There's an App for That...

You know you’ve arrived (technologically speaking) when you are an app. So, go to your friendly App Store on your iPhone today and you’ll find there’s an app for PowerPoint Ministries and an app for Prestonwood.

It doesn’t get much easier than that... Seriously, can you believe how easy our lives have become? The world is literally at our fingertips.

Now, that can be good and not so good...We choose to use it for good. Our mission at Prestonwood is “to glorify God by introducing Jesus Christ as Lord to as many people as possible and to develop them in Christian living using the most effective means to impact the world, making a positive difference in this generation.” If we aren’t taking advantage of the technology that our culture relies on today, we’re missing an incredible opportunity to reach countless all over the world with the transforming message of the Gospel.

Audio and video messages from the Prestonwood pulpit are easily accessible now no matter where you are. Most importantly, you can share it with those who don’t yet know our Lord Jesus Christ.

Resolution Solutions: A Healthier You in 2010

Today, the PowerLunch crowd here at Prestonwood heard from a panel about the importance of beginning a new journey to become healthy and fit in this new decade. I’ve joked that for many of us, resolutions seem to be forgotten by Groundhog’s Day (today!) So we had two personal trainers certified by the Cooper Clinic, my daughter-in-law Toby Graham, and Matt Brady, and Mike Maack, our Director of Sports Outreach here at the church...

They provided great information, like making fitness a lifestyle and a journey, not a destination that you stop working on when you reach a specific goal ... about doing simple things like finding a parking space farther away than usual and taking the stairs instead of the elevator ... about keeping cravings in check by finding out just how many calories a piece of chocolate cake has and what it will take to burn it off – before you eat it!

All this got me thinking about the benefits of exercise and some great information that Dr. Ken Cooper, a longtime Prestonwood member and founder of Cooper Clinic, has provided... Check it out below. I know it’ll challenge you to forget the resolutions and just make it your life’s journey to stay fit and healthy.

The Benefits of Exercise

Exercise:
• Makes rest and relaxation much easier
• Helps the lungs function more efficiently,

making breathing easier
• Increases the efficiency of the heart
• Lowers resting heart rate
• Helps the heart pump more blood with less effort
• Raises metabolism
• Increases muscle mass
• Reduces fat
• Increases bone density
• Delays or prevents osteoporosis
• Increases circulation
• Decreases the likelihood of peptic ulcers and esophageal reflux
• Strengthens the immune system
• Lowers risk of strokes
• Reduces high blood pressure
• Lowers the risk of breast cancer
• Reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s
• Increases life expectancy up to10 years
• Improves the memory and cognitive ability of the brain
• Increases performance and production at work
• Improves attitude at home and at work due to the release of endorphins
• Makes you feel better
• Makes you look younger
• Helps you become a better role model and leader
• Positively affects your witness for Christ as your body is God’s temple

Exercise Decreases:
• Fatigue
• Snoring
• Heartburn
• Lower back pain
• Chronic joint or muscle pain
• Headaches
• Sleeping difficulty
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Upper respiratory infections and colds
• Likelihood of diabetes
• Body weight, which greatly impacts health
• Brain fatigue
• Absenteeism
• Cost of health care
• Your portion of health insurance costs

Healthy Eating and Good Nutrition:
• Help control your body weight
• Increase energy
• Keep you in a better mood
• Promote healthier pregnancies and babies
• Improve bodily functions
• Help you sleep better and feel more rested
• Make you feel better
• Cause you to look younger
• Help you manage your weight
• Lead to better skin tone
• Keep bones healthy
• Prevent dementia
• Prevent headaches
• Prevent depression
• Prevent arthritis
• Make hair and nails shinier and healthy
• Slow aging process

Help Avoid:
• Heart trouble
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Osteoporosis

Lower the Risk of Chronic Diseases As Well As the Top Three Causes of Death
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Stroke

Tebow Takes Stand in Super Bowl Ad

Amazing what a 30-second commercial that hasn't aired yet can do. The controversy that has erupted over the decision by CBS to allow a pro-life commercial during the Super Bowl with Tim Tebow and his mom, Pam, has been interesting, to say the least...

If you haven’t heard about it, here are the basics...In the commercial, Pam Tebow tells how when she was pregnant with Tim, she had become ill and doctors advised her to have an abortion. And of course, that child grew to become one of the best quarterbacks to ever play college football, winning two national championships at the University of Florida as well as a Heisman Trophy. Most importantly, throughout his college career, Tim has always praised God and given Him all the glory.

Produced by Focus on the Family, the ad has drawn criticism from pro-choice women’s groups who say it is “extremely intolerant and divisive and pushing an un-American agenda.”

Amazing how something is only divisive when it runs counter to their viewpoint. And this from the same people who are always preaching tolerance....Suddenly, there’s zero tolerance...

And it leaves me asking the question, what’s so divisive about supporting life?

Goodbye, Mr. Baseball

The great Bobby Bragan was laid to rest today in Fort Worth. He died last week at the grand age of 92. For anyone who knows anything about baseball, Bobby was truly “Mr. Baseball.” Those of us in the Dallas/Fort Worth area were blessed to have had him here...

Besides playing for the Phillies and Dodgers, Bobby also managed the Pirates, Indians and Braves, and of course, the Fort Worth Cats, back when they were in the Dodgers farm system. That’s how he came to be known as Fort Worth’s Ambassador of Baseball...He also worked for my beloved Rangers.

He played for and was a protégé of Branch Rickey, the manager who helped break the color barrier in the majors with Jackie Robinson. Bobby was quick to admit that he had initially resented Jackie’s playing ... but he later said he considered it an honor to be his teammate.

More importantly than his love for baseball and the legacy he leaves behind in the sport, Bobby leaves a legacy of faith—he loved God first. I was blessed to have known him, and blessed to have called him friend. I don’t believe there will ever be another Bobby Bragan here on earth, but, I tell you what, I’m sure he’s organized a few games in heaven already.

If you’re a baseball fan, you have to get a copy of his autobiography, You Can’t Hit the Ball with the Bat on Your Shoulder: The Life and Times of Bobby Bragan.

Super Bowl Preview at PowerLunch

For football fans, there couldn’t be anything much cooler than PowerLunch on Tuesday. You’ve heard me talk about PowerLunch, our weekly lunchtime gathering at Prestonwood that features a diverse lineup of speakers each season.

Well, even though our Cowboys made a quick exit in the playoff game against the Vikings last Sunday, football still reigns here in the Dallas area. So nearly 900 people showed up to hear James Brown, of The NFL Today on CBS. James and his crew will handle the pre-game show for the Super Bowl XLIV. The icing on the cake was having the legendary Pat Summerall interviewing James. As you know, Pat’s worked a few Super Bowls himself...16 to be exact.

So they talked a little about football, about life and most importantly about God. James said that he wants to be transparent in life and hopes his new book, Role of a Lifetime: Reflections on Faith, Family, and Significant Living, will be a good witness. Viewed by millions each week, James himself is already a good witness with his impeccable character and integrity.

Prayer and A Heart for Haiti

The news emerging from Haiti in the wake of the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the poorest nation in the world, is heart-wrenching, to say the least. Thousands could be dead—thousands of souls who likely never heard the life-transforming message of the Gospel.

My heart aches.

Not only because of the sheer devastation and pain being endured by those who have survived; not only because many more are trapped in the tangled mess of concrete and steel; not only because it is a nation that is beyond poor; not only because I have a heart for the people of Haiti, having lived in South Florida for many years ... My heart aches because I know my Savior’s heart aches for the lost souls.

The Gospel of the bleeding heart demands a commitment of a broken heart, and before we will ever be effective in reaching our lost world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must be broken with the burden of God ... a burden for souls.

Are you broken with that burden?

Pray for Haiti; pray for those who will hear the Gospel because of this catastrophic earthquake; pray for those who will take the Good News to this hurting place.

I am grateful for international Christian relief organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse. Led by my great friend Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse is among the first-arriving relief groups at most disasters throughout the world. When better to show the love of Christ than when people need it most, when they can see no hope beyond the disaster and despair?

Samaritan’s Purse has already dispatched a team to help with clean water, shelter and medical care. Click here to learn more about this ministry and to support it financially ... and keep it in your prayers. Prestonwood members, you may also give through our church, designating "Haiti" or "Disaster Relief Fund." We will then provide those funds to Samaritan's Purse.

Another Idol Beginning

For Team Graham, tomorrow is an exciting day—the start of a new season of American Idol. (Actually, this is a pretty great week with 24 starting on Sunday…more on that another time.)

Sure there’s a lot of drama and backstage nonsense that comes with these high-profile judges… But at the heart of Idol is an amazing few months of uncovering talent that has touched the world. It’s an incredible thing to witness (sometimes) raw talent unfold and refined over the course of the season. And like last season, you get to pull for someone such as Kris Allen who loves the Lord and uses his gift of music to glorify God.

My family and I have enjoyed every season, and hope tomorrow night’s season premiere sets a good tone for what’s to come. Here are my top five American Idol singers:

1) Carrie Underwood

2) Kris Allen

3) Daughtry

4) Katharine McPhee

5) Mandisa

Let me know your top five…