Welcome to my blog. I hope you are encouraged through my posts.
Dr. Gregg Potts
Gregg Potts I believe strongly in grace. I believe in the God of the second chance. I like to deal with the issues of the faith that challenge us. I like to be transparent and honest because life isn't always clean. I want to be real in my faith. I'm not one for doing something just because it's always been done. I want to have an open mind as I deal with matters of faith. I love my wife, Holli and our 3 kids, Robert, Will & Sarah. I love sports; particularly the LSU Tigers. I am a history buff. I love to read. I enjoy western movies. I also enjoy reading motivational books. I have a passion for meeting people where they are in their life pilgrimage and tell them about the love of Jesus.Paypal
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"This Is Your Chance To Preach To Me" and He lost it.
Over the past two months, I watched the AMC mini-series "Hell on Wheels." The series was about a railroad being built across America and the various story lines associated with it. The main character was a former Confederate soldier, Cullen Bohannon. His wife had been raped and murdered by Yankee soldiers and he was trying to find the men who did it and avenge her death.
Another character in the series, was a Preacher. And, to say that he was a "character" is an understatement. The preacher had some issues or demons he was battling. On several occasions he tried to "preach" to Mr. Bohannon but Bohannon would have none of it.
Until the last episode...
Mr. Bohannon is looking for a man he thinks killed his wife when he goes into the Preacher's tent. Just prior to Mr. Bohannon entering the Preacher's tent, the Preacher had killed a man. Only, he didn't just kill him.. he beheaded a man. Yep, like I said; he had issues.
Bohannon enters the tent, sits down and says something like "Preacher, you've been wanting to preach me; he's your chance."
The Preacher's eyes brighten, somewhat... as he realizes he now has the opportunity he has been waiting for. But there is one problem... the Preacher's heart isn't right.. he's just killed a man.
So, he get up and says "There is a God.. I know that."
Then, he walks over to Bohannon and begins spitting out some garbage that made no sense and then, with a stern voice he says "Brother, choose hate!"
Bohannon looks at him like "Have you lost your mind ?"
And the fact is, the Preacher probably HAD lost his mind. The guy had major issues.
Then, Bohannon just walks away.
I know it's a tv show and they are acting but... I hurt as I watched that scene unfold. Here is a man who is searching.. .he even says "Preacher, you've been wanting our chance to preach to me.. here it is." And what does he get? A preacher telling him "Brother, choose hate!"
Mercy.
All around us are people who need to know the Lord. And, there are times in everyone's life when they are more open to the gospel than any other. But, if we aren't careful, we may miss our opportunity by failing to live for Christ.
None of us are perfect.. Far from it. But, we need to live every day and try to live for Jesus and live in such a way that when a friend or lost person is open to talk about spiritual things they would come to us and we could tell them the truth.
Cullen Bohannon was open... briefly.. to hearing from God and the Preacher blew it. That was a tv show.. but in real life we need to prevent that from happening by living for Christ.
A Second Scene From War Horse; Helping People Entangled in Wire (sin)
Recently, Holli and I went to see the movie "Warhorse." There were a few scenes from the movie that really touched me. I have shared one.. this is a second.
In one scene, "Joey," the name of the horse, breaks loose and is trying to run free. As he does, he goes through about three bobbed-wire fences (although he's a phenomenal horse, he never learned to jump). Each time he goes through a fence he takes a little bobbed-wire with him until finally, he is entangled in enough wire that he can't move. So, he's entangled in the wire between lines of soldiers.
One soldier sees him and decides to take a chance.. he leaves his line of defense with a white flag. Gingerly, he makes his way to "Joey" waving his white flag, signaling that he is not armed.
He makes his way to "Joey" and begins trying to figure out HOW to free the horse from all the wire. About that time, he turns and an opposing soldier is standing there with a pair of wire-cutters. The soldier had seen what was happening and was volunteering his help. The two soldiers then begin cutting "Joey" free from the wire he's entangled in. After some time and lots of cutting, Joey is free. The two opposing soldiers encourage one another to be careful and then they part company.. going back to their respective lines to resume fighting.
Although I've tried to describe the scene, there is no way I can do it justice. What do we learn from it? It's this; two opposing armies stopped fighting to help free a wounded horse. And, no offense; but this was a HORSE.
We desperately need to do the same with people. There are lots of people entangled in wire who need Christians to stop and help them get free. Sometimes, we are too busy arguing about the Bible to do it. At times, we are too busy attending religious meetings. There are people all around us, like Joey, who need our help.
One soldier took a risk to help Joey. He could have lost his life saving Joey but he was willing to take the risk to save the horse. We need to be willing to at least inconvenience ourselves to help others... to be a friend when someone is hurting.
A Lesson From War Horse: Do You Watch People Fail Or Help People Up?
Last Saturday evening (New Year's Eve), Holli & I went to see "War Horse." It's a good movie... We don't go to the movie's often but when we do, I normally come away with a sermon illustration or too. I am going to share those with you over the next couple of days in my blog.
This is the first one...
The plot of the movie is about a young man and his father who go to a horse sale and his father gets carried away... He sees a horse that is a beautiful animal and he gets into a bidding war... with his landlord no less... and pays an exorbitant amount of money for a horse that can't plow... which is what he needs. His landlord comes around to collect the rent and he can't pay cause he's spent it on the horse. He promises to plant a field in turnips and sell them to pay the rest of the rent. The only problem is... Joey has never pulled a plow. So, the horse has to be taught to plow... it's not a pretty sight.
The young man puts a yoke on Joey (the horse) and hitches him to a plow. He tries and tries but the ground is hard and Joey isn't accustomed to pulling a plow.
So, you have a young man trying to teach a horse to plow.. a father watching all this and sensing he is going to lose his farm because he can't plant the field in turnips to pay the rest of the rent... and the neighbors who hear that the lad is trying to train the horse to plow.
So all of a sudden lots and lots of people begin showing up... to watch a horse to learn to plow. At first, when you see the people coming, I thought they were going to help break the field but no; they stand beside the fence and watch the boy fail and fail and fail and fail. I felt very sorry for the kid as he is trying his best to get the horse to plow and people are standing by watching him fail.
As I watched that scene I thought that it was a picture of life and.. unfortunately, too often, the church. We are good at watching people fail but not so good at helping people up. We might even stand beside the fence and read some scripture verses admonishing someone to "press on" but we aren't so good at getting INTO the field and helping.
We need to get better at helping. Anyone can stand beside a fence and watch someone fail; it takes a special person to get over the fence and help the person. I encourage you to begin helping people more. The scripture challenges us to "Bear one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:2). Bear someone's burdens today.
A Challenge For The New Year - One Of My Favorite Poems
Today is the most important day of my life.
Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failures is gone forever.
The past is past.
Done.
Finished.
I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it.
But I will learn from it and improve my Today.
Today. This moment. NOW.
It is God’s gift to me and it is all that I have.
Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs and troubles isn’t here yet.
Indeed, tomorrow may never come.
Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow.
Today is what God has entrusted to me.
It is all that I have. I will do my best in it.
I will demonstrate the best of me in it—my character, giftedness, and abilities—to my family and friends, clients and associates.
I will identify those things that are most important to do Today,
and those things I will do until they are done.
And when this day is done
I will look back with satisfaction at that which I have accomplished.
Then, and only then, will I plan my tomorrow,
Looking to improve upon Today, with God’s help.
Then I shall go to sleep in peace . . . content.
Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failures is gone forever.
The past is past.
Done.
Finished.
I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it.
But I will learn from it and improve my Today.
Today. This moment. NOW.
It is God’s gift to me and it is all that I have.
Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs and troubles isn’t here yet.
Indeed, tomorrow may never come.
Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow.
Today is what God has entrusted to me.
It is all that I have. I will do my best in it.
I will demonstrate the best of me in it—my character, giftedness, and abilities—to my family and friends, clients and associates.
I will identify those things that are most important to do Today,
and those things I will do until they are done.
And when this day is done
I will look back with satisfaction at that which I have accomplished.
Then, and only then, will I plan my tomorrow,
Looking to improve upon Today, with God’s help.
Then I shall go to sleep in peace . . . content.
Merry Christmas From The Potts Family
Merry Christmas from the Potts family:
2011 was a year of adversity,
change and growth for our family.
In January, Gregg resigned as
Pastor of FBC Dallas where he had served for six years. At the time of his resignation, he wasn’t
sure what direction the Lord was taking him, but he wanted to explore some
non-traditional areas of ministry. After
a month of prayer and research, in February, we began holding informational
meetings to start “The Retreat: A New Church Start.” We began meeting as a small group in March
and met through the end of June. This
was a rewarding and learning experience for us; however, at the end of June,
The Retreat was disbanded. This was a
tough decision, but we felt it was the right decision. Outside fund-raising had really
struggled.
In April, Gregg’s dad, Robert
Potts, passed away. He had struggled
with Parkinson’s for a year or two but his health really deteriorated in the
last year. He had been in the Kentwood
Nursing Home since November of 2010 and passed away at Beacham hospital in
Magnolia in April of 2011.
In May, we had two
graduations. Robert graduated from
Kennesaw State and Sarah graduated from Paulding County High. Sarah was class President. She has since moved in with her brothers and
is attending Kennesaw State with Will. We
are very proud of both her and Robert
In July we enjoyed a family
vacation in Panama City Beach. This has
become somewhat of a tradition for us, though we realize that it will become
more difficult each year.
Holli returned to Paulding County High School in August for her 7th year there. While she has decreased her cheerleading responsibilities, she is even busier with other activities at the school.
In September, in a desire to cut expenses, we moved from Dallas to Marietta. The Lord opened a door and provided a small house that is perfect for us at this stage in our lives. Also, in September Gregg had an opportunity to return to his home area and preach a revival at Osyka Baptist. It was a lot of fun to see family and friends that week.
Will has settled in nicely after
transferring to Kennesaw State last year.
He was elected Homecoming King in October. He is pursuing an education degree, but has
decided to add business classes since going to work for Chik-fil-a. With a second job at the Sun Glass Hut, he
has very little spare time.
The first of November Gregg
started serving First Baptist Church, Emerson.
He is enjoying preaching regularly and getting to know these people.
Robert has gotten a job with a
group known as “Americans for Faith and Prosperity.” We are very happy for him. However, it requires him to move to the
Hampton Roads area of Virginia which will represent a challenge. He will relocate the last week of December,
and will be there through next year’s elections.
Please continue to pray for us
as we search for God’s will in our lives and that of our children. This has been a year that the Lord has taught
us to lean on Him in a way that we have never had to before. God has provided for us and we are
thankful.
Hymn Stories of Favorite Christmas Songs
Another installment in my Christmas music hymn stories;
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a great American poet. His life had been touched by tragedy and then, he was tested by the Civil War. Longfellow hated the Civil War. It tore at the very fiber of his being to see the United States of America—a nation his family had fought to create and help build—divided by the greed and sinful nature of man. An ardent believer in the power of God to move on earth, the poet all but pleaded with his Lord to end the madness of the war. When his oldest son, nineteen-year-old Charles, was wounded in battle and sent home to recover, the poet’s prayers turned to rage. As Henry tended his son’s injuries, saw other wounded soldiers on Cambridge’s streets, and visited with families who had lost sons in battle,he asked his friends and his God, “Where is the peace?”
Then, picking up his pen and paper, he tried to answer that haunting question. It was the ringing of Christmas bells that probably inspired the cadence found in his writing on December 25, 1863. That day Longfellow hung his whole message on the tolling of the church bells. Yet while most Christmas verse is light and uplifting, America’s greatest poet set his lyrical ode in tones that were largely dark and solemn. In the original seven stanzas of “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day."
"I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along
th’unbroken song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.” Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound the carols drowned Of peace on
earth, goodwill to men.
It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn, the
households born Of pea ce on earth, goo dwill to men. Then pealed the bells more loud and
deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With
peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
"Take My Hand.. Precious Lord;" A hand to help in tough times.
The Christmas season is a happy time for but for some it can be a difficult time. If you are struggling this Christmas season, you need encouragement and Jesus wants to give that to you. I love the following hymn story that is a reminder of how Jesus helps us during trying times;
As a child he displayed extraordinary musical ability. So much that he began playing in
various jazz clubs and made quite a name for himself. Then, he became a Christian and he began writing Christian songs.
He was invited to sing in a worship service in St. Louis, MO. He didn't want to leave because his wife was pregnant but, he honored his commitment and did the service. While he was away his wife would go into delivery.
During the worship service he was leading, a man came in with a telegram. The telegram informed him that his wife died in childbirth. Within twenty-four hours his newborn baby had died as well. Dealing with the death of his wife and child, his spirits plummeted and he became very depressed and discouraged. So much so that he determined never to write a Christian hymn again. He went to a friend's home and sat down at the piano. A melody began to develop and then the lyrics of one of the most popular gospel songs ever written came to Tommy Dorsey's mind;
"Precious Lord, take my hand; Lead me on, help me stand.
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the dark, through the night. Lead me home to the light.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, lead me on."
The Lord wants to help us with our struggles.
Holy Worldliness.. the way to reach this generation for Christ.
Last night I was thumbing through some magazines and noticed a phrase that caught my attention. The phrase is "Holy Worldliness." It describes, I think, the proper approach for the Christian in today's world.
The world that we live in has been described as "post-Christian." That means, the values of the world have changed and no longer are Christians in the majority.
We live in a world where church attendance is low.
We live in a day where human life is not held as sacred as it once was.
We live in a day where sexual immorality is rampant.
We live in a day that is very materialistic.
We live in a day where it's not un-heard at all to hear someone drop "the f bomb" in public.
Ok, enough of that.. and I could add others.. but, you get the idea. Simply put; it's tough out there. So, the world is very sexual, highly self-centered and human life means nothing to many. Into that world we Christians go every day... guided by our Christian values.
Our Christian values tell us to only say good things.
Our Christian values tell us to save sex for marriage.
Our Christian values tell us to give as opposed to take.
Our Christian values tell us that every life is special.. handicapped or not..inconvenient or not.
So, how does the Christian live in the world I described above? Simply put; it's tough. In fact, I would say very tough.
Some Christians, withdraw from the world. They just kind of live in their Christian bubble. I understand the strategy but, how can you impact the world if you withdraw from it? Answer? You can't.
Some Christians stay in the world and become judgmental. All they do is find fault with their non-Christian work colleagues but at the same time, they gossip and criticize everything in their church. So, what's worse? The lifestyle of the non-Christian or the gossip and criticism of the Christian? To quote "Radio" from the movie "Radio;" "Both coach."
The right way, to approach the world is "holy worldliness." That means you live in the world but you hold firm to your Christian values.
Recently I was around some guys who.. let's say had less than good mouths. I mean, it was "f" this and "f" this and "f" this. Yes, I was a little uncomfortable. You might say "You should have something." Maybe I should have but I didn't. I didn't because I don't want people to act any different when I'm around.. Maybe I'm wrong for that. I want to show people that I will accept them as they are.. just like I think Jesus would. Then, at the appropriate time, I try to share Christ with them.
I'm trying to be "holy worldly." I think it's what we have to do as Christians if we are going to reach this world. Jesus told us to be "...the salt of the earth and the light of the world." It's the same as being "holy worldly."
If we are going to reach this generation, we have to be in the world but not act like the world. We have to be "holy worldly."
"Who Are You?"
I've gotten hooked on the AMC series "Hell On Wheels."
The show is based on the construction of the railroad following the Civil War. The main character is a guy who fought for the Confederacy who is trying to get revenge on the men who killed his wife.
Last night, in one scene, "Bohannon" (the lead character) is in the saloon and he's drunk. A man known as "The Swede" comes in and senses Bohannon's condition. The Swede doesn't like Bohannon and thinks Bohannon is up to something. Trying to get information from him, The Swede offers to buy Bohannon another drink.
The Swede then asks "Who ARE you?"
Bohannon replies "When you find that out, Mr. Swede, let me know."
The Swede laughs.
But the Swede's question is a good one. It's a question lots and lots of people are trying to answer every day; "Who Am I?"
Now, I don't mean our literal identity.. we know our name.. I'm talking about our life purpose. Many people go through life trying to be something they aren't and they are never happy. Or, maybe they are trying to be something their parents or grandparents want them to be.
Recently I was substitute teaching in a school and was talking with a teacher. This man is in his early 50's. I learned that in his mid '40's he quit a good job as an engineer and went back to school to be certified to teach. He wasn't happy as an engineer but has found fulfillment as a teacher.
What about you? Are you happy? If not, is it because you are trying to be something that you aren't or, you are trying to imitate someone.
God made you special. There is only one of you. Be yourself and enjoy being you.
My Thanksgiving List
Tomorrow we will celebrate Thanksgiving. As we do, we pause to reflect on the many things we should be thankful for and for me.. it's a LONG list... My guess is it's that way for you to. On this Thanksgiving eve, I am thankful for..
My wife; Holli Alice Potts. We've been married 27 years. She's seen me at my best and my worst. She loves me regardless. She completes me. Holli Alice, I love you and am thankful for you this Thanksgiving.
The Lord Jesus... years ago, Jesus reached down into the tiny East Fork community and touched a farm boy in the heart. I am thankful Jesus loved me enough to die for me and still loves me even when I fail today.
First Baptist Church, Emerson.. I started as interim there the first of November. I am enjoying preaching there and getting to know the people. Thank you, Emerson, for how you have received Holli and me.
My kids... Robert, Will & Sarah... Robert has graduated and will be moving to Virginia in about a month (Glad he has a job and wish it was closer), Will is a junior and Sarah is a freshman at KSU. I love spending time with our kids and very proud of each one.
My extended family. We don't get home much but, I am thankful for my extended family. It's been a tough year for us with Daddy's death in April of this year. Love you, Mom, Mitzi & Deana.
I am thankful for the lessons I learned and the people I met while trying to plant "The Retreat At Dallas." There was a group of people (you know who you are) who worked with me to try to plant a church and I will always appreciate them.
I am thankful for the opportunities I've had to substitute teach this fall. I've enjoyed meeting teachers and administrators and getting to know some new people.
I'm thankful for Rich Erdman, a good friend who has helped me. Rich is an encourager.
I'm very thankful Bama's field goal kicker missed 4 times when LSU played Bama on Nov. 4 in the "game of the century." 
I'm thankful for friends. There are several people who have contacted me periodically this year to check on me. I greatly appreciate that. You folks know who you are.. Thanks.
I'm thankful to the guys in the Etowah Valley Football Association for taking me under their wing and helping me learn how to be a football official. I enjoyed working with and getting to know you guys.
I'm thankful to Dr. Earnest Easley and the Roswell Street Baptist Church for their assistance this year.
In summary, I'm thankful for a roof over my head, food on the table, a Savior who loves me and forgives me, friends and family and health.
Holli and I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving!