Holy Week

This is an incredible week in the life of the church. It is called Holy Week.

It is a time when we reflect on the price paid by Jesus Christ for the payment of our sins, so that we can be forgiven and have eternal life. It is realizing and reflecting on Christ’s suffering, humiliation, and death - against the backdrop of the hope of resurrection and the promise of newness and life.

It is realizing the horror and magnitude of sin and its consequences in Jesus dying on the cross, and understanding the despair and fear that the disciples felt only to experience the hope that came three days later – EASTER!

Easter is the most important date celebrated in our faith, even surpassing Christmas. It is the day we celebrate Jesus Christ rising from the dead. Easter symbolizes forgiveness, rebirth, and God’s saving power. It is the time we reaffirm victory over sin, death, and all the destructive forces in people’s lives.

We will be celebrating that this coming weekend at NewPointe! More people attend church on Easter Sunday, than any other. It’s been said that people would come to church, if someone would invite them – so I am inviting YOU! Would you invite someone too?

Here are our service times for Easter weekend. I hope I see you there!

Dover Campus - all four services are identical; child & student environments vary as shown

• Saturday night @ 7 pm -ReignForest & Velocity are open (birth to grade 4); no KidStuf, MSM or HSM
• Sunday sunrise service @ 7:30 am -no children or student environments
• Sunday 9 am -ReignForest & Velocity are open (birth to grade 4); no KidStuf, MSM, or HSM
• Sunday 11 am -ReignForest & Velocity are open (birth to grade 4); no KidStuf, MSM, or HSM

Louisville & Millersburg Campuses

• Sunday @ 10:30 am -ReignForest & Velocity are open (birth to grade 4); no MSM

Collide

We are kicking off a new series called Collide. Something predictable happens when two forces collide. There is damage. Things get broken. There is lots to clean up. And, ultimately, people get hurt. So we avoid collisions at all cost.

But what if it’s different when we collide with God? Rather than a mess to clean up, we actually experience a life that gets transformed. Many of us have heard about Jesus. Some of us have even encountered Jesus. But few of us really know who Jesus really is. Join us as we experience a collision; when our perceptions meet His reality.

Here are some opportunities for you to be intentional in remembering and celebrating what Jesus Christ has purchased for us through his death and resurrection.

• Fri 4/2/10 - Communion at the Church, Dover Campus from 7am to 7pm. This is a great time to have communion together as a family. If you are single, invite a friend or two. There will be devotional reading to lead you through this great time.

• Wed 4/7/10 – First Wednesday service, Dover Campus at 7pm. Jews for Jesus will be here and I promise, you won’t want to miss this.

As the song goes . . . "Amazing love, how can it be, that You my King would die for me? Amazing love, I know it's true, and it's my joy to honor you . . . in all I do, I honor you."

Celebrate this great truth this weekend. And make the most of introducing your family and friends to this amazing love by inviting them to one of our services.

The Paycheck

In our staff meeting, we were talking about how we can make sure that the people around us are getting paid. Whether the person is paid staff or volunteer staff – the paycheck is huge! Some ways to do this:

Make good use of their time.

• Have a clear a picture of what you are asking them to do
• Have the necessary tools to complete the assignment or task
• Let them know how this affects the overall goal

Give them a challenge.

• Something that will stretch them spiritually and skill-wise
• Something that will ignite their passion and giftedness

Empower them.

• Let them influence the process of how it gets accomplished (not what, but how)
• Empower them to lead (this includes leading you)

Give them a gift.

• A helpful book (professionally or personally)
• A certificate for a restaurant or café

Publically & Privately thank them.

• Share with the overall team what they did
• Write a personal note of thanks

These are all good gifts and need to be given no matter what, but the ultimate way to pay someone is by giving the gift of yourself – make sure that every time you meet you give the best of yourself:

• Make sure your relationship with Christ is vibrate and alive
• Make sure your passion is strong
• Make sure you have energy margin, so that you can give to them
• Make sure you have a healthy emotional margin
• Make sure you have a grateful heart

I promise you, it will be invigorating to all the people you meet with, and they will come away refreshed, renewed, and recharged – because they will have received something that money can’t buy!

 

Leading from the Overflow

Once a person comes to trust Christ, Satan’s number one goal is to cause people to believe that Christianity doesn’t work. He’s not trying to prove that God doesn’t exist – he knows God exists and he knows that in most cases that strategy won’t work. Instead, our enemy is out to seek, kill, and destroy the life that God purchased and desires for us (John 10:10). The enemy’s two main weapons are fear and lies.

Scripture tells us in John 8:44 that Satan “is a liar and the father of lies.” This is the tactic he used on Adam and Eve in the garden. If we believe a lie, we will act as though it is the truth. And when we do, we openly give Satan control of our lives, which leads to destruction and death. Then we wonder why our lives are ineffective and unproductive. The antidote for this is found in Romans 12:1-2, when it says “we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Remember, it is the truth that sets us free; truth about who God is as our Father; truth about who we are as His children.

The second weapon is fear. Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety (Proverbs 29:25). The basic reason we don’t lead well is because we are fearful of something, ultimately, people. We are afraid we will lose their approval, acceptance, etc. 1 John 4:18 states, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” We need to realize that the one who knows us best, is the one who loves us most.

Make sure you are spiritually and emotionally healthy, because everything flows out of your relationship with Jesus Christ. At one of his leadership summits, Bill Hybels quoted acclaimed leadership expert, Dee Hock: “Management of self should occupy 50% of our time and the best of our ability. And when we do that, the ethical, moral, and spiritual elements of management are inescapable.”

How are your relationships? What is your level of fear?

Casey Gets It!

I am asked many times by many people, “Dwight, why am I so blessed?” I’m asked by older adults and younger people with college educations. Most people think that we are blessed only to increase or raise the lifestyle we are presently living to a whole new level.

There is an 11-year-old boy in Dallas, Texas, who fully understands why he is blessed. Casey Rogers, former foster child “gets it”! One day while he and his father were at a Burger King in downtown Dallas, a homeless man approached them wanting money. Casey’s father shooed him away and told Casey that the man probably wouldn’t spend it on the right things. This struck something deep inside of Casey, a foster baby adopted at the age of one.

Casey was thinking, “I was just like that man; look how much y'all helped me." Because of that day, he founded Casey's Heart which now helps the homeless of Dallas. He is getting support from churches, neighbors, and even the Boy Scouts.

Casey wrote an essay about this and became the winner of the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Essay Contest for kids who have made a difference in their communities. His prize? Triggering the April 11 implosion that will demolish Texas Stadium.

Why are you blessed with health, finances, talent, education, and the privilege to live in America? Figure it out like Casey, and your reward will be greater than triggering the implosion that demolishes Texas Stadium!

Decision Making - March Madness

One of my favorite times of the year is right now – March Madness, and it started yesterday. Sixty-five, division-one college basketball teams enter into a single-elimination tournament. There are 31 automatic bids earned by winning either the conference or the conference tournament. There are 34 other teams picked from a group, seated into four different regions, ranked from 1 to 16.

Every year there are teams that are on what they call the “bubble” – meaning they could be in, or they could be out. There are pros and cons about each of these teams that make a good argument of why they should be in the tournament and why they shouldn’t.

Waves of criticism flow minutes after the posting, with people freely criticizing and listing reasons why it should or shouldn’t have happened this way. One huge reason – whoever gets “in” gets a huge paycheck, plus free PR being on TV, which makes a huge impact on recruiting players to their program. The implications of making or not making the tournament are huge!

I was thinking – that is leadership. Most of leadership is not about making the easy decisions that are very clear and cut. It’s been said that a sophomore in high school can basically make 95% of all decisions that are needed to be made, but real leadership is about making the other 5%! So, how does a leader do this? Be clear, even if you are not.

Leadership Equals Relationships

I had the opportunity to share with a group of college students who are preparing for ministry. I believe the class was called Leading a Christian Ministry. The professor wanted me to share something that I thought would serve them well. My first thought was Christianity is all about relationships.

Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God and people. There are a lot of things the church will not be the greatest at (too many to mention), but this is one area where we are called to surpass everyone else. Many times, the problem is that we are trying to be great at something God never called us to be and we will never be. In light of that, we miss the very thing we are called to be great at and can definitely be great at – relationships.

That’s really what leadership is all about. I just heard it said that 70% of all pastors say they don’t have any close friends, which means that 70% of all pastors are not in community – a very dangerous place to be if you are leading, not to mention leading ministry; plus, not to mention that our main calling is to lead people into growing relationship with Christ and one another. “He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?” (1 Timothy 3:4-5). This all pertains to relationships.

I am blessed with a wife and four children, and guess what? They all have a different personality, which means I need to relate to them in different ways if I am going to have a healthy and growing relationship with them. And I challenge them to make sure they are personally working on their own relationships, because it plays a major role in whether or not they have a fruitful, fulfilling, and fun time leading in ministry.

My Hero, My Dad

Patty and I are blessed to be the parents of four wonderful children. Our youngest son was asked to write a paper about his hero. When I read it, I was both humbled and challenged. I believe his letter speaks more of what he really desires and wants, then what is reality. It is my prayer that I will grow into what he really desires his dad to be.

My Hero

The person who is my hero the most is my Dad.

His name is Dwight Mason.

What I admire about him is that he is helpful, faithful and brave.

The first thing I admire about my dad is that he is brave.

My dad is brave because he talks in front of over 2,000 people every Sunday.

He is not afraid to sing to our family. Dwight is not afraid to go to Egypt on his own.

I think my dad is faithful because he is always on time for meetings.

He will always play with us. My dad will always tell the truth.

My dad is always helpful because he will help with cookouts.

He always prays for us when we are sick.

The most important thing about my dad is that he has the strongest relationship with God.

 – Ben Mason

Proverbs 29:18 says that “without a vision people perish.” Well, Ben has given me a vision of the dad he wants – one who is helpful (servant), faithful (strong character), and brave (courageous). It is my prayer that when all is said and done, I will be that person – not only to him, but to his siblings and his mother. Don’t forget, you are a hero to someone, too.

Greatness for All

We are in a series called The ME I want to Be. I shared this past weekend on the thought that anyone can be great. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be great must be a servant” (Mark 10:45). The problem with most of us, though, is we would rather be thought of as being great without really experiencing greatness that comes from serving.

You see, most of us, if the truth be known, don’t really want to put up with the inconvenience that comes along with being a servant. We are trying to get to a point in life where we are less inconvenienced rather than being inconvenienced.

The great thing about God is that He has given all of us a shot at greatness. The question is, will we seize it? There are many books written today about how to develop and become a...

• great business
• great leader
• great church
• great parent
• great marriage

The fact of the matter – greatness is within all of our grasps – because all of us can serve. Martin Luther King said, “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

Experience greatness – serve someone today.

The Donkey in the Window

I recently had a chance to take two friends with me to visit Blake (Impact Middle East) and the work we are partnering with in the Middle East and North Africa. As many of you know, we at NewPointe sent Blake and his family out from our church in 2001 and have been partnering with them in prayer, finances, and personnel ever since.

It is encouraging to see firsthand what the Lord has been doing. We spent a few days “walking where Jesus walked” in Jerusalem and Galilee. We then crossed over into Jordan for a few days and then on to Iraq and finally finished our trip in Egypt. We not only saw where Jesus walked, but where “he is walking” today through our Jordanian, Iraqi and Egyptian ministry partners. I saw a lot of stuff, learned a lot, grew in my own understanding of who the Lord wants me to become (The ME I Want to Be), but there is one scene that will stay with me for a long, long time.

On our last day in Iraq, we went to a village near the Syrian and Turkish border to visit a family where we are hoping to see a House Church develop. A man, who is sort of the chief of that village and is of another religion, heard that we were coming and asked if he and his wife could come. They wanted to meet us, hear about our faith, and see how we prayed. We sat in that home, laughed each time the ears of a lonely donkey passed by the front window during our conversation, and spoke openly about who Jesus was and is. Then we prayed for the needy in that home, including the chief's wife who was sick. It had a sort of “book of Acts” feel to it.

Blake told me that it is easier for him to do this sort of ministry in Iraq or Egypt than it was when he lived in the States, because every day, as a 'worker' there, he knows why he is there. I was thinking how important it is for each of us, whether in Iraq or Millersburg, whether Jordan or Dover, whether Egypt or Louisville – to know why we are here.

Check out www.impactmiddleeast.org

Book, Blog, & Easter services

Wow, what a winter – we’ve had the snowiest February ever seen in several Ohio cities! March is here and spring is around the corner! With the new month comes our First Wednesday service at 7 p.m. at the Dover Campus. Dave D’Angelo will be sharing an epic story. It is going to be a great night of worship, communion, and teaching! You won’t want to miss it.

As we continue in our series The ME I Want to Be, I want to encourage you pick up the book that is entitled the same by John Ortberg in our church bookstore. It is a good read and will help you process and develop in becoming God’s best version of you. Also, our website www.newpointe.org has our 40-day blog where each day you can read a Bible verse, a thought, and a prayer as you seek to become who you want to be.

It is hard to believe, but Easter is just a month away on April 4. Here are our service times:

Dover Campus

• Saturday night @ 7 p.m. - ReignForest & Velocity are open (birth to grade 4); no MSM or HSM
• Sunday sunrise service @ 7:30 a.m. - no children or student environments
• Sunday @ 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. - ReignForest & Velocity are open (birth to grade 4); no KidStuf, MSM, or HSM

Louisville & Millersburg Campuses

• Sunday @ 10:30 a.m. - ReignForest & Velocity are open (birth to grade 4); no MSM

Easter is the time when most people are open to an invitation to church. Here is how we can be strategic as we reach out to a hurting and broken world:

First – list 3 people for whom you will pray for consistently over the next 30 days for a minimum of 3 minutes a day; ask God to speak to them and prepare their hearts.

Second – be very intentional in strengthening and building your relationship with them; personally invest in them by showing them acts of kindness.

Third – give the invite. Let them know that we are having a Saturday night Easter service, as well as services on Sunday. Tell them that you will pick them up or meet them by the café. Let them know that NewPointe is laid back and is a safe place.

Fourth – if NewPointe is your home church and you are not bringing guests with you on Easter, would you please strongly consider attending the Saturday night service or the sunrise service? We are expecting a huge crowd at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and we want to be able to accommodate everyone; I really do appreciate your willingness in this.

In the weeks that follow, I know we will have stories to share of life-change from our Easter services!