Last night, Shami and I watched a show for the 1st time called, "Happy Endings."
There were some of the funniest parts of a 30 minute sitcom I have ever seen and yet there were some of the most disgusting parts of a 30 minute sitcom I have ever seen. At every commercial, I just had my mouth wide open in disbelief that what I was seeing was real.
I feel like the show has addictive qualities like any funny show but then has amped up its "they said what" moments too! How easily can we be drawn into something that seems fun yet is total filth?!
Is that how Satan works in our lives?
He draws you in with your curiosity then slaps you in the face only to get you to laugh immediately after he slapped you. It's a spiritual abuse of sorts.
How do we avoid this abuse? How do we keep ourselves pure?
Psalm 119:9 says - How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
The word says - Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth. (Ephesians 4:29)
The word says - Think on what is right, noble and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)
The word says - The tongue is a deadly poison... (James 3:8)
The word says - Take every thought and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)
There was so much that was wrong with that show and yet they masked it with rediculous humor. The word says - the Satan masquerades LIKE an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14)
The answer to what to do is simple.
The word says - Submit to God. Resist the devil and he must flee. (James 4:7)
Submit your ways, thoughts and words
Resist Satan's ways, thoughts and words
Guess what happens if we do? - Happy Endings!!!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
God Bless America?
I have read both transcripts from the speeches early this morning from both President Barak Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. There is one thing that was glaring right at me as I finished reading their speeches. It was the phrase, "God Bless America."
Really? How? How does God bless a country that put two candidates that both do not reflect a full Biblical worldview? Last night for the first time since I was able to vote, I had to choose to vote on who I felt shared the closest moral values to my own and who I felt would be the best leader to make the difficult decisions toward erasing our deficit and having a balanced budget.
One candidate does not share a Biblical view that all life is sacred even in that inside the mother's womb. Does not share a Biblical view that marriage is between a man and a woman. Does not share a Biblical view that the borrower is slave to the lender.
One candidate does not share a Biblical view that the Holy Bible is the only inspired, inerrant Word of God. Does not share a Biblical view that Jesus, the Living Word, is God or does not share the Biblical view that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost - as Mormons say) are indeed 3 in 1.
There are many other things that these 2 candidates believe in that do not match with a Biblical worldview. And so what do we do?
Do we change our worldview to fit or match either one?
We do not need to change our worldview and compromise our faith, but realize what Building 429 says in their song "Where I Belong" -
There is hope and our hope lies within a verse with a great promise!
II Chronicles 7:14 - Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
If you were not aware of this yet...we live in a Post-Christian America. We live in a country much like the one that the prophet Daniel lived in. Daniel worked and served in the local government of his day and he chose to keep his worldview that was based on God. He was blessed because of it and hated for it. He was hated so much that laws were made to attempt to keep him from living competely committed for God.
What did Daniel do? Did he give in and change? Did he think there was no hope?
Daniel did not give in and continued to pray to the God of hope!
He was convicted of a crime against man's laws because he obeyed God's laws and was sent to a hopeless situation with some very hungry lions! What happened?
The God of hope protected him and those responsible for making the laws against Daniel and his God were given the punishment meant for Daniel and some very hungry lions were no longer very hungry.
So what do we do now? Do what Daniel did. Do what the people were called to do in II Chronicles 7:14! Be humble, pray, relentlessly seek God, turn from our ways of life that are unrighteous and God will hear us, forgive us and restore America into a land that God indeed will bless!
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AGAIN!!
Really? How? How does God bless a country that put two candidates that both do not reflect a full Biblical worldview? Last night for the first time since I was able to vote, I had to choose to vote on who I felt shared the closest moral values to my own and who I felt would be the best leader to make the difficult decisions toward erasing our deficit and having a balanced budget.
One candidate does not share a Biblical view that all life is sacred even in that inside the mother's womb. Does not share a Biblical view that marriage is between a man and a woman. Does not share a Biblical view that the borrower is slave to the lender.
One candidate does not share a Biblical view that the Holy Bible is the only inspired, inerrant Word of God. Does not share a Biblical view that Jesus, the Living Word, is God or does not share the Biblical view that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost - as Mormons say) are indeed 3 in 1.
There are many other things that these 2 candidates believe in that do not match with a Biblical worldview. And so what do we do?
Do we change our worldview to fit or match either one?
We do not need to change our worldview and compromise our faith, but realize what Building 429 says in their song "Where I Belong" -
All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong
Do we simply give in and think there is no hope for our country?This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong
There is hope and our hope lies within a verse with a great promise!
II Chronicles 7:14 - Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
If you were not aware of this yet...we live in a Post-Christian America. We live in a country much like the one that the prophet Daniel lived in. Daniel worked and served in the local government of his day and he chose to keep his worldview that was based on God. He was blessed because of it and hated for it. He was hated so much that laws were made to attempt to keep him from living competely committed for God.
What did Daniel do? Did he give in and change? Did he think there was no hope?
Daniel did not give in and continued to pray to the God of hope!
He was convicted of a crime against man's laws because he obeyed God's laws and was sent to a hopeless situation with some very hungry lions! What happened?
The God of hope protected him and those responsible for making the laws against Daniel and his God were given the punishment meant for Daniel and some very hungry lions were no longer very hungry.
So what do we do now? Do what Daniel did. Do what the people were called to do in II Chronicles 7:14! Be humble, pray, relentlessly seek God, turn from our ways of life that are unrighteous and God will hear us, forgive us and restore America into a land that God indeed will bless!
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AGAIN!!
Friday, October 26, 2012
In God We Trust
This time last week, I was in the beautiful country of Haiti. It was an honor to be a quest of Convoy of Hope along with about 14 other Senior Pastors. I have shared about my experience with many people and many different ways already in this short week's time.
Here's what I sent to my sister...
Haiti was eye-opening. I have been to Mexico and seen pockets of horrible poverty but Haiti is the opposite. There are pockets of plenty rather than pockets of poverty. 80% of the people live on $2 a day. A thought that we can barely comprehend when we spend twice that or more for a fast food meal.
Even in the midst of that mess, God has given many Haitians visions and dreams to reach their people. One man took his own home and transformed it into an orphanange, one lawyer stopped her work to rescue kids from the streets and created another orphanage. One felt the divine call to be a teacher to 4th-5th graders. One just graduated and plans to build homes for those without homes or have the need for new homes.
I went to one of the mass graves and was told by one man that the earthquake swallowed their spirit, but that there is a revival happening in that country and their very own president dedicated the nation to God shortly after the earthquake.
I believe that God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit is changing that nation and can do that for us too!
It is a beautiful place that is taking it's mess and creating a message! May this be what you needed to hear today!
...as we draw closer to our Presidental election, we can get back to living out that phrase "In God We Trust." All we need to do is see how a nation with so little has decided to trust in the same God that the Haitians have placed there trust in!
Here's what I sent to my sister...
Haiti was eye-opening. I have been to Mexico and seen pockets of horrible poverty but Haiti is the opposite. There are pockets of plenty rather than pockets of poverty. 80% of the people live on $2 a day. A thought that we can barely comprehend when we spend twice that or more for a fast food meal.
Even in the midst of that mess, God has given many Haitians visions and dreams to reach their people. One man took his own home and transformed it into an orphanange, one lawyer stopped her work to rescue kids from the streets and created another orphanage. One felt the divine call to be a teacher to 4th-5th graders. One just graduated and plans to build homes for those without homes or have the need for new homes.
I went to one of the mass graves and was told by one man that the earthquake swallowed their spirit, but that there is a revival happening in that country and their very own president dedicated the nation to God shortly after the earthquake.
I believe that God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit is changing that nation and can do that for us too!
It is a beautiful place that is taking it's mess and creating a message! May this be what you needed to hear today!
...as we draw closer to our Presidental election, we can get back to living out that phrase "In God We Trust." All we need to do is see how a nation with so little has decided to trust in the same God that the Haitians have placed there trust in!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Live Out Loud!
If you are not aware yet of what our students from Momentum Youth
Ministries are doing, you will this Sunday. They have been wearing the same shirt
these past 5 days and will continue all the way through the month of October.
Why? They are raising money for missionaries that need transportation and other
equipment to share more effectively about the Gospel through what is called,
Speed The Light. If you have yet to make a pledge to help raise funds with one
of the students or youth leaders I encourage you to find one of them and start.
It won’t be that hard, they all will be wearing the same shirt! :-)
I am so proud of them! We all should be proud of them. This is just one
step in reaching their goal this school year that says, “Don’t live life on mute,
but learn to live out loud!” That goal echoes our mission at New Life – Helping
people BECOME completely COMMITTED, Holy Spirit EMPOWERED FOLLOWERS of
Jesus!
You cannot live out loud without the Holy Spirit’s empowerment! Acts 1:8
shares some of Jesus’ final words..."You will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes upon you.” What were they to do with this power? Be witnesses, live out
loud!!
We need to encourage our students to live out loud and there is no better
way than to model it for them. When something just doesn’t seem right, don’t
just say it, do something about it! When someone seems to need prayer, don’t
just say you will pray for them, PRAY for them right then! When someone has a
need, don’t just feel bad for them, let the compassion of Jesus lead you to help
meet their need.
Peter and John had seen a crippled man near the Temple entrance, who knows
how many times, but this time something was different. They were not silent,
they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out loud and said they didn’t
have money but they would give what they DID have! They didn’t simply pray that
the crippled man MIGHT get healed. They told him to stand up, IMMEDIATELY and
BE healed in the name of Jesus!
Let us strive to live a Holy Spirit Empowered life! It is a life that is
not on mute but a life that is lived out loud!
See you this Sunday!
Chasing Him,
Pastor David
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Marion New Life Academy
Yesterday, Shami and I were invited by the mayor to come and speak at a meeting about poverty in our area and how together we can make a bigger difference than alone.
For the first time other than Sundays at New Life, we shared publically about the dream of starting a boarding school in our area called Marion New Life Academy. The dream is becoming a reality. We have purchased our first home that will house about 6 young girls who will be entering Kindergarten in the 2013-2014 school year.
Here's the part of the article from today's Chronicle Tribune that was about the Academy...
It's amazing how we jump at the cause of helping rebuild lives that were devastated by natural disasters. I loved being able to help those who were impacted by a tornado that devastated Henryville, IN. But what if we jumped at the cause of building lives at Marion New Life Academy! What if the same people who go help with natural disasters were able to come help prevent the disaster that poverty brings on children!
I call out for your help! Will you respond to the call?
For the first time other than Sundays at New Life, we shared publically about the dream of starting a boarding school in our area called Marion New Life Academy. The dream is becoming a reality. We have purchased our first home that will house about 6 young girls who will be entering Kindergarten in the 2013-2014 school year.
Here's the part of the article from today's Chronicle Tribune that was about the Academy...
The
impact of the Aug. 3 Synergy forum on poverty is being seen in new community
initiatives.
Mayor
Wayne Seybold told a group of Synergy participants at a follow-up meeting
Wednesday that a boarding school for Marion children is being developed as a
means of fighting child poverty.
Seybold introduced David and Shami Grieve, who plan to start a housing program for
youth in community. The couple, who are involved with New Life Community Church
in Marion, previously worked with teens in Las Vegas for several years. They
will be the first set of host parents for Marion New Life Academy.
Modeled
after the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Penn., the house will host six to
eight girls in kindergarten in Marion Community Schools. The girls will live
there full-time throughout the nine months of the school year and their parents
will be able to visit. Shami Grieve said the program will focus on developing
skills such as nutrition, personal hygiene, personal responsibility and
spiritual formation.
“We
want their families to be able to participate with them,” she said. “(It lets)
them know that their mom and dad love them, but so do other people.”
David
Grieve, father of young daughters, said it made the most sense to start the
academy with a group of girls. They plan to build more ranch-style homes in the
future that will host groups of boys as well. Shami Grieve said that students
in the academy might progress from house to house each year.
Seybold
said that no child would be forced to go to the academy and that it would not
be free. Professionals from local organizations may develop qualifications for
children to enter the academy. It is planned to open for the 2013-2014 school
year.
Now for this to become a reality in that time frame, we need help getting the home ready with remodeling and renovations. What can you do? Pray for God's resources to come to New Life, or become aware of where His resources are. Let us know if you can come help. Tell us what expertise you have or people who have expertise that you know that can come help us!It's amazing how we jump at the cause of helping rebuild lives that were devastated by natural disasters. I loved being able to help those who were impacted by a tornado that devastated Henryville, IN. But what if we jumped at the cause of building lives at Marion New Life Academy! What if the same people who go help with natural disasters were able to come help prevent the disaster that poverty brings on children!
I call out for your help! Will you respond to the call?
Friday, June 1, 2012
Truth and Grace
There is a lot of discussion right now in the
Christian community around us, in Marion, about how we are to love others. The fact that
this is part of the vision of New Life Community Church makes me compelled to
respond. If you have yet to see the Lighthouse Baptist Church reader board it
currently reads, “God created Adam and Eve, Mr. President.”
That reader board is stating Truth not
opinion, and I agree whole-heartedly with that Truth, however, when all we do is
speak Truth without Grace, we do not provide the opportunity for Grace to enter
into a person’s heart and bring them to a point of salvation. It is all about
Souls and seeing Souls saved by the power of God’s grace through Jesus’
demonstration of love for all people.
That reader board has sparked some to speak
about love for everyone and how “love doesn’t hurt, it heals”, and while I
understand the heart behind the statement, it is only speaking Grace. Grace
without Truth. Truth is needed to set us free from sin. The Truth is that
sometimes love DOES HURT even while it heals. As a father I understand this
because as I love my girls there are times where I must discipline them and they
feel hurt because of that discipline born out of love that I give them. God is
no different...
Hebrews 12:7-9
As you
endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own
children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its
father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline
you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are
not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our
earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the
discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
To follow Jesus means to follow him to our
death. Death to our selfish ways is the only way we live His ways. To follow
Jesus means to follow the living Word. If we do not live in line with God's word
then we are not living in line with God.
I Corinthians 6:9-11
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
To follow Jesus means to love all those that make mistakes and sin by choosing the selfish ways mentioned in this verse and accept them. Jesus accepted them, however, he never approved of their selfish ways rather He turned them into self-less, followers who were willing to do and say anything for Him! (Zaccheaus & Matthew, woman at the well, and the woman caught in adultery are just a few examples).
I am not a fan but a follower of Jesus! Will you follow Him too?
Remember that a deeper relationship with God is long, difficult, dangerous,
expensive, requires sacrifice and demanding work! Oh is it worth it
though!!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Don't get IT!
I have seen all the attention that has been drawn towards same sex marriage recently and have kept silent as government leaders, fellow church leaders and friends give their "personal" input on the topic.
Some speak of equal rights and present a convincing line of thought about all couples should have the same marital rights, regardless of their lifestyle choices.
Some speak on the matter of love and if you love someone and you are willing to commit to them and be loyal to them then you should be able to openly share that love in marriage.
One pastor speaks about a same sex couple and deals with the issue of committing adultery but does not openly deal with the issue of homosexuality. That sets off a fire storm against him by other religious leaders saying that he is skirting the issue because he has a Mega-church with thousands of members.
Another pastor friend of mine says 100% of those against same sex marriage are all straight. I'm not completely sure of his implications with that statement because he is one who lives on the edge of grace, often making people wonder about where he stands on God's Truths.
One reason for my silence was because we will be focusing on the marriage relationship for 4 weeks beginning Sunday, May 20th here at New Life. But with so much swirling around me I could not hold until then and do not believe God wants me to remain silent any longer.
We have 30 different states in America that say marriage is defined as a man and a woman.
We are so worried about the definition of marriage in The United States of America and our state constitutions but how concerned are we about God's purpose for marriage? How concerned are we about His purpose becoming a reality in our own marriages?
Why do we get married in the first place? Why does marriage even exist if we do everything designed to be inside a marriage before we are married?
Is it to love someone? Is it to create a family? Both of these things we can do without being married. In fact many people today are "loving" another person and creating families before "tying the knot."
Why is there marriage? Is it so you can visit your loved one in the hospital or make the final decisions at death? Is it to provide health care benefits for your partner or choose proper custody of your children? Is marriage here today so you can get a bigger tax break come each April?
Marriage exists for one purpose - to give us an image of what our relationship with God is supposed to look like. Marriage is about how the oneness of two unique persons reveals to us how oneness with God is possible.
The marriage issue in America only addresses the legal side, not the eternal side. Eternity has been placed in the heart of man and that eternity is to be spent either with God or separated from God based on our choice to love and follow him or turn away and give others the attention that God desires from us.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church says these words,
I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. (I Corinthians 7:32-34)
We are already in an eternal "marriage" relationship with God before we are in our earthly marriage relationship begins with our spouse. That marriage relationship is better known as a covenant.
In our day and age we focus on the contract of marriage and debate whether it is with a man and a woman. You can have whatever contract you want, that does not matter, it is the covenant that matters. God's covenant "marriage" with you and me is so important to Him that He sent His son Jesus to die and create a stronger, more beautiful covenant between Him and mankind when Jesus rose from the dead.
Covenants don't end when one person chooses to opt out. That works in a contract but not in a covenant. Have you ever wondered why Jesus gave permission for divorce?
I think the church loses more and more of its voice on marriage with every divorce that happens between two followers of Jesus.
Jesus gave permission because when someone opts out of the covenant of marriage with God by choosing to be with another, in the simplest of terms, it gives God permission to do what He does not want to do and that is separate Himself from you at your death. He separates from you because you have not sought forgiveness of your sins and God cannot be in covenant with sin.
So I say to every man and woman, gay or straight, black or white...Don't Get IT! Don't get married! Stay in covenant relationship with God. Love Him with everything you have! Choose to turn from your selfish ways and follow Jesus. Confess your sins and He is faithful to forgive you of your sins and purify you from your unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Find what you don't want to let go of and let go of it!
We should not jump into the earthly marriage too quickly but focus more intentionally on the eternal marriage between you and God. It is this relationship that lasts far longer than any relationship we will have with any person here on earth.
Some speak of equal rights and present a convincing line of thought about all couples should have the same marital rights, regardless of their lifestyle choices.
Some speak on the matter of love and if you love someone and you are willing to commit to them and be loyal to them then you should be able to openly share that love in marriage.
One pastor speaks about a same sex couple and deals with the issue of committing adultery but does not openly deal with the issue of homosexuality. That sets off a fire storm against him by other religious leaders saying that he is skirting the issue because he has a Mega-church with thousands of members.
Another pastor friend of mine says 100% of those against same sex marriage are all straight. I'm not completely sure of his implications with that statement because he is one who lives on the edge of grace, often making people wonder about where he stands on God's Truths.
One reason for my silence was because we will be focusing on the marriage relationship for 4 weeks beginning Sunday, May 20th here at New Life. But with so much swirling around me I could not hold until then and do not believe God wants me to remain silent any longer.
We have 30 different states in America that say marriage is defined as a man and a woman.
We are so worried about the definition of marriage in The United States of America and our state constitutions but how concerned are we about God's purpose for marriage? How concerned are we about His purpose becoming a reality in our own marriages?
Why do we get married in the first place? Why does marriage even exist if we do everything designed to be inside a marriage before we are married?
Is it to love someone? Is it to create a family? Both of these things we can do without being married. In fact many people today are "loving" another person and creating families before "tying the knot."
Why is there marriage? Is it so you can visit your loved one in the hospital or make the final decisions at death? Is it to provide health care benefits for your partner or choose proper custody of your children? Is marriage here today so you can get a bigger tax break come each April?
Marriage exists for one purpose - to give us an image of what our relationship with God is supposed to look like. Marriage is about how the oneness of two unique persons reveals to us how oneness with God is possible.
The marriage issue in America only addresses the legal side, not the eternal side. Eternity has been placed in the heart of man and that eternity is to be spent either with God or separated from God based on our choice to love and follow him or turn away and give others the attention that God desires from us.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church says these words,
I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. (I Corinthians 7:32-34)
We are already in an eternal "marriage" relationship with God before we are in our earthly marriage relationship begins with our spouse. That marriage relationship is better known as a covenant.
In our day and age we focus on the contract of marriage and debate whether it is with a man and a woman. You can have whatever contract you want, that does not matter, it is the covenant that matters. God's covenant "marriage" with you and me is so important to Him that He sent His son Jesus to die and create a stronger, more beautiful covenant between Him and mankind when Jesus rose from the dead.
Covenants don't end when one person chooses to opt out. That works in a contract but not in a covenant. Have you ever wondered why Jesus gave permission for divorce?
I think the church loses more and more of its voice on marriage with every divorce that happens between two followers of Jesus.
Jesus gave permission because when someone opts out of the covenant of marriage with God by choosing to be with another, in the simplest of terms, it gives God permission to do what He does not want to do and that is separate Himself from you at your death. He separates from you because you have not sought forgiveness of your sins and God cannot be in covenant with sin.
So I say to every man and woman, gay or straight, black or white...Don't Get IT! Don't get married! Stay in covenant relationship with God. Love Him with everything you have! Choose to turn from your selfish ways and follow Jesus. Confess your sins and He is faithful to forgive you of your sins and purify you from your unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Find what you don't want to let go of and let go of it!
We should not jump into the earthly marriage too quickly but focus more intentionally on the eternal marriage between you and God. It is this relationship that lasts far longer than any relationship we will have with any person here on earth.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Pinwheels
I went into the Gardens of Matter Park today and noticed these beautiful blue and silver pinwheels spinning as the wind blew through them. These pinwheels were called "Pinwheels for Prevention." There is a sign that reads:
"The pinwheel is a symbol of a happy, carefree childhood. This pinwheel garden represents what we all want for every child in Grant County."
In front of the pinwheel garden is a statue of a little girl helping her younger brother with his homework while they both sit on a log bench. They both have smiles and faces of joy on them.
Finally on the stamped cement path you see these words below the statue:
"A person is a person no matter how small"
These 3 images capture the heart of our desire and dream to create and build the Marion New Life Academy (MNLA).
-Each child matters at MNLA - no matter how small.
-Each child should live with joy and let it show on their faces no matter what they are doing - homework or anything else.
-Each child should be able to live care free and not worry about their next meal, bath, pants or shoes.
It is when we forget the words of Jesus that children are to come to Him (Matthew 9:13-15) that we think selfishly and not selflessly.
-A child is not for your financial benefit
-A child is not to be used as leverage or a bartering tool to get your way
-A child is not to be merely a result of an act of impulse or carelessness
-A child is a gift, a treasure that when found we do everything to ensure their health and well-being.
We are all God's children and He treasures us. Just like the man who found a treasure in a field and sold everything he had to be able to purchase that field. (Matthew 13:44)
We need to treasure our children this way! How? We show them they are treasured by the way we treat our marriage, our homes, our parenting and how we decided to treat every other choice in every aspect of life.
Help these Pinwheels be blowing at Matter Park, help that statue be more than bronzed images of 2 kids, and help the words be more than colorful letters on a path. Let's make them a picture of the reality of our homes, community and Marion New Life Academy!
"The pinwheel is a symbol of a happy, carefree childhood. This pinwheel garden represents what we all want for every child in Grant County."
In front of the pinwheel garden is a statue of a little girl helping her younger brother with his homework while they both sit on a log bench. They both have smiles and faces of joy on them.
Finally on the stamped cement path you see these words below the statue:
"A person is a person no matter how small"
These 3 images capture the heart of our desire and dream to create and build the Marion New Life Academy (MNLA).
-Each child matters at MNLA - no matter how small.
-Each child should live with joy and let it show on their faces no matter what they are doing - homework or anything else.
-Each child should be able to live care free and not worry about their next meal, bath, pants or shoes.
It is when we forget the words of Jesus that children are to come to Him (Matthew 9:13-15) that we think selfishly and not selflessly.
-A child is not for your financial benefit
-A child is not to be used as leverage or a bartering tool to get your way
-A child is not to be merely a result of an act of impulse or carelessness
-A child is a gift, a treasure that when found we do everything to ensure their health and well-being.
We are all God's children and He treasures us. Just like the man who found a treasure in a field and sold everything he had to be able to purchase that field. (Matthew 13:44)
We need to treasure our children this way! How? We show them they are treasured by the way we treat our marriage, our homes, our parenting and how we decided to treat every other choice in every aspect of life.
Help these Pinwheels be blowing at Matter Park, help that statue be more than bronzed images of 2 kids, and help the words be more than colorful letters on a path. Let's make them a picture of the reality of our homes, community and Marion New Life Academy!
Friday, January 13, 2012
The first 2 weeks of this year I have shared about God’s favor in both sermons. January 1st was reflecting when Jesus proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favor in Luke 4:16-21 and on January 8th that with real fasting God works furiously in our favor using Isaiah 58.
Luke 4:16-21 (NLT) says “bring Good News to the poor...proclaim that captives will be released...blind will see, and oppressed will be set free”
- bring Good News to the Poor
Remember that 27% of Grant County lives below the poverty line and New Life is surrounded by the “poor”
- proclaim that Captives will be released
Remember that on February 5th I will begin the “Prison Break” series that will show us all how to pray for people to be set free from their prisons or set ourselves free from our prisons
- Blind will See and Oppressed will be set free
Remember last Sunday that what I spontaneously shared at the end of service was Spirit-led and dealt with two man things:
1 – the opening of our eyes to why New Life had a steady decline for 20 years (a focus on egos and not on souls)
2 – the oppressive spirit over marriages and relationships in our church(the response of all those I spoke to about relationships has been amazing!! It has been an absolute confirmation of what took place on Sunday, January 8th!)
Now I have seen our General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God call 2012 the year of the Lord’s Favor!
This was confirmation of something I said on January 1st – “Something much bigger than us is happening right now!”
We need to see this as a divine moment in time and go with the direction of the “wind” that the Holy Spirit is blowing. This IS THE YEAR of the LORD’S favor! I only know that this is for 2012! I am not saying anything more than that!
I know in my gut that this will be the greatest year I have ever been a part of in my 13 years of full-time ministry!! Let’s step out in faith and not wait in fear!
I am proud to lead and serve you!
In Him,
Pastor David
PS – I have a link of the note from our General Superintendent for you to read.
http://ag.org/top/General_Superintendent/Ministers_Letter/2012_Issue_01.pdf
Luke 4:16-21 (NLT) says “bring Good News to the poor...proclaim that captives will be released...blind will see, and oppressed will be set free”
- bring Good News to the Poor
Remember that 27% of Grant County lives below the poverty line and New Life is surrounded by the “poor”
- proclaim that Captives will be released
Remember that on February 5th I will begin the “Prison Break” series that will show us all how to pray for people to be set free from their prisons or set ourselves free from our prisons
- Blind will See and Oppressed will be set free
Remember last Sunday that what I spontaneously shared at the end of service was Spirit-led and dealt with two man things:
1 – the opening of our eyes to why New Life had a steady decline for 20 years (a focus on egos and not on souls)
2 – the oppressive spirit over marriages and relationships in our church(the response of all those I spoke to about relationships has been amazing!! It has been an absolute confirmation of what took place on Sunday, January 8th!)
Now I have seen our General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God call 2012 the year of the Lord’s Favor!
This was confirmation of something I said on January 1st – “Something much bigger than us is happening right now!”
We need to see this as a divine moment in time and go with the direction of the “wind” that the Holy Spirit is blowing. This IS THE YEAR of the LORD’S favor! I only know that this is for 2012! I am not saying anything more than that!
I know in my gut that this will be the greatest year I have ever been a part of in my 13 years of full-time ministry!! Let’s step out in faith and not wait in fear!
I am proud to lead and serve you!
In Him,
Pastor David
PS – I have a link of the note from our General Superintendent for you to read.
http://ag.org/top/General_Superintendent/Ministers_Letter/2012_Issue_01.pdf
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