Life Station Newsletter second quarter overcoming evil

“NWOBA Overcoming Evil in Toledo” “As an act of Love, the Life Station will meet actual needs in the area of food, clothing, Bible Training, Financial lay counseling, employment research/training, evangelism, and Prayer support. The Life Station will assess the needs of persons requesting help from the Life Station and will network partners and volunteers to meet these actual needs. The life Station will seek to overcome evil in the areas of poverty, hunger, ignorance, isolation, and Spiritual Warfare.” -From the Life Station Strategy Document In God’s sovereignty He has chosen to impact Toledo and pursue kingdom advance through the Life Station. Churches, individuals, families, and mission teams from across the U.S. use this powerful work of God to reach people for the cause of Christ. Pray: Beg God that He will continue to provide the resources necessary and the opportunity of fertile soil for the gospel to reach Toledo through the Life Station. We run dangerously low on supplies and are struggling daily to help those who come to us for help. Consider: volunteering, donating, or supporting the Life Station with regular financial gifts. What we can do together in Inner City Toledo exceeds what any one individual could accomplish alone. Dozens of people have accepted Christ this quarter. We desperately need someone to consistently make calls to churches and businesses to ask if they will receive a packet of information and consider partnering with us. A systematic strategy with developing action plans is in place. You can see the strategy on line at thinkingcrazy4christ.blogspot.com In other news: Ariana Rae Stevenson was born May 25th, 2014- a healthy baby girl. Pastor Dan has published a book entitled Think Again: Finding Happiness and Wholeness in a world of brokenness. It is available through Amazon and on Kindle, or by request through your local book retailer- Persons can donate by Credit card at Newheightsfellowshipchurch.org/store. Persons can like the Life Station at Facebook.com/LifestationToledo. Overcoming Evil: Specifically, the Life Station currently provides an emergency food supply for persons demonstrating need, Operates a clothing pantry, and provides emergency toiletries and job search help. All persons involved are offered salvation through Christ and encouraged to grow through training and finding a local church. We help hundreds monthly! When a man has nothing to eat, he becomes desperate. When a man has no clothing, he becomes desperate. When a man has no knowledge of the Lord he becomes desperate. When a man has no hope of employment he becomes desperate. When a man can not provide for his family and his children begin to cry, he becomes desperate. Overcoming evil is about doing the good to triumph over the enemy’s attempt to make men desperate. True hope is found in Jesus and about that I pray we will never sit down and shut up. Wherever you are, whenever you are, whoever, you are, get in the fight. …….Romans 12:21 Facebook.com/lifestationtoledo newheightsfellowshipchurch.org Buy Think Again

Strategy continued for Overcoming Evil (Life Station)

Food The life Station will provide an emergency food supply to those requesting it. We will serve 43609 at a worship service. We will maintain scheduled hours in which referrals may come to receive help. These referral s will be accepted in written form from any government agency or faith-based organization. We will maintain policies to control the flow of resources and to ensure consistent service across demographics. • Food Service, • Emergency food bags • Food Bank Partnership • Referral letters • “Empuzzlement” Partnership • Records • Transportation of supplies • Lead Staff member • Donations Clothing Distribution Life Station will operate a clothing pantry. The clothing pantry will be available to persons coming by referral and to the neighborhood at a designated time. Policies will be put in place to ensure that persons coming to utilize the clothing pantry are not abusing it and that persons have equal opportunity to receive aid from the pantry across demographics. A devotion or short lesson will be presented at the beginning of open time for the pantry. • Clothing Donations • Lead Volunteer • Opening Devotions • Volunteers • Referrals • Sign-in sheet • Questionnaire Toiletries Distribution Life Station will distribute toiletries when they are available. Persons receiving referrals, persons expressing a need, and persons receiving a food supply will be eligible to receive toiletries. The toiletries will be limited in the case of recurring customers to every other month and will be limited by supplies on hand. • Toiletries bags • Records • Donations • Toothpaste, Shampoo, Soap, Toilet paper, deodorant, toothbrushes • Partnerships   Bible Teaching The Life Station will endeavor to make available, teach the meaning of, and live out the principles of God’s word. Volunteers and staff will demonstrate and when possible instill these principles in others. We will treat the truths of scripture as a reality that is not always accepted or understood but is always real regardless of ignorance or distrust. • Mail-in Bible Study (ARM) • Occasional Seminars • Facilities usage • Distribution of Bibles • Baptismal services • Local preachers for sermons • Lay Counseling • Bible memorization (monthly) • Testimonials • Tracks • Printed circulation • What’s your question? Worship The Life Station will host a worship service weekly. When possible, this worship will utilize live vocals and instruments. Volunteers and staff worship leaders will lead those attending the service to worship. Persons will be required to participate in a non-obtrusive way say that others may worship. When possible resources will be devoted to enhance this worship experience. • Vocalists • Instruments • Chairs • Clean sanctuary • Sound System • Bibles • Overhead/power point • Schedule of Speakers • Desk person/sign-in • Records • Reading Psalms Cleaning Life Station will maintain a clean work environment. The sanctuary will be maintained clean at all times in preparation for class, worship, or any meeting. Cleaning checklists and daily walk-thrus will be conducted by volunteers and staff to ensure that the building remains in a welcoming state. • Volunteers • Checklists • Walk-thrus • Organization • Labeling • Clear floors • Wet Floor signs Curb Appeal Life Station will maintain an attractive, outside the building presence in the community. The color scheme, signage, weeds, sidewalks, lawn, and overall condition of the building will be included in this initiative. • Maintenance checklist • Yard work Check list • Lawn Care equipment • Shed Maintained • Arrange for Lawn mowing Services • Professional Looking Signage • Regular walk around Building Maintenance Life Station will maintain and improve the facility located at 402 South as well as the houses owned by Life Station. Maintaining the Building will be seen as necessary to the ongoing function and the continuing existence of the Life Station. Maintaining improving the building will also serve to make persons using the Life Station have a successful experience, removing barriers to their willingness and ability to listen. • Maintenance Check list • Lead Staff Member • Walk-Thrus Scheduled • Repairs needed list • Improvements possible checklist • Tools • Supplies • Workbench • Volunteer profile Network Volunteers Life Station will research, enlist, and organize volunteers from all walks of life. Life station will maintain an active volunteer list which will include those who have offered to volunteer, who have volunteered successfully in the last sixty days, and inactive volunteers being those who volunteered previously and have not recently. The list will contain enough information about the volunteer to further their ability to volunteer and the staff’s ability to relate to them while doing so. • Recent Volunteer list • Master Volunteer list • Activities available list • Records • Lead Staff member • Possible sources of Volunteers list • Volunteer information packet • Volunteer sign-in sheet • Volunteer Registration packet • Volunteer Profile maintained • Volunteer appreciation plan/log Network Financial Partners Life Station will draw together and make best use of Financial partners. Life station will handle banking practices with integrity and honesty. Life Station will inform partners (see communication,) will continually solicit new partnerships (see research,) will flow finances to the ministry as efficiently as possible (see budgeting.) • Partnership Packet • Association reporting • Newsletter article • Secretary • Budget • Email Blasts • Mailings • On-line research • Telephone scripts • Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly Financial Review Budgeting Life Station will engage in Strategic planning of Finances. The budget will attempt to plan for Finances donated, take into account community needs, and redistribute resources as necessary to avoid any financial hurdles. • Budget • Monthly Statement • Food Funds account assessment • Secretary • Director Communications Life Station will accurately communicate details of the ministry. The communications will be scheduled, formatted, and maintained in order to inform partners, potential partners, clients, community members, staff, and volunteers of needs, current affairs, opportunities for involvement, and shifts in available resources, training opportunities, and more. • Monthly reports to SCBO/NAMB • Monthly reports to director • Monthly reports to Leadership Council • Monthly newsletter internal • Quarterly newsletter external • Quarterly newsletter association • Partnership packet-possible new • Partnership Packet-ongoing • Needs list-ongoing • Research-Who has interest • Recorded testimonies • Written testimonies • Updates to agencies • Appreciation efforts • Master partner list • Business Cards • Flyers-partnership • Appeal letter • Website Research community resources Life Station will maintain a database of available community resources. These will include resources that clients may have need of and resources that Life Station may have need of. This master list of resources will be updated frequently and made available to clients who have needs. The portion of the list addressing needs that may be used by Life Station will be accessed to gather resources to further this strategy. • Community Resource List- Separated by criteria of use • Research • Phone Calls • Contacts • Follow-up • Check back on every list on the resource bi-annually Research possible partnerships Life Station will be continually researching additional partnerships. Partners may include anyone who wishes to add resources to support the strategy. The Life Station will not forego any portion of this strategy (especially not preaching/teaching the gospel) in order to enlist a partner. The Life Station will promote its tax exempt status as a benefit to those considering donating. Life Station will break partner research down into several subcategories: Past Financial partner, Current Financial partner, Potential financial partner, Past Resource partner, Current resource partner, Potential Resource partner, Past Manpower partner, Current manpower partner, Potential manpower partner, Past Prayer partner, Current prayer partner, Potential prayer partner. A profile will be maintained on every partner to aid staff in relating to the partner and promoting life station to the partner. • Partnership agreement • Phone calls • Email blast • Website • Internet Research • Personal visits • Ask: Who do you know who? • Communications (as above) • Partnership Profile • Records • Master partnership list • Segmented Partnership list Future Direction and Possibilities We own a house that needs torn down. We own the land sufficient to build a community center. We would like to start a second food service. We would like to hire more staff, equip more volunteers, plant another church out of the Life Station (Meetings begun 11/2013), and win more souls to Jesus! We would like to expand our regular teaching opportunities to include more times, material, and people. Facebook.com/Lifestationtoledo Buy Think Again: Finding Wholeness and Happiness in a World of Brokenness Daniel Stevenson

Strategy for Overcoming Evil Summary (Life Station)

Life Station Strategy Outline Overcoming Evil by Meeting Actual needs Meeting Perceived Needs Evangelism in Toledo Overcoming Evil by Meeting Actual Needs As an act of Love, the Life Station will meet actual needs in the area of food, clothing, Bible Training, Financial lay counseling, employment research/training, evangelism, Life Coaching, and Prayer support. The Life Station will assess the needs of persons requesting help from the Life Station and will network partners and volunteers to meet these actual needs. The life Station will seek to overcome evil in the areas of poverty, hunger, ignorance, isolation, and Spiritual Warfare. Overcoming Evil by Meeting Perceived Needs We recognize that needs may be presented that are not actual needs and may not be able to be confirmed. It is our intention to meet these “perceived needs” whenever confirmation is not possible and resources persist. In this fashion we hope to gain an audience for the gospel as might be the case with the meeting of actual needs. We know that persons presenting needs that may not be confirmed are doing so because they have actual needs even if these actual needs may not be confirmed and so we will be overcoming evil in meeting their perceived needs even if we are not able in the time we have with them to assess and meet their actual needs. Overcoming Evil with evangelism: Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ is the primary way in which God’s people may overcome evil. Ignorance of the truths of the gospel makes it difficult for persons to respond to these truths. How will they believe if they do not hear? The Life Station will make every effort to distribute, preach, teach, and emphasize the word of God especially the unifying theme of salvation through Jesus Christ. Life Station ministry must be thought of as a diverse set of ministries originating in love. These love-based ministries will be the ongoing, everyday efforts of God’s people to overcome Evil in Toledo. They are listed and detailed on the pages that follow. They may change from time to time or the methods used will change from time to time but the focus will remain the same.   facebook.com/lifestationtoledo Buy ThinkAgain

1 COR 13 paraphrase as quoted by Ernest C. Reisinger

Though I speak with the tongues of scholarship, and though I use approved methods of education, and fail to win other to Christ, or build them up in Christian character, I am become as the moan of the wind in the Syrian desert. And though I have the best of methods and understand all mysteries of religious psychology, and though I have all biblical knowledge, and lose not myself in the task of winning others to Christ, I become as a cloud of mist in an open sea. And though I read all Sunday school literature, and attend Sunday school conventions, institutes, and summer school, and yet am satisfied with less than winning souls to Christ and establishing others in Christian character and service, it profiteth nothing. The soul-winning servant the character-building servant, suffereth long and is kind; He envieth not others who are free from the servant’s task; he vaunteth not himself, is not puffed up with intellectual pride. Such a servant doth not behave himself unseemly between Sundays, seeketh not his own comfort, is not easily provoked. Beareth all things, beleiveth all things, hopeth all things. And now abide knowledge, methods, the Message, these three: But the greatest of all these is the Message. Pastor Daniel Stevenson New Heights Fellowship Life Station Toledo newheightsfellowshipchurch.org facebook.com/newheightstoledo

No Pain No Gain

No Pain, No Gain Hurts When you lose something it feels like death. When you lose something with no obvious way of getting it back it feels like death. When things get out of control it feels like death. When your dreams begin to shiver and shake and drift into the realm of definitely unachievable it feels like death. When the one you love says they do not love you in that way it feels like death. When your pain just won't go away it feels like death. When your pain returns again and again and the doctor can't even fix it feels like death. When your "friend" assassinates your character behind your back or breaks yet another commitment it feels like death. It feels like death It feels like death but it isn't. It's life. Jesus said in this life you will have troubles but to the one who overcomes I will give the right to sit on my throne with me as my father gave me the right to sit on His throne with Him... Pain feels like death and to some extent one might say it is the death of an old you. But it is not death. Life Goes on. Life with Christ goes on for an eternity. Life without Christ becomes seperation from God and lasts for an eternity as well. Hell I know it's not the most politically correct of topics but what if these things that feel like death, they are just a little hint of what it will be like in eternity without God. Maybe the reason these things feel like death now for those who don't have a right relationship with God, is because they highlight or make us realize our state of seperation. Christian endurance It is certainly true that some have endured amazingly based simply on their profession of faith and their intention to live for Christ despite horiffic circumstance. In acts four when Peter and John are beaten and released after being told not to talk about Jesus anymore, they do not show signs of mourning their beating as if it felt like death. Rather, they praised God that they were considered worthy of suffering like and with Jesus. Indeed, later when Paul is accosted by resurrected Jesus on road to Damascus, Jesus says, "Paul why do you persecute me?" In this way, He equated His suffering with the suffering of His followers. James says, "Consider it pure joy mmy brothers when you face all manner of trials..." as if to say that we should actually be grateful for the persecutions and the tempations of this life. Dispelling the Lie So, these things feel like death but they are not. so, why do we mourn them almost as much as death. I love a line from Robin Hood with Kevin Costner when Robin's Arab friend says, "You are alive. Quit your whining." I get it. I mean, it hurts. Jesus gets it. Man does He ever know what "hurts" means. The question is what are we going to do about it? I'd say, based on Scriptural precedent, when you're hit in such a way that it really hurts, get up, dust yourself off, and do what Christ would have you do. Pray for their forgiveness, tell them and everyone who will listen about Christ, serve, love, deny yourself, take up your cross again, and Follow Him. Overcoming the enemy The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy but Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Consider being affected in a negative way, in a pulling away from God or getting ticked off way a victory for the enemy. Consider remaining faithful, praising the Lord, continuing in His service despite the attacks, a victory for the Lord. So, the pain is real but the feelings that accompany it, the feeling of death, is not. Where death is not, at least as far as people are concerned, life is! And, life overcomes. That's what life does. So, overcome and work another day toward sitting with Jesus. If you trust Him and call upon His name you will never be put to shame. No pain, no gain. Daniel Stevenson, Pastor New Heights Fellowship Director Life station newheightsfellowshipchurch.org facebook.com/newheightstoledo facebook.com/lifestationtoledo Continue the discussion. Buy Think Again in paperback here or on your Kindle.

Excusing Bad Behavior

This morning my mind turns to considering the natural defenses a man has for putting forth his own way as the correct way. We do what we should not or fail to do what we should and then by way of seeking comfort devise a variety of schemes to cover the elephant in the room which is that we have sin from which we should repent. Defenses Excuses We excuse ourself by saying that there is some reasonable excuse for our behavior. This may well be the most common defense. We say that we would not have done it if not for a certain circumstance. The defense is plentifully available because in fact, it is true that we can not control our circumstances with any degree of accuracy. We can remove certain elements and make changes in an attempt to control our circumstances but many things still happen that are completely outside our control. Blame So, it makes sense then to hang the blame for an action which we are the author of on our circumstances. We say, I can not do what I am supposed to do because I am sick or I only did that because I was tired. I do those things because that was the way I was raised. Revenge This defense becomes even more potent when we use it to justify a specific action toward a person that has visibly wronged us or someone we know in some way. This can be essentially revenge or just a little bit of "justice." We say, " I wouldn't have done that if he hadn't done that other thing..." Ignorance is no excuse. We say, I didn't know. Ignorance is no excuse for ignorant behavior but it's a defense we use. We expect that our transgression will be overlooked because we were not properly informed. In fact, this is little more than placing blame somewhere else because we are saying that it is someone else's job to make sure we knew. Deflecting Sometimes we deflect onto someone elses faults. That is, not as an excuse but just as a focal point. Like a skilled magician we misdirect our own attention or, we think, the attention of those we care about by pointing to someone else's character flaws or weaknesses, their "bad actions" that are supposedly far worse or at least more urgent than our own. Seeing Flaws The list goes on. We defend our actions in our minds eye in an attempt to feel something less than flawed. Herein lies the problem. We are flawed. We are created in the image of God and still able to some extent to create and as opportunity presents to destroy. When we sin or do wrong of any kind it is an easy out to point at the cracks in someone else's image. It's true. Everyone has them. Their presence in every image of God, put forward by every person is hte reason God says not to judge. If you are busy seeing the flaws in the image you will not be able to enjoy the image. Worse, you will be very ready to defend your own flaws instead of dealing with them. Paid Christ died to pay for those flaws. No furhter excuse is needed or viable. That being said, when we placed our trust in Him we gave up the right to use these defenses. We agreed to address those flaws or rather to leave them behind to the best of our ability and when they reer up again we should not defend ourself in our mind's eye but apply our mind to overcome our character weakness. Repentance We should repent and turn back to God but instead most people, wanting to feel like they are ok, defend themselves and by so doing trap themselves in their own web of flaws. This is bondage and as long as we are willing to accept our flaws and not join Christ in working against them we are not free. Then you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free and whom the son sets free, he is free indeed. Free to be okay while recognizing our own failures and still pressing forward to the calling of God. If one died for all then all died and you are not that person any more and it's perfectly okay to see when that person is surfacing again and deny those desires, not defending that person but recognizing the enemy's attempt to resurrect that person. It's too easy. Don't you see? It's too easy to justify our wrong choices because it's so easy to see other people's flaws. Believe that you are better than that. In Christ, believe that you are made knew, believe that when you do those things now, which will grow fewer and farther between if you are engaged with Christ growing to be a better follower, believe that when you do those things now it is sin in you, not you that does them and that you need to once and for all put them away. No excuses, no defenses for why it was okay. It wasn't. If it's wrong it's wrong regardless. With God it is possible to once and for all put away that behavior that have been defending but you have to stop helping the enemy and start following the savior. Daniel Stevenson, Pastor New Heights Fellowship Director Life station newheightsfellowshipchurch.org facebook.com/newheightstoledo facebook.com/lifestationtoledo Continue the discussion. Buy Think Again in paperback here or on your Kindle.

Geourge Muller Quote

Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, and an habitual thing, to give myself to prayer after having dressed in the morning. Now, I saw that the most important thing was to give myself to the reading of God’s word, and to meditation on it, that through it, my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, by means of the word of God, whilst meditating on it, my heart might be brought to experimental communion with the Lord. I began therefore to meditate on the New Testament from the beginning, early in the morning , The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words of the Lord’s blessing upon His precious word, was to begin to meditate on the word of God, searching as it, were into every verse to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the word, not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon, but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less to prayer. When thus I have been for a while making confession or intercession or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on to the next word or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others as the word may lead to it, but still continually keeping before me, that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation. The result of this is that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, and that my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened , and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. The difference, then, between my former practice and my present one is this: Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and generally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the time. At all events, I almost invariably began with prayer…But what was the result? I often spend a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or even an hour on my knees before conscious to myself of having derived comfort, encouragement, humbling of soul etc.; and often after having suffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or quarter of an hour or even half an hour, I only then really began to pray. I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being nourished by the truth, being brought into experimental fellowship with God, I speak to my father and to my friend (vile though I am, and unworthy of it,) about the things that He has brought before me in His precious Word. It often now astonished me that I did not sooner see this point, it is as plain to me as anything that the first thing that the child of God has to do morning by morning is to obtain food for his inner man. Now what is food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the word of God so that it only passes through our minds as water passes through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it and applying it to our hearts. When we pray we speak to God. Now prayer, in order to be continued for any length of time in any other than a formal manner, requires generally speaking, a measure of strength or Godly desire and the season therefore when this exercise of the soul can be most effectually performed is after the inner man has been nourished by meditation on the word of God, where we found our Father speaking to us, to encourage us, to comfort us, to instruct us, to humble us, to reprove us. We may therefore, profitably meditate with God’s blessing though we are ever so weak spiritually; nay, the weaker we are the more we need meditation for the strengthening of our inner man. Thus there is far less to be feared from the wandering of the mind than if we give ourselves to prayer without having had time previously for meditation. \ I dwell so particularly on this point because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly beseech all my fellow believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing of God, I ascribe to this mode the help and strength which I have had from God to pass in peace through deeper trials, in various ways, than I have ever had before; and having now above fourteen years tried this way, I can most fully, in fear of God commend it. Spiritual Secrets of George Muller by Roger Steer, Harold Shaw publishers Wheaton Il. 60-62.

Alignment and Making a Difference

Clarity Consider that sometimes, indeed often, it is hard to move forward with clarity. We move forward whether we like it or not. We do what we have to to get through another day. We eat and bathe and whatever is called for. That's cool. It's necessary and there's really not much of an alternative. However, we do what we do simply because we do. Alignment God wants to align our do with our be. We are, as they say, Human beings, not human doings. The basic thought is this. If we are driven by the events that compose a given day we become reactionary. God promises something considerably more potent and real. He asks us to become worshippers in Spirit and Truth. When we do we become something more than driven by time and passage of events. Eternal and an heir to all the universe, the Lord makes us able to proactively walk. To change the world toward God's will. To MAKE a difference rather than to be made by a difference. Making A Difference You were made to be something more. Jesus new this. He new it and wanted us to know it. It's part of the mystery that men needed to know and were restrained from seeing clearly until Jesus paid the ultimate price with His life. Now it's done and we are enabled to see and act accordingly. Now, those who ignore this are without excuse. Accept Christ, begin to live for the Lord and never look back because the Kingdom of God has come on earth for those who believe and receive. Salvation is This. www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org www.facebook.com/NewHeightsToledo www.facebook.com/LifestationToledo

Daily sermon prep

Preaching I think one of the reasons a preacher might be forced to spend long hours in preperation to preach is their lack of a daily devotional time. I know that in most daily devotional times we don't memorize a lot of scripture. However, if you go over the same trails in the word enough times you become familiar with them. Devotions I think that almost any devotional can lead to a sermon. The problem is that when people are spending a lot of time writing sermons they mix their own devotional times with their sermon preparation and then before long their is no devotional. The question has been posed how do you know when what you are getting out of the word is for you and when it is for sharing with others. Sermons Well, it depends on the question asked I supose. I think if it is good sound Biblical teaching then it is for all of us. If you are a pastor then when you pastor the people God has given you to pastor then you should be drawing out of the sum total of the knowledge and wisdom that God has given you. Knowledge and Wisdom What's the difference between knowledge and wisdom? Well, knowledge is what you know and wisdom is sort of how you use what you know. That's a good enough understanding to realize that when you study the word for knowledge or you get only knowledge out of a session it's like charging the battery. Then when you need to preach the battery is charged and the draw is hopefully not more than the battery. This is why the battery must be constantly charged. So that the charge will be there. Its part our task to be ready to preach in season and out of season. Preparing It's also commanded not to worry too much about what we will say when we are called to answer before our persecutors. Basically, you shouldn't have to prepare an answer for them. Still, it pays to prepare for your next sermon. I guess what I'm saying is that you are always preparing for you next sermon and isn't it true that your life itself should be semron of a sort? I think so and accordingly I think that spending time in the word every day simply studying and "becoming an expert" is absolutely necessary. There was a time when I didn't feel that way. I learned better. Be in the word so often that when you think to speak, the first thing that comes to mind to answer with is, yep you guessed it, Biblical. Thinking like God This writing, the Bible reveals much about the way that God thinks and we should train ourselves to match that course to the best of our ability and with His help get the job done. Don't spend so much time studying that you can't do the work, but study so that when you do the work you do it out of the abundance of the Biblical wisdom you have gained by being in His word.

Tough Yards

Tough Yards Life was never going to be easy. Something in us longs for that easy sort of life. The American Dream There was a time in America where the concept of the American dream had become very real. People who worked hard and found a niche were getting filthy rich and changing their social status tremendously. Rags to riches and then of course riches seems to equal ease. Ease and the American Dream Today, it seems the American dream is alive and well but people have forgotten that the dream is not a life of ease or a day when your ship has finally come in but rather a successful strategy for changing your situation. Freedom is not found in someone, some mysterious stranger who will bestow success upon you. It's found in getting the job done because you are working hard and living for God. Working Hard When you put in your extreem effort and trust the outcome to God you will go to bed tired and yet comfortable. Too much ease is not good for a soul. Too meteroic of a rise is not good either. God made us to work and because of Adam's sin we have to overcome many challenges in order to be able to do so. Think of them as thorns and thistles. You have to either navigate around or overcome them in order to plant a successful crop. Getting Sick So, you'll be sick-take cold medicine, take a hot shower, get as much rest as you can, but do not feint. Do what must be done. Successful servants of God almost never take the day off for illness. There are exceptions of course. However, your job isn't better without you. God gave it to you and being sick and missing it is still a sin even if you think you are justified. Is getting Sick a sin? Hold on! Did he just say being sick is a sin? No, but think for a moment how many factors you can control in Christ that go into whether you get sick or not. Bottom line is, if you are so sick that being there legitimately endangers others- Let's simplify, Fever and vomiting in industries where you are in close proximity to people or food, for example-then miss. Being Proactive But, where it is in your control, be aggressively proactive so that you do not get that kind of sick and if you are not that sick, but uncomfortable, get over it and do what you are supposed to do. People push themselves for what they really want and you need to really want this. be faithful and 1) Tend you body (Sabbath, vitamins, exercise, nutirition, sleep) 2) Make your "work" whatever it is, a REALLY high priority. 3) Don't give up without a fight-calling off should be a last resort-which basically means, it should never happen (almost never.) Take it from a guy who used to be a hiring manager. That's what employers are looking for. Take it from a pastor, but more importantly, take it from God's word-James 4:17 he that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (Where's the excuse of illness?) Get up and go to work for God. Pastor Dan newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

Living a Plan (or else!)

Living a plan, having a plan, should we plan? Why should we plan? Adjusting the plan... I somewhat lost yesterday. I was very tired. Sometimes when I get really tired I have a hard time remembering what I did that day. If you are a Doctor and that is not normal please don't tell me what is going on with that. Unless, it's something that sleep, exercise, and vitamins won't deal with. Anyway, when I get really tired I tend to lose day segments. I think I remember everything that's really important like what my wife says to me. However, I can forget time spent on the couch and so on. Forgetting can't be taken lightly. Too much fatigue can't be taken lightly. So, I should have taken certain precautionary steps to recover and.....I did not. So, this morning fatigue declined into illness. Now, I'm sick and repentant. Repentance So, then I repent but repentance is not simply turning from sin as has been often taught. It is turning to God. It technically means to think again or to think differently. So, I'm thinking differently... Too tired to plan? Not adjusting to the new normal of your life as your life changes is tantamount to refusing to go on, so I'm thinking what the new normal is. Plans for me So, I'm thinking that my new normal includes routine and schedule and the like. Should we plan? I know my purpose with relative certainty. We know our purpose with relative certainty. So, I'm thinking what we need to do (barring specific intervention by God) is align our schedules and routines with our purpose. Since it seems that we should have control of our schedules and routines (under God) we should be able to do that. And if we do not it seems as if it would be sin. For him who knows to do good and does not do it-It is sin. James 4:17 So, Sherri and I (I always appreciate her bringing me along) are making some plans and scheduling some things so that we can make our scheduling and routines meet our purpose as much as is possible. Ex. Excercise together before the day begins. Scheduling things is good. Scheduling them at specific regular intervals seems more possible for persons who are at a more mature stage of their life (I'm really hoping this is us.) Just remember to say, If the Lord wills we shall do this or that. Planning I learned this from fasting: When you believe you should set a schedule you should set it before you begin it. Don't start and then debate the length. The enemy prefers you to debate with yourself how long your current assignment is that way at any juncture he can convince you to quit. If you prayerfully set the length before you begin you can stick to it no matter what and then afterwards determine your assignment and length for what's next. If something happens to make the continuation of the original plan impossible then it is impossible. If not, then finish or die trying. Changin the plan If in the middle, you would really rather quit or change course then I think you have to be released from your commitment by God. Pray. If He will not release you then stay the course no matter the cost. Think about the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed for the father to remove the cup but He also prayed not my will but yours be done. That's what we should do as well. IF God says so, stay the course no matter waht. That makes knowing some details about the course up front that much more important. Seems radical? I don't really think so. Pastor Dan Newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

Conscripts and Walking Dead in Spiritual Warfare

Conscripts Today, my thoughts drift to conscripts. I guess by saying that I am bringing you in at the end of the thought process. As a friend of mine is keen on saying-Let's back that truck up a minute... Bondage Breaker There is a group of young people in our church which has undertaken to complete Neil T. Anderson's Bondage Breaker study. From the very moment the decision was made I can see Satan working (or at least his buddies) to stop the potential outcome from being one of total victory. Of course, He and his allies are our sworn enemies and so this comes as no surprise really. What amazes me is the diversity of his tactics. It appears as if he has been hard at work preparing for this opportunity for a long time. Leaders and students Anyway, it was the allies, in this case the young people and the leaders that I was actually thinking of when I followed the mental rabbit trail to come up with 'conscripts.' It occurs to me that bringing unskilled warriors into conflict with the enemy is exactly like this. Conscripts So, conscripts were local, non-combatants that were rounded up before the impending battle and armed with whatever was at hand, usually farm implements or house tools but occasionally more sophisticated weaponry. They would be lumped into a unit and stood out on the battlefield to impress the enemy or to enhance the courage of the allied troops. Didn't usually work although occasionally, if there were enough of them or if tactical advantage could be gained they could make a huge impact. Surviving spiritual warfare Typically, the conscripts that survived would be a little better skilled for next time and if next time was soon they would likely be armed with weapons from fallen foes. In a way it was trial by fire and the death toll was always high. Spiritual warfare So, I was thinking how every single thing in life plays a role in spiritual warfare and how most people do not understand or believe that. What's more, those who do believe it often do not have a deep seated conviction and so will fail to stand their ground. Preparing for spiritual warfare I'm saying that those who are now being asked to prepare themselves for real spiritual warfare and to equip themselves by adamantly approaching a good Biblical study are more like conscripts than trained warriors and are possibly headed for a fairly high 'mortality' rate. That is to say, if something is not done then more will 'fall' in spiritual warfare than will be victorious long enough to have a major impact. walking dead However, now I am thinking about walking dead movies...Funny thing about someone who’s already dead and still coming, you have to hit them hard and often to even slow them down. For if one died for all then all have died... So, if these young Christians are sold out for Christ then they will survive-surely not without hits but they will not quit, surrender, or fall. That being said, there should be some fruit that would be measurable. For example, if a young Christian really is the walking dead (speaking metaphorically) then they should be relentless, diving back into the fray (reading , studying, encouraging one another, acting out what they are learning to the best of the ability, and so on.) I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted, not abandoned... conscripts and walking dead in spiritual warfare I guess it all boils down to this. We are not conscripts even if we are not as trained as we should be. We need to embrace the things of God and realize that if He drives us no power less (and all are less) can stop us. Praise God for the valley of dry bones has been brought to life again. Pastor Dan Stevenson NewHeightsFellowshipchurch.org afamilyofgod@bex.net

Excel at life

ON fire Living your life without absolute on-fire commitment is like reading a book to yourself without saying the words out loud. There's something missing. Oh, I know, it's the way people usually do it. It's quiet and they read. They like the quiet, even grow used to it. But the characters grow pail and the sound of someone’s emotions leaves the story. The words flow by. Especially the ones that you don't know all that well and mistakes become tolerable. In a way, I think it's because the desired outcome has changed. Were reading to see what it says and to determine where the story goes rather for the experience of the journey. Public speakers are warned to try speaking the written speech out loud and or practicing before they actually do it in front of people because when you simply read it in your head you overlook the mistakes and don't really improve your potential delivery. Read out loud That's what life without being on-fire for Christ is like. It just sort of slides by... It is somehow less vivid, even less real and some become very comfortable with that lack of depth-I remember an old song with the lyric-Drown me in the shallow water before I get too deep..." Self examination Ask yourself- Is that me? Have I begun to grow comfortable with a shallow life? That's not what God wants for you. He came so that you might have life and have it more abundantly. I'm telling you that God knows that we have a tendency to accept something less than the powerful life that He intends for us. People have been doing it since the garden... I will excel Don't. Say to God today, I will excel for you. I know that through Christ I could settle for something less than the life you intend for me just the same as I could shoot for excellence but I will not settle for less. I will apply the gifts you have made me steward of and I will follow you wherever you lead. Excel prayer for you May your story be out loud and in your face. May you experience life to the fullest. With powerful sorrow and even more powerful joy. God has made you more incredible than you will ever know but He knows and He has a plan...

Breaking mirrors, Swinging bats, and Spilling syrup

Preaching with Object lessons: So, I like to preach and teach the word of God using whatever object lessons I can dream up.. I like to get people up out of their seats to participate when possible and I know I have a few members who really like it to. I don't think there are any who don't like it. If you are one and you don't like it-There's really no need to burst my bubble... Caged enemy object lesson Bondage and Bars Anyway, this last Sunday one of the sermon points was "The same cage the enemy is trying to trap us with-he is trapped with...And we can use the bars against him. We got five or six people up to represent the bars of the cage and the enemy was inside the cage while the subject (Anna was representing all of us) was outside the cage. I gave the enemy (payed by Kary) the key which represented the keys to the kingdom (the treasure if you will.) As much as Anna wanted the keys she could not get close to the cage because I had given the bars permission to grab her and pull her into the cage. Even when Kary dangled the keys outside Anna could not get close enough to get them without being snatched up by the bars. Then, I took the keys and gave them to Sherri who was still seated by Anna. I told Anna that she could go for the keys and she went and got them easily. From her position inside the bars Kary could do nothing to stop Anna and the bars could not reach Anna. Anna had the keys and I then asked, "So who's in the cage now?" Object lessons and reality That's the way it is. The enemy-let's call him Satan is trapped inside the cage and wants to convince us that he has something we want. He doesn't. Bondage If we get close we just might get snatched up like he did. I talked about how some of the bars are laziness, appearances, pride, self-loathing, settling for less, and anger toward others. I say, not me. How about you? Chosen Last week, I started with a whole mirror tile that said invited on the back and I pointed out that evangelism is about getting people to understand that they are invited. When I flipped the mirror over, I asked can you seee yourself as invited. Can you see yourself here... Being prepared for your object lessons... Then, I had prescored the mirror and I turned and snapped it on the edge of the pulpit down to roughly two-thirds its prevous size. I am not superstitious. Anyway, I explained that some people reject the invitation. Thus the group was smaller. Still others, I snapped the mirror down one more size, are rejected by God because they "say yes" but do not live by what they "say." The remaining group is what the Bible calls "Chosen." I then quickly swapped out the remaining mirror piece with a piece that I had prepared in advance with the word chosen written across in red permanent marker. Then I asked, Can you see yourself here. I went on a few moments talking about what it means to be chosen of God and what that should look like in our lives. Teh Problems with Object lessons This hasn't always gone so well. Once, I attached fishing string to the ceiling tiles which was suposed to break when I pulled on it and when I pulled it resisted breaking. It took me several pulls. Just recently I used little squares of material and placed them in the back of the chairs before service. When the time came I asked people to "throw in the towel" as an indicator of surrender to God's course for their life. The problem was, the material edges were shedding and we are still finding little bits of material all over the church-little gold strings from the freyed edges. I shrug. The answer from God Once a long time ago when I was a youth director at ETBC, I got a game out of a book. The game was a relay where teens would carry bowls on the bare feet by stepping in a light layer of syrup in the bowls. They would walk, run, stumble there way to the other line where they would procede to clean their feet while the next person took the bowls on their feet. Right before the game I was looking for bowls and I got the bright idea to use stainless steel mixing bowls so that they would be easier to clean after. However, Syrup does not stick to stainless steel very well and the resulting catastrophe spread syrup all over the carpet in small droplets and I do mean all over. I got down on my knees and scrubbed every last spot with a wet rag. I did this without help primarily because I felt stupid. I decide to pray while I was down there and you know what God said back to me during my prayer time scrubbing syrup out of the carpet. He said, "It needed to be done." No, not the syrup, not the scrubbing, but the ministry. I may be a screw up sometimes, but the reality is that a chosen person's screw up is better than a rejecting person's excellence. Once, when I used a bat and large paper banners to represent breaking free from sin. I swung the bat just one time while I let others do it all but that once. Meanwhile someone was holding each side of the paper banner and the bat was supposed to demolish the banner which had the name of something that has the tendancy to lead people into bondage. It worked every time except, except for the one time I swung. I hit one of the guys holding the banner in the knee with the bat. The paper tore but the swing was off course and I clocked him in the knee. Well, he's still in the church today and he can almost walk normal now. No, actually it wasn't near that bad, but I'll bet it hurt and everyone saw it. I will not quit Here's my commitment to everyone who cares. I will keep screwing up for God as long as He wants me to. I will try anything and everything that is not sin to get the gospel out and to make it clear and understandable. So, watch your knees, I'm bringing the gospel. Is that Maple Syrup I smell? Psator Daniel Stevenson Newheightsfellowshipchurch.org New Heights Church, Church Planting,and Life Station afamilyofgod@bex.net

Count The Cost, not Set The Price

Count The Cost, not Set The Price There is a difference between "cost" and Price." As a noun a cost and a price are essentially the same. They both mean that the thing in question will be traded for the required amount of resources. ie. It costs $1 or the price is one Dollar. However, "Price" can also be a verb. You "cost" an item in your garage sale you price it so people will no how much to pay. Count The Cost, not Set The Price So, here's the problem. People want to determine how much salvation and being a member of the Kingdom of God costs. They want to price it. They'll even take salvation as they can control the price. Sorry, the price has already been set and indeed paid. The cost of salvation is one righteous man dying for sins he did not commit. Jesus did this. Price paid. Now, when people make a point of saying, Okay God, "I'm in. I'll follow you but don't mess with my money" or, "Let me handle my relationship decisions." They are telling God that they are not willing to give their all to be His. Jesus warned, "Count the cost, If any man does not hate his mother etc. he can not be my disciple-now of course the word here means to despise in comparison. Basically, he's saying in comparison to Jesus-nothing else may compare. Count The Cost, not Set The Price Choose Him above or you do not have Him. That's it. It really doesn't seem that complicated but when we get our personal preferences in there and start thinking about whether we can really submit every last thing to Him it starts to seem difficult or complicated. Nope. It's Jesus above all or Jesus not at all. Here's the beauty of it. Jesus also said that that which was commended into His hand would never suffer loss. So, concerned about your money, put it in His hand. Concerned about your time, put it in His hand, Concerned about your relationships, put them in His hand. Put things in His hands and they will not suffer loss. Know the price, Count the cost. Count The Cost, not Set The Price

Video book

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus - VideoBook

It has been called "the greatest story ever told." Now the central message of the Bible is brought to life in this eleven-hour online Bible study. This self-paced course has been adapted from the popular award-winning DVD series, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus.

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Introduction	Introduction to the Course
Chapter 1	1 - The Prologue 2 - Getting Things Straight 3 - A Unique Book
Chapter 2	1 - In the Beginning God 2 - Angels, Hosts and Stars
Chapter 3	1 - Heaven and Earth 2 - It Was Good 3 - Man and Woman
Chapter 4	1 - I Will 2 - Has God Said? 3 - Where Are You? 4 - Death
Chapter 5	1 - A Paradox 2 - Atonement 3 - Two By Two 4 - Babel
Chapter 6	1 - Abraham 2 - Belief 3 - Isaac
Chapter 7	1 - Israel and Judah 2 - Moses 3 - Pharaoh and the Passover
Chapter 8	1 - Bread, Quail and Water 2 - Ten Rules 3 - The Courtroom
Chapter 9	1 - The Tabernacle 1b - The Gold Box 2 - Unbelief 3 - Judges, Kings and Prophets
Chapter 10	1 - Elizabeth and Mary 2 - Jesus 3 - Among the Sages 4 - Baptism
Chapter 11	1 - Tempted 2 - Power and Fame 3 - Nicodemus 4 - Rejection 5 - The Bread of Life
Chapter 12	1 - Filthy Rags 2 - The Way 3 - Lazarus 4 - Hell 5 - Acceptance and Betrayal
Chapter 13	1 - Arrested 2 - Crucified 3 - Burial and Resurrection
Chapter 14	1 - The Emmaus Road 2 - (Adam to Noah) 3 - (Abraham to the Law) 4 - (The Tabernacle to the Bronze Serpent) 5 - (John the Baptist to the Resurrection)
Chapter 15	1 - A Convenient Time 2 - Credits

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Trading your birthright

Many think being Holy (different from the world's standards and more Godly in your actions) is a task to be done or a "real challenge" but no, that's not what God says.




Indeed, according to Isaiah 35, the Highway of holiness is a birthright of Children of God. If you are a Christian, a follower of God, a member of God's family through Jesus Christ, God's Son then you have this birth right. You were born again (John 3:3) and were started on the Highway of Holiness. You were given this path as a birthright and it comes with a blessing at the end and protection/provision along the way.



But first, wy don't some who claim to have Christ seem to have the birthright of the Highway of Holiness? I'm not just making htis stuff up-read Isaiah 35 adn then read Genesis 25 where Esau trade his birthright for a bowl of soup. The bottom line is many trade their birthright for a moment's gratification or a bit of comfort. Easu wasn't really going to die right that instant and he could have eaten something else, perhaps something somewhat less to his liking and been fine. But, he said, in all the drama akin to mankind in general, If I don't get me some of that soup I'll surely die and then what good will the birthright be.



You can go without whatever the enemy tells you or even pursuades by life circumstance that you think you simply MUST have to survive. Even the essentials are often not as essential as we make them out to be. That being said, the man did what men are prone to do. He traded his birthright for a bowl of soup, some instant gratification and a bit of comfort-so he could FEEL alright.



People are still doing it today. That's why, even though Isaiah says we are safe on the Highway of holiness-Lions and dragons can not tread thereupon, we tend to stray off of the Highway of holiness and tary with those cute little distractions that suddenly become so important to us that we convince ourselves we can always "get back on" or that we simply MUST have that thing, or that situation in our lives, or that moment of FEELing okay.



I don't need that. You don't need that. God has given us what we need, our birthright and it ends in a great blessing. However, afterward when Esau went in to his father seeking the blessing there was no blessing even though he sought the blessing with tears and repentance (Read Hebrews 12.)



So, as Isaiah would say-Strengthen your weak hands (get busy serving God, stay busy serving God) and steady your feeble knees (Don't be afraid of or misdirected by or attracted to what lies off the path. This Highway of Holiness is your birthright if you are a child of God. You can do it!



The enemy can not touch you if you stay on the highway. But if you reach out to him or step off the brim he may get hold of you and repentance which is easy on the highway becomes difficult when you are off of it.



One last thing, God allows this to be so because in time there will be a great destruction of all that lies off of the highway. He does this so that the difference may be clearly seen between that which is of God and for God and that which is not.



Get where you belong, get on the highway of holiness and serve God without fear. You can. You were made for this.

Pastor Dan Stevenson Pastor New Heights Fellowship www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org afamilyofgod@bex.net Director Life Station NWOBA overcomingevil@bex.net     New heights urban church planting initiative in Toledo Ohio

Striving and Settling-What do I do?

So, Paul says I have learned to be content in all situations. Whether he had much or little he had learned to be content. In fact, this is where the classically quoted verse comes from I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. In other words, whatever situation I am in I can be basically satisfied because I know Christ is at the helm of my life (Phil 4.)


This same man wrote I press toward the mark (Phil 3:14)and I have strived to preach the gospel (Romans 15:20.) He said some strive for a crown that is perishable-not so with us-we strive for a crown that is not perishable (paraphrased.)

He wrote to Timothy a man of God must not strive but must be gentle.

Isaiah said of Jesus-He shall not strive and Jesus told his people time and again in his early ministry not to tell everyone about Him.

Crazy, huh?

Well, I suppose it is one of the most difficult things to determine in life: When to fight and when to run. When to strive and when to stand. The friction exists for one primary reason.

We can not win the fight for our souls or for the souls of anyone else-It wouldn't have been possible anyway-but Jesus has already won the fight. Satan just refuses to accept it.

There is a fight for souls and to be on Jesus' side means to spread the good news as He commanded AND AND to leave the outcome in His hands.

There is a race to be run which you must run, you simply must give it all you've got-the race to run for God, the race of Godly living and sinless (as much as possible) existence. You and I must strive to enter in at the narrow gate. Faith is a channel of trust and assurance between us and God and we must let that channel exist and grow and affect our daily lives. We must be the best that we can be under every circumstance through His strength all things are possible.

At the same time, as with above, the outcome is in His hands. We strive to be the best we possibly can and then settle for God's will. It's n ot like settling will be a bad thing. He wants what's best for you. Indeed His word also says that if you love Him and are called according to His purpose all things will work together for you good (Romans 8:28.) If God allows hardship there is a reason for it.

It's interesting when you think about it. Striving and settling are like walking when done in conjunction with one another. If you are walking and you don't strive-reach out for the next step-youw ill fall down. If you are walking and you don't settle-firmly plant your foot after each step-you will fall down. If you settle too much-stopping walking altogether-you won't get anywhere. If you strive too much-trying to step, step without any stops at all-you will wipe out for sure.

God loves you and He wants good things for your life but He also has in mind great things for the kingdom, you in the kingdom, and heaven one day. So, learn to be content and to strive for more in balance and God will take you places you have not yet seen.


Pastor Dan
www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

Space

Space
So, Here's me philosphizing: I think inner space is just as large maybe larger than outer space.

Have you heard the theory that maybe space is not actually empty. That it is actually filled with some form of matter that we don't understand yet?

God is big
Anyway, think about it. If God is bigger, His Spirit, Himself etc. If He is bigger than the universe adn while it might occurr a romantic notion I think it could be solid. Then, If God is bigger than the universe then how does He fit inside us?

No Substitute
Those who have tried to fill the hole inside them with addictive materials or with deceptive behavior or with pornography (which I guess fits with addictive materials.) Those who have tried to fill the hole inside them by any of these means begin to realize just how big the hole is.

If we were made for a right relationship with God.

Oh wait, on the God is as big as the universe thing-If God is everywhere at once (an He is) then He is as big as the universe right? yet He fits inside us. Though technically fits is not the right word since He is actually present inside everyone who has accepted the Truth at the same time.

Hmmm that's interesting.

Spiritual warfare

The Bible talks about spiritual warfare as if it is another realm that exists within and all around us all the time. Then things we do can affect this realm by activating certain pathways for demons and evil spirits to move and affect us. Our Spiritual armor none of which is actual metal or leather armor is useful for the spiritual battle that is going on and we are wrapped up in.

Whether we like it or not we are wrapped up in it.

Many things are not what they would appear. So, do we sit around in fear wondering whether he or she will do as we please. No. Take your eyes, your expectations and your needs out of the hands of those in the world and trust only God.

Pastor Daniel Stevenson
http://www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org/

Pray-oritizing

Block party
Volume one issue one of More Heights, the newlsetter for New Heights Church planting came out Monday. It had seven articles on various topics, some question and answer, and a few paragraphs on history. One of the articles talked about the upcoming block party this Saturday at New Heights. We'll be celebrating hte near end of school for the year and the beginning of summer starting at 12 and ending at about 3. All are welcome, as usual everything will be free, and the gospel will be the main focus.

Bill Lee, April Mcquire and I were out for a while yesterday delivering copies of the newsletter to people who expressed an interest at the crosswalk. We've got quite a list of people, we do.

The goal would be to enlist partners to help foot the bill for the cost of the printing and each partner will get a 2x2 add in the newsletter or just a listing for $5 a month or $2 a month respectively. It's not advertising per se, just an add or a listing for whatever a person or business would like to tell our list about in exchange for helping support the production of the newsletter.

I'd say it's a pretty high quality thing. It's amazing what one can do with publisher these days.

I had to get a new cell phone. My old phone locked in start up mode. Now, I feel somewhat like a technodunce as ai try to figure out how to do some of the most basic things again. I now realize how I was able to do certain things with such ease that it made my life easier without my even thinking about it. One day this phone will be like that. Then, it will break and I'll be a technodunce again. It's a cycle.

Impacting Poverty
The life station continues to go strong although we are always holding on by a thin thread there. Since hte NAMB pulled most of their support for this vital ministry in the south end the churches and certain individuals of NWOBA have been very faithful to keep the ministry going. People get fed every week because of the generosity of God's people and do not think that these people would not go hungry if it were not for this ministry. I know they would.

Visitation and Sermon writing
Bill, April, and I are going out in a bit and I've got to spend some time sermon writing. I like the schedule of trying to get my sermon mostly written by Wednesday noon time. That way I can talk to God about it for the rest of the week and then finish the polishing on Saturday and I feel ready. This week with Sherri's birthday on Friday, Softball practice, and the block party I'll be tired. I have some other stuff too.

Busy, Busy, Busy Time management
So, here it is then. Just not enough of me to go arround sometimes. Oh, don't worry I'm not depressed about it. I have been at times but it's been a long time now. I'd say over a year. Anyway, I'm not depresed about it. I just prioritize and prayoritize and then do what God really wants me to. The only time it becomes a problem is when I seem to have difficulty figuring out the order of what God wants. That's really not that often I'm grateful to say. So, I'll write the sermon and several min-sermons for the crosswalk. I'll go visiting with Bill, April, and whoever else we can get. I'll get the first of my broken cars back from the mechanic and the next broken car to the mechanic. I'll run with all my might until the sun goes down and probably I'll have nothing left at the end of the day again. Maybe I'll take allergy medicine...My allergies have gotten worse as I've gotten older. And when I sleep I will sleep, not regretting the busy day I've had. All the way through I'll be praying and hoping I'm getting glory for God by my efforts. Fact: You are never, Never, never too busy to do what God wants you to do. Even things that sometimes seem less important are important to Him and you are never, never, never too busy. Set you priorities that way.

Spiritual warfare

I believe the battle is raging in the spiritual realm over souls and I think it's possible that the simple actions we engage in day in and day out have an effect in the battle. I will hope my "struggles" will make a difference. I will look to the future God has prepared for me. I don't mean to sound like I am trying to convince myself. I'm convinced. Sometimes it just helps to put it down on screen ya' know what I mean?

Anyway, anybody out there wants a copy of the newsletter or partner in some aspect of the ministry I just need to know. You can always email me at afamilyofgod@bex.net, message me on facebook, register on our website, or call the church at 4194698808.

We Ain't seen nothin' yet.

Pastor Daniel Stevenson
http://www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org/