Bill Purvis Ministries

Be Present

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:47:59 +0000

I’m not a “conference groupie.” I haven’t attended a Christian one in over a dozen years. I have been to a few corporate conferences, which are pretty impressive the past few years, but last week I went to one called Catalyst West at a church my son attends in Orange County, California. Funny that while there I saw ten or twelve guys I know who were at the last one I was at twelve years ago. Most of them told me they’ve been to five or six per year, so that makes sixty to seventy conferences I’ve missed. Oh well.

My schedule didn’t permit me to stay long, but I was able to make a session led by Andy Stanley. My youngest son attends his church in Atlanta. He’s an awesome communicator and God’s hand is on him. His message was about living in the present. He drove home the point that we’re often so busy tweeting, updating our facebook and the other things that keep one busy, that we fail to engage in the present. He said a lot of other great things also.

His point was something my 2009 New Years resolution was about, to be present. I have to admit, that year was a game changer in relationships for me. I listened more, learned more, grew closer, and deeper in relationships than any time up until then. For me the Turkish Proverb, “If speaking is silver, then listening is gold” became true. I’m still working on that goal.

Being present means being fully engaged. You can’t be everywhere, doing everything, and get the most out of life if you miss being present. My friend Rob is a single dad. He told me that he came home one evening and his son was on the computer, texting on his iphone, had the television blaring and talking on the home phone at the same time. He said, “You’re supposed to be doing your homework” to which his son said, “I am,” and held up a book.

Being present is especially productive in our prayer life. “Be still and know that I am God” the scripture says, “Wait on the LORD” the psalmist reminds us. I’ve pondered the thought before that maybe God makes some of us wait on Him like we’ve made Him wait on us before. Being present in prayer is the starting place for a day that gets us in alignment. Try it soon.

New book-The Emotion Driven Life

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:46:18 +0000

I recently released my latest book The Emotion Driven Life. It was written as an effort to help people overcome the emotions that can disrupt our lives. Whether you realize it or not, every person is driven by something.

What drives your life? Is it money? Power? Popularity? Ambition? Validation? Acceptance? Pastor Rick Warren’s bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life, encouraged millions of readers to live their lives with God’s purpose in mind. It is a book that focused on how our Creator designed us to live our lives.

However, as a pastor for over thirty years I’ve discovered that most people miss the point. I believe that most people are letting the “Emotion Driven Life” guide them. I’ve discovered that emotions like lust, bitterness, anger, guilt, and fear direct a lot of our choices. This is not God’s will for us.

I’ve been thrilled at the responses we’re receiving in the first week of this books release. Here’s what some of them are saying…

A teenager wrote, “For over a year now I’ve been carrying around a lot of hatred towards a person who seriously wronged and hurt me. I just finished your book a few minutes ago and all I can say is, wow! I have asked for forgiveness and already feel 1,000 pounds lighter!”

Another person said, “ I could NOT put it down. I will be re reading and using it as a reference. I could relate to every word and page.”

My friends and I just completed the book The Emotion Driven Life. After reading it we all agree, we began the best discussion we’ve ever had. Each of us identified various chapters on an emotion like anger, bitterness, jealousy or guilt that we struggled with. The freedom we left with has been truly life-changing. Thanks for creating a simple, easy to read, yet applicable book with REAL life changing truth!

The longer I live the more convinced I am that because we’re emotional beings, we often let our emotions rule us instead of vice-versa. Life is too short to live that way and when you think about it, life is also going to be too long if you do. What would you do if fear or guilt didn’t hinder you? How would your relationships be if jealousy or anger didn’t creep in? How far could you go in life if bitterness or rejection was not a factor from your past? What would the emotion of real love in you bring to your life if you could live empowered by it?

The only way to know is to explore and experience firsthand the answers to those and other questions. I hope you will.

Barry the Bartender

admin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:22:59 +0000

One of my friends is Barry. Big guy, big smile and remembers everything..names, faces, events, stories, he has instant and amazing recall. We’ve been friends a few years now. He’s also a bartender by occupation. Neither of us go to the others work places, he says he works weekends too. But that hasn’t hindered the relationship. When I want honest feedback, he gives it and he receives it just as well. We joke about both being in the “people business” and the things we’ve learned about people, their secrets, their habits, hang-ups and such. The good about my friend is that he is highly educated (2 Masters), savvy, quick witted, a well traveled guy, good natured & enjoys everything about his life. The concern I have is the spiritual life he’s missed. He doesn’t use the things he’s faced as an excuse, but I sense they do have a negative impact. He told me one evening that a well meaning Christian preached to him that he was destroying lives. A few months later that same “witness” was fired from his work for loading porn on his computer. Barry wonders how Christians could view porn. I notice Barry is also more forgiving of others than most would be of him. He always asked good questions. He told me once of telling a customer that he too had felt blessed by God recently and the customer replied, God couldn’t bless Barry because of his job. Soon afterward, he had to cut the customer off, just so he could manage to drive home. Barry let’s a lot of stuff weaker people couldn’t handle roll off. I’ve shared the Gospel with him many times when he brings it up or conversation goes that way. He doesn’t argue or push back, he just doesn’t jump up and yell “hallelujah”. If he did I’d burst out laughing. Someone asked me recently if I had to put the names of 10 people down to call if I needed help, who would they be? He’d make the list. So here’s my take-away. Sometimes in life, you are going to have a good connection with people from a totally different place in life. Let it happen if it doesn’t cause you to lose your values and you can benefit from it. Let it happen if you believe they can benefit from it too.

Open doors & closed doors

admin — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:43:28 +0000

“Open doors, closing doors” are biblical phrases used by its’ writers to refer to divine guidance. Those sincerely seeking Gods will for their life accept the “open door/close door” experience peacefully. (Isaiah 45:1,2, Acts 14:27, I Corinthians 16:9, II Corinthians 2:12, Colossians 4:3, Revelation 3:8). We use the term in the secular world to ask questions. “How did you close the door”? What we mean is, how did the conversation, relationship, or deal conclude.

I believe “how one closes the doors in their life has a lot to do with how God opens the doors for their life”. Just something I’ve observed after 30 yrs.

If it’s within our control, we should close doors of work, relationships and situations as gently and Christ-like as possible. First, because it honors God. That alone should be reason enough. But for those wanting a “WIIFM”, (What’s in it for me?), it means putting ourselves in a position for God to open the door in front of us because we’ve been Christ-like in the way we’ve closed the doors behind us.

Sometimes closing doors behind us mean forgiving, learning from, becoming wiser, & knowing we can walk back in those environments with integrity.

I served 3 other churches in my past. In each there were great experiences that shaped my life and difficult days that tested me. In every departure, I thanked the pastor privately before leaving for the privilege he entrusted to me while on his team and was provided a “farewell” experience from the church where, like Paul (Acts 20:25-38) I thanked the people also.

In the secular world, I’d resigned from 3 different work environments as a student. In each case, leaving was hard because the experiences were enjoyable. From 2 of those I worked the last 2 weeks notice without pay as a “thanks” for the privilege. Six months after leaving one of them, the owner died in an accident. Even though they had many employees, I was asked to be a pallbearer because his wife said he respected the way I departed. I never realize then how important that was until years later.

I’m convinced the way we close the doors in our life (which is our choice and reflection of our character) has so much to do with the way God opens the doors for our future.

So here’s the advice. If you’re moving on, do it wisely, honorably. If you’re closing a chapter in your life, make it the best exit you possibly can.

One reason I write this is because of I’ve seen the experiences of both lately. I recently watched a young lady in early 20’s leave a doctors office job and erase all of the data on the computer, leave on a Friday without notice, and then boast about how she injured them. I could see bitterness beginning to grow in her. What she didn’t know was that she was revealing her true character in her actions, and that she’ll reap what she’s sown ahead. And then a few weeks ago I listened to an older retired man describe to me his experiences in traveling the world and all he’d learned. He’d worked in dozens of interesting places and various fields. What struck me was when he leaned back, smiled widely and said, “I never left a single job without thanking God and thanking my boss”. I couldn’t help but notice how at peace he was with his past and how secure he was in the present. As I reflected on the amazing doors God had opened for him in his lifetime, I sensed it was time to write these thoughts for you today. The incredible doors my friend had been through in life, probably were opened because of the character in which he displayed in closing the doors of his past.

Fathers Day

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:49:41 +0000

Several years ago I spoke on the subject, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad & Perfect Dad” for Fathers Day. I’ve never had such a response to any message before, ever. Over 500 e-mails flooded my box in the week following. In the message I mentioned that not everyone knew had the joy of great memories with a father and how to overcome and rise to a great life in spite of this. Each e-mail I received told both a personal story, the scars or memories, and the way they coped with it. Some were doing very well, some were still limping. A few of those responses told of healthy, growing relationships they enjoyed with a father and how blessed they felt when they observed other homes around them. It occurred to me afterwards of how people deal with pain. Most girls talk about it, most boys bury it. The danger in suppressing it doesn’t make it disappear, it usually surfaces in other ways. One man, ironically was a psychologist and he confessed that the relationship he never had with his father, surfaced in the breaking of two of his marriages. Several said the dysfunctional home they grew up in made them devote their life to being a great parent themselves. I remember once a friend of mine, very intelligent, balanced home, a college president, Ph.D, with 5 incredible, successful children introducing me to his brother. His brother was messed up. Extremely negative, critical, couldn’t keep a job, couldn’t keep a home, had bad credit and blamed the world for everything. I’d never seen such polar opposite brothers. My friend said, “He’s just like my father was. Same attitude, same spirit. I chose to be the total opposite”. Obviously it worked. What I took away from that was that my attitude, my responses, my direction in life is a choice. Our sons were small then, but I decided that being a father could be the most rewarding experience of my life and it has. To you Fathers who are making a positive difference in your childrens lives, I commend you. The pay off of that investment will be the most satisfying of all. Having a good father in the home is like having Michael Jordan on your basketball team, the chances of winning are greatly increased. Happy Fathers Day!

Crossroads

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:41:01 +0000

After listening to several different people sharing their life journey with me this week, some older, some in their thirties, & one in college, it occurred to me that all of them made crucial life defining choices many times over at several stages of their lives. In each life they would come to a “crossroad” at some point, either in relationships, work habits, educational goals, deciding priorities, financial matters, health & lifestyle, and in their spiritual pursuits. At times they made the easy choice. While convienent at that moment, they all had regrets afterwards. The one thing that kept surfacing was that when they made the “hard” choice, the path of discipline or standing alone, or relentlessly devoting themselves to a worthy goal, they had no regrets. I conclude that it was in the “crossroad moments” that their character was weakened or strengthened. It was in that stage that they gripped the steering wheel of their life, kept their foot on the gas pedal and set out to reach their destination or they looked for an exit, gradually slowed up and pulled over with their life. One man told me of when he wouldn’t speak up about his faith at work, with friends or in public. In time he wouldn’t speak up about anything else he should have. When his wife of 20 years left him, her shocking words were, “Your not a man. I felt unprotected in our marriage, I have no respect for you”. Looking back he says, “I caved in to peer pressure early on…I paid for it too”. The young college boy described how he set and lived his values on a college campus and for 3 years it was lonely. Now he’s a respected leader by his peers because they saw his example. All of us come to a crossroad many times in our lives. What we choose, the price we’re willing to pay, the resolve we are devoted to live out brings the life of no regrets. We don’t know the names of the many who walked away from Jesus. We know the names of those who were steadfast. Peter, James, John… If you’re at the crossroad today take hope. It’s an opportunity. Sure it will cost you something, but focus your eyes on the prize. Speak up when you should, stand up when you should, do good when you should, take risk when opportunity comes, love deeply while you can, give generously when you have it, encourage because it’s a gift others need at times, & look for the crossroads in every decision and in life. It’s in that crossroad moment that God gives you a chance to steer toward your highest potential.

842 Pastors Prayer Partners

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:44:59 +0000

This past weekend at Cascade Hills Church we signed on 842 people to the Pastor’s Prayer Partner ministry. What a blessing! I am humbled by the tremendous response of our people. 842 Pastor’s Prayer Partners devoted themselves to praying for me and my family daily. They will then gather in teams to pray each week prior to our 3 weekend services in private rooms on campus. Their teams will also join me publicly on the platform to kneel and pray for me and the church in every service this year. My prayer partners also provide my wife and I a list of their prayer requests and we personally pray for each one of them throughout the year. We take that very serious. Every year our Pastor’s Prayer Partners see the favor of God in their lives. This year, with the increased number of Pastor’s Prayer Partners it should be our greatest advance into the areas of our lives where God can do His best work. I love my prayer partners. We meet quarterly for breakfast or lunch to fellowship to discuss our needs and progress. I attest that my life has been an answer to prayer, our ministry is upheld by prayer, & the highest priority of our marriage has been to seek God through prayer. When I became a new Christian at the age of 18, I read that if I’d enter my prayer closet and pray that my Heavenly Father would meet me there. I began that process back then. When God sent Debbie as my life partner, I discovered her to be more devoted to prayer than I was. Our 3 sons, now grown and married, say the greatest comfort they had growing up was knowing that not one time in their entire life did they ever wake up and not find their mother in her study or the living room praying. Not once! In over 30 years of marriage, I can say the same. Never have I seen her go a morning without serious praying. I have been challenged by the pace she set in prayer more than anything else. We’ve recently assisted 3 other churches in the past 8 weeks to start a Pastor’s Prayer Partner Ministry. We will lead 2 more churches this month to do this. In one church they’d baptized only one person the year prior. After they began a Pastor’s Prayer Partner ministry, they baptized 20 people 2 weeks later. The disciples were taught to pray. Jesus modeled prayer, He said His Fathers house is to be a house of prayer. Ministries built on past traditions or new trends, though opposite in methods and worship, still end up empty in real life transformation. Prayer provides God’s power. Prayer unites the people, prayer opens the heavens with conviction upon the lost and strength for the Christian. Last weekend I met a new convert after our services who had never been in a church in his life. His friends were crying and shocked that he was converted. His words to me were, “I was drawn here, I feel like I’ve been blind all of my life, I’m clean now and at peace with God”. That’s what happens where people pray. I am often asked, if I could start my ministry all over again, what would I do differently? My first response is that I would have begun a Pastor’s Prayer Partner ministry from day one. I’m personally tired of seeing churches up for sale, fighting, splitting, or “new church plants” with gimmicks to attract the already “churched” and “vision” that never builds a holy life or Godly church. There is no substitute for prayer. God can do in 5 seconds what we couldn’t pull off in 50 years. My hope and passion is to kindle a fire in a life that finds the fellowship of God in prayer as rewarding as I have discovered. Pursue Him. He is and can provide all you need.

Be A Champion

admin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:24:33 +0000

The BCS National Championship game was on January 10th of this year. Auburn and Oregon were the two teams battling it out, with Auburn emerging as champion. My son B.J. is a 2005 Auburn graduate so he and his wife went to the game with two of our church members. To say this was a good game would be an understatement. It went right down to the wire.

Regardless of whether you pull for either of these teams one thing is certain, they both worked hard throughout the season to win each game.

In a few weeks, another championship game will be played. It will be the Super Bowl featuring the Packers and the Steelers. Yet again you will see two groups of players who have worked hard all season to become champions.

Although it’s fun to watch our favorite teams compete, champions aren’t only reserved for football players. You and I can have a championship season in our own lives. 2011 is a year for you to start fresh! God already has great plans for you this year. He says in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The question is, do you believe it’s going to be a championship year for you? As you hit the ground running in 2011, plan for the best. Like all of these teams you should work as hard as you can with everything you’ve got. It may not be without challenges, but that’s ok because champions fight all the way to the end. I want to encourage you to set your sights high and keep pressing on. With the right determination you can be a champion in 2011!

I wish you all the best this year in your spiritual and personal life!

Questions to Challenge Your Growth This Year

admin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:08:56 +0000

As we enter the New Year of 2011, it’s important to have specific direction if we’re to grow intentionally. While preparing questions to challenge myself, a friend sent me something Dr. Don Whitney had written. I combined some of his with mine since he has some good questions also. You may have more of your own. This is a suggestion for you to use as a guideline to begin & track your growth this year.

(1) What’s ONE thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? (2) What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? (3) What’s the most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? (4) In what spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? (5) What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? (6) For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? (7) What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity? (8) Who do you most want to encourage this year? (9) What is your plan for reading the Bible this year? (10) In what area of your life do you need to improve and what’s your plan for it? (11) What trip do you want to take this year? (12) What ministry or service do you want to be involved in and when are you going to do it? (13) What person or family do you want to bless secretly this year who could not pay you back? (14) What strongholds, sins, attitudes, or bad habits are you going to pray God for freedom from this year? (15) What pain, bitterness, grudge, jealousy, resentment, or past experience are you going to release and let go this year? (16) What attitude or spirit (pride, envy, etc. ) do you most want God to convict of before it takes root this year? (17) How do you plan to put God first in your finances, your marriage, your plans this year? (18) What lesson did you learn last year from experience that you will be wiser for this new year? (19) What specific goals have you written out for your better health this year? (20) What are you going to do now with this list? Remember, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been“.

Have a Great New Year!

The Christmas ADVENTure

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:52:35 +0000

With Christmas Day right around the corner, there’s a lot to be excited about! I remember when my boys were little they would wake up each morning in December and move a little mouse one day forward on the Advent Calendar Debbie had hanging in the kitchen. For them it was a reminder that Santa Claus would be visiting soon, but its true meaning goes much deeper than that.

Advent means coming or arrival. It does not actually signify the coming of Santa Claus, obviously, but the arrival of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let’s take a look at the truths of Advent together. It’s my hope that you will decide to celebrate the coming of the Messiah each day between now and Christmas. Reflect on these truths in your home and create traditions that will make Christmas more meaningful.

The celebration of Advent Season focuses on two things…

1. The birth of Jesus, which is his first Advent

2. The anticipation of His return as King, which will be the second Advent

There are many ways to celebrate the season as well as to give you and your family daily reminders that the coming of the Lord, Christmas Day, is near.

You are most likely already familiar with The Songs of Advent. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, Oh Holy Night, The First Noel, Silent Night, What Child Is This?, Joy To The World, and Oh Come All Ye Faithful. I love that this is the one time of year that the world is singing our songs…songs about Jesus, the hope of the world, and yet many don’t even realize that is what they’re singing about. Make these songs of Advent part of your life during the Christmas season. You can catch them anywhere…most cities have radio stations that devote the entire month to playing nothing but Christmas music. Tune in and let the songs and prayers of the season reign in your thoughts.

There are also different Symbols of Advent. One symbol I’m sure many of you have seen at the grocery store is the Advent Calendar, which is a great way to build anticipation. Twenty-four numbered windows or doors act as a count-down clock to Christmas Eve. Often times these doors or windows unwrap a small gift for children each day, like candy, chocolate or Bible verses. This is a wonderful way to teach your children what the Christmas season is truly all about. Having them open up a Bible verse from the Christmas story in the Bible, or even and Old Testament prophesy speaking of the birth of the Messiah is a great idea!

Another symbol is the Advent Wreath. It’s a circular evergreen wreath with five candles, four around the wreath and one in the center. The wreath itself is actually full of symbolism. Each week a candle is lit, counting down the weeks until Jesus’ arrival, and a different aspect of Christmas is explained. The shape of the wreath, a circle, is to remind us of God. His eternal nature has no beginning or ending. The green of the wreath reflects newness and renewal. The candles symbolize Jesus as the light of the world, and also that we are called to be a light to the world. The outer candles represent the period of waiting during four Sundays of advent and symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. The colors of the candles are also for a reason. There are three purple or blue candles, one pink or rose candle, and one white candle. There is a specific order and meaning for the lighting of each candle.

The first candle is purple and called The Candle of Hope. Micah 5:2 says, “But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel…” It’s a reminder that a savior is promised. It’s to be lit the first Sunday of Advent and every night thereafter until Christmas.

The second candle is also purple and is The Candle of Peace. Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. It’s a reminder of the peace only God can provide for the soul. It is lit the second Sunday of Advent and every night until Christmas.

The third candle is rose colored and called The Candle of Joy. Luke 2:10-11, “But the angel said to them, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” It reminds us of the joy the shepherds and Magi felt at hearing about the birth of Christ. It’s lit the third Sunday of Advent and every night thereafter until Christmas.

The fourth candle is purple and known as The Candle of Love. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It represents the love God displayed by giving His Son to die for our sins. It’s to be lit the fourth Sunday of Advent.

The fifth candle is white and is The Christ Candle. It’s white reflecting the purity of the sinless Christ. It’s placed in the center to reflect where Christ should be in our life and is lit on Christmas Eve.

Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation and anticipation. Just as the prophets, the people, the magi, Zacharias, Mary, and others long in excitement for the birth of Jesus, the Bible tells us we should feel that same excitement for His return one day. Philippians 3:20, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

You see, there is so much more to celebrate this month than the singular day of Christ’s birth. Start your Advent celebration today! Emmanuel is coming and we have so much to joyously celebrate!