. Just this past Christmas, I wrote in my blog about our visit to the orphanage on Christmas Day. And once again, we find ourselves in Russia—this time during Easter. It’s a snowy Easter morning here in Russia (although Russia celebrates Easter sometime in April). Here’s a picture from our hotel room this morning…

On this snowy Easter Sunday, I woke up and read my Bible, reflecting on what God has done for me. God sent his Son to die for me. Jesus came up out of that grave 3 days later, and He’s been changing lives ever since. He’s changed my life. And because adoption is on my mind, I cannot get over the fact that God has adopted me. The Bible says:

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. . . . He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” (Ephesians 1:5, 7)

That’s good stuff! This process of adopting our little boy is bringing us great pleasure as we think about giving a child a loving family. As we continue this adoption process, I understand more and more how God feels when another person comes into His family.

That’s why God loves Easter. He loves it when people receive forgiveness and eternal life. He loves it when people choose to love and follow Him. As millions of people around the world flock to Easter services and hear about the hope found in a personal relationship with Christ, I’m praying that many more will be adopted into God’s family today.

Our Adoption Blog

2008-03-21T07:30:00.002-05:00

Carrie and I are in Russia once again. This adoption journey has been long, but we hope we are nearing the end. We really do believe God is control. Here’s an encouraging verse that Carrie keeps mentioning:

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8, NLT)

We have our major court hearing on Monday, so please pray for us! If all goes well, we will bring our little baby home with us in just a few weeks. Please pray that we would continue to trust God. By the way, you can read updates on our adoption blog: http://www.oneal-itsasmallworld.blogspot.com/.

BigEggDrop.com

2008-03-05T13:51:00.002-06:00

Check out BigEggDrop.com for more information about how Peace Community Church is working with others in the community to create a fun-filled event that will benefit families in need. Why not forward this website to anyone and everyone you know?!?!

Please beware of the "Egg Drop" game on the website. It is addicting!!

By the way, if you'd like to volunteer to help with this event, please email us: info@PeaceCC.org.

I'm 31 Today...

2008-03-01T07:44:00.002-06:00

The older I get, birthdays aren't so much "happy" as they are "reflective." So today, I reflect on some lessons learned and on how I can make the most of my short time here on earth. I also reflect on God's amazing grace, how He's forgiven a selfish, rebellious kid (me) and given me a passion to pursue a growing relationship with Christ. God's still working on me! So on this birthday occasion, here is my prayer from Psalm 39:4-7--

4 "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. 5 My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath. 6 We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you."

Sweet Tea Award 2008

2008-02-19T15:15:00.001-06:00

In Sunday's message, I talked about "balance." I titled the message "Sweet Tea" because isn't good sweet tea all about balance? You don't want it too strong or too weak. You don't want it too sweet. You want it just sweet enough. You want a little bit of lemon, but not too much lemon. It's all about balance.

In the same way, the Christian life (according to Jesus himself) is all about balance--balancing loving God and loving people (Matthew 22:36-40). The two are inseparable.

Feeding the Hungry

2008-02-14T18:54:00.006-06:00

I'm so proud of our small group. We had an opportunity to feed supper to some homeless men this past Sunday night, and they jumped right at the opportunity. Here are a few pictures...taken AFTER we had already served the food...

TORNADO MIRACLE BABY FOUND : Election Day STORMS HIT SOUTH

2008-02-11T22:56:00.001-06:00

There is hope in the midst of tragedy...Thanks to God's grace.

Tornado Hits Jackson, TN

2008-02-05T22:43:00.000-06:00

Carrie and I just got home from a movie and learned about a terrible tornado that touched down in Carrie's hometown of Jackson, TN. It hit Union University where we, my sister, and all of Carrie's siblings went to college. As of right now, 3 students are still trapped in the dorms. It is a very scary situation!

Carrie's brother, Ben, is a sophomore at Union and fortunately moved off campus this semester! (There are students trapped in the dorm where he lived, and he said the windows were blown out in the room he lived in just 2 months ago.) Carrie just spoke with Ben, and he said it looks like a war zone at the campus. She also spoke with her brother, Jonathan, who works at the campus.

Fortunately he, his wife, and his little girl are okay since they were at home about 15 minutes away from the campus. Here is a link to the story: http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/NEWS01/80205 041

Misdirected Passion?

2008-01-31T12:40:00.000-06:00

Check out the article below...Misdirected passion? You make the call...

Super Bowl fans beware: Heart attacks increase during stressful games

Amber's Life

2008-01-29T14:24:00.000-06:00

Let me tell you about Amber Donovan Mathenia, a girl Carrie and I went to college with. She was in Carrie’s small group. She was in my sister’s sorority, and she was also in a lip-sync group with me. We were the B-52’s, and we lip-synched to “Love Shack.”

Amber graduated, got married, and then she and her husband moved to Ethiopia to be missionaries. They adopted 2 kids, recently a 6 month old boy (see picture above). She and the kids were back in the States for a while, close to Memphis where she’s from. Last Tuesday, Amber and the kids were driving along the highway when a Dodge pick-up pulled out in front of them. The kids came out okay, but the crashed killed Amber. A 28 year old mother. Gone just like that.

If you’re the parent in this situation, what do you do? How do you respond? Would you be prepared? If you're a close friend, how do you respond? If you're the husband (who was in Ethiopia when he found out) in this situation, what do you do? How do you respond? Actually, you can read his response on his blog--http://www.cold-water-news.blogspot.com/

The great news is that Amber has a relationship with Jesus Christ. She is in heaven worshiping the God who saved her. Over the last week, I have been thinking more and more about how short life is, how real heaven and hell are, and how my gracious God wants to use me as long as I'm here on earth (and that may not be long--we just don't know).

So to all of you who are Christ-followers, PLEASE pray that God would comfort Amber's family. Also, pray that God would use this tragedy to lead more people to treasure Him. To all of you who are Christ-followers, PLEASE make a difference with your life. In 28 years, Amber made more of a difference with her life than most Christians make in 60 years. To all of you who are Christ-followers, PLEASE remember that you only have a certain amount of time to share with others what Christ has done on the cross. As I've heard someone say, "Good news is only good news if it gets there in time."

And finally, to all of you who may not be Christ-followers yet. Maybe you've been wrestling lately with what it means to follow Christ, or maybe you haven't given Christ much thought. PLEASE, I beg you, consider coming to Christ. Turn from your selfish ways, and put all your trust in Jesus, who loved you so much that he died for you. Don't assume that you'll be around tomorrow. Life is short, eternity is long. Think about it. I'll let you chew on these amazing verses which were read at Amber's funeral on Saturday:

1 JOHN 4:9-10 (NLT)

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Community Groups at Peace Community Church

2008-01-20T17:18:00.001-06:00

We continued our "Simple" series today at PCC. Here's a little video we showed. Enjoy!

The Simple Life

2008-01-13T18:53:00.000-06:00

Check out these stats that I found on a Wikipedia page. According to a recent study for the Center for Work-Life Policy:

1.7 million people consider their jobs and their work hours excessive because of globalization.
50% percent of top corporate executives are leaving their current positions.
70% of workers in America say their jobs are affecting their health.
Between forty-six and fifty-nine percent of workers feel that stress is affecting their interpersonal and sexual relationships.

Another recent study done by the National Life Insurance Co.:

Four out of ten employees’ state that their jobs are “very” or “extremely” stressful.
Those in high stress jobs are three times more likely than others to suffer from stress-related medical conditions and are twice as likely to quit.
The study states that women, in particular, report stress related to the conflict between work and family.

Needless to say, life is stressful and complicated. That's why we're doing this "Simple" series. I really believe people are starving for simplicity, and I also believe that it's the church's responsibility to help people simplify their lives by focusing on what really matters.

Allow me to beg and plead with you to join us for this life-changing series that we're simply calling "Simple." And please feel free to invite someone to come with you!

5 Questions for a New Year

2008-01-03T23:10:00.000-06:00

It's a brand new year, and I don't know about you, but I feel like I have a fresh start. I can put 2007 behind me, and I can hope that 2008 will be the best year of my life. Several years ago, I ran across some great questions that encouraged me to think about how I might make the most of a new year. Consider these 5 thought-provoking questions from Don Whitney, author and educator. And why not make 2008 a year to remember?!?!?!

(1) What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

(2) What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

(3) What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

(4) What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?

(5) What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

Merry Christmas from Russia!

2007-12-25T22:54:00.000-06:00

On this Christmas morning, Carrie and I hopped aboard the van, a Scooby Doo-like mystery machine, and headed toward the orphanage. On the 2 hour journey to the orphanage, our driver blasted Nirvana over the radio, but I was able to pray, meditate on some of the Christmas story in Luke’s gospel, and read a Christmas sermon from Charles Spurgeon. Today, I’m reminded of the first Christmas day and the greatest Christmas gift of all—our Heavenly Father sending us the Savior!

Though the ride was bumpy, we arrived safely at the orphanage at about 10 AM. This was our second visit with our baby. Both visits went great, and as we finished our visit today, we signed a paper saying that we agree to adopt this little boy.

As we jumped back in the “mystery machine,” I praised God all the way home. God has granted me the gift of salvation through His Son. That gift alone is enough. Yet, because of His amazing grace, He also has given me a godly wife and the hope of adopting a little baby boy. Well, I don’t think that I can my Heavenly Father enough on this Christmas day.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Adoption News!!!

2007-12-11T20:28:00.000-06:00

Looks like we're going to Russia instead of Washington D.C. for our Christmas vacation. If you read yesterday's post, you know that we planned to start our vacation today. Well, we were almost to Knoxville, and we received wonderful news from our adoption agency. They have a baby boy for us!!!! So we turned around and came back home. We will find out more tomorrow about when we go to Russia, but it may be as early as next week! Isn't God good?!?!! He answers prayer!

You can read more about the news we received today on my wife's blog:
http://oneal-itsasmallworld.blogspot.com/

Please continue to pray for us. We've got a long way to go, but today was a HUGE step in the right direction. And we'll continue to trust God's perfect timing!

Christmas Vacation!!!!!

2007-12-10T16:43:00.000-06:00

In 2002, there was a 30 year-old Japanese man who died because he worked too much. I'm not kidding. You can read about it here. In fact, just last week, the Toyota Motor Corporation agreed to pay compensation to his young bride. Apparently, the man was working 80 hours of overtime a month, and he worked 114 hours of overtime the month he died!

What a sad story. But it happens far too often. Maybe the person doesn't die from overwork, but maybe his or her health suffers. Or maybe he loses his family because he's spending too much time at work. Or maybe she misses out on quality time with her husband and children because she's working too much.

Carrie (my wife) and I, at times, are guilty of working too hard at our jobs that we miss out on life with each other. That's why we LOVE to go on vacation. We just don't love it, we NEED it. So tomorrow morning, we leave for Williamsburg, VA. After a few warm days in Williamsburg (supposed to be 70 degrees all week), we will then head to Washington D.C. We've even scheduled a White House tour for next Tuesday! We will also celebrate our anniversary next Sunday!

So let me encourage you workaholics out there: Work hard, but don't work so hard that you miss out on what matters most. Don't work so hard that you miss out on your relationship with your spouse and kids. If you're a Christ-follower, don't work so hard that you neglect your relationship with Christ. Work is not your life. The Lord is your life (Deuteronomy 30:20).
And one more challenge: Go on vacation once or twice a year!

I plan on posting some pictures of our Christmas Vacation this week, so stay tuned!

Merry Christmas!

"A Christmas Carol" and a Jew

2007-12-03T15:39:00.000-06:00

Next to the real Christmas story in the Bible, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is probably my favorite Christmas classic. Ebenezer Scrooge was a miserable man who lived a life that revolved around money and material wealth. The ghosts of Christmas come knocking, however, and help him realize his selfishnesses. By the end of the story, Scrooge wakes up and is a radically changed man.

Whenever I think about the story of Scrooge, I think about how Jesus Christ has radically changed millions of lives around the world, including mine. He rescued me from my sin and selfishness and made me a new person.

I was reminded again of this truth in a conversation with a stranger today. I talked to a 63 year-old lady today who was raised Jewish, but now works for a Christian organization. She began to tell me about how she became a Christian. I found her story so fascinating that I asked her to email me her story. In her words, she spent her first 26 years as an "angry Jew." She writes:

"I was angry, hurt and alone, always. I went to university, did my Jr. year abroad, and graduated. I became a hippy, a drug addict, and generally checked out of life. I tried pleasing the flesh and the mind with drugs, philosophies, and self indulgence. I was busted for drugs and growing pot in my backyard in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I basically did not want to go to prison so I left the country and went to live in Amsterdam. One night I just did not want to live anymore."

Soon, she began to see her need for a Savior. A few weeks later, all alone in a Holland field, she cried out: "I don't know who or what you are , but whoever you are, help me." Right then and there, Jesus Christ changed her life in radical fashion. Here's how she summarizes that Summer of 1970:

"I KNEW JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD. I KNEW I WAS FORGIVEN...I FELT CLEAN FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME....I knew something the summer of 1970 that has never changed--Jesus, the Son of God, died for my sins. It was supernatural, like every single salvation that has and will take place."

What a great reminder to me today: Jesus Christ radically changes lives! I needed to hear these words from this stranger I met today. My question to you--Have you been radically changed? As you ponder that question, ponder this Bible verse:

Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)

Beech High School Homecoming

2007-11-27T15:09:00.001-06:00

Some people who attend PCC are in their late twenties and early thirties. Some went to Beech High School in Hendersonville, TN. We even have a few teenagers who are seniors at Beech right now (like our drummer boy). So I thought it would be fun to post a little of my senior class video from "Homecoming" at Beech High School, Fall of 1994. Man I'm old! By the way, I'm on at the beginning of the video with my pajamas pulled up to my chest.

Heroes

2007-11-19T16:23:00.000-06:00

The other day, a friend emailed me a great article by Priscilla Shirer called "No More Heroes." Here's the article's basic point:

The more visible the gift and the more celebrated the ministry, the more we subconsciously align a human with the Almighty. It is alarming how frequently the Church has glorified the ones for whom Christ died. We have begun to worship our "heroes."

I think that's a good point. I have always had my heroes. When I was growing up, my heroes were my grandad, my dad, and Dale Murphy (baseball player for the Braves). Now my heroes are my grandad, my dad, and influential Christian leaders of the past and present like Charles Spurgeon, Rick Warren, Andy Stanley, and the thousands of missionaries around the world.

Now I don't think there's anything wrong with having heroes. We can and should learn from them. If they're the right heroes, then they ought to inspire us to do more good for our great God. The big question is: Who do we trust? We should never put our ultimate trust in our heroes. If you're a parent, you are a hero to your kids. But who would you rather them trust? God or you? Who is more reliable? Who knows all their needs? Who can meet all their needs?

So have your Christian, Bible-loving heroes. There's nothing wrong with that. Learn from them. Strive to be more committed to Christ like they are (or were). But whatever you do, don't put your ultimate trust in them. They all fall short of God's glory just like we do. In other words, don't trust your heroes, trust in the God of your heroes. As Psalm 20:7 reminds us: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

2 Exciting Opportunities

2007-11-13T10:09:00.000-06:00

PCC's main mantra is "Ordinary people making a difference--together." When you look in the Bible at the people God used to make a difference, you don't just see professional ministers or educated pastors. You see ordinary people, ordinary people who have made themselves available to whatever God wanted them to do. In Acts 4, we read how the world was impressed by Peter and John, "for they could see that they were ordinary men who had no special training. They recognized them as men who had been with Jesus" (4:13, NLT).

PCC is a small church, but I believe we can make a big difference this Christmas. We are asking everybody (adults and children) to get involved with 2 exciting outreach efforts:

(1) Operation Christmas Child--Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God's love. This program of Samaritan's Purse provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ. For more info, you can check out their website: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp.

(2) Making a Difference Christmas Offering--Over the holiday season, we are also encouraging people to give to a special offering that will help spread the Good News about Jesus Christ to a world in need. The greatest problem around the world is spiritual emptiness. Therefore, most of the money received for this special offering will go to support missionaries and their work around the world--especially in places where there are no churches.

I have no doubt that God will use our work and our giving to make a difference around the world. People of all ages, backgrounds, and professions can participate in these causes. Please don't let these God-given opportunities pass you by during this season of giving. And remember what our Savior said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35, ESV).

Family FAQ

2007-10-30T23:28:00.000-05:00

On Sunday morning, November 11, I'm doing a message called "Family Matters FAQ." Between and now and then, I'm just talking with people in our community, encouraging them to share some of their biggest questions related to family issues. For instance, one mom I talked to yesterday said that her biggest question was "How do I balance everything? How do I balance God, work, children, activities, etc.?" What a great question!

Over the next week, I'll be gathering questions and taking notes. If you have a question that you'd like to ask, please feel free to email me or comment on this post. I will look forward to looking into God's Word and sharing some answers with you on November 11.

Lunch with Ed

2007-10-30T22:53:00.001-05:00

I had lunch with Ed Stetzer today. Ed is Director of LifeWay Research here in Nashville. He is one of the "top dogs" in the areas of church planting and missional research. I've talked with him on several occasions, but today was the first time I actually sat down to pick his brain a little.

For the last few years, I've been impressed with his research and writings. Today, I was impressed with his willingness to take time out of his extremely busy schedule to have lunch with me. He offered some advice, he offered some encouragement, but there was one thing that he said that jumped out at me. He said (my paraphrase):

"I'm 41 years old, and your forties are usually the years of greatest impact in ministry. I want to use the next decade to change the world."

As I heard him say those words, I couldn't help but be inspired. I believe God will use Ed in the next decade. I'm 30 years old, and I want the next 20 years of my life to count--not so that I can feel good about myself, not so that others will applaud me, but so that more people will find their salvation and joy in the God who loves them and gave himself for them (Galatians 2:20).

What about you? Whether you're 20, 30, 40, or 50 years old, let me beg you: Use the talents, gifts, abilities, passions, money, and time God has given you to change your community and your world.

Ed, thanks for the inspiration today!

You can check out Ed's popular blog at http://www.edstetzer.com/.

Child Dedication Service

2007-10-29T11:14:00.000-05:00

We just had a great child dedication service at PCC. I love doing these dedications. There are 2 main reasons why we do them:

(1) We want to praise God for the gift He has given. The Bible says:

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. (Psalm 127:3)

(2) Also, we do child dedications because it is a time for our church to say that we support parents and we embrace our responsibility to help them teach and train their children. Yes, parents are the primary influencers of their children's spiritual development, but the local church also plays a key role in raising up the next generation to become Christ-following leaders.

Here are some pictures from our child dedication service on October 21. The great photos are courtesy of Angela Bertrand. Thank you Ang!

"In the Heat of the Night"

2007-10-21T21:25:00.000-05:00

This coming Sunday morning (October 28) will be interesting. We continue with our I Love the 80's series, and the message will focus on S-E-X. The title of the message is named after the old 80's show titled In the Heat of the Night. I don't know about you, but it seems like the church is guilty of not talking about this topic enough. Maybe pastors are not sure what to say about the topic??? There is no question that the church should talk about sex. God created sex, so He's not against it.

Anyway, pray for me over the next couple of days as I pray about what God wants me to say. Like I said, it should be interesting!

Former Soviet Union

2007-10-17T20:37:00.000-05:00

Over the last year, the former Soviet Union has been on my heart. One reason is because my wife and I are adopting from Russia. The former Soviet Union had never been on my radar screen until we began this adoption process. Recently, I've been talking with missionaries in Russia about what God is doing in Eastern Europe. And on November 8-9, I'll be attending a "Volunteer Summit" here in Nashville, and I'm so excited about hearing more about how God could use Peace Community Church to reach those who have never experienced the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

If you'd like to hear more about what God is doing around the world, specifically in Central and Eastern Europe, then I invite you check out the following websites: http://www.hope4cee.org/index.htm

http://www.imb.org/main/lead/page.asp?StoryID=5229&LanguageID=1709

Here are a few Bible verses I'm committing to memory over the next couple of weeks:

PSALM 67:2

May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.

PSALM 2:8

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.