Goodbye 2011- Welcome 2012!

I trust the Lord was generous to you and your family this Christmas in many ways!  He is here!! Praise His name!

This was a quiet week in the office and since we did not have a CHRISTMAS DAY service, I thought I would send you all a short update about several things.

1)    NEW YEAR’S DAY… we WILL be having a morning worship service.  It begins at 11:00am (not at 10:30am for this SUNDAY only).  Please plan to come as we WORSHIP the LORD on New Year’s Day!  We will have time of fellowship following the service… so plan to stay and visit for a while.

2)   END of the year giving.  If you are still wanting to give a gift to the LORD (an offering) for the 2011 year, we will be accepting them in the office till the end of the work day on FRIDAY.  Some money has come in already but there is still time to get in your gift(s).  God has blessed LPC in a great way this year!  We were praying to break $3,000 for MAK giving and we are just short of that at this time. ALSO,  our goal for mission giving this year was $9,000.  We are sitting at just short of $7,000 today (over $2,000 short).  If the Lord would prompt you to give to missions that would be a blessing!  In 2010, we gave $8,900 to missions.

3)   Office hours:  The office will be closed MONDAY, January 2^nd and will reopen on Tuesday for the rest of the week.  THANK YOU for blessing our staff so much over the Christmas season.  We all were overwhelmed at your generosity!

4)   All regular weekly ministries (including LifeLand)  will be postponed till the week of JANUARY 8^th.  Then we will be back to full speed ahead.

5)   Christmas Memorial  Poinsettias.  THANK you to all who donated a Poinsettia in the name of a loved one.  I know I have taken some time to pause at each one and remember them who have passed on.  Please feel free to come by the office and take your flowers home.  THANK YOU for allowing us to use them this Christmas!  They looked beautiful.

6)   RE-KIND-DLE: 2012!  We are looking forward to a week of prayer, fasting and special ministry as we begin the New Year (starts January 8^th)!  Please keep these dates protected and  in mind as we seek the LORD at the beginning of this year.

7)   THANK YOU to those who helped at the CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER.  What a beautiful gift to our community and area!  God BLESS you as you served SO faithfully on the CHRISTMAS DAY… you truly we like the WISE MEN who brought  gifts to the Christ Child.   Praise God for you!

THANK YOU for all you have done for the LORD in 2011.  It was a year of PROMISE for LPC!  We are waiting in expectation for what He has planned for us all in 2012!

To God be the glory!

the PLANE truth about Christmas Dessert Theater!

JANUARY 1st, 2012 COME Celebrate with us!

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE 2011

Christmas Day Dinner for 2011 Information

Spread the Word!

New Worship Internet Station

I have been listening to this web based radio station for a few days now... I am really enjoying it... Maybe you would also?

Find it here.  I pray that it is a blessing to you!

LPC's Global Missionaries

We at LifePoint support several global workers who are using their lives to serve the Lord oversees.  Here are two that we support...

One is  Cheryl Ann Johnson lives in Zambia... watch this video to learn more about her ministry.

Another is Rev. Frank M. Juelich... PLEASE go to his website and look at the Video called BEING FRANK.  Find it here.

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.
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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.