Bob Evans

It is part of my strategy in building and developing leaders to meet with people on a regular basis. We usually meet for breakfast or lunch. This allows me to maximize my time. I am going to eat, so I choose not to eat alone.

I try to set up appointments with people who I can pour my life into. One of the places that I often go to meet with people is Bob Evans. I have developed a good relationship with a number of the waitresses. They know that I am a pastor. I joke with them and they joke with me.

Because I believe that God is always opening doors for his love to be shared, I have personally prayed for them when I hear about a specific need in their life, I encourage them, and occasionally invite them to NewPointe.

Last week – I asked one of the waitresses for advice on a dish for lunch. It was the chicken stir fry. She did not recommend it but I went with it any way. She asked me how it was, so I played it up.

Later that week, I stopped in for breakfast and told her that I wanted to order the Chicken stir fry because it was so good. So she came back with this for me.

I believe that one day, God is going to move in their lives, in an incredible way.

“Be very careful , then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:15-16

Great Day!

WOW – What a great Easter Service on Sunday. It was my prayer that 100 people would responsd to the message of God’s Love. I don’t know if that happened, but I know that God spoke to hundreds of people. I want to give props to all of the staff and volunteers. Thanks for making an eternal difference in hundreds of people’s live.

The service was powerful, full of energy and excitement. I am sure that people were blown that all of this was happening in church. As I mentioned, all of heaven was partying so why shouldn’t we? I am sure that we secured a huge win. You say what is our win for us on Sunday morning?

Here is the win : To have people say --- I don’t know if I believe everything that I heard, but I do know one thing I am coming back.

Be sure to be Investing and Inviting family and friends to our next series. “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” It promises to be a great time.

The desire of every person who truly knows Jesus Christ as the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their life is to take as many family and friends as they can to heaven. This series will help you in achieving that mission. Be praying for your family and friends as you invest and invite.

Goliaths and Leadership

Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean) from New Jersey, wants the NCAA to investigate the Feb. 11 Rutgers-Tennessee game, won by the Lady Volunteers (59-58) amid a dispute about whether the clock paused, allowing a foul and game-winning free throws.

It also reminds me of Sen. Arlene Specter who is going after the New England patriots for spygate. Specter is from Pennsylvania a huge Eagles fan.

It gives you a picture of leaders who either don’t want to lead or don't have the capacity to lead, so they appeal to an audience hoping to solve a problem that really has little if any potential to make a difference in a world when there are many problems waiting for someone with leadership and courage to tackle them that would make a huge difference.

Should Senators be worried about basketball games?

It can happen where you lead too. If you are not careful, you will find yourself solving problems that really aren’t that great of magnitude, because the ones that are take a huge amount of leadership and courage.

Don’t let it happen to you.

Remember King David? He took on a huge problem, that no one else was willing to tackle for forty days. The problem a nine foot giant named Goliath. David said, “Let noone lose heart on account of this philistine, your servant will go and fight him.” He did and killed Goliath. He automatically went from being a shepherd boy to a national hero.

David went to a new level of influence and leadership. It was said that Saul kills thousands, but David has killed tens of thousands…

Why? David took on the biggest problem and conquered it.

Go find a Goliath, that every one else is afraid of and solve it. You will be amazed at what happens to your influence and leadership. Don’t settle for solving problems that really don’t contribute to making your world or work place better.

Don’t run from Goliaths, run to them if you want to a go to a whole new level of leading.

Proverbs 5

I am reading right now in Proverbs. Wow – what an insightful, challenging, convicting, helpful and wise book. The morning I read proverbs 5, I sat there and prayed that God would guard my heart and help me to be a man of integrity.

Later that same morning, I read a statement from the governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer who did not heed the words proverbs 5.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer is being asked to resign over a call-girl scandal. Investigators said Tuesday he was clearly a repeat customer who spent tens of thousands of dollars — perhaps as much as $80,000 — with the high-priced prostitution service over an extended period of time.

“I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family ... [and] my sense of right and wrong,” Spitzer said in a brief statement he read to reporters at his Manhattan office. “I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.”

That night I was watching a news cast, and they had former New York Mayor Ed Koch on TV. He knows the Spitzer family, specifically Mrs. Spitzer. He said that she has aged greatly in front of my own eyes in a just a few minutes.

While this is played out before the world. Spitzer and his family, remain secluded in their Fifth Avenue apartment.

In his resignation here is what the Governor said “I look at my time as governor with a sense of what might have been," Spitzer said.

May we all heed the words of the Apostle Paul. “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own ? For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." I Corinthians 6:18-20

Wow!

Props!

The people of NewPointe continue to amaze me. As you know we did not meet together this past Sunday ( Snow Day ). I say meet because many of you still worshiped. You say what do you mean? Well – it is amazing to me to see the tithes and offerings we have received through the mail.

It is great to be reminded that the church is not a building, but it is those of us who know Christ as the forgiver of our sins and the leader of our lives. The building we have a tendency to call church is really a tool shed. It is a place where ministry happens - where people learn about the tools that they have and they learn how to minister to people in their everyday lives.

I’ve have said on different occasions that a good test of any group of followers of Christ would be not to meet collectively as a large group for a number of weeks, just in our small groups and see what would happen. Would we continue to give, serve and make a difference in our world? I want to believe that NewPointe would.

Just so that you fully understand, I am not asking for more snow to prove a point.

Prayer Training Reminder

Did you know that we are in a spiritual war?

Do you know that you have an enemy who wants to seek, kill and destroy you and those you love?

Do you know the he always wants to thwart the plan that God has for your life?

The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6 .. “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities and the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The only thing the disciples really asked Jesus to teach me was how to pray.

Come learn how to exercise this powerful privilege and gift God has given each and every believer.

This Saturday March 15 @ 8:30 a.m . You can call the church office to register . ( 330-602-5600 )

“ A Christian is no stronger than his or her prayer life “ Samuel Chadwick