Teacher.  Farmer.  Soldier.  Athlete.  What do these professions have to do with the Christian life?  The Apostle Paul says they have much to do with us living for Jesus and investing in others. The successful teacher invests in her students and spends hours in preparation in order to be a good teacher; the soldier trains and disciplines himself for the battle; the athlete does not compete without a reason — he competes to get the crown or the victory; and the farmer spends all that time in isolation and labor in order to produce food.

Here is the point:  the Christian life must be lived with passion, purpose, and victory.  I am looking forward to preaching this Sunday morning from 2 Timothy 2:1-7; the message is entitled Radiant Living — Discipleship.  As a radiant church here in Austin, it is vital that we reach inward and disciple and teach each other.

On Sunday night join Ashley and me at our evening service at 6:15 pm as Kyle Miller teaches from 1 John 5, Guard Yourselves from Idols.

God continues to bless and pour out His favor upon us here at Great Hills.  On Wednesday evening during Elevate, we had a fun time connecting with Chad and the team in Cleveland through Skype.  Danny Lacey led us in worship and I preached from Luke 4 on the incomparable Jesus Christ. God blessed and saved three souls!  We then went to eat (like good Baptists) and had a fun time of fellowship with the students and leaders.

Please continue to pray for me as I serve as your pastor leader here at Great Hills.  There is so much to absorb, evaluate, analyze, and, yes, there are things that need to be changed.  Some of you have expressed your heartfelt desires to see certain things happen here at Great Hills.  After diligently praying, I will be asking the church body to assist me in implementing necessary changes for our church.  I humbly ask that you keep being kind and supportive even when you do not get your way.  There is so much at stake!  So many lost souls here in Austin need Jesus, and God has blessed and commissioned this body of believers known as Great Hills Baptist Church to reach and teach them.

Next Sunday we will be looking at the third part of the Radiant Church — reaching outward through evangelism and missions.  I also will be sharing with the church family an opportunity we have to shine brightly here in our own Jerusalem as we illuminate Austin with acts of kindness and compassion.

Finally, thank you to so many who continue to pray for our family.  We still very much need to sell our home in Greenwood, Arkansas.  And we are getting clarity about our children’s education, so please keep lifting these requests up to our Father.

Danny Forshee
2 Timothy 2:2