Jack Graham Blog

Your ministry trip to London sounds incredible. I ...

2009-01-04T15:19:00.000-08:00

Your ministry trip to London sounds incredible. I hope Prestonwood has opportunities to contribute to the work over there...I would love to be a part of meeting needs in that part of the world.

~ Patrick F

I just got home from big church and wanted to chec...

2009-01-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

I just got home from big church and wanted to check out your blog. Love it. We do need a comeback, especially from the hard times. People seem so complacent and hopeless and it breaks my heart. I am committed to lifting and loving people and letting God do his Holy Business though me. People need to understand the power, comfort and peace that is available in Christ. Thank you, Jack, for your leadership and for sharing God's word with so many. I am convicted to do more in 2009. Happy New Year!

I just read your blog-"comeback". I got "pumped up...

2008-12-31T21:42:00.000-08:00

I just read your blog-"comeback". I got "pumped up" in the spirit and thought I would comment on your great blog. I've spent a lot of this day reflecting back on 2008. I spent 4 days in the hospital in January, from burn-out in my hometown of Paducah, Ky. For 7 years I took care of my father who has alzheimers; ran a landscape business with my son; and did everything but preach the sunday sermons at my church. Most of 2008 for me has been a year of rehabilatation-physically, mentally, and spiritually. I am definitly looking forward to 2009 as a year for a comeback for me. My greatest desire is to be all that God wants me to be until I draw that last breath. By the way, in May I moved 650 miles to Dallas and joined up with the greatest church with the greatest pastor in the world-Prestonwood Baptist. I'm humbled to be a part of this great church. I'm plugged in with Celebrate Recovery at Prestonwood, and after completing the steps, I want to start a support group for christians with a diagnosed mental illness. At age 19 I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Doctors, medicine, good food, excercise, counseling, etc. are all good, but the main thing that's held me together is Jesus Christ, the word of God, church, and the support of my family and christian friends...It's 11:30 PM, 12/31/08. In 30 minutes, let's start that comeback. Bless you Pastor Jack...you're in my prayers....Larry Griffith

Dear Pastor Jack,We are so excited and grateful th...

2008-10-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Pastor Jack,
We are so excited and grateful that you are in London to preach God's good word, shine a light and start some fires.

My husband is from England and his parents live in Northern England. His father is a lay preacher there. He tells us about the huge Muslim populations and the building of Mosques. He is constantly concerned and telling us about how the Christian religion has lost its footing. He is an avid man of Christ and spreads the word to everyone he knows. He and Grandma are a great inspiration to us. We will tell them about your visit. They visit us every 6 months and they have seen you preach. Dad is 82, but spry as a young chicken. We are saying constant prayers for England and the Christian faith to touch their hearts. Let us know if we can help. The Wilcock Family - Prestonwood Church Members

Opportunities abound to tell people how God is wor...

2008-09-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

Opportunities abound to tell people how God is working in the world.

A few months ago I was traveling with our new divison president. I asked him about his career path, and during his explanation, he mentioned that he had been "very blessed." Pursuing that phrase, I asked if he was a "church going kind of guy", and he said he was. We then spent 20 minutes talking about how God's plan manifests itself in unexpected ways.

Last year the president of one of our largest suppliers asked me to dinner. I usually decline those invitations, but that night I said "sure". After a few minutes of talking shop, I asked about his family. He shared that he has a child with a disability, and I told him that I did as well. For the rest of the evening I shared how the Holy Spirit had worked in my life, and he shared his desires to change careers in order to serve others. He later told me that in 30 years of corporate life, he had never had a business dinner in which he spoke so candidly. I told him, "better late than never!".

Ask God for guidance, then put yourself out there. What's the worst thing that can happen...people may think you're a Christian?

Dear Pastor Graham,We visited your church Sunday m...

2008-09-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Pastor Graham,

We visited your church Sunday morning with Emmett and Jean Beam. We live in Nederland, Texas which is between Beaumont and Port Arthur. We are evacuees. We are truly blessed and received a blessing by being in service. Considering what we are going through, by being displaced because of power outages and our town being shut down, your sermon and the songs really touched us. Our home is intact with no damage as far as we know. The people of Bridge City and Orange were hit very hard in our area. If you are interested to see some of the pictures--go to kdfm.com, which is our local news station. Emmett and Jean are truly a blessing. We enjoyed being with them and the offer to stay with them.

We are in Georgetown with a family member and all is well. When we come back to Dallas, we will visit your church again. God Bless, Kristina DeVillier

Brother Jack...loved the story about Yankee Stadiu...

2008-09-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

Brother Jack...loved the story about Yankee Stadium. My best friend, Jim "Catfish" Hunter was a Yankee great and as his pastor, I can also attest to the fact that he was a committed follower of Jesus Christ as well. I went to Yankee Stadium with my son about 2 years ago and it was a wonderful experience.

By the way -- I really enjoy your broadcasts.

Pastor Keith Vaughan
Cary, NC

Pastor,I was at the game on August 27th and happen...

2008-09-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

Pastor,

I was at the game on August 27th and happened to see you there. Small world!

Jeff

Congratulations, dear friend. It is always a joy ...

2008-09-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, dear friend. It is always a joy to see how God is using you to reach this generation. I know 30,000 is just around the corner!

Blessings to you, the Graham family and the people of Prestonwood.

Thanks for your words today. I love reading your b...

2008-09-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your words today. I love reading your blog, and I look so forward to hear what God puts in your heart to teach us each Sunday. Thank you for following His will for your life because you are touching and changing so many lives! My husband and I will be joining the church this Sunday actually! We've been going there for awhile, and are ready to make the 1st step in becoming a part of this wonderful church!

Pastor Jack, awesome testimony to what God is capa...

2008-09-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Pastor Jack, awesome testimony to what God is capable of doing. Many are uncomfortable with largeness, but in celebrating smallness, we really ignore the great commission. Thanks for your example of growth - looking forward to hearing you in October at Engage.

God gives us His best day in & day out. He gives ...

2008-09-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

God gives us His best day in & day out. He gives us His pep talk before the game, stays for all nine and lifts us up when the game is over!

What a great legacy journey! I've enjoyed receivin...

2008-09-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

What a great legacy journey! I've enjoyed receiving a rss feed of your blog on my igoogle page. It's been great. Keep it up.

Jack,What a trip. Sound like a great experience.Ro...

2008-09-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

Jack,

What a trip. Sound like a great experience.

Roland

Hello Pastor Graham! Our family attended Prestonwo...

2008-08-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Pastor Graham! Our family attended Prestonwood for the first time today. What a beautiful service! We will surely be back. Keep up the good work.

I only attended one series at Yankee Stadium -- th...

2008-08-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

I only attended one series at Yankee Stadium -- the '98 playoff series with the Rangers, which didn't turn out too well for the Rangers, as I recall.

And Yankee Stadium, even then, was a tired pile of bricks. But it was a magical place, too, especially out by the monuments. Like you, Pastor, I grew up during the glory days of the Yankees -- I had a little plastic statue of Mickey Mantle in my room.

It sounds as if you had a great time there, especially talking with with Andy and Mariano.

If only everyone realized that all the adulation and personal honors in the world don't really matter in the eternal scheme of things.

Praise God for your passion for the lost and willi...

2008-08-28T10:34:00.000-07:00

Praise God for your passion for the lost and willingness to work till the end.

As I make my down to the front as a counsellor I s...

2008-08-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

As I make my down to the front as a counsellor I see a number of folks leaving before the end of the invitation. It saddens my heart to know that these may be christians who are encouraging a lost person to leave just when the Holy Spirit is calling them to repentance. Just to get out of the parking lot ahead of the crowd!!

When my family walked forward during the alter cal...

2008-08-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

When my family walked forward during the alter call, I noticed members of the praise choir warmly smiling at us, as though to say "you've come to a place where all of God's children are nurtured in the love of Christ".

If we were to walk out while other families were having that same experience, I would feel as though we were minimizing our own committment, and disrespecting theirs.

There's a diversity at Prestonwood which you may see only at that time. From the "Plano Pretty" families to those with severe disabilities, I feel inspired by realizing that everyone has a unique story to tell, and Prestonwood is the thread which connects them.

My car and the restaurant will still be there 5 minutes later. This moment may be once in a lifetime for these families, particularly if one of them just received Christ for the very first time.

Amen, Pastor!Each week, as a I watch people go for...

2008-08-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

Amen, Pastor!

Each week, as a I watch people go forward, I think back to the evening I asked the Lord into my life, and the unimaginable joy I felt. I get that same feeling each Sunday when I see someone else make the greatest decision of their life.

If I didn't stay, it'd sort of be like leaving the Ballpark in the bottom of the ninth, then hearing the cheers and seeing the fireworks and knowing that something wonderful just happened. And I missed it.

Amen, Pastor!Each week, as a I watch people go for...

2008-08-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Each summer over the past 3 years, Coack K worked ...

2008-08-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

Each summer over the past 3 years, Coack K worked with the Redeem Team to make sure they had the "we, not I" mentality, and to remind them that they were competing for their nation, not themselves.

After they received their gold medals in Bejing last night, the stars of the game each took their gold medal and hung it around the neck of Coach K. With all the achievements of the athletes, it's easy to forget the foundations others lay for their success. The Americans stumbled in basketball in Athens, but by working together under a leader who can inspire, they were successful.

I think that's also true in the church. Pastor Graham, last night you taught about God having a plan for our lives, even after we stumble. The foundation and leadership of Jesus Christ can inspire all of us (black & white, rich & poor, even Reps & Dems) to accomplish His plan for His children. - Clay

Pastor, we miss you from being in the pulpit as we...

2008-08-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

Pastor, we miss you from being in the pulpit as well. I thank God that you are a Pastor that keeps balance in your life so that we can enjoy a health whole church.

Greg Laurie want and awesome man of God. I watch Harvest Crusaded last weekend. He did and awesome job preaching and teaching the Gospel with simplicity, clarity and love. People can feel real love. Greg Laurie has the Jesus kind of love he love people.

I learn a lot from watching Greg on how to ministry to a dying world. He truly refreshes my soul and put me back on fire for wining souls.

Casualties of war one goes and another comes and God get the increase. God use ever thing to get use in our rightful place to get the kingdom work done.God is faithful.

Love you pastor look forward to see you this weekend…..

Pastor, you are definitely the "Man" In-N-Out is a...

2008-08-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

Pastor, you are definitely the "Man" In-N-Out is awesome! I always make several stops there when I'm in AZ. Although I must say our own Mooyah Burgers right "down the street" from Prestonwood runs at least a close second to In-N-Out.
It will be great to have you back in the pulpit.

Did you know that in and out has scripture printed...

2008-08-19T05:32:00.000-07:00

Did you know that in and out has scripture printed on the bottom of their cups and burger bags!! Just thought you would like a little extra side of love to go with those calories!!!