Does Jesus fill your Thirst?

A video clip of a message from pastor John Piper...

Getting Bad News

I write a regular article for our local news paper and this was this week's contribution.  Please post your comments at the bottom of this post.
_______________________________________________________


I found out this week that Dr. Robert Buckman renowned oncologist, comedian and Star columnist died in his sleep on Sunday while flying to Toronto from London, England. He was 63. In his 39-year career as a cancer physician, Buckman wrote 14 books, including an “unauthorized autobiography” called Not Dead Yet, and produced over 45 humour-driven medical information videos.  I was listening to a radio clip of him this week as he in the early 1990’s wrote a book called How To Break Bad News: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals.  It struck me as a little odd that a book like this would have needed to be written at all.  I would have guessed that this type of information would have been given in medical school.  I am sure things have changed in today’s education.   His book turned into a seminar that was often presented. I was so interested in what he had to say because as a Pastor, there are times I have needed to bring bad news.  When doing so I was so unsure I was doing it in a right manner.  Dr. Buckman was interviewed by Stuart Foxman in July of 2007.  Here is what was said by Dr. Buckman; “Though some doctors might be more gifted at it than others, nobody likes breaking bad news.  The temperature in the room gets uncomfortable, so there’s a tendency to cut and run, or use the professional approach, and immediately talk about treatment. How can you be a supportive messenger when the message is absolutely dreadful?  That’s the challenge and the answer starts with SPIKES. You can sum it up this way: SETTING: Pick a private location. PERCEPTION: Find out how the patient views the medical situation. INVITATION: Ask whether the patient wants to know. KNOWLEDGE: Warn before dropping bad news. EMPATHY: Respond to the patient’s emotions. STRATEGY/SUMMARY: Once they know, include patients in treatment decisions.  There are two basic messages, Number one, before you tell, ask. In other words, find out where they are. Number two, every emotion that arises and erupts into the room must be acknowledged” (find the article here).   Really great advice.  

I am glad that I have one more tool in my kit as a pastor.   When bringing bad news, I can point people to the Lord.  How comforting is His Word in times of great challenge and trial.  How healing prayer can be when we join hands and talk to the Creator of all things about our situation.  I have been reading through the book of Matthew and over and over people would get bad news and then turn to God for supernatural help with their problem.  How many times you read the words that people were healed and their bad news became good news with Christ’s help. For example in Matthew Chapter 20: 32- 34, two blind men were crying out to Jesus because they were blind. The scriptures record; When Jesus heard them; he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”  “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.”  Wonderful!  With the Lord there can be great hope when bad news comes.  

We can face difficult things because God is with us in it!  May I ask you, are you serving the Lord?   Please do not wait till bad news comes before you turn to Him for help.  He wants to be your savior not only in this life but the in the life to come.

Happy Thankgiving!

From all of us at LPC! God bless you this Thanksgiving!

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7

NEW HOURS

100 DAY BIBLE READING Challenge outline

KICK OFF PANCAKE BREAKFAST

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Sunday September 11th, 2011

10:30 Morning Worship Service

11:30 am breakfast

(Pancakes, Sausage, Oranges, and beverages) 

ALL ARE WELCOME... FREE TO EVERYONE!

BRING A FRIEND(S) and join us!

Change Ahead ... an open letter to the family and friends of LifePoint Church

Hello friends and family of LifePoint Church,

Greetings in the mighty name of the LORD! I pray this finds you well in your body, emotions and in your Spirit!

After prayerful and a very honest discussion as a council this past week, we are making some significant changes in our Sunday Service format.

Following the kick off pancake breakfast Sunday (September 18^th), we will be moving up the time of the morning service to 10:30 am.  We are also eliminating the “Sunday School hour” that used to begin at 9:30am.  For those who are would like to host a LifeGroup, you are free to meet as always, but there will be no official children’s program at 9:30am.  We will now point people who are looking for children discipleship training to participate in the BG club ministry (BTW… we are looking for help with BG clubs if anyone would like to help out:).    

The service will begin at 10:30 am with announcements followed by worship together in song. When the preaching/ teaching time begins at about 11:00 am we are hoping to offer a children’s program like the one we did with Faith Case over the last two summers. This will need to be discussed with those who are willing to help lead this new kids program.  It is our goal to have the morning service wrapping up by 11:40am to give us all time for relational connecting as well as time for people who would like to join a POST Service LifeGroup to get to their gathering.  More information will be given on what groups are going to be offered in the near future.  

One more addition to our Sunday AM will the invitation to an ALL CHURCH           PRE- SERVICE PRAYER and WORSHIP time in the main hall beginning at 10:10am.  Prayer is vital to God moving in our service, and in our lives, and we want to give you opportunity to come together to pray every SUNDAY.  Brenda Bowman is meeting with LPC’s greeters very soon to help with equipping them for the new change to our service.  

This is a significant change for everyone and one we pray will help us achieve the mission we have as Christ Followers both as a church family and all of us personally.   REMEMBER…THIS CHANGE BEGINS SEPT 18th

Please let myself or any of the council know your thoughts or concerns as YOUR opinion matters to us!

May the Lord help us and bless us as we make these changes!  Let all of us keep walking by Faith!

Pastor Kevin

RIPE FOR HARVEST

In the last two days I have spoken to two farming people who are already into full harvest mode! It seemed like yesterday people were just planting and already the plants have grown and matured and now are ready to be brought in from the fields.  It never ever ceases to amaze me at how this miraculous pattern repeats itself each year.  People plant something in spring and in a few short months it has become ready to be harvested.  Did you know that the Bible is full of harvest metaphors?  Jesus says in John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” St Paul gives us these great and encouraging words; “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9)  James, the brother of Jesus says; “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:18).  The verses in Hebrews (12:11) are words that have been on my heart a lot these days. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  God’s word regularly and gently reminds, even warns all people that everyday we are also in the planting and harvesting business. No, it may not be crops we are planting and harvesting but behavior, actions, character and attitudes.  The really important things of who a person is.  Paul says to the Galatian people “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”  Such a similar idea to what was said to the Hebrew people.  That if we allow discipline when it comes into our lives and submit to it, we will reap “righteousness and peace”.  Righteousness basically means that we will live “properly” or with correct behavior.   Unrighteous acting usually gets us into trouble of all kinds and does not bring much peace or joy.   We see everyday examples of people who are deeply affected by the unrighteous actions of others as well as the guilt that comes from our own poor choices. Yet we can daily affect our actions by what we are “sowing” or planting into our lives.  Paul says that if we sow to please our sinful nature our harvest will be destruction.  So are you taking stock of what you are planting into your life on a daily basis? Are you noticing what you are sowing into the people around you (friends and family?).  Please know that this truth is a life truth and even if you are not or do not choose to be a follower of Christ it is still true.  Guard what you are planting into your life and of those who you know and love.  Those little seeds of life or of death will have profound affect on whom you will become as you age.  One more thing, even thought the principle of planting and harvesting is true if you follow Christ or not, the LORD has promised His powerful help to us if we want to plant good seed!  In fact He sent His Spirit to us, if we want it, to product a harvest of amazing things… love, joy, peace and much more (Gal. 5:22).  If that is the harvest you want for your life, take a minute right now and ask for His help.  He has promised to answer you when you speak to him.  So as you see the harvest come in from the fields this fall, remember to think of the harvest that will be produced from your life and plant with care.     

BG clubs RETURN for fall 2011!

REACHING PEOPLE FOR JESUS

 Jesus told His disciples that they could not do anything but wait till His Spirit came to make them powerful witnesses for Jesus (Acts 1:8).


When His spirit came (Acts 2) the first thing they did publicly was to boldly witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  To this 3000 people responded to this good news and were saved!


We must never forget that as Spirit filled people, witnessing of Christ as our savior, healer, delivery and baptizer and soon coming King, is core to who we are!

For years Billy Graham's every breath was given to letting people know of Christ's call to become followers of Him.  The organization that bares his name,  is still passionate to reach people but are doing it in a whole new way.

Here is a tool that you can use to point people to Jesus today on the internet.  THe web page is called /http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/.

You can learn about it's purpose here ( http://www.billygraham.org/specialsections/searchforjesus/search-for-jesus.asp).

Let us use tools like this, with prayer and with the Spirit's powerful help, to point people to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!