Catching up!

Well it has been awhile since my last blog, so I will try and catch everyone up. Let me start off by telling you how great God is. He is orchestrating a vision that could only be done from His hands. The way that He guides and directs is amazing. He knows just when and how to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I just need to learn and try to keep my hands out of it, which is very hard to do.
Over the past few weeks things have been fast and furious. Kendra was out of town for work (RTI), I had the privilege of teaching my kids while she was gone. Then, I was out of town for a Coaching Network, making phone calls and meeting with people about the vision of LifePoint. One thing that is really cool is knowing that you have a team that is with you. While I have been doing my things, the team has been working on their ministries and getting them ready for our first preview service. Great job team! We have Sunday service at my house, where we are able to LOVE, LINK, LEARN, and LIVE. It has been great seeing visitors come and feel welcome.

After much prayer, we have decided to lease space from Faith Academy of Findlay. We are very excited and just know this will be a great partnership with Faith. We have been given the ok to go in and start cleaning, painting, and getting things ready for our first preview service on July 20th. Which is only two months and seven days away!
Please keep praying for LifePoint Findlay, as we still have many needs before July 20th. Like, people, we need more people to fill important ministry roles, chairs, sound equipment, and money just to name a few.
If you, or you know of anyone who wants to be apart of an exciting and growing ministry in Findlay, Ohio email me at pastorkevin@lifepointfindlay.com

People Matter To God

One day, an antique collector was walking through the city when he noticed a mangy cat lapping milk from a saucer in the doorway of a store and he did a double take. His expertise told him that the saucer was extremely old and very valuable, so he walked casually into the store and offered to buy the cat for two dollars. The store owner replied, "I'm sorry, but the cat isn't for sale". The collector said, "Please, I need a hungry cat around the house to catch mice. I'll pay you twenty dollars for that cat". And the owner said "Sold", and handed over the cat. As the collector headed for the door he turned and said, "Hey, for the twenty bucks I wonder if you could throw in that old saucer. The cat's used to it and it'll save me from having to get a dish." The owner replied, "Sorry buddy, but that's my lucky saucer. So far this week I've sold sixty-eight cats".

Obviously this collector seen value in that saucer. An important question for each of us to ask is: "What is valuable to me?"
Is it antiques? Is it cars or cash? Or How about a little bling bling?
What do we value? How about people?
Do people really matter to us? And if so how much?

In early June of 1995, the nation held it’s breath waiting to discover the fate of 29 year-old, Air Force captain Scott O’Grady.

As captain O’Grady few his F-16 over Bosnia on a routine air patrol, the Serbs fired a missile that ripped his plane in half.
As the aircraft erupted in flames, O’Grady parachuted to a wooded area below.
For six days, he hid in the woods, surviving on only grass and ants to eat.
Occasionally, he would send out a signal from a low-powered radio.
Back in the States, the government officials weighed the costs of sending in a rescue team to locate the pilot.
How many lives should be risked to save one man?
How much would it cost in fuel and the potential loss of further equipment?
The mission certainly would be very dangerous.
Yet despite all these considerations, it was concluded that the value of saving one life outweighed any of the potential costs.
It was a gutsy decision, but it turned out to be a successful one.
Tracing O’Grady’s signals as a guide the rescue team flew into his general location, and in just over 2 minutes, they had the downed pilot aboard their helicopter; headed for safety.

The majority of people around us have been shot down by the enemy, and unless they are rescued will die in captivity. Let's not get tunnel focused, there are Christians also that have been beaten down and have fallen away. How concerned are we about their precarious position?

The bottom line is "People Matter To God" so we should value people!
Although I hate to admit it, it's not uncommon for people like me and you, to fall prey to judging people. Sometimes we can start to think that God only cares about a select group of people. Only to realize that when we read the Bible that way of thinking is wrong. See there is this little verse in the Bible that has a big meaning. John 3:16 - For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
See God just doesn't love a select few, He loves EVERYONE. And when it comes to value, well what do you think? He gave His Son! Wow what a demonstration of love and value.
Jesus has asked us to do the same. to love and value people! Here are a few verses to read: Matthew 22:37-38 and John 13:34-35 and Luke 15.
We are to love all people, it doesn't matter the color of their skin, how big, how small, how rich, how poor, man, women, child, their clothes, their hair, their attitude, in prison, out of prison, tattoos, no tattoos, smoke drink you fill in the blank. Everyone who steps into our presence should feel welcomed. If they don't we need to evaluate our hearts.
Now here's an amazing thought: We never have and never will lock eyes with another human being who isn't valuable to God!
So let's start looking at people the way God looks at people, with love, value and compassion.
People Matter To God So Here At LifePoint We Value People!

Just a pat on the back.

There was an old saying "If you want to get a chip off someones shoulder, give them a pat on the back". Over the last few days I've been really thinking about my lack of giving encouragement. It seems like it's really easy to make a negative comment to someone, but hard to give them a positive one. Over the last few days I've been sitting back and listening to people speak, and I can honestly say I didn't hear many encouraging conversations. We think it's funny to cut on what someone is wearing, or how they talk, walk, smile, sing, run, hair style, and whatever else comes to mind. Not thinking that we may hurt their feelings, just hoping that someone thought it was funny too. This is happening between kids and adults, not just one or the other. No wonder why there are so many unhappy people in the world, they have nothing to look forward to because someone is always cutting them down. What if we tried to change the way we talk. What if we tried to encourage two people a day, or maybe five. Do you think we would see a difference in people? Ephesians 4:29 says No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear.
Everyday we should be in the business of encouraging someone. Building them up so they can take on the world. I think back to Moses, God told Moses that he wasn't going to enter the promise land. The land that he had been thinking and dreaming about for many years. He wasn't going. I'm sure Moses didn't feel so good about that. Then God said to Moses, Joshua who is with you will enter it. So you need to encourage him, for he will be leading Israel to inherit it. That's crazy, Moses was just told he wasn't going, but he needed to encourage Joshua. Now that would be hard. The bottom line is that we need to encourage people, throw away the rotten talk and think about what we can say that would knock that chip off someones shoulder. So try it, try and encourage two to five people today!

Mission Possible

Every now and then I'm going to highlight a ministry that is getting it done for Jesus. This time let me tell you about Mission Possible. A friend of mine named Tara, told me about this concert that was taking place in Pandora, Ohio and that the band Pawn was going to be there. As soon as she told me that, I knew I was going ( I'm a fan of Pawn). The night was great, Pawn was great, but the thing that got me was the twenty minute presentation that Mission Possible shared about their ministry. It was awesome! They really got my attention as they explained the hard facts and layed out what they are trying to do in the Domincan Republic and Haiti. So I went to the concert, because I was a fan of Pawn, but when I left I couldn't stop talking about Mission Possible. That night I also had the privilege of meeting the President of Mission Possible Kurt, and his wonderful wife Julie. They are great people who love the Lord and serve Him diligently. Please pray for them as their task is huge. Here is a little info on Mission Possible.
Mission Possible has been around since 1979, starting off in Haiti. Then expanding into the Dominican Republic in 1987. Mission Possible has many ministries that they offer in these countries, and here they are, Christian Schools, Leadership Development, School and Church Construction, Community Development, and Short-Term Mission Teams.

Mission Possible is a hand-up, not a hand-out ministry. Those that benefit from our programs are expected to invest in their own future. For example, the families of students provide the school uniform and books and also contribute a small monetary amount towards their education. We know that a hand-out creates dependency relationships and an unhealthy self-image, whereas someone who contributes to their own success will value what they have earned.

How can we help?
One way is to contact Kurt at Mission Possible and see how you can serve the ministry.
Another way is to get involved with their Possibility Kids program. Here is some info:
Possibility Kids is the student sponsorship program of Mission Possible that ministers to children of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through...

• Christian Schools that provide an excellent learning environment, high academic standards, and biblical instruction.
• Nutrition programs that supply a nutritious meal every school day to nearly 3,000 boys and girls ( it is the only meal many children receive)
• Leadership development that provides Godly mentors and encourages young men women to develop the unique abilities and gifts God has placed in them.

For only $30 a month you can sponsor a child and ensure that they will get all the above mentioned opportunities. Only $30! That's nothing to us, but a lot to them. Get involved and be a blessing to a child.
For more information you can check out their websites:
www.ourmissionispossible.org
www.possibilitykids.org
or
Call the office at 1-800-621-9731
If you want just click on the link on the left side of this page.

Like I said in the beginning, I went to the concert because I was a fan of Pawn, but I left being blessed and moved by a tremendous ministry. Check them out, they will bless you also.

I'M A FAN OF MISSION POSSIBLE/POSSIBILITY KIDS

Life Is To Short

Life is to short to nurse grudges or hurt feelings.
Life is to short to worry about getting ready for Christmas. Just let Christmas come.
Life is to short to keep all your floors shiny.
Life is to short to let a day pass without hugging your loved ones.
Life is to short not to take a nap when you need one.
Life is to short to put off studying the Bible.
Life is to short to give importance to whether the towels match the bathroom.
Life is to short to miss out on Saturday night or Sunday morning worship.
Life is to short to stay indoors on a crisp fall day.
Life is to short to read all the junk mail and emails.
Life is to short to be depressed.
Life is to short not to call or write your parents (or children) regularly.
Life is to short to stay at a job that you hate.
Life is to short not to pray.
Life is to short to be angry.
Life is to short to put off improving our relationships with the people that we love.
Life is to short, way to short to settle for mediocrity.
Life is to short to worry about tomorrow.
Life is to short not to follow Jesus Christ.

Matthew 6:34 - Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own.

Philippians 4:6 - Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Snow Angels & Snowmen

Well it's Sunday night and the kids are all snuggled up in their beds as I look outside and see a big mess. Thats right, a big mess. Seven inches of snow. I know many other places received much more than we did, and I know we don't live in Alaska. I just don't understand how on one day we can have a sixty two degree day then six days later everything is covered in snow. The question I keep asking myself, is why do I live here? I could live anywhere in the world, places with eighty degree days, white sandy beaches, crystal blue water. I think you get the point. But no, I live in Ohio. Where one day you can wear shorts, the next a snowmobile suit. I don't even like snow. I used to like snow, when I was about ten. I remember playing outside all day in the snow, from making snow angels to snowmen to snow ball fights. Oh yeah, and the best part, eating the snow (the white not the yellow). It was a great time. Now, you couldn't pay me to go out in it (well let me rethink that) unless the price was right. Maybe one day I will have a change of heart, and I will go outside and make the worlds biggest snowman. But until then, I will just keep thinkin' Spring.

What about church?

Do you attend a church every Sunday, twice a month, once in awhile, two times a year (Easter & Christmas), or not at all? Ask yourself one of these two questions. #1 Why do I go to church? #2 Why don't I go to church? I'm sure after asking these questions you had some great answers. Or maybe you just couldn't come up with a solid answer. Whatever the case may be we will go on. How do you see the church today? Is it a big building with a lot of people who use big words, look at you funny, and sing songs you don't know? Or maybe the message didn’t apply to the situations of today; the issues that you’re going through or have been through. For example sex, dating, finances, divorce, drugs, peer pressure, or just the ups and downs of life, to just name a few. Although this may be true in some churches, all churches are different.
I believe the church was put here to be the hands and feet of Jesus. To show the love of God to all that walk this earth. The one thing that is abundantly obvious to me is that church should be a place of worship. It should be a place that every one will experience the presence of God whether they realize it or not. It should be a place where you feel welcome. It should be a place where you feel at home. It should be a place where the refreshing Word of God is taught–not what the preacher saw happening in the hallway or some manmade doctrine, prohibiting makeup or pants. Hitting the topics that we deal with that are relevant with this generation, not four generations ago. And it should be a place where God is always present.
What does the bible say about going to church? Is this a must for “Christians” to attend a local church? I believe that it is essential as a believer to fellowship with others in a setting that allows you to grow in Christ (Hebrews 10:24-25) to be in an environment that fosters your personal growth. People are not perfect and neither is the Church. I think people forget that as children of God, we too have problems and situations that frustrate us, disappoint and even sadden us. The church needs to reestablish itself as place to build people up and not tear them down. There needs to be a new paradigm within the Church.
Times have changed and the Church has to change right along with it, based wholly on God’s word.
I don't know about you, but I want to attend a church that is relevant to my generation, now and the years to come.