I enjoy time with my family. Me and Rob, playing golf. Well, Rob played; I chased balls.

Will, crossing the plate after hitting his first high school home run against county rival, Hiram. Yes, Dad was excited!

This is our family on Mother's Day 2008. The kids are growing up.

We had a very good Mother's Day at First Baptist Church.

The children sang in the 11:00 a.m. service and, the youth sang along with the adult choir. We are trying to re-build in these areas so, it was good to see them plugged in during worship. We had lots of guests today as you always do on Mother's Day.

My sermon came from Proverbs 31. This is the chapter that talks about the "virtuous woman." We looked at the:
1) The Worth of A Virtuous Woman "It exceeds jewels"
2) The Work of A Virtuous Woman "Her husband trust in her"
3) The Words of A Virtuous Woman

We have had a good weekend as a family. Saturday night, we took Holli out to eat because Robert had to work this afternoon. We had fun. We don't get all of the kids together much so when we do, it's fun. Then, Holli, Will & Sarah & I went to a Mexican place for lunch today. The plan was to go to Subway but, there is a Mexican place close by and the kids sorta "hinted" that we ought to do that. lol

Lord, thank you for Holli Alice Potts. A very good mother to Robert, Will & Sarah Potts.

What makes you cry?
As I sit here on Friday morning, I was browsing the web reading various newspapers on-line as I often do. I went to the web site for The Shreveport Times. That's a paper for Shreveport, La. in north Louisiana. It normally has some pretty good articles about L.S.U.
There was an article there about the weekend festivities that will be held at Alex Box stadium. Now, I know that many people... probably most people... could care less about what's going to take place at Alex Box stadium this weekend. For that matter, most people don't even know what Alex Box stadium is. Well, for those of you who need a little more information to help you understand what Alex Box stadium is, it's a baseball field. It's LSU's baseball field. But, it's more than that. It's a place where there has been a lot of exciting baseball in the last, say... 17 years. It's kind of a special place to me.
I can remember going to see the Tigers play in the hot humid days of May and early June as the Tigers hosted an NCAA regional. I can remember taking my two boys, Robert and Will, and standing in front of the big sign in front of the stadium and getting pics made. I remember taking the boys when they were little to the kids camp held on Saturday morning. The only thing that kept me from going more than I did was money and distance. I lived 2 1/2 hours from Baton Rouge so I couldn't go over there at the drop of a hat.
But the times we did go were fun.
So, this morning, when I read the article about this being the final regular season games scheduled at Alex Box I was sad. Then, the article said that "the box" as its referred to by Tiger fans, would be demolished and would become a parking lot. That is sad. To think that a spot where so many great memories were made will be nothing but a parking lot in the future. Wow
It made me sad. And yes, I teared up. Then I asked the question, "I wonder what makes each person cry?"
So, back to the original question; "what makes you cry?"
Sadness makes us cry. Last Friday night, I cried when the last out of our son's last regular season high school baseball game was recorded. At that moment, it hit me how much fun he had experienced at "Patriot field" in the last four years and, the people we had met and enjoyed.
Happiness can also make us cry. Lots of people will shed tears of joy (and relief!) at graduations across the country in the next few weeks.
Anger can make us cry.
The Bible says that "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) at the grave of Lazarus which indicated his love for Lazarus and his family.
The Bible also says that Jesus wept "...as he drew near, He saw the city and wept over it" (Lk. 19:41). The people of Israel had rejected Jesus and he wept because they had rejected their Messiah.
So, what makes you cry? The answer to that question will tell us something about ourselves. Most people won't shed one tear that old Alex Box stadium is being torn down. But Tiger fans will because it's special.
But, Alex Box is just a baseball stadium. We should weep over lost people who reject Christ.

This Sunday we will celebrate Mother’s day. For years, when it comes to Mother’s Day, we offer a tribute to our moms. And, the normal tribute sometimes is soaked rather heavily in the culture that existed years ago. While that’s o.k., it’s a different world today. More and more moms work outside the home. Very few look like June Cleaver did in “Leave it to Beaver.” So, let’s try to update our Mom’s Day tribute a little. I’m going to use my wife, Holli, as an example.
On school days, she rises every morning at 6:00 a.m. It doesn’t matter if she didn’t get to bed until late because she was washing a baseball uniform or reviewing a test with one of our kids. She’s up at 6 regardless. She makes her bagel and sits down for one of the few quiet moments she will have for the next 16 hours. During this time, Will normally asks, “Mom, what’s the weather like today?” Holli watches the morning news while she is getting ready for work so she knows the forecast. We talk a few minutes and get our plan for the day then, she’s off to work.
She works all day. I work all day. Like many people, we communicate via email, cell phone or text messaging. When the day is done, she has other obligations and in the midst of all that, she tries to figure out what can be done for supper. It’s about this time that we normally talk and sometimes, we will go by the grocery store and grab something we can “nuke” in the microwave or, we go by a local restaurant. Some might say, “Families need to eat together, around the table… etc… I’m sure that’s true and that’s the ideal. But sometimes, in today’s culture, it doesn’t work. So, we make do.
At night, sometimes, it’s tumbling class for Sarah.
At times, it’s been a ball game for Will.
At times, it’s a church event or a school event.
At times, it’s helping one of them with a school project.
When she comes in, she tries to straighten up a little. She is folding clothes, cleaning up a little here and there. If she ever sits down, she is history. It doesn’t take long. She actually slept through LSU’s national championship football game. The boys and I were…. Well… we were loud. But Holli was asleep. She was glad they were winning and that we were happy but she was also enjoying some sleep.
At times, when the boys are out and are coming in late, she sleeps on the sofa waiting for them to come in. She can’t rest well until she knows all her little chicks are home.
On Sunday morning, she sleeps a little longer than normal. Then, she’s up and makes her way to Sunday School. Holli has taught youth Sunday School in just about every church we have served. She has also sung in the choir as often as she can.
In the midst of all this, she tries to take a few minutes for a “quiet time.” Does she get it done every day? Uh… .no… But she does it frequently.
I went into the ministry in 1981. Holli and I married in 1984. In 23 years of marriage, Holli Alice Potts is one of the best people I have ever known. She SELDOM complains. It’s just not in her. She can be stubborn at times. She knows it. But she is solid as a rock. She doesn’t gossip. If you tell her something, it may be safer than it would be at Fort Knox. She is level headed. When I’m wired about something I will normally ask her to help me sort things out and she does. Often bringing up things I hadn’t thought about.
We are very opposite. I’m the hare while she is the tortoise. I’m extroverted and she can be introverted. I’m happy in a roomful of people and she’s content with just me and her.
There is a line in a popular movie where the man expresses his love for the girl by saying, “You complete me.” That’s exactly what Holli does for me. She balances me out.
Holli Alice, I love you. Happy Mother’s Day. Robert, Will and Sarah will rise up and call you “blessed.”

Are you a fruit inspector or a fruit producer?
Tomorrow I will preach a message on John 15:5. In that text, Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Jesus made it clear that the only way we can produce fruit as Christians is as a result of a close relationship with Jesus.
So, are you producing fruit as a Christian? There are two kinds we are capable of producing.
One is interior. This is referred to as the "fruit of the spirit." As the Holy Spirit works in us our lives give evidence of the fruit of the spirit.
The second is exterior. As we minister for Christ, as we live the Christian life, there is fruit that is a result of our labor.
So, are you producing fruit? Many Christians are not. There are thousands of people who are saved but aren't producing any fruit because their relationship with Christ is not what it should be. God wants us to produce fruit.
Unfortunately, many Christians are more prone to "fruit inspection" rather than "fruit production." "Fruit inspectors" are those who are always examining the fruit or lack of fruit in the lives of other Christians. The world is filled with fruit inspectors.
I encourage you to be a fruit producer for Jesus.

This morning I led a men's Bible study on Genesis 22. It's the story of Abraham being called to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham had been following God for years and God had promised Abraham a son. Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarai late in life.
Isaac is special to Abraham... just like our kids are special to us. And God knows that it's possible that Isaac has become more important to Abraham than he should. So, God tests Abraham. He instructs Abraham to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice.
Abraham, being obedient to God, takes Isaac and begins making his way toward Mt. Moriah. He binds Isaac and prepares to offer him as a sacrifice. Then, Abraham hears a voice "Abraham, Abraham."
Abraham is told that he has passed the test. Now God knew that Abraham loved God more than anything. God tells Abraham to direct his attention to a thicket. There, he he would find a ram that God had provided for the sacrifice. Abraham named the place "Jehovah Jireh" which means "the Lord will provide."
What's important to you? A lesson we can draw from this story is that we must be careful not to allow things or hobbies or even people to become more important to us than God. Is there something that's become more important to you than it should?

Last night, I watched the end of the movie "The Rookie." I guess I'm a cry baby because, I can watch that movie a million times and it gets me everytime. I like the scene where Jimmy Morris is sitting in a bar and he's about to give up baseball. About that time, he notices that the story that was filmed about him in practice is being shown on the television.
He then turns his attention to the show. As he is being interviewed he closes out by saying why he loves baseball. He talks about the bond between the players and the fans. Then he says, "it's a great game."
He is walking back to his hotel when he notices the lights on a baseball field. He walks over to it and sees little boys playing baseball. He remembers his dream.
As I watched that, my eyes filled with tears as I thought about my middle son, Will, is wrapping up his senior year of high school baseball. His season is half done. Right now, I'm trying to cling to every special moment I can.
Jimmy Morris was right; baseball is a great game. And, for years, Holli and I have experienced a lot of joy watching our kids play ball. Those are memories we will cherish.
Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be the dad of Robert, Will & Sarah Potts.

Easter Sunday was great at First Baptist Church, Dallas, Ga. (the church I pastor). And, if you attend a local church on a regular basis, I imagine it was good in your church as well. But, it normally is. There is an electricity in the air on Easter that isn’t present every Sunday. I wish it were like that every week and, honestly, it can be and should be.
Every Sunday is resurrection day. The early church gathered on the first day of the week to commemorate the resurrection. They had been accustomed to worshiping on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. But they gathered on Sunday because that was the day that Jesus rose. And still, 2,000 years later, Christians gather on Sunday to remember the resurrection.
But celebrating the resurrection means more than just gathering on the first day of the week. That’s definitely a big part of it but, it means allowing the power of the resurrection to make a difference in our lives.
There is a scripture from Philippians that I really like. The apostle Paul said, “…that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection…” (Phil. 3:10). What does Paul mean by “…the power of His resurrection?”
Paul wanted to experience, in his daily life, the power that brought Jesus from the grave. Think about that. Paul is talking about the power that brought a dead man to life. He is talking about the power that caused a heart to begin beating after it had stopped for two days. Paul said, “I want to know that power.”
You and I can know that power as well. But, how can we experience it?
Every day, the Bible challenges us to “…be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). The Holy Spirit represents the same power that brought Jesus from the grave. So, when we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us, we are being filled by and led by the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.
That means that whatever challenge we are facing; whether it be financial, physical, emotional or spiritual, the power of the Holy Spirit within us can help us to deal with it. So, we can experience the power of the resurrection every day.
What challenge or challenges are you facing
Identify them and give them to the Lord.
I encourage you, this year, to experience the power of the resurrection every day. Don’t let Easter be a one day event.

Gregg potts

We live in a different culture. I get a regular reminder of this from listening to my daughter.

One way the culture is changing is that there is more diversity. As a result of that, our children learn Spanish in school. Sarah is going to be bi-lingual and English was a challenge for me!

Because Sarah is learning Spanish, when I ask her a question in which the answer to the question is “yes”, she responds with “Si.”

The first couple of times she did that I had to ask her what she wanted me to “see.” Then, she explained that she wasn’t saying I needed to “see” anything but that was the Spanish word for “yes.”

Also, I’m not “daddy” but instead, I’m “padre.” Holli is “Madre.” And, again, you probably know this but in case not that’s Spanish for “father” and “mother”, respectively.

But the diversity in our culture isn’t the only way things are changing.

Text messaging is the rage for young people. Text message means taking a cell phone and using the same keypad that you would dial a phone number but instead send a text message to someone. Sarah and I can be riding down the road and there is a steady sound of “tick, tick, tick.” No, it’s not a bomb… it’s her text messaging her friends.

And, text messaging has its own language. There are abbreviations used for words. For instance, “I don’t know” is shortened to “idk.”

My “bff” is shortened for “best friend forever.”

These two examples remind us that our culture is changing and, at times, when things changes, we have a tendency to fight it. But, that would be a mistake. A perfect example of this is something I heard last Monday.

I attended a conference where Dr. John Bisagno was speaking. Dr. Bisagno was, at one time, pastor of FBC Houston, Texas, which was one of the largest churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. He was about to lead his church to make a change in their worship style. Some of his singles came to him and offered some “suggestions” for changes he could make that, they thought, would help communicate better to a young crowd.

Dr. Bisagno could have brushed the singles off and refused to change. But he didn’t. He listened and he learned and made some changes and in a few months his worship attendance had increased.

He realized the culture was changing and he needed to change with it.

The church finds itself in the midst of this changing culture. And, at times, we are not quite sure how to respond. It can be frustrating even discouraging.

But, it doesn’t have to be.

I Chronicles 12:32 refers to the sons of Issachar as men “…who understood the times and knew what Israel should do….”

The message of the church is needed more today than ever. But the culture has changed. So, we must discern the times and find out what is the most effective way to get the message of Jesus to this culture.

Let’s ask the Lord to help us be discerning of the times we are in and determine new and creative ways to get the message of Jesus to a changing and hurting world.

I write a weekly column for our local paper each week. I've posted it my blog today.

"Ethel Waters was a regular at Billy Graham crusades. Many people remember her moving renditions of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” She had a beautiful voice.

But perhaps some who heard her sing were not aware of Ethel’s background. Ethel grew up in Harlem and she grew up hard. The opening line to her autobiography reads, “I never was a child. I never was coddled, or liked, or understood by my family. I never felt I belonged. I was always an outsider. I was born out of wedlock… Nobody brought me up.”

As I said, Ethel grew up hard.

Growing up in that manner could have limited what Ethel accomplished but she didn’t allow it too. Ethel sang the blues. And the blues she sang moved people. She said, “I sang them out of the depths of the private fire in which I was brought up… Only those who are being burned know what fire is like.”

Maybe you have been burned in life. The question is; “How will you react?”

Just because we’ve been burned doesn’t mean we have to allow it keep us down. Use the experience you are going through to make you stronger.

James said, “…the trying of your faith worketh patience” (1:5).

When you are in the midst of a trial, ask the Lord what you can learn from the experience. "

Normally I try to follow a central theme in my posts on this blog. But today, I'm going to deal with various thoughts that I've had over the past few days.

Let's start with last Friday. That night, I went to Dave Hardin stadium at Paulding County High School prepared to watch my middle son, Will, play his last high school football game. They were playing one of their county rivals, Hiram High School. But, this game had a little extra "mustard" to it. The winner of this game got the fourth and final seed from our region in the play-offs. So, it was pretty tense from the start. I had prayed that if it were the Lord's will, the kids could pull an upset and win. I don't know if the Lord is interested in football or not but, I figured I would pray anyway! And, we had an "angels in the outfield" experience. Our kids won! It was wild! So, they get to play one more week. They are facing a gargantuan task in their first round opponent (MLK in Atlanta.. they are ranked 3rd in the state) but, we are "in."

Then, my parents came up last weekend. We don't see them nearly as often as we once did. But they came up for Will's senior night. Although we don't see them much, it's always neat when they come and it's sad when they leave. They are aging. I know; everyone does. I guess I just wasn't ready for it.

Finally, Holli and I attended the Georgia Baptist Convention in Augusta on Monday and Tuesday. This was my first "GBC" to attend. It was a neat experience. It was also a little lonely. I don't know many ministers in Georgia yet. So, I'm trying to meet new people. I now understand how people feel when they visit a church for the first time.

It's cool today. I'm looking forward to something warm to eat tonight and watching a little college football on Thursday night. I hope you have a great day.

I'm a sentimental dude. I guess that's a little weird, since I'm male. But, that's the way I'm wired. I have a tendency to hang onto things.
When the last college football game of the season is played I will dwell on the fact that it's over for several months. It's normally kind of sad. For some ladies it's a happy moment because now, they feel like they have their husband "back" for a while. lol. I do the same thing when I watch the championship game of the NCAA basketball tournament. And... at Christmas... the same thing.
Tonight will be one of those nights.
My middle son, Will, is a senior. This is his last home football game for sure and possibly his last high school football game, period, if the team doesn't win. Will has played 3 years at Paulding county high school. For the last three years, during the fall months, we have normally been at a high school football game on Friday nights. And, that will probably continue even with him graduating because my daughter, Sarah, is a cheerleader.
But, tonight, may bring the curtain down on one season of our life.
If they win they go to the playoffs so we would have one more game.
Tonight, my mind will go back to all the pee wee football games and middle school games. They will go back to team parties. It will go back to yelling like crazy when they won as little kids and hugging them telling them "it's ok" when they lost.
Tonight, Will is going to stand on the field at Paulding county stadium with his mom on one side and me on the other and his name will be called out. They will mention the activities he's been involved in, what his future plans are and folks will applaud. Then, we will take our spot. When it's all over, he will hug his mom and run back to the locker room to get ready for the game.
Then, his team will play Hiram, one of their county rivals. We hope they win. They hope they win. But, when it's over, win, lose or draw, he's still my kid and I'll be proud of him.
One thing I'll remember about his football time... he always ran to his spot. Always. Didn't matter how bad they might be getting beat, he ran to his spot. That made Daddy proud.
Well, the tears are starting.
Already.
And it's just 6:30 e.s.t. on Friday, November 9th. I've got 13 hours to go before game time.
"Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be the dad of Robert, Will and Sarah Potts."

If you haven’t read it, you are at least familiar with the book Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The book was written by Robert Louis Stevenson and published in 1886. It’s about a London lawyer who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. The book is known for its portrayal of a psychotic condition known as “split personality.” The phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” syndrome has even made its way into pop culture in describing someone with a split personality.
Christians deal with the “Jekyll and Hyde” syndrome as well. We want to do the right thing. We want to guard our tongue. We want to think pure thoughts. But does that happen? Not always.
We find ourselves battling. We know the right things to do.
Don’t gossip.
Be kind to one another.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
But at times, doing those things is a challenge.
Then, there are moments, when, perhaps more filled with the Spirit than at other times, we say encouraging things. We help others. We have a benevolent spirit.
When those times come, we feel good about ourselves and about life. It feels good to help someone. It warms your heart to say an encouraging word. So, why can’t we do that all the time?
The reason is that there is a battle going on inside every Christian called “the battle of the flesh and the spirit.” And the flesh is strong. We can crucify it daily but it comes back. It comes back because it’s strong!
One day we can experience peace and contentment. The next day, due to the strength of the flesh, we can battle envy and greed.
One day we can experience the peace of Christ. The next day, anger can fill our hearts.
The apostle Paul described this dilemma when he said, “For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me…. (Romans 7:19-20).
I can identify with that!
So, every Christian deals with the “Jekyll and Hyde” syndrome to some degree. So, how do you handle it?
The first step is to be aware of it.
Second, when we find ourselves battling, James tells us “Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Know that the power of the Holy Spirit in us is greater than the power of the flesh and if we will ask the Lord, He will help us deal with our temptation.
So, when you are having a “Jekyll” attack, ask the Lord for strength so that the “Hyde” side will be more evident in our lives.

What's important to you?
Have some things become more important to you than they should?
I haven't made a blog entry since August 10. That's almost 3 months. Part of the reason is that blogging had become too important to me. Let me explain.

Back in August, I began going through a real time of spiritual renewal. I was reading the little book "The Calvary Road". (If you haven't read it, you need to. It's good.) God began speaking to my heart and, honestly, blogging wasn't as important as it once was. Reading that book led me to realize the need to make some changes in my life. On many days, the first thing I would do in the morning was update my blog. But, during that time I realized I had gotten my priorities out of order. I was having a devotional time with the Lord but it wasn't always first thing. So, I re-prioritized some things.

Second, when I decided to begin blogging again, I couldn't access my blog. The problem is still not totally resolved but it's resolved enough for me to resume posting. I changed my email address during that time and I think that change hindered me from being able to sign on.

I will write more about my time of spiritual renewal in the coming days.

For now, I ask you, "Have some things gotten out of order in your life?" Have some things become more important than they should be? There is a little verse tucked away in the book of II Chronicles 18:4 that has spoken to me in the past couple of months. The verse says "Inquire first for the word of the Lord." I have put that verse on my p.d.a. Every day, I am reminded to "Inquire first for the word of the Lord."

It's making a difference in my life.

Matthew 28:18-20 is a couple of verses that most Christians are pretty familiar with. It tells us to "Go ye therefore and preach the gospel to all people..." That is not a direct, verbatim quote from scripture but, it's close.
Those verses are generally known as "The Great Commission." That's our mission statement as Christians. For years, that mission statement has been accomplished via door-to-door visitation, crusades where large numbers of people would be given in an opportunity to believe in Jesus as their Savior and other traditional means. And, those means still work in certain places. However, the world is changing if you haven't noticed. One of the primary ways the world is changing is through the power of the internet.
I was reminded again, last night of the power of the web...
I was in a committee meeting in our church and a young man who teaches at an area school told me that a new coach at his school whom I had met in the gym I am a member of checked out my sermon the web. When he told me that, I backtracked in my mind to the conversation with the coach.
It was about a week ago. I spoke with the coach and we chatted a few moments. We joked a little about the rivalry between the school he coaches at and the school my son attends. I didn't think much about our conversation after that.
Until last night...
I was talking with this committee about the need to possibly spend some money making our church web-site better. And, this young man smiled and said "Yeah, Coach... checked out your sermon last week."
I was stunned... I guess I shouldn't have been.
The way people select churches has changed some. Now, when they move into a community, they can visit your church via the internet before actually visiting the church.
This coach whom I met in the gym had evidently gone home or to work and pulled up our website and listened to a few minutes of one of my sermons. I thought that was neat.
We have opportunities all around us today to spread the gospel. We need to ask the Lord to illuminate our minds and help us think creatively to reach this generation with the love of Jesus.

My wife and some friends have told me for several years that I am "OCD." That refers to obsessive compulsive. That means you have a tendency to focus on things. I admit; I do that. I get something on my mind and I have difficulty getting it off. That is good and bad. It's good in that there have been times when I begin a a project and I stay focused on it until it's done. I mean, I tackle it. It's bad in that at times I get something on my mind and I remind someone of a particular task about a zillion times. lol

Well, in the past couple of weeks the "OCD" deal has been good. A few weeks ago I became convicted about the number of periodicals and newspapers I read and receive. I have always enjoyed reading. I can get lost in a book and it helps me relax and learn which is good. But, you can get too much stuff.

For years I have subscribed to lots of periodicals. Some of them are "preacher" things that have good illustrations for sermons. Some of them are magazines like Time, Newsweek, etc.. For years I have subscribed to Sports Illustrated.

I get so many that they accumulate... and they accumulate in a bad spot... right beside my chair. In the past, at times, it has looked like a mountain! We have lost kids under them!. JK

Well, a few weeks ago my wife went to cheer camp at UGA and I decided to surprise her when she got home by having the "mountain" cleaned up. So, I started sorting/discarding etc... I threw away... I'm embarrased by this... three trash bags full of old periodicals and I have some more that I hung on to.

I have also cancelled some subscriptions. I now get one paper per day and there are days when I don't have time to read it! This process has helped me to focus more on Bible study and prayer. And, it's not over. I'm still trimming.

Are there some things you think you can't do without that you need to trim away in your life?

Jesus said "Seek ye first the kingdom of God..." (Matt. 6:33).