Let me recommend a book for you to read this summer (or this week if it best suits you). The book, "Same Kind Of Different As Me." This true story counts the collision of two families from what most would consider the opposite sides of the track.
For those of you who like learning history about life in the south - this book is for you. If you like a good cry - this book is also for you (I'm not a crier, but there are parts when people who like to cry can take part). Finally, if you would like to reach out to shape the life of another person, then definitely pick up a copy today. I know I'll be thinking through what I read in these pages for a long time to come.

Just Keep Swimming,
BNall

Pivotal Conversations

Throughout life pivotal conversations will happen that determine the steps ahead (some would contend that every conversation is pivotal). There are some conversations we enjoy having and others that we are searching for a detour.

As a pastor I often hear it said, "Life would be so easy if it wasn't for the people." While sometimes such a statement can be tempting to embrace, the rest of life would be lonely and quite uneventful. But there are sometimes when unpleasant conversations must take place and no detour is available.

It's at these moments that reveal who you are as much as shape who you want to become. When these moments arrive, we must be sure that we speak the truth; speak the truth in love; and continue to have our conversation always be full of grace so that the other person is built up and not torn apart.

Is there a conversation that must take place with someone whom you have been avoiding? Have you hoped it would just go away if you gave it enough time? Such delay doesn't bring healing; but rather, infection. Make this day or week when you finally do what you know needs to be done. And don't forget - "a harsh word stirs up anger, but a gentle answer turns away wrath."

BE the church
BNall

A Request for Prayer

Beginning on Saturday, April 24th I will be teaching/preaching everyday through Wednesday, April 28th. Saturday is the Emerald Coast Sunday School and Small Group Leadership Conference at Olive and Sunday through Wednesday I will be in Jay, FL as part of their community revival.

it can be tempting to believe that all I need to do is ensure that I am well prepared by a well-thought out, biblically-centered, culturally-relevant messages. And when that is completed, outcomes of eternal proportions will occur. While personal preparation is essential, it is not as essential as being in so positioned that God has the freedom to communicate through the speaker. Such a divine encounter can only come when there is a huge covering of prayer.

I don't know about you, but i don't get excited about attending a church service or another conference that is just another religious event where one wouldn't notice if God was in attendance or not. I believe that such a gathering that can just be explained by our efforts is a waste of time.

For that reason, I ask that you be in prayer for me. Here's how:

• Pray that the Holy Spirit might reveal sin in my life that I need to confess and then make life adjustments
• Pray that my mind would be focused on communicating what God desires and not any personal agenda I might be tempted to create or manipulate.
• Pray for me to be able to have undisturbed time of preparation over the next few days.
• Pray that our gatherings can only be explained as "God showed up and changed people."
  
• Pray for those who will listen; not that they will tune into my words, but rather to the voice of God.
  
• Pray during my teaching times: Sat. 9:45 - 10:50; Sunday; 8:30, 11am, 6pm; Monday thru Wednesday at 6pm.

If you would partner with me over the next week, I would deeply appreciate it.

Thanks

Last Day to Sleep In

I'm usually up and going pretty early and easily. Whether the alarm goes off or not, my feet usually hit the floor at 5am or even before, and I'm off to conqueror the day's events. However, ever so often there are days when I just don't want to get out of bed. Usually because i have a hint as to what is coming that day or in the days to come, and I want to sleep through it or at least rest up a little extra.

I wander what Jesus thought today, the Thursday of Passion Week. He had spent all week being celebrated, being questioned, being a teacher, being patient, being aggressive, and just BEING. I wander if He went to sleep a little earlier that Wednesday night outside the city of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. I wander if one of His final miracles before the cross was causing the disciples to stop snoring so that He could sleep.

And then Thursday morning came. I wander if it crossed His mind to stay in bed and rest just a few minutes more (or even a few days). He knew what was on the schedule for the day: one final trip to the city of Jerusalem, an evening spent with His close traveling 12, and then His arrest in the garden, abandonment by His friends, and a night filled with trials, accusations, and beatings.

When He looked at His calendar, Thursday morning was His final day to sleep in until He laid down again Friday afternoon inside a garden tomb.

I'm thankful this Easter Thursday that Jesus got up! Aren't you?

Fight for your marriage?

This blog is about marriage and a call to fight for yours if you are in one and to help those around you fight for there's. I have seen more marriages hurting and crumbling in the last 6 months than I have in my 17 years in the ministry. Daily (yes daily) i am hearing of couple who are preparing to let go of the end of their rope, and daily my heart is breaking for them.

There is the song out there that goes: "love is not a fight, but it's something worth fighting for."

If your marriage is going well (or at least you think it is), fight hard to improve it. Ask him/her what you could do to strengthen the relationship. Do a self-check on your priorities: God, Spouse, Kids, etc. Go on a date regularly (w/o kids), buy each other something, tell them they look hot (it's not unChristian to tell your spouse they are smokin' hot), attend a marriage conference to learn ways to grow and mature. Find another couple who can hold you accountable and then pray for each other.

If your marriage is not going well, fight hard to improve it. Don't wait for your spouse to change, or primarily work to change your spouse. Remember, the two became one so you start to work on yourself. Get with trusted friends and counsel (2 or 3) and ask people to commit to pray regularly for your marriage. Don't wait to go to counseling with your spouse, you go by yourself and prayerfully they will join you in the journey of healing.

Despite what can be taught out there: God does not want you to get a divorce. It is outside of His will and causes more pain than you think it will cause. I realize that there is only one instance where God permits (not commands) divorce and that is adultery. But know that as long as you are still breathing, there is hope for your marriage - God is still on His throne even when circumstances caused by our selfish decisions seem to rule the day.

I'm not trying to give a commercial, but I want to give a couple helps out there. First, is "stained glass ministries." Dale and Jena Forehand have had a marriage that has been to hell and back again. Learn from their story; it'll help you in your marriage.

Next is FireProof. I know you have probably seen the movie and done the Love Dare. If not, I highly recommend it as Valentine's Day approaches. But further, if you are near Mobile, the FireProof Marriage Conference is coming to First Baptist North Mobile in March. Take your spouse (or if you are engaged, your fiance'). The creators of the movie are hosting a weekend to come alongside marriages that just need a little tweaking or even a major overhaul. Make it a get-away weekend with just you and your spouse, go with another couple, or your whole church - just go.

I don't know how healthy your marriage is , but don't get content wherever it is. You can't change the past, but you can change everything between today and "till death do us part."

Thanks for reading,

BNall

Getting Godliness from the Gym

Recently, I was finishing up my morning workout at the gym when I noticed a new member walking through with one of the employees. Not to sound too harsh, but from the physcial appearance of the gentlemen you could tell he hadn't spent too much time exercising (I hope that was a gentle way of saying it....). As the man was getting a tour of the equipment, I heard the employee giving the name and description of each equipment. What I found odd, and kind of humorous, is that after the employee pointed to each piece of equipment the pre-bodybuilder stated he already knew how to work the equipment. After observing the quick tour, I don't think there was a single piece of exercise equipment in there that he didn't already know how to use - but yet you wouldn't have known that by looking at him.

I started to think about that example and most Christians. When we come to different parts of Scripture, we declare that we already know about it. We have studied it and could probably explain it to someone else; but if you were to look at our lives, would there be evidence that we have applied our knowledge.

Jesus said in John 14:21, "Whoever has My commands obeys them, he is the one who loves me."

I contend that is where the church has become week. We know how to work the equipment, we just need to get in there and put our knowledge into motion.

Let's work out
B

Is One Hour Too Much?

As you know I launched a website a couple of months ago in order to mobilize the Christians in my county (Santa Rosa, FL) to cover every hour of 2010 in prayer (all 8760 hours). (if you don't know, go right now to http://www.714santarosa.com/). During this process, I have been amazed at the comments from some as to the length of the prayer time -not the one year part but the one hour. It seems that the idea of praying for one solid hour has become something way out there, something unheard of, something only reserved for the radical Christians, or something that is a stretch for the average man.

It seems like not that much has changed since the days of Jesus. During the evening before Jesus was arrested, He asked His disciples, "could you men keep watch with me for one hour?" (matthew 26:40). I contend that Jesus is still asking that same question of us today - would you please just spend some time with me?

But why is one hour such a big deal, why would it even cross our mind to register our time of prayer with a friend so we can divide up the hour even smaller? Is it because we are so hurried we haven't the time for prayer? Do we only want microwave faith? Do we think we don't have that much to talk about - what about listening? What about worship and singing? What about reading Scripture and allowing the word to simmer in our soul?

On January 1 from 12am-1am was my first hour of prayer. It flew by and I look forward to my first hour of every month in 2010. I read an email from someone whose hour went so quick it turned quickly into 2 hours.

I don't think for a second that "one hour" is too great a goal and should be lowered to accomodate our feeble faith. I cling to the notion that one hour should be the launching point for a lifestyle of unceasing communion with God. Just try it. Prayer doesn't hurt too much.

Is one Hour too much? I don't think so.

B