Glory Revealed

I had just walked up a driveway that went up a hill. A long driveway and a steep hill.

Long enough and steep enough for me to make sure I took the trailer off the Suburban next time so I could avoid the up and down pain by parking at the top.

The trailer would have been fine down there and the Suburban fine up there, and neither would have missed each other much seeing as how they just traveled over 600 miles together, and seeing as how neither can think.

I had parked at the bottom of the long driveway, thus the bottom of the steep hill, and after already walking the hill many times that morning I was seriously considering taking a swim with a goose called Mr. Bubbles, but that's another story and something that probably wouldn't make much sense at this moment.

Suffice to say that after the last journey to the top of the hill, possibly after I'd traveled 400 yards seemingly straight up, I was relieved to discover my last trip would be down the hill to leave for the tennis club.

As I arrived at the top of the hill, Nasser gave me a box full of books. At first a bit skeptical of carrying a box of books back down the hill thus having to again walk up the hill, I quickly forgot about my burning thigh muscles as I looked into the box and saw his new book, Glory Revealed!

I couldn't have been more excited! He said the books had arrived just 4 days earlier and that we were the first ones to get them!

Glory Revealed is something he had been working on for a long time. Glory Revealed, the book, is a fantastic read. I've loved reading it the last two days. My tennis academy students are devouring it as well. But, Glory Revealed is so much more than a book.

There is also a Glory Revealed CD. Nasser has spent at least two years that I can remember bringing the CD to reality. The songs are amazing and I've already been hearing them on the radio.

Who is singing in this incredible CD...?

How about Michael W. Smith, Mac Powell of Third Day, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, David Crowder, Brian Littrell, Shane and Shane (can the names get any bigger on one CD!!?) & more.

But, Glory Revealed is so much more than a fantastic read and hit CD.

There is also a Glory Revealed Tour. David Nasser, Mac Powell of Third Day, and many others are hitting the road for a 3 week, 16 city tour!

But, as amazing as the book, CD, and tour are... there is more...

Glory Revealed is both the culmination and the beginning of a friendship journey between a couple of guys, Nasser & Powell, flipping burgers during a vacation to the beach in Florida. Both of these guys are the real deal... and Glory Revealed is the real deal.

Friends joining together for Him.

After loading the last box, and all the luggage, and all my tennis academy kids, the dog, and an amazing health-enhancing, not, food called Sticky Buns, we left Nasser's house and headed to the tennis club mainly so Mark could get some revenge on Nasser and Bozeman could get schooled by Ana. Both of which came to pass.

Our mission trip to Memphis had been incredible. Wrapping it up with Glory Revealed and tennis fun tennis with friends made it all the better.

Check out www.gloryrevealed.com. And check out www.davidnasser.com.

The International Christian Tennis Association staff and academy will most likely attend the Glory Revealed tour in either Ocala or Lakeland here in sunny Florida. Would love for you to attend with us. Bring your youth group, friends, and family... and your tennis rackets!

God bless!

Scotty

Amazing Grace

There comes a point in time when we all have to stand. Not just stand, but stand for something. And, as we stand, we have to face a certain direction. The direction we choose to stand in determines where we go, and what we stand for determines who we go with and why.

The question then becomes not just will we stand and what direction we will face and who we will stand with, but how long will we stand and how long will it take for us to begin walking. Walking requires more than standing. Walking is a bold step forward from a simple upright position. Standing for a sitting person is a bold move, yet standing soon becomes routine. Walking from standing is bold.

We walk and we encounter trials. Trials make us stop and stand, maybe sit, or make us walk more firmly as we grow in experience. While walking is bold, it is nothing compared to breaking out into a jog.

A steady, methodical jog toward the direction we face is a powerful, bold endeavor which will be witnessed by those who sit, stand, or walk. It will be recognized either kindly or poorly depending on the lenses viewed from and the direction taken by those sitting, standing, or walking and determined, as well, by their direction or lack of.

There comes a point when jogging has developed the boldness to the point one begins to run and in running one learns to sprint, thus propelling oneself forward in the direction taken for the choices one faces. And in the boldness of not sitting, nor standing, nor jogging, one finds a view others have to the vantage point not to see.

All people have the ability to sprint. Gods amazing grace frees each of us and takes the chains off. You do not have to sit, you can stand. You can stand right now. Satan will make you believe you are not worthy. You are worthy. So stand.

Get up. Stand up and once standing face in a direction. Choose with boldness shown by standing a direction that is God-honoring. While standing you will become stronger. Others will attempt to make you sit back down, but stand strong. Their lack will develop your endurance and God's grace will strengthen your faith.

Others will say you have no right to stand, you are a sinner, you are not perfect, you are unworthy... and they're right. Yet, God has called you His child and has wrapped His loving grace around you. Stand. Get up and stand. Not just stand, but stand tall and face Him.

Then take a step towards Him, however small. As others scoff, take another step. Listen to Him and follow the direction you are facing. Some of those sitting will become your biggest obstacles, conviction is powerful, yet walk around them one step after the other. Focus on His amazing grace. Then, begin jogging. Yes, its bold. Yes, you are unequipped. Yes, you are not worthy. But, He has called and you are answering His call.

Now run, run to Him. Run in the direction He has called you until you begin sprinting. Sprint to Him. Let your lungs explode inside of you, he will give you air to breathe. Let your legs burn, He will take your pain away. Just run.

Jesus was clear that the road is wide but the gate is narrow. He boldly declared that even those performing miracles in His name will not be recognized. So, run. Not just run. Sprint.

And not just sprint, sprint to Him. Stand, find the direction, and sprint to Him.

His grace is amazing.

Scott Paschal


PS. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love the song Amazing Grace. Check out the following link: http://amazinggracemovie.com/index.php

And, check out Chris Tomlin's newest CD where Tomlin sings his rendition of Amazing Grace, which is also on the movie soundtrack. http://www.christomlin.com

Thank you Memphis!

Memphis, you guys are tremendous.

Our entire staff felt loved and completely cared for.

I, personally, would like to tell each of you how special my time in Memphis was to me. Mike, thank you for being you and allowing God to use you to reach deep inside of me. Kasha, you are simply awesome. God is in and all over you and you are a very special person.

There are so many people I was honored to meet and am thrilled to have the opportunity to develop transparent, God-honoring relationships with. All of us have hard times in our lives, all of us make mistakes. As Christians, we can be there to support, guide, love, and mentor each other.

Ryan, thank you for feeding us, bro. May God bless your kindness and the kindness of the staff at your restaurant. We will stay in touch and prepare for 2008, which will be here so fast. Tell your pastor I said hello.

500+ new ICTA members in Memphis. Fantastic.

Rachel Snelen and Melody Snelen, ICTA Staff & Pro Team, were simply unbelievable in the quality of their work. Caring for our academy students, working our booth, meeting and speaking with 100's of people... you two are incredible and I am so grateful God is blessing you both so immensely.

Mark, Joseph, Ana, and 'Tel each were a tremendous asset to ICTA's mission trip to Memphis.

Mark and Joseph had their own ministry they worked at the tournament in addition to helping ICTA and I am so proud of their efforts. Both young men have grown so much in their maturity and faith. Ana and 'Tel basically took over the booth the last 3 days when Rach and Mel were called to California.

And, Sue. Man, the #1 volunteer mom in the world! Sue has been with ICTA since our beginning in 1999. I coached her son, Joe, till 2005. He is now playing college tennis. Sue and Joe were Mormon when I met them. Now, they are Christian and God is growing them both in so many tremendous ways. Sue is amazing and we all feel very fortunate to have her as our official academy "mom."

The International Christian Tennis Association completed an incredible 13 day large-scale mission trip to Memphis during the Kroger St. Jude. What an amazing task. God-led, God-inspired, God-blessed.

For my daily blog/pics of Memphis, click here.

What now? A lot. God is incredibly blessing the International Christian Tennis Association. Doors are being thrown open for ICTA to pursue ministry opportunities worldwide.

Thank you so much for your emails and calls of support! That truly means more than you know. Thank you.

Growing the game and sharing His fame,

scott paschal