Everyone has a point of view: about politics, about sports, about music, about movies…about Jesus. Over the years many have concluded that Jesus was a great prophet, a powerful teacher, a passionate social justice advocate; it’s their point of view. What if we took time to re-examine our point of view of Jesus from God’s view?

The last week of Jesus’ life is commonly known as the Passion Week. During these final days of Jesus’ life there were a ton of people filled with different points of view about what was happening around them. The disciples, the crowds, the Pharisee’s, and of course Jesus. For the six weeks leading up to Easter we are going to examine the final week of the life of Jesus. We will take a creative look at these familiar moments by asking, “what if Jesus’ final week was lived in the middle of our media driven culture?” What would social media, news media, gossip media among others have to say about what was going on?

This six week series serves a two fold purpose: 1) To help followers of Jesus rethink some familiar stories and prepare their hearts to celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday. 2) To provide those who have yet to conclude exactly how they view Jesus a place to listen, learn and determine their point of view about Him. Prophet, Teacher, Social Advocate…or Savior and Lord?

Invite others to join you for this great series starting Sunday, February 26th and continuing until Easter Sunday!

I love our mission partnerships! It helps us fulfill our mission to take the gospel to the ends of the Earth. We recently sent a special gift to our mission partners in the Philippines, the Gormley’s. In 2008 we took a team there for a medical mission and have also sent a $10,000.00 gift to help with a building project. Here is a letter we recently received from them:

“We wish to express our joy over your heart’s desire to touch the lives of people not only in Pennsylvania but around the world.  When we received the $2500 from you last month, we immediately began to pray for how God would have us to use it while keeping in mind the body of Zion and how they would like to see it used as well.  We know you have a heart for helping people and going out into your community, reaching lives in meaningful, physical ways that become stepping stones for showing them the love of Jesus through your kindness and outreach.

Last summer we held our regular DVBS in May.  We focused our attention on one particular area of relocated squatters from Manila.  A small resettlement area of 6000 families (at that time 6000, they are now more than 12,000 families).  We brought these kids to our facilities and to the best of our ability showed them Jesus through the program of games, songs, stories, skits, and food.  We could tell you story after story of heart-wrenching situations within the families there…kids who don’t KNOW their first name let alone their last, they simply go by BOY; child after child arriving with no shoes on their feet and clothes that most of us would consider throw away rags; those who refused to eat the meager sandwich we had prepared for them because they were saving it for their pregnant mother at home.

The last day of attendance was 490+ with more than 600 different children being ministered to throughout the week.  By God’s help alone it was a successful week in terms of a smooth program, enjoyment, and no major problems.  We fed them, taught them, hugged and loved on them…for a week!  It is impossible for us to continue such efforts on a weekly basis and minister to that number of children every week, but we do what we can.  For the last year, since that DVBS, our young people have started several Bible clubs in that area on Saturday…they teach them, feed them, love on them and try to show them a God that loves them.  (pictures can be viewed at Michelle’s Facebook page).

Our budget last year was a mere $1860.  We will be using $1000 of the money you sent to increase that budget for this year’s VBS;  $500 to support the Saturday Bible clubs for a year;  and $1000 to the vehicle fund.  Many of our people are quite poor and spend much in transportation getting to church; it is a hardship that they endure for the sake of being in church.  We have one vehicle now and most members that have cars willingly help picking up and taking people home.  But, we are hoping and praying to buy another vehicle soon in order to do more.

Thank you for the part you have had and continue to have in the lives the people here that we love and care so deeply.  We look forward to seeing you soon and sharing with you in person of what has been accomplished in the name of God and for the sake of showing His love to the people of the Philippines.”

In November, we did something out of the box during our Celebration Sunday. We decided to do a “reverse offering.” To those who made a commitment to live out the core values we taught during our 40 Days Journey, we handed an envelope with $25 and told them to be creative and use the offering to plant the gospel wide and deep. We challenged them to think like missionaries and find ways to share Jesus. Wow! God moved! People were creative! New outreach projects were started! Families experienced things they’ve never experienced before! Lives were changed! God was glorified!…. Take some time to read and celebrate some of the stories that have been shared in recent weeks:

“I’ve been wanting to share how I was able to help someone in need with the $25.00.  A neighbor of mine had $700.00 cash stolen from her purse in a local store, just prior to Christmas. I won’t give any more details about this other than to say she was extremely upset and didn’t know how she was going to even have money for groceries.  I was able to give her the $25.00 with some other money I came up with and simply told her that she should consider that this money was from the Lord, and hoped it would help her through this difficult time.  She was very thankful and was able to get through the Christmas season. She shared with me a couple of weeks later that she bought two pairs of pants in Goodwill and found a $20.00 bill in the pocket  and she said to me “this must be another gift from the Lord.”  Wow!  I thought that was cool!”

 “Our $25 from Celebration Sunday was used for a youth “on mission” project when I got together with my student small group to bake.”

 “When I got the $25.00 I decided to match it with my own $25 and see what I could do with $50. As it turns out I did match it, but I used it in two donations of $25.  One went to a family that our Life Group decided to support for Christmas.  A man in our Life Group has been discipling the husband. The man let him know that he had needs for his kids for Christmas, so we either gave $ or shopped for his family.  The other $25 I gave to a young man who is trying to do the right thing and live within the law.  He is struggling to stay clean and do things the right way so he can “be off paper” (off probation) and move forward.  He is holding a job and is doing well, but is having a hard time not going back to easier ways to come up with the money he needs to feed his family and pay his rent.  I have been getting them boxes of food from the Jesus Pantry and decided to get him a $25 gas card so he could use it to get to work.  He can’t believe that people would just want to help him without having an agenda.  We were able to get him some other things through some other sources as well.  He knows that my motivation is Jesus.  He doesn’t yet see his need for Jesus, but he has been greatly moved by the generosity of people who love God.” 

 “On Celebration Sunday, when you handed out the $25.00 to each family, I was not sure about the tables being turned and YOU giving us money!! In light of our financial situation, “why do this?” was my question.  But like everyone else we graciously took the money put it on my husband’s desk and waited.  Then the idea of Christmas Village was born and we knew it was our desire to use it at ZJC for such a wonderful idea.  So we decided not only to match the $25 but help setup and do what we could to make it a success.  It was true God thing. The group teased me about my “Martha” personality wondering just how it could happen in such a short length of time.  They said not to worry, God has it covered, and He sure did. (over 600 people were blessed) What a wonderful experience for me.  After Christmas Village I kept coming upon situations that also needed my $25.  I kept reaching into my wallet.  What your $25 did was make me aware that my blessed grandchildren and all my family have so much; to deny them $25 here and there would not even be missed. I am not sure how many times I spent the $25 but every time I knew it was exactly what God expects of me, to share what I am blessed with. Goes to show ya, don’t question it, Just Do IT!!!”

 “While having lunch with my mom Christmas Day at the nursing home, we noticed another resident wearing a severely threadbare shirt. We knew instantly where our $25 would go. With after Christmas sales we were able to fill a drawer with new shirts for him. We topped it off with one of my wood-burned ‘pocket inspiration’ tokens. He was speechless and so appreciative. (found out later, that just recently he’d lost the last of his family members that ‘took care’ of him in that regard)  Now I see him walking proudly down the halls, wearing his new shirts.”

“We used our $25 to help a local farmer and his family after he suffered a massive heart attack and had bypass surgery.  Farming is all he’s ever known and he’s not able to farm or do any work for a long while.  His wife does not work and she home schools the children.  When we heard of this, my husband and I both knew instantly that this is what God wanted us to use the money for.”

“We combined our money with several other members of our Life Group to provide Christmas gifts for a family that a man in our group knows from working with the dad. They were so grateful and they are also now attending our church and loving it.  Cool.”

“We have lived in our house for over ten years and, shamefully, have never had much contact with our neighbors. We excused it because we live on back roads and they all live a distance from us. We used the $25 as a family and baked Christmas goodies for our neighbors and delivered them on Christmas Eve.”

“After Celebration Sunday, my family started discussing how we thought God was leading us to be “missionaries”. A family came into our minds. They used to be our neighbors, and although we had lost contact with them over the past months, we were aware of some hardships that they had encountered. We went shopping for them, and as Christmas came near, we began to try to track them down. We didn’t anticipate that this was going to be a problem. We had multiple ways to contact them. One by one, the methods of contact failed. Their phones had been shut off, they had lost their jobs, and a mutual friend that I was sure could point us toward them, had lost contact as well. We went to the Christmas Eve service, gifts in the van. Afterward, we went off blindly to find them. We knew that they lived in a large trailer park in the area. We got there and started to drive around, hoping that something would stick out. We got almost the whole way through, and were beginning to lose hope. As we were making the final turn, we saw who we were looking for, standing on his porch. We were able to bless them with the gifts, but we wound up receiving the greater blessing, knowing that God directed our movements and led us where he wanted us to be.”

“Our family bought a gas card to help a young mother with two children from S.A.F.E. (Stop Abuse For Everyone) who got a job to put gas in her car.”

“Our Life Group is pooling our $25 to get treats and cards for Valentine’s Day. We will take them into our local nursing home the weekend before the holiday to visit with the patients.  We’ll bring the kids.”

“I was praying about where the money would be best used.  I heard of several opportunities; however, none seemed right. I was talking to my parents about the money and they started telling me of a family in the community that had children that would not have a Christmas without help. I asked for the name of a child and had a blast buying clothes and toys for the child.  It is amazing how everything in the size and wants of the child was on sale! I think I enjoyed shopping and giving those gifts the most of all the gifts I gave this Christmas.”

“We purchased some simple devotional books to hand out to customers at our family owned business.”

“I used the funds to buy some curriculum for the jail ministry I am involved with.  I am putting together a series of biblical Anger Management lessons, and hoping to teach them at a different time than regular Bible Study on Tuesday night.  Ministry is increasing at jail, with attendance up dramatically.  (That’s what happens when we pray for more, right?)”

“Our Life Group went together and blessed a family at Christmas with gifts and clothing.”

Do you have a reverse offering story you haven’t shared? I’d love to hear from you!

Over the last few days, I have shared some links on my Facebook page that can be a tremendous tool to fuel spiritual growth in the new year. Remember, a tool is a tool. The point of any “tool” or any type of spiritual discipline is to get us to live more like Jesus. He is the point, not the “tool” itself.

www.youversion.com – simply the best tool out there to help you choose and stay on track with your daily Bible reading.

Personal Life Plan e-book – this is a great resource to help you slow down and evaluate where your life is right now, and where you want it to go.

Examen.me – a simple-to-use web site that fosters your personal interaction with God. This modern approach to ancient devotional practices guides you to examen your life as you meditate on scripture, pray, and journal all of your reflections.

Bible Mesh – a tremendous online Bible study course that will show you the story of Christ from Genesis through Revelation. Small fee required. Great resource!

Refine Us – a marriage mentoring resource for any couple that wants to grow their marriage.

Orange Parents – this blog will help parents learn to parent beyond their capacity. This is a resource every family needs.

I Was Broke, Now I’m Not – a tool to help you win with your finances and grow your generosity in 2012.

What is your growth plan for 2012? What “tools” would you add to this list?

I love when people “catch” the vision of what God is doing. Here is a great example from Trish Dixon from our Clarion campus:

“Over the past year, we’ve heard a great deal about being mission-driven, but this week it felt as though pieces started fitting together. I was able to really picture Zion’s vision. Sometimes people see pieces of the puzzle but aren’t sure how they go together to create the picture on the front of the box. The last message communicated the importance of rooting and release; putting those pieces together for me helped me feel more able to share our vision with others but also gain a clearer understanding of God’s core vision for the church that we are trying to materialize in our reaches of Clarion, Brookville, and Petroleum Valley. There have been many changes in the past few months, and I have to say that although I encourage change, I also hesitate when change happens. What I really like is that there is more cohesiveness throughout each campus and one ministry builds upon the other; instead of ministries feeling isolated, they feel like parts of a whole. I am excited to see the whole picture on the front of the puzzle box of God’s vision for Zion and I believe it will be absolutely beautiful. Knowing how long it takes me to put together a puzzle and how complex and creative our Creator is, I realize that it will take time to “paint” each piece of this puzzle, but, wow, God is so amazing in preparing each personal piece that when those fragments continue to come together, we will be more than encouraged and stunned by its brilliance. Kudos to our pastoral team in being Biblical and not afraid to lead the rest of us to a greater understanding of what is core!”