The Joy

My beautiful granddaughter Reese and her mom, Lindsay - leaving a note and some candy for Santa and his reindeer - the beauty of childlike wonder and joy! (Reese has wonderful parents in Linds and Niles!)


This is the true beauty of Christmas!

Family, faith, joy and Santa Claus...

Saint Nick of Myra - (check it - Bishop in Turkey, well known as surprise giver of gifts, all year...300AD...the true Saint Nick - I think God has no problem with Santa- giver of gifts.)

What a joy - the Bible says, the greatest joy is to see your children following Christ...and this is that.

Have a wonderful and special Christmas! Let it be about new beginnings...2009 is going to be amazing!

grace/peace
paul

Christmas - about family, church, friends.

Amazing Christmas celebration at Hope Church on Sunday.


Tuesday - wonderful family time at the mall...


God has blessed you and I so abundantly.
To Him be all our gratitude and praise.


be blessed!

paul

thinkin...

Sitting at Barnes/Noble - reading, thinking - 'pondering' is a great word, friend Tom Dooley said, if people ask him question and want a weighty response of some sort, for which he may not be fully prepared, he can say he was 'pondering' - doesnt sound like un-spiritual 'thinking', and he may not have actually 'prayed' over it...but, he was 'pondering' - now, that's wisdom and I pass it on.

check out twitter.com - daily, sometimes hourly updates on your best friends... including me - join for free... put in my name and follow on... can show up on your phone... I follow some great guys (including Shaq) and get updates from family I might not have otherwise seen or known... very cool, very new.

photo of me and my fabulous wife Judi - at dinner with friends...

be blessed.
stop and ponder a bit... think, pray, read, rest in His grace.

crankin' it strong
paul

Juarez, Mexico

Wow...what a rush last week was... and then, a powerful Sunday...

The kids at this center in Juarez have all been sheltered because of drugs, poverty or abuse...
Got back from Peru and Ecuador - from Manila to South America and home, did over 35,000 miles in 10 days...!
Home on Tuesday night - then did a wonderful little private wedding on Wednesday - then on Thursday (Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.)

We drove to Juarez, Mexico with over $15,000 of shoes for the little kids of the wartorn border town -
Drug cartels are fighting over billions of dollars of the drug trade, over 1300 people have been killed in Juarez this year... a top official with Homeland Security told us to not set foot in Juarez...
So, we slipped over the border, across the main bridge, and met church pastors and elders...did a transfer of shoes into pickup trucks, prayed over them... and that afternoon they did the first of the parties handing out shoes to the kids!
It was 10 hrs. down, a little sleep, then meeting with the churches, then 10 hours driving back...

Then - Sunday was a great word - listen to it at www.hopechurch.tv - it's titled "The Christmas Gap" and it's not about a place to shop... already hearing of great results...God is so good to us!

"The measure of a man is based upon the dimensions of what he is willing to give his life for"

go for it.
lovya!
paul

Ecuador!

Tremendous time with Jimmy Cornejo and the team in Cuenca, Ecuador. I left Manila on Wed. morning at 7am and arrived Cuenca on Friday morning at 9am - wow - what a trip - but well worth it! Here with amazing men of God, Tim Cross, Robert Barriger, Joaquin Molina, Jimmy Cornejo, Guillermo Aguayo - what an amazing time - more photos soon...commissioned 70 men, including over a dozen pastors...
Leaders from across Ecuador were there...it was tremendous...and the teaching team are all heavyweight guys - it was awesome...

Then, the ride back to Guayaquil to catch flight to LIma.. over the Andes mountains! Looking out right side of van, it must have been a half mile straight down at times... wild - fog, rain, gravel roads, one lane in area where mountain had collapsed a month ago, just another day doing the men's movement thing around the world!

Just arrived in Lima - ministry tomorrow will be great...and at home, Brandon is gonna rock HopeC3 church! It will be an awesome Sunday as we pray over the shoes we are taking to Juarez, Mexico next week for the little kids in the toughest areas of that broken city... that will be so very special... great way to spend Thanksgiving!

doin' the stuff!

paul

Manila was Rockin'!

Over 3,000 leaders and pastors from all over Philippines, Guam, Solomon Islands, and many other places I cant spell...it was wild...and extremely productive!

We will conduct a Philippines National CMN event Dec. 4.5 next year 2009! Eddy Leo will be there and many others...tell friends now that you know have connections in that part of world!

blessings!
paul

MANILA

WOW - what an amazing time with Dr. David Sobrepena, James Davis, Joann Webster, Eddy Leo, and other great friends ministering to thousands of leaders from across Philippines... over 300 pastors signed up to be part of the launch of CMN in Philippines and kickoff the men's movement in that troubled yet rising nation... this is historic.

just landed at LAX, caught some sleep and heading to Ecuador... I landed in Manila on Tuesday morning at 7am, and then spoke at 11am to the delegates! that was wild, then spoke again next morning at joint session and left wed. night - so, 3 days of travel but only one night in a hotel - flew to LA, slept at hotel for a bit, then back to airport to go to Miami, then to Ecuador where I will stay at hotel late night for a few hours, then catch flight at 6am to Cuenca and scheduled to speak at 11am. This is the glamor of travel and ministry... :)

loading my flight.
bye.
photos later.
pc

Awesome again...

That awesome was an attempt to do blog from Manila - writing about AWESOME weekend with John Muratori and the men in Connecticut. Hosted regional event in Cheshire, CT and men from all over the area attended - great results - mens leader Thomas said that he is getting reports from other churches, as well as their men - Muratori is a gas to be with - wrote great book called "Rich Church, Poor Church" and it 's a hit - just got back from mentoring leaders in Aruba (Lord, send me to St. Thomas or Maui - if it's your will...) These guys really have it going on and we will do a larger regional event next year in the NewHaven area of Connecticut...

Hanging with John and men like him has convinced me it is time to launch a mens' movement coaching alliance - men who can help other pastors lead their men strongly and effectively - to lead men who are successful and lead men who are on the rebound and be successful at all levels --- think with me on this...and we will launch at May Lions Roar.

LIONS ROAR - MAY 11-13 DALLAS 2009.

Robert Barriger, Bishop Bronner, Eddy Leo, Doug Stringer and others leading this convocation. Plan now!

pray hard, live strong.

paul

Awesome

cool video about fathering

I'm watching you Dad!
The principle is -
Children may not always listen to you,
but they will always imitate you.



amen.

pc

Cincinnati - Argentina

8 men saved in Cincy men's event with Paul Holland, Ps. Barry Clardy and great team. What an amazing thing to see men at 27, 35, 42 and 58 years of age give their lives to Christ! To see men standing there with tears in their eyes, nothing manipulative, just the awesome power of God hitting their hearts with a bang - truly amazing.

Same day Robert Barriger, Eddy Leo send me email of great event they are doing in Argentina at good friend Carlos Balart's church. How cool is that?!

Headed to NYC thursday, looking forward to great event in New Haven area with dynamic pastor John Muratori... then, back to Hope Church, leave after service to Manila - two days there, then Ecuador - two days, Lima for a day, then home for two days and drive hundreds of shoes to the little kids in Juarez, Mexico for Thanksgiving...

and, continuing to pray for Karyn Barriger - she starts chemotherapy in the morning. She is healed.

amen.

paul

Mariners Church - NB

Starting FIRES! That's what this event was about - Men's Pastor Jerry Huson has got a huge passion to see the men of his region on fire for God - and this event was about that... Jerry is a former baseball coach, college president and now taking on the task of leading the men of this dynamic huge church in Newport Beach California... had great times with dear friends Paul and Kim Forrest, Robert Kalatchan, my awesome inlaws Rick and Ann -
...and great times with Jerry just passionately beating each other up about reaching men around the world!
Robert Barriger flew in to hit it with a strong word about 'nothing', and CMN Chairman, Bishop Dale Bronner came from Atlanta to create a larger vision for the men who attended from the region! When I grow up, I want to be just like Bishop!

This is what being 'allies' is all about - networking with passionate brothers in the Lord! Creating momentum for the global men's movement!
a love for good coffee always helps - problem with Jerry is he works out 5 days a week - so, he's irritatingly healthy.

Let's do the men's movement around the world - take it to new levels!

fire up!

pc

OSHKOSH!

Great time with the men in Oshkosh, Wisconsin-Pastor James Willoughby and men from surrounding area - started getting cold as I got out of town - just in time to miss the snow flurries...
Photo of some of the guys who are "DangerousMen!"
They are running with the curriculum and building a men's movement in upper Wisconsin - just south of GreenBay - great area - they have four seasons, a month of summer, a month of autumn, month of spring and a year of winter.
Brandon did our services at Hope - Robert and Karyn Barriger surprised Hope as special guests - they had a great time of prayer over Karyn - what an amazing couple...they have done more than will ever be known, Robert doesnt trumpet it...but they are tremendous.

headed to Newport Beach to be with wild man Jerry Huson and the guys at Mariners Church! Bishop Bronner, Robert Barriger coming in to speak - will be epic!

stay hot.
pc

Reggie White

Big Tommy sent me photo of the first time I met Reggie... (I was giving him workout pointers :)
Miss this guy. What a larger than life man...yeah, he was an amazing football player (Hall of Fame), I will never forget him throwing Larry Allen out of the way so he could sack the quarterback, Allen was a huge guy that could bench press 700 pounds - and Reggie just moved him out of the way with one arm, it was astounding -
but
what Reggie really was, was a passionate pursuer of the presence of God - he was obsessed, passionate, wild, misunderstood, loving, loud, gentle, really funny, great dad, great husband - everything you want your sons to emulate.
He is with Jesus now, and I miss him. The world is a much better place that he was here, and heaven is more jubilant with him there - he may be telling some stories with crazy sound effects right now...and everyone's laughing, enjoying Jesus.
Just before he left, he was intent on learning the Bible in Hebrew, had started to study the Jewish roots and, of course, like anything else in his life, he was passionate about it, and if you weren't, it didn't make sense to him...

THE WORLD IS CHANGED BY THE LIVES OF THE RADICALS.
What are you radical about? anything? Read the Bible - get obsessed about Christ, love, compassion - you'll be misunderstood, you won't be satisfied to live a safe little life, and you'll change the world you live in.

May we all live with the same reckless abandon that Reggie did.
Pray for Sara and the kids, Jeremy and Jecolia.

amen.

paul

Building some Strong Men!

Great event with Ps. Don Brawley and the men and women of Canaan Land Church International in Atlanta. Great vision, getting it done... and to hear Ps. Don talk about their new building and the need for a 'third place' was so cool... 'third place' is a conceptual philosophy that Starbucks has used, which is that everyone has the need for a 'third place' the first two being work and home, - it would be like the tv show 'Cheers' a place in which everyone knew your name...
Leonard Sweet hits it best in his book "the Gospel according to Starbucks" , in fact, Leonard just nails it...his best book... and a must read for anyone wanting to build the church.
So, to hear Ps. Don talk about that in relation to his new building was great, refreshing, he's a man on a mission, and I am thrilled to be on the same path with him and his guys...it was great.

Headed to Wisconsin, Newport Beach, Cincinatti, Connecticut, Peru and Ecuador over next five weeks...awesome!

keep it cranking!

paul

Rockin' Atlanta - the JOURNEY!

What an amazing event with the men of Atlanta Christian City Church! amazing, strong, powerful, life altering... Dean and Jill Sweetman pastor this dynamic church - Dean has trained two great men to lead a dynamic men's movement - Eric Tymchuk and Jim Crumbley lead a men's movement that is awesome! WE did our event, then they took 100 guys into the wood of north Georgia and did war games, mud-rugby, team building events and found time to pray the power of God over each man!
These guys are nuts...in a good way... they really believe we are called to be warriors for God - and they are training themselves to be highly influential in every part of culture = THESE ARE THE GUYS I WANT WITH ME IN BATTLE!

CHECK out the video from the Journey men's ministry at www.christiancitychurch.com and click on the men's ministry area, then to the Journey button to see the outrageous video...

This is what discipling men is all about.

Took my son Brandon with me, he closed the Friday teaching sessions with a masterful discourse on being an aggressive follower of Christ...he was awesome... some of you need to book him, not just for young men, but for your church!

Photo - Brandon, Eric, Jim and the old guy.

never give in.

paul

Pastor's Conference C3 International

Over 1,000 lead pastors and dynamic church planters from around the world gathered for a week of refreshing... Strikingly anointed, deeply personal, intensely powerful heart shaping moments, refreshing, inspirational, provoking...what an amazing global conference with Phil Pringle and Christian City Churches International. This is the covering movement for my pastoral ordination...and they are rockin'!
We met dozens of leaders from every continent and most major regions of the world, powerful men and women who are going after it!
Phil Pringle is my covering, an amazing motivator and leader - listen to his messages at www.ccc.org.au - they will fill you with faith and create spiritual momentum.
It was great to spend some time with good friends from around the world - Kong Hee, pastor in Singapore (they had 46,000 for Easter!) - Pastors Art and Kuna Sepulveda, who make all their men read Maximized Manhood - great leaders in Hawaii, Pete Sumrall with Harvest Television Network on his way to seal deal for shortwave station that reaches all of Russia - Mark and Gail Smallcombe crankin a great church in San Francisco - Frazer and Tam Rowe from Sydney, these guys are awesome! and so many more - and new friends...some amazing people - living lives that make us feel like we are standing still!

These are the special moments of life - when the refreshing presence of God creates new waves of energy and effectiveness in your life, surrounded by good friends and deeply in love with my wife...how good can life get!
- actually, it can get really good, when we returned home and my granddaughter Reese sees us and comes running yelling "Papa, Gami!!" now, that is truly the remarkable life...

More stuff on the conference coming...and a note on 'patient endurance' - what does that really mean to you and I?

warmest blessings

paul

India next year

Meeting here with Pastor Jacob from southern India - his son and daugher-in-law are interns at Hope Church.
He has a national television program in India and along with many other friends are ready to host a series of men's strategy summits and events in India next year... praise God!
We will let you know the dates...

crankin'

pc

Baptism at Hope

Wow - how amazing is it to baptize people who are going to the next level in their walk with Christ!!
Spectacular evening at one of our elders' homes - the Hicksons, a festival of joy! So many had such great stories, God is so good.. that's Brandon ministering with me, the pool is surrounded by friends and loved ones, it was awesome...
I love pastoring Hope Church, what a joy! Check out our website - www.hopechurch.tv - you can listen to messages and follow the journey of Hope.

amen.

paul

East Africa Going Strong!

Just receiving new reports from Uganda and the team...men headed into Kenya and Rwanda - over 200 leaders in Maximized Manhood monthly training classes... tremendous impact. Thank you to all who helped make this trip happen, my Pastor Phil Pringle, Rusty Greer, Mike Bower, our friends in Finland, friends in Indonesia and many others! Thank you! The impact is huge and ongoing.
These are photos of meeting with the Prime Minister of Uganda, who came to the Saturday men's event, and a shot of over 300 pastors praying for the men who were at one of the events in Kampala.
Plan on going with us again next year to Uganda for tremendous meetings across the nation - it will be sometime end of August next year - most likely around the U.S. labor day holiday.
great stuff!

grace/peace
paul

MEXICO

Pastors meeting in Juarez last night - mens event tonight!
Tremendous time with key leaders, imparting the vision of reaching their city - shared Hombria al Maximo (Maximized Manhood) and gave copy of book to each man- it really hit strong... we have been coming to Juarez for years bringing shoes to the poorest children every Thanksgiving (U.S. holiday in November).
It has been a high impact outreach for our church (Hopechurch.tv) and very important to churches here - every church we brought shoes to last year added people during the outreach - one man told me that 8 families joined the church due to the shoe outreach - this year we hope to take 1500 pairs of shoes to the children!
Now the doors are open to bringing the men's movement - amen! John Paul Infante is speaking at the men's event tonight - he'll do great! I'm back to Dallas - JohnPaul was just in Colombia ministering last week - heard from Giullermo Aguayo, he was there last month - awesome - Pastor John Arana is in Guanajuato next week - let me know what you're up to! Alex Mitala and team of men are headed to Kenya next month - I am in events in U.S. - headed to Europe and South America in October/November!
Stay in touch!

Focus on the goal - stay in motion!

grace/peace
paul

Uganda - Child Soldiers

Two young men, who have seen the very worst side of evil that could ever be imagined...see earlier story on them...
God is reclaiming their very precious and powerful lives for Him.

plc

Uganda - photos

Here is one photo of the amazing event Saturday in Kampala - men from across the nation, and what was tremendous, over 300 pastors were at this event - of course, many didn't bring their men, they were "checking out" what this men's movement thing really was...and then the constant comment was..."I should have brought our men" So, next year they will!

More reports soon from Amsterdam...let's keep the momentum going around the globe!

stay healthy

grace/peace
paul

Amazing Results Uganda!

Over 400 pastors, thousands of men, 5 amazing days of ministry - the Saturday LionsRoar event was attended by the Prime Minister, covered by national news, GREAT MOMENTUM!
And, to top it off - 31 Men Commissioned!

The CMN team is now planning regional institutes for leaders and pastors, going into Kenya in the Fall, and a great series of events next year! There is a great sense of breakthrough - what so many men have labored toward for 20 years is now going to the next level! Next year will be larger, covered on national television and it is underway...Praise God!

Alex Mitala, William Sempa and all the team have done a tremendous job bringing the men's movement to this place, and what they told me today, is that is was all worthwhile!

AT the event Saturday, hundreds of pastors attended and at one point they were all up praying for the men,,, it became a deeply moving extended time of worship, praise, prayer, changes, things shifting in Uganda, it was amazing.

Much more to report - soon...load some photos when I get to Amsterdam - too slow here in jungle.

grace/peace
paul

Uganda - Child Soldiers

Tremendous results in Uganda, I'll be posting over the next few days...men's movement having dramatic effect.

Deeply moving trip to Gulu in Northern Uganda, 12 hours of grueling travel by Land Rover -

I met two young men - tragic victims - abducted and forced to be child soldiers for the insurgents in Darfur and Northern Uganda - One young man is typical story - he was 12 years old, at his school of 100 students, surrounded by 300 rebel soldiers, 30 children were killed on the spot, then 20 taken one direction, while he and 50 others were taken to Southern Sudan - severely beaten, watching friends killed in front of them, unspeakable horrors...he became in charge of a radio team, he was subjected to repeated brutalities until he escaped after 6 years of hell...
TODAY, he is being trained at Alex Mitala's school in Gulu, and on his way to wholeness and health...it will be a long road, as I talked to him, it was difficult for him to look me in the eyes, he had nerve damage in his face, he is pushing through by the grace of God - Praise God!

He did look at me near the end of our conversation and said, "At least now, I have hope."

This is what it's about - Uganda is a nation in need of fathers, the spirit of love and acceptance - and it is a nation that is in healing - a vibrant church life, christian tv, the men's movement...but, a long road to health.

More soon...keep in prayer.

will post photos when I get to faster internet location -

grace/peace
paul

Houston EVENT!!

Wow, what an amazing event in Houston last week... Doug Stringer is a dynamic leader, Rueben Torres is heading up MaxMan Houston and they are taking the city. Pastor Rusty Greer hosted the event, over 40 other churches and pastors participated, it was great - we had many men saved, Pastor Bob Phillips headed up a tremendous slate of speakers...

We commissioned over 30 men! Speaking about the need for fathers, we ministered for results and they were tremendous - men found healing from father wounds, set their lives straight and hundreds of men left the event charged up to create a men's movement across southern Texas - and they will do it. There is so much more to report, so, call Rueben!

Testimony after testimony spoke of the power of God changing the hearts of men - Steve Trevino and other great leaders in Houston have been leading hundreds of men through the curriculum, and the stories of lives changed are amazing - wow, what a thrill to see what the happens when the hearts of men are transformed.

We are not about INFORMATION, but TRANSFORMATION! The mens movement is not about bringing more information but REVELATION, THAT BRINGS TRANSFORMATION, THAT PRODUCES REVOLUTION! amen.

fight, never quit.

grace/peace
paul

Indo HEROES!

Summit with 50 influential leaders from across Indonesia - Papua, E. Timor, Surabaya, Bandung and key areas across the nation - many of these men have endured terrible persecution, they have been beaten, had members of their churches killed, churches burned down - some are in the government, some are top military leaders - and all are on fire for God.
We strategized the men's movement across the nation and into the other nations of Asia...and they are on the move! Pastor Eddy Leo's leadership has empowered hundreds of men - these men are the vanguard, the key leaders.
It was a humbling experience to spend time with them... we ministered on the "Spirit of a Father" - using the relationship of Jesse and David as a centerpoint - it led to a powerful time of prayer as Pastor Eddy and myself anointed each of the men to have the 'spirit of a father' for their region. It was amazing.
These men are modern day heroes, they have not backed down in the face of terrible and difficult obstacles...they truly are like the men of the early church - men who have been with Jesus.
Houston event is this week - then to Uganda to do men's events and to document the miracle of the decrease of AIDS.
Doug Stringer had dynamic meetings in Brazil while I was in Indo - Robert Barriger's (Lima) son was married - Karl Barancik's (Fenton,Michigan) son also - Michael Murphy (Australia) training for the New York marathon(pray) - Darko and Cathy Culjak (Newcastle) just had baby 2, Joseph! Darko was man who founded Hillsong church in Kiev and first who took Maximized Manhood across Russia - stuff happening everywhere...let me know what's going on in your world!

Stir up the faith!

grace/peace
paul

WOW - INDONESIA!

Amazing event last night in Jakarta... past five days have been stunning...huge...
Last night over 4000 jammed into a central conference center in Jakarta - 500 men were graduated from Maximized Manhood studies - over 60 people saved - it was amazing!
The CMN team here led by Pastor Eddy Leo and the key national director Budi Jonatan and his team are amazing...they are conducting over 200 mens camps this year alone - and going into 8 other nations...!!

THE PHOTO OF THE TRUCK - we were on our way back to the hotel around 11pm after the event, many men were there from the military and we drove up behind one - when the light went red, I jumped out, gave them all high5's and we all yelled together for God in the middle of the night, in an army truck in Jakarta! Wow - how cool is that?!

More stuff later, headed to plane to go to India for a day.
You need to come to Indonesia...it will stimulate you and pump you up!

Praise God! Amen!
grace/peace
paul

INDONESIA! Saved Men - lost luggage!

What a rush! - my first CMN men's camp in Indonesia! Over 500 men jammed the conference center starting at 9am this morning - sessions by Eddy Leo on "Moses and the Ten Suggestions" and "Five Deadly Sins" were awesome - men repenting, crying, getting things right - these guys here will do over 200 encounters like this in 2008 alone! Over 100,000 men have been discipled through Maximized Manhood in past 5 years...it is awesome, amazing, stunning...and extremely effective...

Got in yesterday, no luggage, bought toothbrush, underwear, they gave me a CMN shirt and we went to work! Met with CMN national leadership last evening, what a tremendous group of leaders...top men in the nation...this place is rockin'!
I am so impressed with what they have done in just the past 8 years... started with 6 men - now thousands every week across the nation - over 40 men's centers in the nation - AND THIS IS A MUSLIM NATION! They have had pastors, workers and church members killed by jihadists in just the past 24 months...

More stuff tomorrow... sorry havent posted in a bit... busy..many strategy sessions for the men's movement with men from around the world... things are happening!

Hope Church is great - strong men raising their level - it's good, very good. Some of the best men in the world.
My granddaughter Reese is simply the sparkle in God's eyes...she is spectacular!
Love my wife. Love my kids. Love my church.

Keep it crankin'!
grace/peace
paul

RESULTS

One thing your men want from the men's movement...you can talk 'missional' 'post-modern' 'felt-needs' BUT - WHAT MEN WANT IS VERY SIMPLE - RESULTS! - men want something in their lives to change!
Been driving that home in meetings with pastors and leaders in Salt Lake City, Southern California, Houston - etc.
Details to follow...been in 10 different cities past 2 weeks, as well as sitting at feet of legendary evangelist Al Furey for 5 days...that was amazing!

Church we pastor in Dallas, Hope Christian City Church has seen 11 people come to Christ this month - that is awesome!

Leonard Sweet said something profound to us in Salt Lake City - Christianity was made for storms! Born into a storm, perfected in the storms, grows stronger in storms - and we are headed into the biggest storms we have ever faced, he said the most dangerous place for a boat in a storm, is in the harbor...we must push out into the storms...as the church, we cannot play it 'safe' - if we do, we die. He is right.

just arrive in from orange county, ca. - headed to calgary in the morning.

grace/peace
paul

San Antonio Mens Camp

Awesome time with Pastor Marc Longoria from San Antonio for their 2008 national men's campout at Garner State Park 60miles north of San Antonio - wild guys out there in the wilds - praising God and taking care of business...
Joseph Thompson from Orlando - great word on killing the kings of evil..very cool...

my nephew seth and I went... he drove - said it would take 61/2 hours... but, after a few wrong turns and 8 hours later we rolled into the campgrounds...
so, this is what ministry is about - 36 hours, 17 hours of driving, two hours of ministry and dozens of men finding deep changes in their lives - priceless.

Marc is going to have this as an annual camp - great place to ride your harley/bmw - plan on going next year...THIS IS WHAT THE MEN'S MOVEMENT LOOKS LIKE-GUYS DOING THE STUFF!

grace/peace
paul

New England

Amazing time at New Life Church in Biddeford Thursday night with Pastor Jeff Tarbox and 300 wild men from the greater Portland, Maine area... 25 guys committing to Christ in the first 20 minutes...spectacular...

Then, Portsmouth, New Hampshire with Brian Doyle and Iron Sharpens Iron mens conference... 600 men in the session..great results...

tonight ( saturday) it was a men's dinner in Plymouth, Mass - Pastor Neal Eaton - the men's movement is happening in the New England area... great traction, watching God restore the spirit of the Revolution in these men... tremendous.

lots of driving, but caught a couple hours with wonderful relatives here...Jane and Dick and Marcella...wonderful...
saw Portland lighthouse - most photographed one in the States...(at least that's what they tell me here :-)

grace/peace
paul

Hrabak hits homerun in DC Commissioning!

WOW- what a spectacular night as over 40 men were commissioned in Washington DC event headed by Rob Hrabak and the team at Christ Worship Center! It was amazing to hear the stories of lives changed, men reclaimed and redemption of families... over and over stories were told of the miraculous hand of God.

In the picture you see the pastor of CWC, Tony Hall and Apostle John Polis as they and the men are commissioned...in typical Hrabak "wild man for God" style you can see Rob leading the cheers! It was awesome.

Rob started a few years ago after a conversation in South America in which he just made a firm commitment to take some guys through the curriculum... and now he has over 40 men that have been commissioned and dozens of others going through the groups...their is a revival in the church and it is a great testimony to the grit and determination it takes to disciple men...bottom line, we saw and heard the results...

You can create great crowds with great sermons, but you wont change a nation until you disciple a man.

Way to go Rob..how awesome!

Talked to Mike Murphy couple days ago, lots happening in Australia... men's event set for mid October in Paris, France headed up by C3 Pastor Mark McCord in Paris and Pablo Contreras from the states...when it happens, it'll be the first men's event in modern history in Paris...very cool.

stay hot.
grace/peace
paul

Did God Turn His Back on Jesus?!

The answer may really surprise you!

Question that has always bothered me about the Cross... I was taught from childhood that God couldn't look on the sin that was poured out on Jesus - so he turned His back on His son... would a perfect dad do that? Maybe - if the stakes were high enough? Interesting and HUGE question...it will color your relationship with God...

so - I believe I have an INSIGHT into the answer... it was explosive, really huge Sunday morning as I shared this last week...

listen to it at - www.hopechurch.tv - click on the media...and the message to listen to is this past Sunday's - April 13.

This revelation has really colored my life and ministry. It may be considered DANGEROUS! - This could set you free from religious thinking!

Photo is from the Hillsong-Kiev event... Zhenya/Vera - guys, what a great church!

grace/peace
paul

HILLSONG-Kiev-CRANKED!

WOW...What an awesome Sunday at the cranked up Hillsong Church in Kiev...ministered in FOUR vibrant services... over 20 people saved - thousands attending - loud, fun, non-religious, this is a great church - and doing great work in the city and nation...and just started a new church in Moscow - Hillsong Kiev was founded by good friend Darko Culjak out of Brian Houston's church in Sydney - over the past 10 years Pastors Zhenya and Vera Kasevich have built a huge church (over 8000members) that is having a massive impact on the culture in Ukraine...

--YOUTUBE VIDEO OF HILLSONG-KIEV WORSHIP...CHECK IT OUT... Hillsong Kiev - Спасение (Salvation Is Here)--

two services in the morning..then, eat a little at the offices, then hit it again... what a blast... and, what a great team of people... Natasha, Aaron, Rachel, Peter, Zhenya and others really have strong heart for training up a new generation to reach their nation, and the world.

Up late Sunday night...then headed to Amsterdam to meet with key guys...it's all good!
but, don't eat the fat - really, local cooking delicacy, just the fat off the meat... in Argentina they at least deep fry the fat and give it to you...here, they just cook it, cut it off, put some cabbage on it...and wow, here's something special for you pastor paul... actually they knew better... went by the local mcdonalds a few times...

stay on the edge. great stuff going on... and stay in gal. 5!
grace/peace
paul

KIEV UKRAINE!

THE GLOBAL MOMENTUM TOUR IS CRANKING! I'm in Kiev, Ukraine - We've partnered with James Davis and the Synergize team, with Pastor Sunday Adelaja and his team to reach over 500 pastors in the past few days with the message of the men's movement and 'Christlike Manhood'. Leaders from all over Europe, Asia and Northern Africa have been here with us...a very highly effective time...thank you for praying.
Ukraine is a key nation, it's the center of the talks at the NATO meetings, and Ukraine is in a stage of rebirth after fighting free from 80 years of Communist occupation... it's a remarkable story. The men's movement is urgently needed here... the alcohol problem is 5 times worse than the U.S., drugs are rampant, child abuse, spouse abuse, corruption - yet the church is thriving...growing...people are desperate...but, the men need a strong word - one of the ladies helping us with arrangements was almost crying when she said, "Pastor. please, send men to help our men...they need the truth of Maximized Manhood!"
Tomorrow I meet with the key man in men's ministry here in the nation, he is very excited about partnering with us...we already have 3 books in Russian...and we need to get them all done...the doors are wide open, but we dont know for how long.

Photo is of James Davis, Sunday Adelaja and myself. It was taken Wednesday at the all-day pastor's meetings...more stuff tomorrow...
stay in prayer, this thing is accelerating around the world...plan on going with me...plan on taking this word of manhood to places you are connected with...let's kick it strong!
grace/peace
paul
(it's midnight-on second cappucino, it's a good tired-meetings tomorrow afternoon and evening - hit the gym in the morning...trimmed 20 pounds off last 12 months-pc)

EASTER! What a Great Day!

We had an amazing Easter Sunday at Hope Christian City Church... I trust your day was just as wonderful... Great day to talk about new life in Christ - we had seven people make decisions for Christ - new beginnings - resurrection life - Jesus is Alive!
It's all the GRACE OF ALMIGHTY GOD! For more on grace, listen to some of our messages from Hope - www.hopechurch.tv - find out why there are 'no movies' in heaven!

Today, they are laying new ceramic tile in our lobby, the new children's annex is coming along well...lots of work...lots of paint, aches - worth it!

Getting ready to head to Ukraine on Sunday... speaking at conference with Sunday Adelaja and then weekend at Hillsong Church Kiev! Excited about being there...not excited about the travel, weather (cold), etc. Then, on way back, we'll meet with key leaders in Amsterdam... set up more European connections for the men's movement.

The photo on this post is of the crowds at Robert Barriger's event last month in Lima - we have over 300 full commissioned men doing ministry across that nation - awesome...

sitting at Borders right now - they're playing Michael Jackson hits - great context for really getting passionate about the movement to build strong men - dear God do we need it!

grace/peace
paul

sometimes

Sometimes, we must awaken to/embrace a deeply pure reality - it's just all about Jesus...I know we say, that is a constant-all the time truth... BUT, sometimes, when one sees the fight for position, prosperity, prestige- sometimes...quietly/intensely focused in - it has to be just all, all about Him. It must be Christ we confess, Christ we live and Christ we deliver. no pretense, no prattle, just pure smoking raw power.

plc.

Global MoMENtum Tour - key dates

APRIL - Speaking at the Synergize Conference in Kiev, Ukraine with Sunday Adelaja (Europe's largest church - 35,000strong) April 1-3, then doing weekend services (5 total) at the Hillsong Church in Kiev - great pastors Zhenya and Vera - Washington DC men's event April 11,12 - PointMan camp April 18 San Antonio - April 19 - men's meeting Dallas - April 22 Synergize event Kansas City - Thur.April 24 Portland Maine mens' event - Apr 25/26 Portsmouth, NH Iron Sharpens Iron - Apr. 26/27 Plymouth, Ma. men/weekend services.

Juarez, Mexico Mens Event May 8-10
Indonesia June 2- 14
Latvia, Germany, Uganda, Ghana July 1-18
----New Guinea, Australia, England fit in here somewhere...
Nigeria, Kenya - Oct. 1-11
Ecuador, Peru jungle October 18-28

Lions Roar - Dallas May 4-6, 2009

Damascus, Jerusalem, Rome - Men's events May 18-29, 2009

more dates on calendar - will publish on the new website - which is looking good for publication end of March/first of April - please go with me to any event on the calendar...just call us...

grace/peace
paul

Houston Conference Rocks!

The Synergize Houston event was tremendous!  Leonard Sweet, Bishop Hawkins from Atlanta, Doug Stringer, Sunday Adelaja, James Davis, Ben Lerner, JoAnn Webster - high impact day with over 300 key Houston leaders!  

The CMN session was anointed...over 30 churches will participate in a Houston Men's event June 20/21 at the Worship Center - pastored by good friend Rusty Greer -  

  Doug Stringer had led off after lunch with powerful word on prayer and compassion - I followed and we just had to stop and pray - took part of my time - had all leaders hold each other's hands...prayer for each other - it was explosive...then, I just told stories of Uganda - stories of how one man's worldview can change history...Doug had really opened the hearts of all of us - made it a wonderful time to minister... (maybe I'll just show a video of Doug before I minister anywhere in the future)

Dozens of key churches took materials and leadership kits to kickstart their own men's movement... many pastors excited about the ministry - Houston is growing a great men's movement - from over in Katy with good friend GF Watkins - across the area...it's awesome.

long drive home - a 'good' tired - daughter Lindsay went with me - she was tremendous helping team setup event, didnt sleep Monday night - warrior spirit - awesome woman of God.
dates for more cities set...will send email to friends...

grace/peace
paul

Hope Website Honored Globally

The Hope Christian City Church website was given a very special honor in the secular press this past month...  the website - www.hopechurch.tv - created by Assoc. Pastor Brandon Cole was honored by the major web designer site 'cssmania.com' as one of the top designs on the entire global internet!

Very cool to be mentioned alongside Microsoft, Apple, Slate and other giants of the internet...

congrats Brandon and the team at Hope!

The internet is a tool for the Kingdom - let's use it - boldly.

grace/peace

paul

Outreach to SingleMoms-AWESOME!

Past Monday night over 40 single moms, 70 of their kids and over 80 community and church volunteers packed out the Hope Church facilities for the Fifth Annual "Hair by Hope" event for single moms - in the midst of a freak Dallas snowstorm!  It was a spectacular success!
                 The entire building was converted into a fabulous spa look, with the top hair stylists in the area giving free haircuts to single moms, makeovers for all, massages and gift-bags full of goodies - along with an amazing plush pink bathrobe - There were few dry eyes in the place -
One mom said 'for the first time, in a long time. she felt like a lady' - wow - another just stood with her gift bag of stuff and cried, overwhelmed with love - another hugged everyone...it was beautiful -
and... the men that walked the ladies with their children to and from their cars - in the driving snow - that was impressive!
                My wife Judi had this idea a few years ago as a way to express the love of God to single moms - and now it is a highly anticipated community event in this area every year!

This is what church is all about! Let's take Jesus to the culture!
grace/peace
paul