Monday Morning Funnies

Thanks to Suzanne Schneider from KP for forwarding this to me this week. Its pretty good!

What Love means to a 4-8 year old . . ...

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined See what you think:


'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.
My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'

Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)

Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'

Jessica - age 8

And the final one …

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry.'


Hey, make it a great week! I hope you will join me back here Tuesday. Watch the video below...its humor with a powerful punch of truth. [you will have to copy and paste it...sorry!]

-Pastor Randy

http://www.youtube.com/v/Xzp0S3yO1QA&hl=en&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1'

Sunday Wrap Up

What a great day of worship, fellowship, and a little rest. We just got home from Skyline. I ate their twice today...that's lots of cheese clogging up the 'ole arteries all for the cause of Christ(I'm messing with ya!). Anyway, we had a great time of fellowship this afternoon after church and tonight. Thanks so much to all of you that came out and ate at Skyline today. You're the greatest! Next Sunday we go back to Wendy's from 12 to 4 pm. Fifteen per cent of all proceeds go to Kings Point's El Salvador missions. Tell your friends and family to eat at Wendy's Sunday!

We had a wonderful service today in the sanctuary. I really enjoyed the praise & worship today and I was honored today to be God's messenger. Thank you so much for responding to the Word. God's Spirit is moving powerfully in our services. I encourage you to pray and fast for our services. God desires to do so much more than what we can imagine or even think.

I heard they had quite a wedding in the children's worship service. I heard it was so crazy that the minister officiating it (Dalton McBeath) "lost it." I heard a rumor that it might be on youtube. If it does appear there I will screen it and possibly put it on the blog.

Next Sunday, July 6th, we have a great time planned (if the Lord tarries that long). Next Sunday AM, the color guard will be with us. Our veterans will lead us in the pledge to the American flag. We will have patriotic music from the kids choir along with the adult choir. Several great brief videos will be debuted telling stories of great American war heroes. And I will continue my message on "Freedom" that I begin this morning. Then, in the evening we will have a special prayer and praise service over at Cornerstone. Our choir will be singing and different ones will be leading us in prayer. PLEASE INVITE YOUR UNSAVED FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO THE MORNING SERVICE. I believe people can truly be "freed from sin" and turn their lives over to Christ if we will just bring them with us to God's house.

Please continue to remember our missionary in your prayers: Arlene Miller. Also, remember Alvin, Jerry, and Franky too. These brothers and sisters have very serious needs and urgently need our prayers right now.

I love and appreciate you!

-Pastor Randy

Saturday Insights

Good morning everyone!

Today, I would like to ask you to join me in prayer for some special needs. Franky Armold, Wilma Chess's mother, is in the hospital and very serious. Wilma's brother, Jerry, who recently has been attending out church is also recovering from a cancer tumor procedure. He is looking at another surgery within the next two weeks. So please remember Wilma's family including Wilma in your prayers.

Alvin Money is in the hospital and needs prayer as well. Please continue to remember our missionary, Arlene Miller. The doctors are still trying to figure out why she is loosing muscle mass and weight in general. She also needs prayer for her eyesight. Sister Miller desperately needs the body of Christ to be interceding for her right now in prayer and fasting. As I have illuded to in the past, this is an all-out attack from the enemy and to combat him we must use spiritual weapons: prayer and fasting. Please engage the battle!

The El Salvador mission team is busy raising money for their mission trip in August. Please keep them in prayer. They are conducting several fundraisers; car washes, Skyline, and Wendy's again on July 6th. Please support them as the Lord leads and provides.

Speaking of July 6th, on that Sunday evening we will be joining Cornerstone and possibly some other churches for a "Night of Prayer and Praise" at 6 pm at Cornerstone. We will be praying for our nation, churches, community, and individual needs; as well as doing some praise & worship. It ought to be a great night of fellowship, praise and worship, and prayer! I hope you will make plans to join us.

Well, I got to get going! I have a busy day today as I am sure you do as well. I hope to see you at worship tomorrow for you that attend KP. Make it a great day in the Lord!

-Pasto Randy

Friday Countdown

Good morning everyone! Well, Friday is here and the end of the work week for most of you. For you that work the weekend, I pray that God give you strength and refresh you in spirit and mind.

Remember, this Saturday morning KP serves breakfast at the Rescue Mission downtown Cincinnati. Please try to go if possible. Everyone leaves from the church at 4:30 am. I can personally tell you that you will feel more blessed than those that you will serve. Also, the men have prayer Saturday morning at 9 am and the ladies at 6 pm at the church. Participating in these ministries will spiritually wet your apetite for a great Sunday of worship!

It's hard to believe this is the last weekend in June already. The summer is flying by. I encourage you to join us this weekend for what I am sure will be two great worship services. I am praying for you and I look forward to sharing God's Word with you.

Hey, try this prayer (below) today as you get ready to leave work or after you leave your work. It works...God will answer you and make your time at home truly "a place of refuge and refreshment."

Make it a great weekend!

- Pastor Randy


Prayer at Quitting Time

Father, I thank You for this day. Now I step out of the role of employee and into the role of husband and father/mother and wife.

Lord, I thank You that I do not carry the baggage of the day home with me, but I leave it at my work. Whatever responsibilities, problems or situations I had to face there, however difficult the day may have been for me, I give it all to You. By an act of my will, I choose not to think about it, meditate on it or allow it to control my life.

With the same zeal, enthusiasm and fervor that I started this day, I now turn toward home. My spouse and children deserve a husband and father/wife and mother who is happy to see them, someone who is filled with energy, happiness and joy. I refuse to drag across the threshold weary, worn out and beaten down by the day’s activities.

Father, grant me a refreshing now, for the second part of my day. Thank You that Your joy overflows in my heart so that I come home as a solution, not a problem. As I enter the doorway, let me bring with me joy and peace and life, not misery, frustration and fatigue.

Lord, I ask You to strengthen me: spirit, soul and body. Fill my heart with Your love and grace. Clear my mind of the cobwebs of the day. Thank You that I can choose to put a smile on my face and joy in my heart, that I can determine in advance to have a wonderful evening with my family. Thank You that I can bring with me the character and personality of one who is in love with You and in love with his/her spouse and children.

Lord, help me to be sensitive to the needs of my mate. Help me to listen as he/she tells me about his/her day. Help me to be excited with him/her in his/her moments of triumph, to be sympathetic with him/her in his/her moments of stress and anxiety. I understand that there is no harder work or more difficult job than balancing the daily demands of life and the raising of and providing for young children.

Help me to be sensitive to the needs of my spouse. Help me to express to him/her that I do value his/her contribution to the family, that I do love him/her and appreciate everything he/she does for me and for our children.

Lord, help me never—under any circumstances, either by word or deed—to be condescending or to insinuate that I think less of his/her responsibilities than I do my own or that I consider them in any way subordinate to mine. Help me to encourage and strengthen him/her, to be his/her best friend and closest confidant.

Lord, I know that no one has the influence over our children’s lives that my spouse and I do. Help me to be that role model that they need as a parent. Thank You for physical strength in my body so I can play with my children in the evening. Thank You for clarity of mind so I can be sensitive to their conversations and attuned to the events of their day. Help me not to consider the details of their lives and their daily activities trivial, but help me to see things from their perspectives and viewpoints.

Lord, help me to respond with excitement and enthusiasm to whatever made them happy today. Help me to be tenderhearted and sympathetic to whatever challenges they had to face in their world today. Help me, Lord, to instill within them a confidence, a trust and surety in You, and a dependence upon You.

Help me to present what I do in such a way that they never resent my work but realize that my job is a gift from You and that through it You bless our family so that it is a positive contribution to our lives.

Help me never to speak ill about anyone in my work place, or say anything that will give my family wrong thoughts or ideas or attitudes toward my work. Help me to be a full-time spouse and a full-time parent this entire evening. Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to empower me for the work You have called me to do and to fulfill the role at home that You have entrusted to me.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

The Spirit of Antichrist

The recently released Pew Research survey that shows that 57% of evangelicals in America believe that there are other ways to attain eternal life besides Jesus is an indication of a spirit that is sweeping both the secular and spiritual worlds in popularity and acceptance. I am speaking of the "spirit of antichrist" that the apostle John writes about in 1 John 4:3, "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

This deceiving spirit that denies the Deity of Christ is subtly becoming a widely accepted belief among both conservatives and liberals. Postmodern thinkers say that claiming to know truth is arrogant or unloving. For decades now, America's public educational systems have taught that all truth is relative and there are no absolutes. If there are no absolutes, i.e. if all truth is relative, then my position on issues is just as valid as your position due to the fact that each “truth” may be based on a different foundation. We have seen this philosophy expressed in contemporary times as “I’m okay, you’re okay” or in the immortal words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?”

This concept known as universalism embodies the idea that we all are trying to get to the same place (heaven, eternal consciousness, a higher plane) but we are just using different methods. It really does not matter what you believe just as long as your belief is sincere. It also implies that we all worship the same God, its just that we use a different name for Him. Allah is the same as Jehovah who is the same as God who is the same as (fill in the blank at this point). Therefore, the teaching of the Bible must be taken symbolically rather than literally and the various personal accounts in the Bible are nothing more than fictional stories used to illustrate the given writer’s point of view.

I recently came across this idea presented in the national media to millions of people when I was listening to Bill O'Reilly’s radio program and he was talking about sin and condemnation to hell. A caller who was evidently a born-again Christian tried to tell him that Jesus was the only way to heaven; Bill politely ridiculed the caller. He said that if that was what he professed, then the caller was going to not be taken seriously. The verse in question was "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me." O'Reilly's interpretation was that Jesus was not talking about belief in Him as the Son of God but rather, coming to God was accomplished by living like Jesus, i.e. loving your neighbor, being a good person, etc. In other words, you can work your way into heaven. There was also the implication that there is no ultimate truth in this regard. He actually said that there were many ways to get to heaven; it was up to the individual. This thinking is very prevalent in our society and around the world.

The spirit of antichrist is paving the way for the antichrist himself to some day come on the world scene and announce that he is the real Christ. The Bible tells us that many people around the world will believe and worship him. Even now as we see various religious groups including cults and even many so-called Christians denying that Jesus is the way to salvation is only setting the stage for the greatest false Christ of them all. I encourage you to pray and fast, study your Bible, submit to those over you in spiritual authority, and discern good from evil in these last days. Jesus in Matthew 25 speaks of many being deceived in the end times. I encourage you..."watch and pray."

Unbelievable...57% of Evangelicals Nullify the Cross of Christ

In Tuesday's blog I wrote about a major survey by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life that indicated that most Americans do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. And that most Americans agree with the statement that many religions – not just their own – can lead to eternal life. This view is shared by a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches(57%).

Why is this finding so dangerous in regards to America's Evangelical churches? FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHEN WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS BESIDES JESUS TO ETERNAL LIFE WE ARE DENYING THE DEITY OF CHRIST.[see Tuesday's blog]

SECONDLY, BY BELIEVING THAT THERE ARE MANY WAYS OTHER THAN JESUS TO ETERNAL LIFE, WE NULLIFY THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. If we really believe that we can attain eternal life by our works or by some other way then why would Christ have to go to the cross and die for our sins? Why would we believe in a supernatural resurrection of Christ? Why would we need to believe that he ascended and makes intercession for believers in heaven? In essence, an evangelical Christian who believes that there are other ways to eternal life really doesn't need Jesus to go to Calvary. They are just fine with a crossless Christianity. Basically, Jesus did not have to do anymore than just be a great teacher or prophet if we truly think that there are other ways to have eternal life other than Jesus.

THIRDLY, IF WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO ETERNAL LIFE OTHER THAN JESUS, THEN WHY PREACH THE GOSPEL? Why share Christ with our unsaved friends and family? Why give to missions? Why make the effort to disciple people in the local church? I mean wouldn't the need and urgency to do these things be useless if there are other ways for people to be saved. If this is the case, the church should define all the ways you can attain eternal life and then preach "all these ways a person can be saved" to the unsaved. Doesn't that make more sense then proclaiming something we really don't believe?

FOURTHLY, IF WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO ETERNAL LIFE OTHER THAN JESUS, THEN DO WE REALLY BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD? From Genesis to Revelation it proclaims that Jesus has come to be the Savior of the world. The Old Testament books point to the cross of Christ and in the New Testament we hear from the eyewitnesses of Jesus testifying of His redemptive words and deeds. We also read for ourselves concerning His ministry as intercessor in heaven and the many scriptures that point to His return to set up His kingdom here on earth. Listen to me please, if you believe that there are other ways than Jesus to eternal life, then you surely cannot believe that the Bible is the innerant Word of God!

More tomorrow...

Why Those in Our Pews Don't Believe

Recently a major survey by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life was released. Its findings indicate that most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to faith. A majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, for instance, do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. And almost the same number believes that there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their religion. This openness to a range of religious viewpoints is in line with the great diversity of religious affiliation, belief and practice that exists in the United States, as documented in a survey of more than 35,000 Americans that comprehensively examines the country’s religious landscape. [click on the link below for more information]

Most Americans agree with the statement that many religions – not just their own – can lead to eternal life. Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life. This view is shared by a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%). Only among Mormons (57%) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (80%) do majorities say that their own religion is the one true faith leading to eternal life.

Why is this finding so dangerous in regards to America's Evangelical churches...that ONLY 43% of American Evangelicals surveyed believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHEN WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS BESIDES JESUS TO ETERNAL LIFE WE ARE DENYING THE DEITY OF CHRIST.

I know there might be some that would refute this and say "No I still believe that Jesus is the Son of God." But how can you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and not believe in the words that Jesus spoke? If so, you are calling Jesus (who you say is God) a liar and the scriptures clearly says "He cannot lie."

Read below to what Jesus said in His own words about how to attain eternal life.

John 3:16 (the words of Jesus)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 4:14 (the words of Jesus)
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:33 (the words of Jesus)
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 10:28 (the words of Jesus)
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 11:25 (the words of Jesus)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 14:6 (the words of Jesus)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I am sorry, but this is absolutely unbelieveable that people can sit in evangelical (full gospel) churches in America and only a little more than 4 out of 10 believe that Jesus is the way to eternal life. It blows my mind! Personally, I have preached in mostly Pentecostal churches but I went to seminary in one of the best evangelical (non-pentecostal) schools in the country and have preached in many other evangelical denominations in my 27 years of ministry. This is how I explain these findings.

I sincerely believe that its not that evangelicals really believe that there are other ways besides Jesus to get to heaven, but I really don't believe that most evangelicals know what they believe. Many of our evangelicals that sit in our churches on Sunday morning don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and do not have a clue what they believe scripturally except for what the EVENING NEWS or the MEDIA tells them to believe. This is no doubt a sad commentary on we evangelical pastors. Undoubtedly, if we were preaching "Jesus Christ Cruficified" more than "Self-Help" or "Feel-Good" sermons...the percentage of people believing that Jesus is the only way would be much higher.

My prayer is God help us to preach the pure gospel of Jesus Christ so that people will be convicted by the truth that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected by the power of your Spirit!

More tomorrow on the pew research center's report.

http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

Monday Morning Funnies

A man arrives at the gates of heaven. St. Peter asks, "Religion?"

The man says, "Methodist."

St. Peter looks down his list, and says, "Go to room 24, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

Another man arrives at the gates of heaven. "Religion?"

"Baptist."

"Go to room 18, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

A third man arrives at the gates. "Religion?"

"Jewish."

"Go to room 11, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

The man says, "I can understand there being different rooms for different religions, but why must I be quiet when I pass room 8?"

St. Peter tells him, "Well the Jehovah's Witnesses are in room 8, and they think they're the only ones here.

Try to explain women

A man dies and goes to Heaven. He gets to meet GOD and asks GOD if he can ask him a few questions.

"Sure," GOD says, "Go right ahead".

"OK," the man says. "Why did you make women so pretty?"

GOD says, "So you would like them."

"OK," the guy says. "But how come you made them so beautiful?"

"So you would LOVE them", GOD replies.

The man ponders a moment and then asks, "But why did you make them such airheads?"

GOD says, "So they would love you!"

Doing this great deed

A fellow finds himself in front of the Pearly Gates. St. Peter explains that its not so easy to get in heaven. There are some criteria before entry is allowed.

For example, was the man religious in life? Attend church? No? St. Peter told him that's bad.

Was he generous? give money to the poor? Charities? No? St. Peter told him that that too was bad.

Did he do any good deeds? Help his neighbor? Anything? No? St. Peter was becoming concerned.

Exasperated, Peter says, "Look, everybody does something nice sometime. Work with me, I'm trying to help. Now think!"

The man says, "There was this old lady. I came out of a store and found her surrounded by a dozen Hell's Angels. They had taken her purse and were shoving her around, taunting and abusing her.

I got so mad I threw my bags down, fought through the crowd, and got her purse back. I then helped her to her feet. I then went up to the biggest, baddest biker and told him how despicable, cowardly and mean he was and then spat in his face".

"Wow", said Peter, "That's impressive. When did this happen"?

"Oh, about 10 minutes ago", replied the man.

Sunday Wrap Up

Today was a great Lord's day! I was blessed to sat in on Adam Johnson teaching the sanctuary class this morning in Sunday School. He really did a wonderful job. Adam has done a great job this summer in his intern work. I am sure we have given him a lot of material for next fall at Lee.

The praise and worship was awesome this morning and especially tonight. This morning's Kid's Krusade offering was super, over $800. Thank you to everyone who gave. Once again, a big thanks to Debbie and Lori for doing a great job this week. KP is fortunate to have these ladies leading our children's ministries and the great people working with them.

I know we are well into summer now and vacation season has officially started, but I really believe we are going to continue in a "spirit of revival" this summer. I feel a sense of urgency about this summer like I have not sensed in years passed. I believe God is wanting to "pour out His Spirit" in a much greater capacity throughout these summer months. I am praying about calling some special services this summer, even possibly a three-night summer series of meetings. Please be praying with me for the leading of the Spirit.

Thank you so much for praying for my mom and dad, and Sister Arlene Miller. God is answering our prayers. Lets remember one another as we pray.

May God bless each of you! Make it a great week in the Lord!

- Pastor Randy

Saturday Insights

Good morning everyone! I was at Kids Krusade last night and was asked by Brother BoBo to help in the altar service. What a great honor that was to pray with and love on these kids. I was privileged to lead one boy in particular in a prayer of salvation. His name was Austin and it was his first night at Kids Krusade. Austin's name is now written in the Lamb's Book of Life in heaven. Please pray with me for Austin that he would now grow in his relationship in Christ. Please pray also for all the other children this week that attended the Krusade. Pray that they would have a desire to attend church and grow in their relationship with Christ.

I would like to thank Debbie Jett and Lori Dooley for their tireless efforts in making this Kids Krusade happen. They are the best! I know with how busy everyone is right now it wasn't easy to participate. But I also want to thank everyone who came and helped in some way. Only eternity will be able to tell the great things that were accomplished in "little lives" this week!

I hope you plan on joining us for worship tomorrow. I don't mean to be a doomsday prophet, but in reality this world and this country is about ready to self-destruct. Only the second coming of Jesus will save humanity as Christ sets up His kingdom on earth for a thousand years. But at the same time, if you are saved and trusting in Christ...these are exciting times! God is indeed pouring our His spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2). We are on the brink of the rapture of the church. And even though some are falling away and apathy reigns in the American church, God is preparing His bride (church) for the coming of Christ!

I want to encourage you that this is not the time to become lazy spiritually. This is not the time to only attend church "when you feel like it." This is not the time to get so preoccupied with your kids, your job, and material things that you don't make time for God. I implore you to get in the Word of God and get the Word of God in you! Pray without ceasing! Worship like crazy! Tell others about Christ! And live a holy life!

See ya and the morning! And for you that do not attend KP make sure you give God your best worship tomorrow. Offer Him the most excellent sacrifice you can!

In His Love,

Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown

Greetings everyone! I hope you have survived the week. I know for some of you its been a tough one and a long one. If you don't mine, let's say this prayer for strength and overcoming burdens and stress together.

"Jesus, I come to You right now, for I labor and am heavy laden and overburdened, and You cause me to rest — You will ease and relieve and refresh my soul.

I take Your yoke upon me, and I learn of You; for You are gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and I will find rest — relief, ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet — for my soul. For Your yoke is wholesome (easy) — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant; and Your burden is light and easy to be borne.

I cast my burden on You, Lord, [releasing the weight of it] and You will sustain me; I thank You that You will never allow me, the [consistently] righteous, to be moved —made to slip, fall, or fail. Amen."

If you said that prayer today, I know the Lord by His Spirit will minister to you strength, rest, and comfort.

I hope you plan on joining us this Sunday. This is the first Sunday in quiet a few weeks where there is not a special emphasis. I am looking forward to sharing God's Word with you in both the AM and PM service. We will be partaking in the Lord's table Sunday evening. Take time Saturday to get your heart ready. We will have men's prayer at 9 am Saturday in the sanctuary and the women have prayer at 6 pm. Please come ready to worship Sunday!

May God bless you! Make it a great weekend of worship, rest, and spending time with your family!

-Pastor Randy

A Call to Spiritual Warfare!

Hello everyone! We (Dick & Betty Aker, James Garrett, and I) were able to go and visit with Sister Arlene Miller today. Many of you know, Sister Miller has been under great attack recently physically. I put it that way because this is more than just a sickness. She knows, I know, and others know that the Devil wants her off the mission field. Matter of fact, he wants her dead. She and her calling is a real threat to a part of the world that He has great control over. Satan means business, and we the church of Jesus Christ can make a difference right now as we pray and fast for our missionary.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ~

I encourage you to stand in the gap for her in intercessory prayer. Please call out her name daily and even fast for her. Pray that God heal her vision, that God heal her bile reflux condition, and that she be able to put on muscle, and that the weight and hair loss would be reversed.

Sister Miller wanted me to be sure to thank the Ladies ministry for the tote full of personal items. Also, to thank everyone that has given in offerings and in special offerings(the Ladies Ministries and Anglers). She thanks God so much for her KP family and your prayers, gifts, and love.

I love and appreciate you!

- Pastor

Encouragement for Today

When the "storms of life"
Gather darkly ahead,
I think of these wonderful words
I once read.
And I say to myself
As "threatening clouds" hover,
Don't "fold up your wings"
And "run for cover."
But like the eagle,
"Spread wide your wings"
And "soar far above"
The troubles life brings.
For the eagle knows
That the higher he flies,
The more tranquil and brighter
Become the skies.
And there is nothing in life
God ever asks us to bear
That we can't soar above
"On the wings of prayer."
And in looking back over
The "storm you passed through,"
You'll find you gained strength
And new courage, too.
For in facing "life's storms"
With an eagle's wings,
You can fly far above
Earth's small, petty things.
~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

Never give in; never give in; never, never, never, never--in
nothing great or small, large or petty--never give in except
to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to
force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of
the enemy.
~ Sir Winston Churchill, speech to students at
Harrow, his old preparatory school ~


Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:33-39 ~

Enduring Faith

Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." KJV

These are very difficult and trying times. Undoubtedly, we are living in what the Bible calls the "last days" or the "beginning of sorrows." If you are one of those who think that "this too will pass" and in a few years "the good times" will resume again...you are being optimistically foolish. Oh yes, there might be a few times ahead where it looks like things are getting better and the worst is behind us, but "the birth pains" (Matthew 24:8) as Jesus described it will continue becoming more frequent and greater in intensity until His glorious return.

So how should we live then in the midst of these last days? Jesus says "...he that shall endure unto the end...shall be saved." It's going to take enduring faith to be victorious in the end.

Now you might be thinking "Wow, that sounds hard. I may not have what it takes to endure until the end? I struggle enough during the easy and good times, much less the hard times!"

But let remind you today that if you are in relationship with Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father will give us the ability to endure to the end by His Spirit. No, we cannot do it ouselves, but we can through Christ.

I love Psalms 33:18-22 that says, "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee." KJV

Yes, God will give you enduring faith for the times ahead no matter how difficult they may be. Remember, the words of Jennifer (last week's blog) "there is no panic in the throne room." Yes, people in the world may fear, panic, and mourn as calamity strikes, but our hope and trust is in Christ! The Psalm says OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE BECAUSE WE TRUST IN IN THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD! We move, we live, we have our being in Him (Acts 17:28). As we live in Christ, He alone gives enduring faith.

Monday Morning Funnies

The Gate Is Broken

St. Peter was checking the gate beween Heaven and Hell and found a broken hinge. He walked over to the "Pit" and called to the Devil...The Devil says, "Yeah, whaddya want..?", St. Peter: "The hinge is broken and it's your turn to fix it.." . The Devil retorted: "Gee, I am a bit busy and don't have anyone available for this.." , St. Peter got angry, "Look, we have an agreement, and it's your turn to fix the gate..!" , The Devil responded, "Sorry Pete, it's our peak season and there just isn't anyone available..." St. Peter turned red and exclaimed..."Ok, if that's the way you want it, we'll sue..!" A big grin broke out on the Devil's face, "Oh yeah, and just where are you going to find a lawyer...?!"
[I really gotta stop doing these lawyer jokes!]

Light Bulbs and Christians

Q: How many charismatics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Ten...One to change the bulb and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness!

Q: How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. God has predestined when the light will be on. Calvinists do not change light bulbs. They simply read the instructions and pray the light bulb will be the one that has been chosen to be changed.

Q: How many TV evangelists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One. But the light might go out if you don't mail your donation today!

Q: How many liberal Lutheran theologians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: At least 10, because they need to debate whether the light bulb exists. If they agree upon the bulb's existence, they might refrain from changing it to avoid alienating those who use other forms of light.

Q: How many independent fundamentalist Christians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Only one. Any more might result in too much cooperation.

Q: How many Catholics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. They prefer candles!

You're Grounded

One day in church, the priest delivered a sermon based on the timeless story of the prodigal son. When he got to the point where the father sees his son returning and races out to meet him, the minister said "Throwing wide his arms, the father said..."
A young boy jumped up & shouted, "YOU'RE GROUNDED!"

Healthy Christians

Two Christians have lived very good, and also very healthy lives. They die, and go to heaven.

As they are walking along, marvelling at the paradise around them, one turns to the other and says "Wow. I never knew heaven was going to be as good as this!"

"Yeah", says the other. "And just think, if we hadn't eaten all that oat bran we could have got here ten years sooner."

The Plus Sign

A ten-year-old Jewish boy was failing math. His parents tried everything from tutors to hypnosis; but to no avail. Finally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enrol their son in a private Catholic school.

After the first day, the boy's parents were surprised when he walked in after school with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face. He went straight past them, right to his room and quietly closed the door.

For nearly two hours he toiled away in his room - with math books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, went straight back to his room, closed the door and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime.

This pattern of behaviour continued until it was time for the first quarter's report card. The boy walked in with it unopened - laid it on the dinner table and went straight to his room. Cautiously, his mother opened it and, to her amazement, she saw a large red 'A' under the subject of Math.

Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son's room, thrilled at his remarkable progress. "Was it the nuns that did it?" the father asked.

The boy shook his head and said "No."

"Was it the one-to-one tutoring? The peer-mentoring?"

"No."

"The textbooks? The teachers? The curriculum?"

"No", said the son. "On that first day, when I walked in the front door and saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I KNEW they meant business!"


Make it a great week!

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

Greetings everyone! As everyone at KP knows, I came over and surprised my dad this morning. I left pretty early and got here in Indy when he woke up. He walked into the living room with a smile on his face and said "What a surprise seeing you here on Father's Day." That was worth it all! I want to thank everyone at KP for understanding and allowing your pastor to be gone today. I also want to thank Brian, Ken, Adam, Corina, Karen Cook, Sonya, and the Overseer for taking the ball and running with it today. I heard you had a great service!

We had planned on going to church this morning, but it didn't work out that way. So we watched John Haggee and few other preachers and had church anyway. My sister and her family came over after their church service and we had dinner here at my mom and dad's home. Today is my sister's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is but I will tell you she's headed down the hill now. Happy birthday Sis! I am very proud of her and her husband, Bob! They are great Christians and workers in the church. They do a lot to help my mom and dad with my brother and I living a few hours away. Bob especially is good and very generous in helping my parents with things around the house that need to be done. He treats my dad like his own. I really appreciate him.

This week is "Kids Krusade" week at KP. Debbie Jett has a dynamic ministry team coming in from North Carolina. Be sure to bring all the kids you can! They will love it and the Spirit of God will do a life-changing work in their lives. It starts at 6:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. I'll see you there!

Annette said that Chris McBeath did a wonderful job of preaching tonight. She said we had a small crowd but I suspected that between camp meeting week and kids krusade week on Father's Day. Thanks to everyone for your faithfulness to God's house.

My prayer is that you have a prosperous and blessed week!

-Pastor Randy

Some Saturday Insights

I hope you are doing well today. I appreciate you reading my blog. It is my prayer that something is written in this blog that will encourage, inspire, or minister God's truth to you.

Southern Ohio's Camp Meeting concluded last night with a wonderful and powerful youth service. If you are a KPer I hope you got to go to at least one service this week. Pastor Tommy Bates said some awesome things last night in his message. One thing he said that I have preached and written about before is that today's youth is the Joseph generation. The Abraham generation of the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement was from 1900 to 1940. The Isaac generation was from 1940 to 1980. The Jacob generation is coming to an end over the next twelve years. We are to do like Jacob and bless our children and speak "words of life" into and over them. Joseph's life, of course, was a foreshadow of the life of Jesus. I believe the Joseph generation will experience the rapture of the church, but we could see it here at the end of the Jacob generation.

Speaking of the rapture and last days events, I would encourage everyone to read David Wilkerson's encouraging letter this month called "Enduring Faith." Brother Wilkerson's insights will build and strengthen your faith for the difficult times ahead.

Once more I ask everyone to come ready to worship Sunday. Forget the formality of a Father's Day service. Come ready to WORSHIP like a pentecostal-charasmatic. Don't worry about offending someone. Come prepared to offer a sacrifice of praise unto the Lord Sunday. Some of you have been great camp meeting services this week. Take that fire of God into the worship service Sunday morning. Don't worry about everyone else...put your praising garments on!

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there! Happy Father's Day as well to my own wonderful dad...my hero! Dad, I love you so much! Dads, I encourage you to love, inspire, encourage, strengthen, bless, and affirm your children and others as well. The world is in desperate need of real "men of God." -Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown

Well Friday is finally here and Sunday will be here before we know it!

I hope you have had a great week. Our state camp meeting services have went well. I have only been able to attend the night services (we only had morning services Tuesday and Wednesday). As Bishop Hill mentioned from the pulpit Tuesday evening, My uncle's church in Columbus, Indiana, was totally destroyed inside by the flooding. I was told that the water was two feet from the ceiling. Please keep them in prayer - Jerry and Geraldine Ballard.

I have talked with Sister Arlene Miller this week, Please keep her in your prayers as well. She says she is feeling better. She had several doctor appointments this week scheduled. She was very pleased with the mission pledges and offering Sunday.

Well, it finally happened. What we all feared has come upon us (just kidding!). Gabe started driving this week. He passed his test with a 95 per cent, that's pretty good. My prayer life has went to a new level this week as well. Not really, I stay in constant prayer anyway for him so it really hasn't changed anything...just my insurance rate.

Get ready for a great Father's Day. I believe God is going to meet with us this Sunday. I ask that you come ready to worship. We are in desperate need of revival in the American church today and that includes KP as well. I need for you to come hungry to worship and feed on the Word of God. I see so much apathy and indifference today in the church. I see a very laxed attitude among God's people today in a time where there is great deception going on in our land. This is not a time to be lulled asleep spiritually. This is a time to seek the Lord with prayer and fasting. Please join me!

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

I love you!

-Pastor Randy

"There is No Panic in the Throne Room"

[My spirit was awaken early this morning. Oh, how my flesh cried out for sleep, but God has put in me an urgency to write a tribute to a very special lady today…Jennifer Rene Beck.]



Yesterday, I left my motel room in Columbus at 5:30 am (I was there attending our State Camp Meeting) to travel to Indianapolis for a 10 am funeral service. I hadn’t seen Bruce, Jennifer, and Lauren for about 15 to 16 years. They were ministry friends of ours from Terre Haute. We were young in the ministry together for about eight years. Annette and I were senior pastors at Terre Haute Church of God. They were youth pastors at First Assembly of God. They left Terre Haute around 1992 due to Bruce’s job relocation with Eli Lilly. They didn’t go far, Indianapolis; but we had just had Gabe and they had little Lauren and with our busy lifestyles we lost touch.

We were told by some mutual friends of Jennifer’s cancer back in January of this present year. Honestly, I was shocked and grieved. I tried several times unsuccessfully to get in touch with them. So Annette and I began to intercede in prayer for Jennifer and her family. We didn’t know what kind of cancer she had, what her prognosis was, or how she was doing. But having been there ourselves with Annette’s cancer diagnosis ten years ago, we knew the most important thing we could do was pray. So we prayed.

Bruce and Jennifer had just got married when we came to Terre Haute in the fall of 1985. We were in our middle twenties and they were too. We both had no children. We met them at a Friday night youth service. Their youth group had grown in a short time to one of the largest in the city. I don’t remember if they invited our small youth group over or we invited ourselves, but I wanted to see for myself why God was blessing the youth ministry at First Assembly…so I went along.

Three things stood out to me that night as I observed Bruce and Jennifer at ministry with about seventy-five kids: their love for the kids, and their group emphasis on worship and discipleship. Their love for the kids in their group was genuine. It didn’t come with a youth pastors’ appointment. As they tell it, the night they got back from their honeymoon after the wedding there was 15 to 20kids waiting for them in their living room. The kids recognized that these were two people who cared for them and kids always respond when they know someone genuinely cares and shows them love.

Secondly, Jennifer played the piano and she along with their worship team led us in a beautiful time of worship that night. Again, I witnessed worship that was real, authentic worship led by someone who knew where they was going. I could tell that even as a young lady she had been there before and no doubt often. That night she led all of us into the throne room of God, into the presence of God…the most holy place. Afterward, Bruce shared God’s word with all of us. It’s been over twenty years ago, but I can still see Bruce carefully explaining and relating the Scriptures to where those kids lived.

Bruce had a degree from Ohio State in Chemical Engineering (I think?). He didn’t claim to be a preacher or probably even a youth pastor, but he knew how to disciple people the way Jesus did it. How did Jesus do it? By “hanging out with those he was discipling” and allowing them to see and hear the words of the Father. That’s what Bruce and Jennifer did. They always had kids in their home. They were always going out to eat after church with bunches of kids. Was it because they were funny and fun to be with? Not really, it was again because they loved and cared for kids and the kids knew it!

Occasionally, Annette and I, Bruce, and Jennifer would make a night of it. Usually, because Terre Haute was so small, we had to leave town to get some privacy. So we would escape to Paris to a favorite French restaurant…Paris, Illinois…about thirty-five minutes away. We had great times together. We usually stayed at the restaurant it seemed for a couple hours. We would talk rapid fire on the way over, while we were there, and on the way back. Then, we usually ended up at their apartment or house staying to around midnight “solving the world’s problems” [you do that in your twenties …at least we did].

In the eight years we were together, we had them over to the church often to speak to the youth, lead worship, and sometimes when we didn’t have a pianist Jennifer would come and help us out. We would go over and minister with them in their youth meetings some and later in their Chi Alpha ministry at Indiana State that Bruce and Jennifer founded.It was like a refreshing drink on a hot day when we were together. Our fellowship with the Becks was always something we made time for and looked forward too.

I was thinking about all those times together as I drove over to the funeral yesterday morning. I got there around 9 am and waited in the parking lot for about fifteen minutes before entering the funeral home in Fishers near Indianapolis. Immediately, upon entering I ran into Jennifer’s dad. Earl is a “giant of a man” in character. He is known by everyone in Terre Haute and surrounding counties. He is 82 years old and still has a thriving General Contractor’s business. Earl headed up the Optimist Club when I was in Terre Haute and was involved in many other civic organizations. Earl was and still is as far as I can tell a “this is the way it is kind of guy.” He has a great knowledge of the truth and he doesn’t deviate from that. Earl often filled the pulpit for me in Terre Haute as well as other pastors I knew. Earl, his daughter and her husband (the Shaws) and I talked for awhile, I then spotted Bruce entering the building.

Bruce hadn’t changed at all. Maybe a little less hair but I have never held that against anyone since I have a lot less than I did in my twenties. We hugged and cried a little. He shared me with a little about the rollercoaster of emotions the past six months had brought. He acted relieved that I was there. I was glad that I was too.

What a beautiful service followed. It didn’t surprise me, but Jennifer had led a ladies bible study and prayer group. She had spent the last 10 to 15 years pouring into these women. All of these ladies of course were there and one lady in particular, Amy, did a beautiful job of sharing how Jennifer’s prayer life and leadership had “changed their lives.” Others spoke too, along with Earl and Bruce.Bruce’s brother-in-law did a masterful job directing and ministering the word of God. I could spend another few pages describing what was a beautiful and fitting tribute to Jennifer but I will only share one more thing here that stood out to me.

As Bruce shared, he carefully took some time and took everyone back to December when Jennifer was diagnosed. He spoke of Jennifer’s response when the doctor informed them both that she had bone cancer and the prognosis looked very difficult. Bruce said that Jennifer calmly looked at him in front of the doctor and said “There is no panic the throne room.” Later as they went through months of testing and then traveled to Chicago in May for special treatment once more the doctors gave them very little hope. Bruce said Jennifer’s response hadn’t changed, “There’s no panic in the throne room.”

Over these last few weeks of suffering and with her body growing frail and weak, she reminded everyone, “There’s no panic in the throne room.” Jennifer Beck wasn’t just saying that. Those were not just words to get her and others through a crisis time…she lived it. Bruce told the crowd in attendance that she would often get up in the middle of the night and go to the piano and play softly and worship. He said that many days he would come home from work where he would find Bibles, commentaries, and concordances laying around in the living room where Jennifer had spent the day studying, praying, and worshiping God. Jennifer lived in His presence, in His throne room, and in all that she had knew, seen, and experienced, panic and fear was not a part of that environment.

Jennifer was simply living out Colossians 3:1-4, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Today, Jennifer, right now, somewhere in heaven, is in the throne room doing what she enjoyed on earth, what she loved, and what she lived for. Thank you, Jennifer, for a wonderful example of a true worshiper of the most holy God.

The Causes and Cures of the Dysfunctional Church, Part V

The fifth and final dysfunction of the American church is that it is untaught. With all the tapes, CDs, DVDs, radio and television ministries, books, and literature; today’s church remains ignorant of a healthy knowledge of the scriptures. What has happened in the church to prevent God’s people from a love for the truth? How come most of today’s forty and younger generation has a very shallow knowledge of the most basic Bible stories and elementary doctrine?

Pastor Stocksdale in The Remnant writes, “Paul reminded Timothy that he, Timothy, had known the Holy Scriptures since childhood, as early childhood for the Hebrews always included memorizing the Torah. We, unfortunately, have “progressed” past a reliance on the Scriptures and have substituted motivational relevance for Bible knowledge. Don’t get me wrong; I am definitely in favor of relevant messages because because the attention deficit of this generation usually prevents them from even reading, let alone studying or intently learning, the Scripture. However, the goal of our creative approaches to preaching should be to aid in understanding and applying the Scripture, not in becoming self-help and motivational gurus.”

The Cure: Instruction in the Holy Scriptures Through the Teacher

The teacher is the fifth of the fivefold callings in Ephesians 4:11 and is often combined with the office of the pastor for the purpose of feeding the sheep. A pastor cannot pastor effectively without teaching the holy Scriptures. It is the Scriptures that transforms hearts and changes lives, even in the 21st century.

Hosea 4:6 states, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” [KJV] Is it any wonder that today’s churches are filled with people that are very much like the world in their thoughts, speech, finances, and marriages? We as pastors must examine every phase of our church and ask ourselves the basic question, what does this do to enhance a person’s understanding of the Scriptures? All of our ministries should conclude with a deepening of that foundation. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).

A lack of knowledge of the Scriptures has left our congregations anemic, dysfunctional, and defeated. We must tale active steps to ensure that a new generation of Bible-loving believers is trained and skilled in biblical knowledge. All of our ministries, programs, services, schools, and missions should answer one question: Does this teach people the Scriptures?

Causes and Cures of the Dysfunctional Church, Part IV

Today I want to resume our series on the “Causes and Cures for the Dysfunctional Church.” So far we have discussed the unfathered church, the uncorrected church, and the unfruitful church. The fourth dysfunction of the American church is that is it wounded and unhealed.

DYSFUNCTION 4: The Unhealed Church

Jeremiah spoke of a wounded God’s people in need of healing in Jeremiah 6:14, “They have also healed the hurt of my people slightly, saying ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace:”[NKJV] and the New Century Version renders it as follows, “They have tried to heal my people’s serious injuries as if they were small wounds. They say, “It’s all right, it’s all right; But really, it is not all right.”

Today’s church has deep inner wounds that can only be healed by the cross. Larry Stocksdale writes in The Remnant, “As the message of the cross moves further from the center of attention, we polarize around personalities (I Corinthians 1). The cross, however, is the central message of the church because it destroys pride, frees from bondage, releases blessing, and brings people together.”

At Kings Point in the last five years, we have seen hundreds attend our Encounter Retreat weekends. In eight powerful sessions, believers visit the cross to deal with rejection, unforgiveness, spiritual and mental ties with demonic strongholds (often acquired ignorantly) and sexual bondage. Today’s average church somehow thinks that saying a sinner’s prayer or filling out a card is the cure-all for people without dealing with the emotional and mental scars that has took a lifetime to create.

The Cure: The Preaching of the Cross

Stocksdale writes, “For many of our churches, the cross is considered excess baggage, the hold-over message from the last century that does not relate to the iPhone generation. We hide it, disguise it, and move past it. We motivate, entertain, and impress as our key members continue to divorce, look at pornography, and raise rebellious, wild children. This is what happens when we forget the cross and its powerful message.”

The cross was the secret to Israel’s healing in the wilderness. A revelation of the cross in the wilderness neutralized that poison (Numbers 21:8). It is no less life saving today than it was for Israel in the wilderness. The cross of Christ heals and delivers in every area of life.

The fourth listing in the fivefold ministry calling is that of the pastor. The healing and deliverance of believers is truly the work of pastors in the church today. I am not just referring to the position of the senior pastor in the church today, but believers in the body of Christ that are gifted in pastoring and shepherding God’s people to wholeness. A true pastor sees people not as numbers, but as gifted, talented leaders whose potential must be released.

Our megachurches in America are full of people who must have individual attention and healing. Today’s pastor must be healed and made whole so he or she can nurture, disciple, and equip other believers so that they might be healed and whole. People today are coming into our churches in need of having their wounds bandaged. They need someone to pour oil and wine on them, and bring them to an inn and take care of them (like the Good Samaritan, Luke 10). The message of the cross through the ministry of the pastor will bring healing and wholeness to the unhealed church.

Monday Funnies

One night a robber broke into a home. While he was aggressively searching through a desk the robber heard a voice say, ''Jesus is watching you!”

He yelled, ''Who said that?!''

Once again the robber heard the same thing, ''Jesus is watching you!''

The robber looked around the room only to see a parrot. He asked the parrot what its name was and the parrot replied, ''Arthur.''

The robber said, ''Ha ha! Who names a parrot that?!”

With attitude the parrot laughs, ''Ha ha! The same person who named the pit-bull BEHIND you Jesus!!"

________________________________________

Who are the five most constipate men in the Old Testament?

Cain - because he wasn’t Abel.

Moses – he went up onto the mountain and took two tablets.

King David – he sat on the throne for forty years.

Solomon – neither heaven nor earth could move him.

Noah – because he was at sea for forty days and forty nights and all he passed was water.

_______________________________________


One bright, beautiful Sunday morning, everyone in the tiny Midwest town got up early and went to the local church. Before the services started, the townspeople were sitting in their pews. Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from an evil incarnate.

Soon everyone was evacuated from the church, except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew, not moving.....seemingly oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy was in his presence.

Now this confused and irritated the Devil a bit, so he walked up to the man and said, "Don't you know who I am?"

"Yep, sure do," the elderly man said.

Satan asked, "Aren't you afraid of me?"

This time the man said, "Nope, sure ain't!"

Satan, a little more perturbed at this, asked, "Why aren't you afraid of me?"

The man calmly replied, "Been married to your sister for 56 years."

________________________________________

A young woman brings home her fiance to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother tells her father to find out about the young man. The father invites the fiancee to his study for a drink. "So what are your plans?" the father asks the young man. "I am a Torah scholar." he replies. "A Torah scholar. Hmmm," the father says. "admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in, as she's accustomed to?" "I will study," the young man replies, "and God will provide for us." "And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?" asks the father. "I will concentrate on my studies," the young man replies, "God will provide for us." "And children?" asks the father. "How will you support children?" "Don't worry, sir, God will provide," replies the fiance. The conversation proceeds like this, and each time the father questions, the young idealist insists that God will provide. Later, the mother asks, "How did it go, Honey?" The father answers, "He has no job and no plans, but the good news is he thinks I'm God."

Make it a great week...let Christ shine in and through you!

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

It feels good to be able to get a Sunday nap today. Some Sundays I can, but most Sundays after getting a bite to eat I am busy preparing for the Sunday PM service.

We just come from Wendy's. Today 15 per cent of Wendy's proceeds from 1 to 5 pm were going toward the El Salvador Missions trip. The management there was really excited! They had done a record-breaking business from 1 to 2 pm. Just before 2:00, over $300
(15% of their sales) had already been made. Thank you to all the KPers and friends who supported the missions trip by giving in offerings or going to Wendys today. There probably around $5,000 received toward the El Salvador trip at this point. They need $22,000 total.

The Missions Conference was a huge success and superseded everyone's expectations. Presently, I have no idea how many churches will be planted through Global 12, or how much money or faith promises came in for Sister Arlene Miller. But I do know that the Missions Conference greatly raised the "missions awareness" at KP for months to come. Thank you to Chris and Carmen; Joyce Davis and Carol Georgiton; the "El Salvador Twelve" (the missions team), and everyone else who participated in the "parade of nations," the dinner, and those who helped by donating decorations. You all were great!

Please continue to remember Arlene Miller, our Missionary, in your prayers this week. Also, remember our Southern Ohio camp meeting in your prayers and attend a service or two if you can.

May God bless you. Go out and make it a great week!


In Christ's love,

Pastor Randy

Some Saturday Insights

Good morning everyone! I had a few minutes this morning and I thought I would share a few things before the day got started.

Great beginning to the Missions Conference last night. The "parade of nations" was really cool! Everyone did a good job. The kids knocked it out of the park with "God's Got an Army." And Pastor Skeens preached a "powerful" word. Thank you so much for your response and your giving to home missions.

Brother Skeens was very impressed with the decorations and the service. He said he felt like he was at the General Assembly World Missions service. Pastor Skeens told me, Chris, and Carmen McBeath that he would like to do a Missions conference at Cornerstone. Chris and Carmen with their "big heart" for missions as you can imagine were very open to that!

Hey, I hope you are planning on joining us tonight. I know some of you cannot because of commitments you can't get out of but if you can get out of it...it will be worth it. WHAT WE ARE DOING THIS WEEKEND IS AT THE VERY HEART OF GOD! It is a shame the way we have went about missions in the past as the church. It is a shame the little support the America church gives our missionaries today. It is a shame that missionaries are leaving their countries now and coming to evangelize America. I believe we are going to turn it around at Kings Point! I am excited about what God is doing in the heart of Kings Point for the lost all over the world. See ya at 6 pm tonight!

Please remember Sister Arlene Miller. She needs a physical touch from Almighty God.

Make it a great Sabbath! Worship like Crazy!

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown

Today we will take a break from our series on the dysfunctional church. If you are a KP worshiper or live near KP, I hope you will plan to join us this weekend for our Missions Conference. Everything begins tonight at 7 pm with a colorful "Parade of the Nations." The choir will be singing along with a special drama presentation by the children's ministry. Then, Pastor/State Evangelism Director, Scott Skeens, will be sharing an inspiring message.

I want to thank everyone that is praying for my mom and dad. Dad is having some better days this week which means mom is too. I want to thank all of the KPers that were able to go to the Todd Muncy viewing. Todd was a wonderful young man with a very optimistic attitude in spite of his physical limitations. He was an inspiration to everyone that knew him. Please keep his parents, John, and Lois in your prayers.

I went to the Dentist yesterday for the first time in awhile. With Gabe's braces and my heart stuff over the last few years, my teeth have had to take a backseat for awhile. Anyway, KP's Terri Jett is a wonderful Hygenist if you are looking for one. Hey, speaking of Dentist, you might like this:
"Open wider." requested the dentist, as he began his examination of the patient. "Good God !" he said startled. "You've got the biggest cavity I've ever seen - the biggest cavity I've ever seen." "OK Doc !" replied the patient. "I'm scared enough without you saying something like that twice." "I didn't !" said the dentist. "That was the echo."

Our missions banquet Saturday night at KP will kick off at 6:oo pm. Following our dinner we will be introducing the GLOBAL 12 PROJECT. Global 12 is a worldwide church planting strategy that has seen over 18,000 churches planted in the seven years. It is truly the most powerful, fruitful church planting effort I know of anywhere. If you cannot join us Saturday night and you would like to know more... check out the following website: www.global12project.com.

Hey, I think thats it for today. Have a great weekend. Go to church! Worship like crazy! Live holy! And be ready for His coming!

Pastor Randy

Causes and Cures for the Dysfunctional Church, Part III

Jesus passed a fig tree and rebuked it for not having nothing but leaves. Jesus said in John 15:15, “I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain.” This is Jesus’ mandate to us. But is the church today fulfilling Jesus’ command by producing fruit that remains?

DYSFUNCTION #3 – Unfruitfulness

Unfruitfulness is the third dysfunction in the church today, and it relates to the office of the evangelist. Much of today’s growth in churches comes from transfer growth, the movement of believers from one church to another. In any given community or city there are churches that have large crowds but most of these churches have “feeder churches” (usually smaller churches that do not have the programs or facilities that the bigger church can offer) around them that are constantly feeding them people. Someone said that transfer growth is similar to getting everyone in a room to change chairs within the room…which produces a great deal of activity and bustle, but nothing really changes.

Pastor Larry Stocksdale writes in his book, The Remnant, "There are basically three levels of participation in every church: attenders, members, and multipliers. Attenders are those who sporadically make your church their headquarters. They make no commitment to finances, attendance, or small group involvement, but they consider your church “their church,” especially at Christmas and Easter. Members go to a higher level of involvement with commitment to weekly attendance, tithing, and small group participation. Members are progressing toward discipleship but may not necessarily be walking in purity, carry a burden for the lost, or know how to disciple someone else."

The third stage, the multiplier happens when evangelism springs from discipleship. When you remove the dead branches of sin, bondage, and fear from a believer ( this happens at our Encounter weekends), he comes alive! He is empowered to break the member ceiling and become a fruitful, multiplying believer in Christ.

The Cure: Multiplication Through the Evangelist

Pastor Larry Stocksdale writes, “Growing mature believers is what guarantees multiplication, and the discipleship that makes it happen is seen in the office of the evangelist. Paul describes the phenomenon in 2 Timothy 2:2, And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. The early church had no buildings, props, or sound systems. What they did have was one-on-one discipleship, and that system released an organic power that filled the entire known world.”

Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, illustrates these strategies in his book 5 steps to Making Disciples. Dr. Bright gives the example of one of his disciples who went back to Thailand and disciple 700 believers. One of those 700 preached personally to over 200,000 people in his lifetime and saw more than 20,000 people receive Christ! That is multiplication – not an event or a fruitless effort at entertainment, but a chain reaction of changed lives that exponentially grows.

Pastor Larry Stocksdale’s church that he pastors in Baton Rouge, Lousiana, now does missions using a multiplication model. In the year of 2000, Stocksdale was led of the Lord to implement a missions strategy similar to the way the Gideons International organize their bible distribution throughout the world. He began by dividing up the world into twelve zones using the same zone map the Gideon’s use. In 2001, he met with twelve solid mission leaders from each of these zones in Zurich, Switzerland, and laid out a strategy for each man to find and groom the best national leader he could locate in each of the 15 to 20 nations in his zone. Two years later as that task began to be complete, Stocksdale and his zone leaders commissioned all of those national leaders to find a team of leaders (up to twelve) in their own countries.

They committed financially to fund for one year any good national pastor who would plant a church and become accountable in his ministry to one of our network leaders. Churches began to be planted all across the world in various denominations, and the Global 12 Project was born. This simple network has now planted over 18,000 churches as of May of 2008. The Global 12 Project studies show that for every church that westerners have paid for, the national leaders have paid for four more. Multiplication is occurring because of a multiplication of accountable leaders.

[Please note if you are a pastor or church leader: Our own church at Kings Point is challenging families, small groups, and ministries to plant churches around the world using the global 12 project. If your church or ministry is interested in planting churches and getting involved in the Global 12 project, please feel free to contact me at my e-mail at randylballard@yahoo.com. For just as little as $75.00 a month, your small group or family can plant a church. What a great way to sow and multiply in the kingdom of God!]

Causes and Cures for the Dysfunctional Church, Part II

Today we continue our series on “Help for the Dysfunctional Church” as we borrow from Pastor Larry Stocksdale’s book, “The Remnant.” Yesterday we defined the word dysfunctional as “deviating from normal behavior.” In His book, Stocksdale describes five primary dysfunctions of the American church and what God’s Word says is the cure for each of these causes. Yesterday, we covered “the unfathered church” as the primary reason for ministerial instability and failure within the church today.

DYSFUNCTION #2: The Uncorrected Church

Not only is the church today unfathered but it is also uncorrected. There is very little accountability today for church leaders except in cases where it is built into denominational or fellowship bylaws. Choices without consequences bring confusion. Politicians face serious consequences with their constituents when they commit moral failure. Athletes who break rules, throw temper tantrums, or use drugs are often required to sit out entire seasons. Why shouldn’t the church discipline its leaders?

The sad truth is the world looks upon the church’s abuse of authority and lack of accountability as the ultimate hypocrisy. Spiritual leaders must have spiritual fathers in their lives who act both in the role of affirmation (the role of the Apostle) and in the role of correction (the prophet). John 1:17 says God deals in grace and truth.

The Cure: Accountability and Standards Through the Prophet

Pastor Stocksdale writes, “When consequences are relational and not reality-based (pain), no character change occurs. Drs Cloud and Townsend point out that the relational consequences such as nagging, guilt, and withholding affection never really change character. Only reality-based consequences (automatic consequences that result directly from actions and choices) change us. Although, we may try to manipulate and maneuver our way out of problems we have caused, the consequences still must happen if we are to learn, grow, and change.”

Proverbs 19:19 says “A man of great anger will bear the penalty, for if you rescue him: you will only have to do it again.” We may love, support, empathize, assist, and encourage – but never rescue."

Pastor Stocksdale asks some soul-searching questions, “Can today’s church be self-governing? Does it have the guts to stand up and correct itself? Will they submit to the prophetic oversight of seasoned men who lovingly recommend a course of action that is honorable, even when others protest they don’t “feel the love”? If the church will commit to higher ethical and moral standards than that of the systems of this world, the world will once more look again to us for moral direction.”

Causes and Cures for the Dysfunctional Church

The church in America today is in trouble. True to His word, the Lord begins His judgment in His house (II Peter 4:17) and moves from there to judge a nation. Over the last twenty years, ministry after ministry has come under great scrutiny and fire for sexual immorality, financial impropriety, skewed doctrine, lavish lifestyles, and countless other issues. God has truly been shaking His church and exposing the dysfunctionality of today’s church.

What we have seen and what we have experienced by the shaking has left us asking some difficult questions: Where has the glory (God’s glory)gone in the American church? How did the simple, pure gospel of the Savior become about “me,” “my,” and “mine”? What happened to the transparency, integrity, and even the vulnerability that has marked the church for centuries when following Christ meant hardship, denial, and even death?

Dysfunctional may be defined as “deviating from normal behavior.” In Pastor Larry Stocksdale’s latest book The Remnant, he describes five primary dysfunctions of the American church and what God’s Word says is the cure for each of these causes. Over the next few days, we will take a look at these and I sincerely believe your spirit will bear witness with what God is saying to us through this great book.

#1 Dysfunction: The Unfathered Church
Pastor Stocksdale points to “a lack of fathering” as the primary reason for ministerial instability and failure within the church today. Mentoring and fathering is a basic human need, and those in the ministry are not exempt from it. Even Jesus needed the affirming word from heaven: “You are my son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11, NIV). Unfortunately, many pastors across our nation experience a general lack of affirmation and mentoring.

Stocksdale writes, “I have met hundreds of pastors that suffer from a father wound. Until recently the term was new to me, but it is at the heart of the issue affecting the deepest recesses in the souls of men. This wound first occurs when a boy does not sense affirmation because of an absent, anonymous, or abusive father.”

John Eldredge, in his powerful best seller, Wild at Heart, points out that the father wound produces posers: men who wrestle with the question of whether they have what it takes to be a man. When a man lack’s his father’s affirmation, he either becomes passive(fearful of new challenges) or aggressive (focused on affirmation by achievement). Eldredge goes on to say that a woman cannot truly affirm a man. She can encourage him but she cannot answer the question of his manhood that rests within his soul.

The Cure: Government and Mentoring Through the Apostle Gifting
Pastors need spiritual fathers. The early church did not develop a bureaucratic, hands off oversight that only inspected properties and counted noses and nickels. They had overseers and elders who provided a mentoring structure to affirm, advise, and correct, when necessary. Church government flows from an environment of affirmation, validation, and acceptance operated by season spiritual fathers as thought they were as sons.

This is the hope for the future of the church in America…that pastors find spiritual mentors who will affirm and validate. From there, pastors must set up structures in their congregations where spiritual mentors affirm and validate their young men and sons in the faith. The early church was healthy because of spiritual mothers and fathers that gave godly advice and were godly examples. No, it’s not too late, but now is the time to confront and correct the “great father wound” in the church today.

Monday Morning Funnies, Prov. 17:22

A new pastor was visiting the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, Genesis 3:10." Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid, for I was naked."


At Sunday school they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, Johnny what is the matter? Little Johnny responded, "I have a pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."


A Minnesota couple decided to vacation to Florida during the winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday. His wife would fly down the following day.The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her e-mail address, and without realizing his error, he sent the e-mail. Meanwhile.....somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory following a sudden heart attack. The widow decided to check her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read: To: My Loving WifeSubject: I've ArrivedDate: 16 May 2003I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is not as uneventful as mine was.P.S. Sure is hot down here!


Make it a great Monday!!!

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

Well, it's been a good day of worship! This morning's service was a great time of worship. Amy Toney's testimony of her healing was awesome. It was good to see Linda Apke in church this morning. She had a major heart surgery six weeks ago. She looks good. It was fun recognizing and rejoicing with this year's crop of graduates. I appreciate Corina overseeing that even if she had to put up with the pastor panicing over some unexpected silence. She is patient with me.

We will e-mail everyone from the church office when we hear about Todd Muncy's funeral services. Please be in prayer for Todd's parents, John and Lois.

Annette, Gabe, and I actually got to go home and have Sunday lunch. That is very unusual. Honestly, I don't like eating out after church on Sundays. Most of the time I do it for Annette, Gabe, and whoever we may go out with. I am usually very tired after preaching and really "not worth much of nothing." My preference is to go home and nap before I get up and start preparing for Sunday evening. I love cat naps. I can get a ten-minute nap and wake up feeling like I have been resurrected.

We had a wonderful service tonight. Dalton did a good job of getting us started. The choir did a super job and the preacher preached good (of course with the Spirit's anointing and the Word of God how could I go wrong?)

Well, we got a big weekend coming up. Missions conference this weekend followed by camp meeting next week in Columbus and at Princeton Pike. And then Father's Day the Sunday after camp meeting.

Have a great week! And remember "Rick and Bubba for President." Sorry you had to come to church tonight to catch this!

- Pastor Randy Ballard