Holiday Update

Wow, I have had a great time hanging out with my family! It's been a great holiday. I feel refreshed, and I'm ready to tackle the new year. My family and I flew to Minnesota on December 24th. My wife has a lot of family who lives up north. We had over 30 people at our Christmas dinner. It was a blast hanging out and just relaxing. I NEEDED IT! We are flying home today. I'm ready to get home. A week from the house is just about right for me. Here are a few highlights from our trip.

1. We stayed with my wife's cousin and her family. They have been close since they were little kids. They are youth pastors at her dad's church.

2. A lot of my wife's family are full-time ministers.

3. My kids got so many gifts from their grandparents that we couldn’t bring them all home on the plane. THEY LOVE THEIR GRANDPARENTS. We are going to have to make a trip to Nebraska to pick up all of those gifts (my wife's parents live in Nebraska).

4. I played a bunch of XBOX 360 with Kirby. Kirby is my wife's cousin's husband. We had so much fun playing against one another. We spent hours just goofing off and playing games. By the way, I dominated him in (Madden, Baseball & Hockey).

5. I ate way too much food. I guarantee I picked up 5 pounds. Oh well, I have to hit the gym really hard the next couple of weeks.

6. I HAD SO, SO, SO MUCH FUN ON THIS TRIP!

7. I'm very excited about what God is getting ready to do at People's Church in 2008!

8. Josh, our Executive Pastor, spoke this weekend, and I know he did a great job!

9. I'm beginning a new series this weekend called The Winning Hand. INVITE EVERYBODY YOU KNOW! LET'S PACK THE HOUSE and WATCH GOD DO HIS THING!

Christmas Eve Blog Action

1. This is the only blog I'm doing all week. I'm taking a blogging break and giving my staff the rest of the week off.

2. My staff has worked hard this year. Our church has grown somewhere around 30 to 40 percent this year. They deserve a few days off before we hit the ground running in January.

3. This weekend we were down in attendance because of the snow, sleet and ice we had on Saturday. My family and I actually flew off the interstate on Saturday, but God kept us safe.

4. Some of my drive to church yesterday morning was on ICE. That ice is dangerous stuff.

5. Even with the weather conditions, we still had over 10 people give their hearts to Christ.

6. We had a great communion service in all four services. IT WAS A HOLY MOMENT! If you missed it, YOU MISSED OUT on an awesome experience.

7. I love being your pastor.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! REMEMBER THAT JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Random Thoughts

1. Yesterday, my wife and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary. I married an incredible woman. I love her more and more as the days go by. I took my bride to a GREAT restaurant and looked into her eyes and told her how much she means to me! WHAT A LADY!

2. My kids are excited for Christmas. I really love this time of year. It's my favorite time of year.

3. This week has been an incredibly busy week. The next 2 months is going to be a VERY busy season for me and my team at People's Church. It's worth every minute of it to see MORE CHANGED LIVES!

4. I'm tired!

5. I made it into the championship game in one of my fantasy leagues. The championship is two weeks long. My team is 12-2. I have to bring home the championship. GO TEAM GO!

6. Before you leave Oklahoma City to go visit family, be sure to come worship with your church family at one of our four Sunday Christmas services at 8:30AM, 9:45AM, 11:00AM and 12:15PM. I look forward to seeing you there!

7. In January, we are beginning a series that is going to change your life. I'm very excited for what God has in store through this series.

Student Ministries Director

I am looking to hire a Student Ministries Director. Our current Student Ministries Director has done a superb job of building our Youth Ministry. He and his family feel God leading them to be a Senior Pastor. If you are interested in being our Student Ministries Director, please email your resume to erin@peopleschurch.tv or fax it to 405-775-9992. Please no phone calls.

This is what I am looking for:

1. A leader of leaders, not a doer. A great team builder

2. A good communicator and vision caster

3. Works well with a team

4. Thrives in a multi-cultural setting

5. Is called to be in Youth Ministry for the next 5 to 10 years

6. Will fit into our philosophy of ministry (THIS IS HUGE)

7. Is passionate about seeing the People's Church vision coming to pass

8. Works well in a fast paced, rapidly growing and changing environment

9. Has the 3 C's, Character, Chemistry, Competency!

Send this blog to as many people as you know.

Guest Blog: Shane Hood

Hello, I am the Community Group Director at People's Church.

I wanted to share today on the importance of community in small groups and the church. To create community, people must have common interests focused around the vision of the church. As small group leaders start to connect with others, they begin to build relationships that promote doing life together, holding each other accountable for their lifestyles and reaching out to others to join in. To continue the momentum of people connecting and starting new groups, the leader of the Small Group Ministry must build a team of leaders around them. In that team of leaders, there must be an inner circle of a few top tier leaders of whom the leader develops and spends extra time with. The inner circle assists in promoting the vision to all the Small Group Leaders and keeps them focused on creating the culture of developing new leaders. As new leaders are developed, community can continue to grow with the church.

Why I Blog?

1. I think it's pretty cool to keep a log of what's happening in my mind and heart. I will enjoy looking back over the years and seeing what I was thinking and facing at the time.

2. It allows my church family to get to know me and my family a little better. In a rapidly growing church, it's impossible to have relationship with everybody.

3. It allows me to cast vision and give direction to my church family.

4. It allows me to speak into the lives of other leaders. I get a great deal of satisfaction pouring into the lives of leaders. I feel like one of the callings on my life is to equip, resource and encourage leaders.

5. I can't believe my one year anniversary of blogging is coming up in January. I'm getting in a groove!

Weekend Update

1. The weather was much better in Oklahoma this weekend! We actually had sunshine yesterday and today!

2. 11 people surrendered their lives to Christ this weekend. YEA GOD!

3. The four weekend services are going really well.

4. The Dallas Cowboys lost yesterday. I'm mad!

5. One of my fantasy teams didn't make the playoffs and one of them got booted out last week. I still have one team in the playoffs and tonight's football game will decide if my team moves on.

6. Don't miss our special Christmas Eve Services this coming up Sunday! It is going to be a fabulous time!

Guest Blog: Erin Brown Pt. 3

I thought that today I would list some of the things that I do on a weekly basis.

▪ I filter all of his calls, mail and emails that come into the office.
▪ I schedule his appointments.
▪ I assist with any sermon research that he may need. A few of the websites that I find helpful are http://www.sermoncentral.com/ and http://www.bible.org/. Both of these sites have great illustrations, quotes, etc…
▪ I make all of his travel arrangements, such as booking flights, hotels, etc…
▪ I make sure that he has everything he will need for the Sunday services.
▪ Everyday I send an “end of the day” report that has any pertinent information that I feel he needs to know.
▪ On a weekly basis, Herbert meets with Josh Brown, our Director of Operations, and Brian Rush, our Programming Director, in an Executive Meeting. After this meeting, there is a Leadership Staff Meeting the Josh leads. I sit in the staff meetings on Pastor Herbert’s behalf and make note of things that he needs to know.

My task list may differ from week to week, but these are a few of the things that I do on a regular basis. An essential element of being a good assistant is flexibility. Overall, I try to remember that anything, no matter how big or small, I can take off his plate or make easier for him is freeing up more of his time. The more time I can free up for Herbert as his assistant, the more time he can spend doing what he is called to do.

Guest Blog: Erin Brown Pt. 2

A few things:

1. Being an assistant to the pastor is an important job. It is so important that I feel it is my ministry and my calling. I consider it an honor and blessing to serve as an assistant to both Herbert and Tiffany. It is by far the most rewarding job I have ever had.

2. Another aspect of my role is protecting Herbert’s time. I understand how valuable his time is. How do I show this? I try and redirect things that don’t need his attention. I double check and confirm every appointment he has. When he comes in the office, I try and have everything ready for him so that he doesn’t have to wait on me. I have found all of these things to be helpful in my role as an assistant.

Guest Blog: Erin Brown

I have asked my personal assistant, Erin Brown, to share with you for the next 2 or 3 days some of her insights on serving in this role at People’s Church.

There are a few things that I would like to share with you over the next couple of days. I invite all of the pastors reading this to have your assistants read it as well. You never know where you will get something that might be helpful.

One of the most important roles I play as Herbert’s assistant is to be his “filter.” I get many, many calls every week almost all of which want to talk to Herbert. There is no possible way in a church our size that he can take all of the calls and meet all of the needs and still be able to effectively study, pray and deliver the messages that we enjoy every Sunday. Something would suffer. Herbert has built a great team that assists him in carrying this load. I would say that less than 5% of the calls actually get through to Herbert. I have found, that if I stop and ask a few questions to gather some details, most of the time either I can help them or another pastor would be more effective in taking care of their need.

Confidentiality and trust are vital in my role as an assistant. There has to be a level of trust where it is understood that I can be given information and it goes no further. It is extremely important to know that you have people around you that you can trust.

Praying Fervent Prayers

Many Oklahomans are without power. The latest number I've heard is over 500,000. Trees are down everywhere. It's cold and raining. All my blogging family from around the nation please be praying for power to be restored quickly.

Also, be praying for New Life Church in Colorado Springs. By now most of you have heard about the shooting that took place at the mission and at the church. THEY NEED OUR PRAYERS! I'm praying for them and would you join me.

Weekend Update

1. The weather in Oklahoma was NOT GOOD at all this weekend. It's even worse today. Saturday night into Sunday, and a good portion of the day on Sunday, Oklahoma got a ton of freezing rain/ice. Many churches cancelled their Sunday services, and ALL the schools are closed today.

2. We didn't cancel church yesterday. We had all 4 services. Of course, the crowds were really low, but the spirit in the place was really high. Those who braved it out in the icy weather were excited to worship God. We had 2 people give their hearts to the Lord yesterday. PRAISE GOD!
3. The church offices are closed today because of the ice storm. I haven't driven on the roads yet, but I've looked outside and the trees are COVERED with ice, so I can only imagine what the roads are like.

4. Many people are without power all across Oklahoma. I'm praying for your power to get restored quickly. Thankfully, our power is still on.

5. I need Drew Brees, quaterback for the Saints, to have a GREAT game tonight if I'm going to advance to the second round of the playoffs in one of my fantasy football leagues. I didn't make it to the playoffs in one of my other leagues. I got crushed yesterday by Brian Rush, the church's Programming Director. I had a bye week in the league where I'm 11-2.

6. It looks like I'll be working from home most of the day. Thank God for technology!

Random Thoughts

1. I hope there is no freezing rain this weekend. We are planning on having church no matter what. So, IF IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS (because I don't fully believe it until I see it), drive carefully and come enjoy an inspiring, anointed worship experience with your church family.

2. When you're mad at God, how do you get past those emotions? How do you get over it? Don't miss this weekend because I will be talking about Tis The Season To Stop Being Mad At God.

3. I'm so excited about the future of our church. THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT! THE VISION IS BOLD! 2008 is going to be our best year to date. Get on board and get ready for the time of your life! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

4. Ladies, don't forget about the ladies' event called Be INspired @ 6:30PM tonight. It's going to be a fun time!

5. I've made the playoffs in two of my fantasy leagues, and if I win this weekend, I will make the playoffs in all three leagues. I can't believe I won 10 games straight in one league. My records are 11-2, 8-5, 7-6.

6. Our family is hanging in the living room this morning watching cartoons and eating Captain Crunch cereal. I love that cereal! It's healthy for you :).

7. I'm very thankful and humbled by the way the Lord has blessed me. GOD, THANKS FOR BEING SO GOOD TO ME EVEN THOUGH I DON'T DESERVE IT!

8. See you on SUNDAY!

Spiritual Vitality pt. 3

5. Be committed to a small group. At People's Church, we call them Community Groups. If you are going to grow to your full potential in Christ, you must be committed to doing life together with other believers. You must be COMMITTED to growing spiritually, caring, enjoying fellowship and ministry with a small group of believers. You can worship with a crowd, but you can't fellowship with one. You can worship with a crowd, but you can't be held accountable by one. You can worship with a crowd, but you can't be cared for by a crowd. If you're not in a Community Group, get in one ASAP. Don't stunt your spiritual growth by being a lone ranger Christian.

6. Serve in a ministry. Nothing will make you more like Christ than developing a servant's heart. The more you fall in love with Christ and surrender your life to him, the more you WANT to serve others through the local church. You can't be all God wants you to be and be SELFISH! You were created to serve. Serving makes you more like Christ. Christ himself said, "I didn't come to be served but to serve." Get on a ministry team at your local church and start recklessly serving others. You'll be glad you did!

Spiritual Vitality pt. 2

3. Fast on a consistent basis. Fasting is a spiritual discipline, if practiced, that reaps many spiritual benefits in our lives. I know many of you have never fasted for spiritual reasons. Every time I fast, God destroys something in me that shouldn't be in me. Every time I fast, my flesh weakens and becomes more surrendered to the Holy Spirit. Every time I fast, I draw closer to my Heavenly Father. I want to strongly encourage you to fast and seek God's face and just watch what God does in your life.

4. Attend church regularly. If you want to grow into the believer that God desires you to be, it will take attending church regularly. Scripture says in Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (New International Version). We need corporate worship! We must be committed to worshipping, serving, tithing and growing at a local church. This is key to your spiritual vitality.

Spiritual Vitality

If you are going to stay strong spiritually, you must be proactive with your relationship with God. As we are winding down the end of 2007 and looking ahead to 2008, I want to encourage you to set spiritual goals to keep your relationship with Christ vibrant. Here are some things you need to incorporate.

1. Read God's Word daily. You can't make it spiritually on one sermon a week. You need to have daily communion and intimacy with Christ by reading His Word. MAKE IT A HABIT, AND you'll NEVER regret it.

2. Pray continually (daily). Set aside a time to pray and connect with God on a daily basis. These are times you speak to God, worship God and allow God to speak to you. "Herbert, Is it necessary to set aside time to be with the Lord or can I just pray on the fly?" It's very necessary to set aside time to pray. My wife and I have 3 little kids, and we could just regulate our time of communicating with one another to talking on the fly. Though we talk during the day and in the evenings, there's nothing more connecting and refreshing for our relationship than going out on a date without the kids and hanging out and talking. I CHERISH THOSE TIMES WITH MY WIFE. Our relationship stays vibrant because of those times that have been SET ASIDE to spend with one another. Our relationship with Christ needs the same intentionality. You MUST make prayer a daily part of your schedule! YOU MUST BE INTENTIONAL! Little prayer, little power, MUCH PRAYER, MUCH POWER!

MORE TOMORROW!

Weekend Update

1. 16 people gave their hearts to Christ this weekend. I love hearing the stories of how God is continually changing lives. This serving God stuff is so fun and exciting!

2. I had a great meeting with some of the leaders in our church to cast vision about the future of People's Church. The atmosphere was ELECTRIFIED! The future is bright. Our leaders are pumped up. THE BEST IS YET TO COME! HOLD ON FOLKS FOR AN INCREDIBLE RIDE!

3. Our four Sunday services were a huge success. Thanks church family for your passion to do whatever it takes to reach our city with the good news of Christ.

4. The OU Sooners whooped Missouri. My Sooners made it into a BCS bowl game.

5. In one fantasy football league, I won 10 straight games to finish the regular season 11-2. I'm red hot in that league. I will win my division and make the playoffs in another league with a record of 8-5. My other league comes down to tonight. IT'S A MUST WIN!

6. My oldest son turns 4 years old today! I LOVE MY KIDS!

7. Make it a great Monday!