Henry John Heinz

'Her children rise up and call her blessed...' Proverbs 31:28 NKJV

Good Morning Everyone,
One more day here in the sun. It has been a nice vacation and time of rest but God has also given us opportunity to rise up and witness. As I read today's scripture it reminded me of all those women in my life who pushed me to Godly values. At age six, Henry John Heinz began helping his mother tend the small garden behind their family home. At twelve, he was working one and a half hectares of garden, using a horse and cart for his three-times-a-week deliveries to grocery stores throughout the city of Pittsburg. He went on to found his own company and named it 57 Varieties. The Henry John Heinz Company was incorporated in 1905, and today, over one hundred years later, it sells more than thirteen hundred products worldwide, ranging from tomato sauce to baby food. But there are other things you need to know: Henry John Heinz loved Jesus and was deeply involved in the promotion of Sunday school in Pittsburg and around the world. His company was noted for pioneering safe and sanitary food preparation and for being ahead of its time in employee relations. He provided free medical benefits, swimming and gymnasium facilities, and promoted women to positions of greater responsibility, making them supervisors. He earned a reputation for enhancing the working and living conditions of his workers. In his will, Henry John Heinz said: 'I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will, as the most important item in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which there were unusual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God through Jesus Christ. This legacy was left to me by my consecrated mother, a woman of strong faith, and to it I attribute any success I have attained.' Moms are you doing your part with your Kids? Amy and I been praying for all of you that God will rise up our moms at Calvary so you may be called Blessed! If you read the rest of this verse, it says and "there husbands praise them." Lets be a church that is raising up people who raise up others to love Jesus Christ like Henry John Heinz...

Why You Need Courage

'Be strong and of good courage...' Joshua 1:6 NKJV

Good Morning,
Some days you need courage as I did yesterday. I started to feel some discomfort in my leg thinking what's this? I'm on vacation. I looked down to find a redness on my leg. I thought not this again. So we headed to the doc in the box. Seems I have a infection in my leg vain. Its not like the time I was in the hospital so I was prescribed some antibiotics and told to check in with my doc when we get back home so I could use your prayers. Why do we need courage when things in life scare us? Or when we feel like failures? God said to Joshua, 'Be strong and of good courage'? Four reasons why we must trust God: (1) For Joshua's own sake. God had a lot invested in Joshua; the future of an entire nation rested on his shoulders. And since God has a lot invested in you too, you must believe that it's His will for you to succeed. If you grew up in a family or church where you felt unworthy of God's favor and unentitled to His blessing, you must reprogram your mind with the Scriptures. '...then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.' (Joshua 1:8 NKJV) (2) For the Lord's sake. God told Joshua, '...do not be afraid...for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' (Joshua 1:9 NKJV) God's reputation was on the line. The nations in Canaan had heard how He delivered the Israelites from slavery, drowned the Egyptian army in the Red Sea and fed His people with food from Heaven every day. Had Joshua failed to conquer the Promised Land it would have brought reproach to God's name and made His people a laughing stock. The Lord had a bigger stake in Israel's success than anyone else. His plan to bring forth the Messiah depended on their success. His desire was to turn a bunch of slaves into the greatest nation on earth-one that served the true and living God. And Joshua had a big part to play in it. Where did Joshua's strength come from? This promise: '...the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' (Joshua 1:9 NIV) Start believing...Your God is with you as well!

Stay Focused on What's Important

'...he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.' Hebrews 11:27 NIV

Good Morning,

Its 8:00am and I'm sitting here with Amy listening to worship music. It is nice to sit and stay focused on what is important; Our relationship with Jesus. When you have a relationship you can dream big things because God is showing you amazing things you never thought possible. That's were Amy and I find ourselves today; dreaming the impossible for ministry @Calvary. As we've pondered what is important there are certain things we must be willing to give up to make it happen. We can't keep all our options open; we have to narrow our focus to what's most important. John Maxwell says: 'Many people do the opposite. Rather than focus on their dream and let go of less important things, they want to keep every option open. But when they do, they actually face more problems because decision-making becomes overly complicated...at first it's fun to have so many possibilities...But as time goes by, you can't make progress because you spend all your time preserving options rather than moving forward...When you expend your time and energy on the few things that make a difference...tasks that aren't exciting or immediately rewarding take on added value. Each activity becomes an important piece in that bigger picture.' When God gives you a vision He doesn't show you the whole picture up front. He does it in stages so you won't get overwhelmed. For example, when He shared with Moses His vision for delivering Israel, Moses had to wait for each part to download. By faith he left Egypt. By faith he kept the Passover so the enemy wouldn't touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the Israelites walked through the Red Sea and their enemies drowned trying to pursue them. By faith he kept the Israelites moving for forty years through the wilderness until he stood, an old man, overlooking the Promised Land. What kept Moses going even after God told him he'd never enter the Promised Land? Simply this: he stayed focused on doing the will of 'Him who is invisible.' As we enter the 8th year of ministry Amy and I are more excited about the possibilities then ever before. That's because we know that together as (team Calvary) there's nothing we can't do in Christ Jesus! Let's dream team, because we believe God has given us the best in you...

You are loved,

Get Going!

'Why are you crying out...Tell the Israelites to move on.' Exodus 14:15 NIV

Good Morning,
This is what I kept crying out to my favorite airline...Get Going! I know I don't have control of the weather but I kept looking out the airport window seeing clear runway and yet the planes weren't flying. People were blaming the airline for this and that, and yes I had my moments. Imagine yourself undertaking an important assignment. Things go well and God blesses your efforts. Maybe your in your job things go crazy good. Then circumstances change, you face difficulties, discouragement sets in, those you counted on start blaming you, and now you wish you'd never undertaken the project. Welcome to Moses' world! (vv10-20) God told him to lead Israel out of Egyptian slavery into the land He promised them four hundred years earlier. But faith gave way to fear when they were stuck between the Red Sea and the pursuing Egyptian army. So they turned on Moses, blamed him for their dilemma and wanted to return to Egypt. What was Moses' reaction? Whatever he felt, he still believed what God had promised. So to calm the people he said to them, 'Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.' (v13 NKJV) That's good counsel. But God had more to say. 'Tell the Israelites to move on.' Instead of allowing them to rest, God redirected their energy by calling them to action. Anybody attempting an assignment for God encounters similar challenges. So what should you do? Ask God for directions, and don't consult anxiety-driven people. Have you been standing still, waiting for improved circumstances when God wants you to move on? Get going! While you are walking God will be working. He will neutralize the enemy without and the 'white-ants' within. Refuse to be depressed, deflected or derailed. The Red Sea will part, the enemy will be defeated, and you will sing the new song in the new land. Sometimes God has to get our attention. Sing the new song by faith and move on....
You are loved!

Conformed or Transformed? (1)

'Do not be conformed...but be transformed...' Romans 12:2
Good Morning, Well our flight is cancelled again. I'm Sitting here waiting to talk to someone about our flight out of here. The lines are jammed and I'm a little bummed. I've joked about how snow is of the devil, it sure feels like it today LOL. I know our little worries can't be compared to what others are going through especially since there are more terrible things than a canceled flight. So we must chose to be transformed even in times of stress or grief. Chuck Swindoll said, 'We like to imagine ourselves a race of rugged individuals - the Patrick Henrys, Davy Crockett's and Lone Rangers. The truth is, we hate to appear different lest we be ostracized, branded fanatics and rejected. So, we conform. You'll see it in the child eager to please; the adolescent aligning with peer pressure; the adult breaking their back to keep up with the Joneses.' Just being different for its own sake is likely to be worthless, even counterproductive. What God wants from us is our willingness to be radically transformed. 'Therefore, I urge you...to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind' (vv.1-2 NIV). Here are two important observations to help you reach that goal: First: Transformation belongs to believers. The unbeliever can't break the world's control over them without Christ, but believers are promised: '...the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world' (1 John 4:4 NLT). God's indwelling Spirit enables you to resist the world's pressure to conform you to its ways. Second: God's appeal is urgent. 'I urge you, brothers.' Words like beg, plead, beseech are used in some translations because the appeal isn't secondary or optional. It's vital, a divine imperative! God is seeking for surrendered vessels that are ready to be transformed for His use. Are you willing to say, 'Yes, Lord, use me'? Even when it seems we can't....

Grace

'...we have all received...one grace after another...' John 1:16 Good Morning, As I sit here 5:30am thanking God for all the things he has done in my life; (Our flights are on time for our vacation). I'm reminded that there is so much more to be thankful for. I had a rough day yesterday with my computer not being fixed right to the the thought that we might not get out of here. How is that it's been so nice until I want to leave to rest? Ever ask those questions? Well Gods grace is there for whatever we do.
His grace comes to us free and clear, with no strings attached. In fact, He's more tolerant and less judgmental than many of us are. We weren't worthy and didn't deserve it but because we belong to Christ, 'Out of His...(abundance) we have all received...one grace after another...spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing...favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.' Richard J. Neuhaus said, 'The moralizing and legalizing of the Gospel of God's grace is a dull heresy peddled to disappointed people who are angry because they have not received what they had no good reason to expect.' When you truly grasp the concept of grace: 1) You will gain a fresh appreciation for God's gifts to you - things like salvation and forgiveness, the gift of life, health, laughter, music, beauty and friendship. 2) You will be less critical and less concerned with what other people do. Ever heard the saying, 'I'm okay with me. I don't need to make you wrong?' When you operate in the freedom that comes with grace, you're okay letting other people chart their own course and make decisions you may not make. 3) You will become more tolerant and less judgmental. Instead of focusing on appearance based on religious performance, you will look for authenticity and a genuine love for God. 4) You will grow spiritually. David said, 'He brought me out into a spacious place...' (Psalm 18:19 NIV). Grace expands your horizons so you can never go back to where you once were. So give Him thanks today for what He deserves!

Pray for Your Pastor

'Pray...that...words may be given me...' Ephesians 6:19
Good Morning, Amy and I are taking a some much needed vacation time and we would appreciate your prayers. We haven't taken a real vacation in several years so we are looking forward to getting some rest. Pastor Zach & Pastor Josh along with our team leaders have great services planned out just for you. Tim Armstrong and Jake Rochek will be speaking so be prepared for a mighty move of God. With the weather doing its best to keep us in the TriCities please pray for a safe trip out of here tomorrow and Seattle. Please pray for us that God will refreash us during this time. Paul always asked his churches to pray for him. Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus: 'Pray...that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me...that I will fearlessly make known...the gospel.' Can I ask you...Do you pray for your pastors? You should! After Wilbur Chapman's first sermon at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, a man said, 'You're pretty young to be pastor of this great church. We've always had older men. I'm afraid you won't succeed, but since you preach the gospel I'm going to help you all I can.' Chapman thought, 'What a crank.' But the man continued, 'I'm going to pray for you, and a few others have covenanted to join me.' Later, Chapman wrote, 'I didn't feel so bad when I learned that they were going to pray for me. Soon the three became fifty, and the fifty became two hundred who met before every service to pray for me. In another room eighteen elders knelt so closely around me that I could put out my hand and touch them. I always went into my pulpit confident that I would have God's anointing in answer to the prayers of those people. It was easy to preach, a real joy. And what was the result? Eleven hundred people were saved and joined the church in the next three years, and six hundred of them were men. It was the fruit of the Holy Spirit in answer to prayer. Church members have much more to do than go to church as curious, idle spectators to be amused and entertained. It is their business to pray mightily that the Holy Spirit will clothe the preacher with power and make his words like dynamite.' What would happen if you showed up every Sunday to pray for your Pastors? Not only would they become filled with power but so would you. Together we could make a lasting impact that would change our community forever!