STRAIGHT UP Now Airing On TV

Wanted to let you know that Straight Up, my message series tackling tough issues we’re facing today, is now airing on all stations that carry PowerPoint. If you don’t live in the DFW area, this is a great opportunity to check out this series. Or if you attend Prestonwood and did happen to catch these messages, be sure to pass along to a friend who would benefit from them.

Watch this video for the first message, “Are All Religions the Same?” And then you can view on TV the ones that follow: “Are Same Sex Relationships Really the Same?” “Can You Trust the Bible?” “Why?” .... and much more ...

Also, go to powerpoint.org, to check out powerful resources we have complementing each message...

Are All Religions the Same? from Jack Graham on Vimeo.

LIONS STADIUM OPENER TONIGHT

Thrilled about our home opener and rededication of the newly expanded Lions Stadium! I think it’s cool that our first game is on Lower School Night ... our little ones, the pre-k 3 through sixth graders, parade on the track with their classes and then cheer on the team as it runs onto the field.

We’ll also have a PCA alum and Prestonwood staff member Jarrod Monk singing the National Anthem, and we’ll have a special guest welcoming the crowd. Hint: You will easily recognize the voice...

If you’re looking for a great place to watch Texas high school football, come on out tonight. We take on Cistercian Prep at 7:30.

More than Football

There’s a great article in the Dallas Morning News today about one of our students, Kyle Aubuchon. Kyle is the starting quarterback for football powerhouse Hebron High School ... just a stone’s throw from Prestonwood.

But Kyle is much more than a star quarterback. Kyle has been in our Student Ministry since the 8th grade. He’s a student leader, a young man who loves Christ. As our Student Minister Chris Lovell says, “He’s legit. The real deal.”

It’s a breath of fresh air to read a story in the local newspaper about an athlete speaking not about himself, but about those he ministered to ... in Romania. That’s Kyle in the photos playing with children in Braila earlier this summer. (Read the story here.)

I often speak about the passion of our church to build the next generation of leaders. I also speak often about fulfilling the Great Commission as a church family. In a blog in June, I talked about the three, all-consuming, holy ambitions God has given me for the next 10 years...

Number 1 is expanding our local, national and global influence of Christ and the Church. Number 2 is growing and building the North Campus and strengthening the Plano Campus. And number 3 is developing a new generation of 21st century leader for the Church.

Our Student Ministry and our Children’s Ministry and Prestonwood Christian Academy do a wonderful job of helping develop the next generation. You can sense that every single day.

I am grateful also for the leadership provided by our volunteers, including Hebron Head Football Coach Brian Brazil. Brian is a friend, a longtime Prestonwood member, a deacon, and a group leader in our Student Ministry. Brian’s Hebron team and the PCA and Trinity Christian Academy teams are among the seven in the area that our Student Ministry reaches out to with our football ministry.

So, anyway, read this young man’s story ... it’s more than football...

Mini Revival at Prestonwood

We experienced an amazing time at Prestonwood this past Labor Day Weekend! With the anniversary of 9/11 coming up this week, and as we closed out our Life Message series, we thought it would be appropriate to have someone like Tim Lee bring his life message.

A former Marine, Purple Heart recipient and the prodigal son of a Baptist minister, Tim reached out to Christ in his darkest hour. He was running point, leading newly arrived Marines on a mine sweep in Vietnam, when he lost both legs in an explosion.

Tim says he had run from God in his teenage and early adult years and at that moment, the running stopped. He knew he was badly injured. He pleaded with God. “God, get me home ... I’ll do whatever You want me to do.”

He made it home and began preaching the Gospel wherever and whenever he could. And on Saturday and Sunday, he preached it here at Prestonwood during all services, including simulcasts to Prestonwood North. It was beautiful to see people streaming down the aisles to the front, whether for prayer or rededication or to receive Christ as their Savior. It was a powerful time, with over 200 decisions for Christ. Our services truly had the feel of an old-time revival ... minus the sawdust...

Learn more about Tim at timlee.org. You will be blessed by his life message.

Battle of the Champions

I’m looking forward to the matchup tonight between the PCA Lions and the Celina Bobcats!

Did you know between them, the two teams are owners of 10 state championships? Of course, Celina has more state titles than any other school in Texas with eight. Still, PCA is a fairly new school, so I have no doubt we’ll catch up!

The great thing about this game is it brings together our two campuses! We have members at Prestonwood and Prestonwood North who are faithful supporters of the teams, and it’s going to be a lot of fun to cheer for both.

Get out there early and meet us at the pre-game rally at 6:00 p.m. across the street from Bobcat Stadium....

From Cow Pastures to Cotton Fields

I couldn’t let the month pass without noting that we just marked the fourth anniversary of Prestonwood North. This month we also expanded to two worship services at this second campus just 20 miles to the north. It has truly been a blessing to see what the Lord has done as we have faithfully reached out to the communities in the 380 corridor.

While driving to Prestonwood North over the past few weeks, I couldn’t help but think about where we’ve come. In the midst of this Metroplex, so urban and urbane, Prestonwood has risen up in what used to be cow pastures here on a hill in Plano.

(That's me and Mike and Joanie Buster checking out the land on Hebron in 1995.)

In 1995, the Lord brought us to these cow pastures, 140 acres on a road called Hebron. In Scripture, Hebron is where Abraham received the promise from God. Hebron means “face to face” with God.

Throughout history, God has blessed those who have received and believed His promises. He consecrated Israel for His glory. At Prestonwood, we have steadfastly believed His promise ... and He has kept His promises to us. God gave us a vision as to what would rise from the cow pastures 15 years ago—a church that ministers in the community and in the nations, from Africa to the Amazon.

(Pictured above are church leaders and deacons praying on the cotton fields in 2006.)

And four years ago He planted yet another vision for this church ... to lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes, just as Isaiah 54 says. And so we went from the cow pastures on Hebron to the cotton fields in Prosper.

More and more families are joining our congregation at Prestonwood North, hearts are being restored, and lives are being changed. Nearly 2,000 are attending the two services and about 1,500 are plugged in to Bible Fellowship. And the best is yet to come...

Prestonwood is truly a testimony for how God can use anything ... from cow pastures to cotton fields ... for His glory.

I AM SECOND TRACTS

“It’s a terrible thing to lose a father.”

That’s the opening line—white copy on a black background—of my I AM SECOND tract. Last year, I shared my story with I AM SECOND. I spoke about losing my dad, the grief that engulfed my family when we learned he’d been bludgeoned with a hammer. But I also spoke about the grace of God. How He heals and restores.

This black and white, 31/2-by-51/2 booklet not only touches on my story, but it also lays out the Gospel message in just a few pages ... and the opportunity for the unbeliever to submit to God and pray to receive Him.

The tracts are available at the Prestonwood Bookstores and the Information Desk and the NextStep Booth this weekend. Pick some up and share them with someone you’ve been praying for. If you don’t live in the area, you can watch my film at iamsecond.com. Point others to the site ... it’s a great way to share what Christ has done in the life of so many.