In 2012, a 19-year-old man from Washington state named Dakoda Garren was charged with stealing a rare coin collection worth at least $100,000. After Garren had completed some part-time work for a woman living north of Portland, the woman reported that her family coin collection was missing. Her collection included a variety of rare and valuable coins, including Liberty Head quarters, Morgan dollars, and other coins dating back to the early 1800s.

Initially, Garren denied any involvement, claiming that the police didn’t have any evidence against him. But then he started spending the coins at face value, apparently unaware of the coins’ worth. He and his girlfriend paid for movie tickets using quarters worth between $5 and $68. Later on the same day, they bought some local pizza with rare coins, including a Liberty quarter that may be worth up to $18,500.

In the same way, we dishonor other people (such as our spouse, our friends, our children, even our enemies) when we treat them as cheap objects. They should be treated according to the value God has placed on them. God’s value on every human is placed higher than any other animal, plant or inanimate object on earth. He created man in His likeness – His image.

If you’ve ever heard the saying about a child, “He’s the spitting image of his father,” you know and understand that child looks and acts much like his father. God says this about you and every other man, woman, and child that has ever lived – in and outside of the womb. When we disrespect another person or treat them with disregard we are no different than the young man in the story above. Our actions are criminal in God’s eyes and according to His statutes and commands.

Likewise, when you treat yourself with less respect and value than God has conferred upon you, you are not only trivializing your worth, you are devaluing God’s Word and debasing His value of who you are. You are not a cheap object. You are His prize possession. God values you more than anything else in His creation.

You are not an everyday, run of the mill, twenty-five cent piece. You are worth many times more than that Liberty head quarter. In fact money cannot purchase your value. The people you come in contact with every day of your life hold the same value to God. You do not desire to be treated as a cheap object. Why should we go around treating others that way?

God is an awesome God. He knit you together in your mother’s womb to be a person of great value. So great a value that He created you in His own image. Do you know someone you can tell today that they are the spitting image of their father – their Heavenly Father?

I believe this about you, you must be of great value, because in you I see the image of your Father.

Pastor Michael Codrington is in his 3^rd church in ten years. Though he has been at his current church, New Haven Community Church for a little more than four years, the church isn’t growing. While the church has leveled out in attendance, Pastor Michael is concerned because the church is not growing, not adding people to its membership or to the number in attendance. As Michael would say, “We are in the fifth year of my three year plan.” He says it jokingly, but inside it seems to be a matter of concern for Michael on an almost continual basis.

Always on the lookout for some new idea or practice and his desire to stay up to date Michael has recently returned home from yet another innovative leadership conference. At this conference Michael heard some very good speakers and picked up a few ideas as happens at most of these conferences. While at the conference Michael did the usual networking with other pastors and ministry leaders; meeting up with old friends and meeting new ones. So when he returned home and his wife, Jill asked, “How was the conference?” Michael’s response was, “You know, same ole, same ole.”

Michael headed down the hallway of their home, then stopped, turned back to his wife and said, “But there was something – or someone actually. I met a pastor from Calvert City. I can’t put my finger on it, but there was something unusual about him, in a good way, I mean. He seems to have it all together, things are going right, and people loved being around him at the conference. I enjoyed being around him. I can’t put my finger on it, but I’d like to get to know him better.”

Did you get his number, or at least his e-mail address?” His wife pressed. “Yes, yes I did. In fact we exchanged cards.” Michael responded. Without hesitation Jill insisted, “Well then, you should call him and invite him to meet you for lunch. Maybe he’ll meet you halfway or you can go there. Calvert City is only a forty-five minute drive.” Michael cocked his head to the right and with an upward glance to the left – at nothing in particular and almost quizzically said, “Yeah, he said we could do lunch one day. He even mentioned meeting halfway.” “Good!” said Jill. “Then it’s a done deal. You should call him tomorrow.”

Jill understands the frustrations of being a pastor and not seeing your desired results in your ministry. She also knows her husband and his need to act instead of reacting. Her statement to call this new pastor acquaintance the next day was born out of experience. Jill knows if Michael does not make the call right away and set a lunch appointment, life will get in the way and the whirlwind of busyness will push the desire to do so farther and farther away. Within a couple of weeks Michael will forget altogether and lose his desire to learn from this other pastor. Not from a loss of passion to learn, but out of the day to day pressures and stresses of ministry. New challenges and ministry obligations come along each and every day. Ministry is not a full time job, it is an all-time job, a true calling to ministry is a life devoted to serving God through serving people and growing them in their spiritual walk.

The next morning while sharing breakfast before heading to their respective offices, Jill asks, “What’s on your agenda today?” Michael shares of his need to visit two people in different hospitals meetings with the finance chairman, Building and grounds personnel, and worship pastor, answering e-mails, writing his article for the newsletter. He then closes his recital saying, “And somewhere in there I need to work on my sermon for Sunday morning. I’d like to at least spend an hour on that. An hour would be a luxury today.”

Looking across the table to her husband Jill asks, “And what else?” Michael is puzzled. Jill can see his thought wheels turning. She fixes her gaze on him, waiting for a response. Michael is running through all options in his head. “Is it our anniversary? Am I supposed to pick up one of the kids? Do I have a doctor or dentist appointment?” So many thoughts going through his head yet he cannot settle on anything. Finally he confesses, “I don’t know. What am I forgetting?” Jill simply queries, “The pastor from Calvert City?”

It’s easy to get sidetracked isn’t it? Too often we allow the busyness of our schedule to crowd out the important. Jesus taught us by His actions, He was always more concerned about the important, not the seemingly urgent. In the story of Lazarus (John 11) Mary and Martha sent to Jesus with an urgent request. Our brother, your dear friend, Lazarus, is very sick. Come quickly and heal him before he dies. This sounds like a very urgent plea, does it not?

Jesus, on the other hand was about the important. He said, “This will not end in death.” He did not say Lazarus would not die, but that it would not end in death. Mary, Martha, and the disciples had all seen Jesus heal people from sickness. Not all of them had observed him raise someone from the dead, especially a person who had been dead four days. Jesus knew the more important issue here was to deepen the faith of Mary, Martha, and His disciples. This was accomplished through raising Lazarus from the dead.

What are you facing today? Are you racing toward the urgent or plotting for the most important?

Pete: I love being able to come here every week, don’t you?

John:  I sure do. I look forward to it all week.

Pete:  We have had some real good times fishing in this boat.

John:  We sure have, I can remember fishing right over there and do you remember the time we were out here fishing and…It seems as though we never had a dry week back then. We always were blessed with catching fish.

Pete:  Why, I remember when we had this place full of boats and God was blessing, giving us success and adding to the number of boats every week. Everybody was catching.

John:  Yes and we learned a lot about fishing then too.

Pete:  We did. I wonder what’s changed? (pause) Well, it’s time. We better head back and lock up the old boat. But I’ll see you out here next week – same time, same place.

John:  I’ll be here. We’ll do it again.

Did you recognize this conversation? It is repeated over and over in churches around the nation every week. Only it is not about fish and boats. The conversations are about people and effective ministries. And always about the past, how good it used to be. Pete’s last question was, “I wonder what’s changed?”

Since researchers tell us that eighty to ninety percent of our churches in North America are plateaued or declining today, I would venture to say the organizational health of the church is one of the main changes we see. Organizational health has close ties to and incorporates spiritual health as well. I spend much of my time these days talking with and assisting some of these churches.

I agree with Patrick Lencioni that most organizations, churches included, focus on intelligence rather than the overall health of the organization. Through a series of discussions, reading assignments, and assessments many of the churches that I work with arrive at the understanding that the organizational health of the church is in dire need of adjustment and change. Those who make the necessary adjustments find relief and begin to implement strategies to turn around the health – spiritual and organizational health – of the church.

The spiritual health of the church must take priority in each situation and throughout the turnaround journey. One mistake many churches make is misinterpreting spiritual intellect for spiritual health. Information, facts and figures does not equate to spiritual health any more than having grocery store ads in the pantry equals food on the table.

Information, facts, and figures may bring knowledge and intellect, but not until you apply that knowledge in an effective manner will you see productive results. Effectual strategic planning bathed in prayer is required to produce positive, lasting results leading to spiritual and organizational health. The key ingredient for improvement and success is not knowledge or resources. The key ingredient is the health of the organizational environment.

In reality the real deficiency of declining or plateaued churches is not intellect or knowledge, but the lack of organizational health.  A healthy organization has checks and balances, principles and values in place to assist in making healthy decisions. What are the true core values of your church? On which biblical principles do you operate as a church? Are those principles and values incorporated into all checks and balances in place? If so your church is a healthy, growing church. If your church is plateaued or declining then these three areas need serious consideration.

For more information on these three or on organizational health for your church contact George Yates and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries for information and to order your copy of Reaching the Summit: Avoiding and Reversing Decline in the Church.

Saturdays. How much do we enjoy Saturdays (or whatever day we take off from work). A day we long to kick back, relax, do what we want to do with no interruptions. We might get up before the family, fix ourselves some breakfast, coffee and then sit back and read the paper. Or maybe spend the day at the golf course. But does this day include the family, those close to us that possibly we have ignored during the week or just too tired to spend time with and hear about their needs?

I recently read a story about an older man that called into a Saturday morning talk show. He was talking about “a thousand marbles” to the show’s host by the name of Tom.  The host had been explaining to his audience how busy his weeks were and that he never had time for his family.  The caller said, “Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you’re really busy with your job. I’m sure they pay you well at the station but it’s a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet.”

He continued, “Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a perspective on my own priorities.” And that’s when the caller began to explain his theory of a “thousand marbles.

“You see, I sat down one day and did a little math. The average person lives about 75 years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on the average, people live about 75 years. Then, I multiplied 75 by 52 and I came up with 3,900 which represents the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their lifetime.”

He explained further by saying, “Stick with me Tom, I’m getting to the important part. It took me until I was 55 years old to think about all this in any detail and by that time I had lived through over 2,800 Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be 75, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to the toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up visiting three toy stores until I was able to purchase 1,000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right in my workshop. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away.”

“I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.”

“Now let me tell you one last thing before I hang up and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday, then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones.   It was nice to talk with you Tom. I hope you spend more time with your loved ones. Have a good morning!”

You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even Tom didn’t have anything to say for a few minutes. The caller had given everyone who was listening a lot to think about.

Do we get so wrapped up in our work or our personal pleasures that we ignore our very own family? Is the golf course more important to us than taking our wife to breakfast on Saturday or playing with our children or grandchildren?

Do you need to run out to the toy store and pick up some marbles?

Author unknown – This story comes from my archived files.

Reaching the Summit not only strengthens and redirects your church it increases spiritual growth in members along the way. Today’s post contains comments from Pastors and church members who have recently completed the Reaching the Summit process.

“This also has been a most enlightening time of ministry for me as I have seen each individual’s passion for Christ grow tremendously as well as their passion for the church to go from a good church to a great church. I am prayerfully looking forward to tracing God’s hand from this point forward as we begin to truly climb the summit for the glory of Christ.” Pastor Bill

“(Due to surgery) I had time to read, time to study, time to pray. All of which were important to me before, but now have become a vital part of each day. The process is painful. At times almost unbearable…The honest viewing, assessing, and discussion cut to the heart. God though, was and is always faithful. Through the chapters He has revealed His good plans for us. I was amazed how He took 7 people, brought us together, guided us in His direction, and we found ourselves all on the same page, striving for the same goal – His purpose being completed in our church and other’s lives. “ Melanie

“I think the understanding of what our biggest problems were has allowed us to address them individually and get us back on track. Also, this process has allowed us as a church to discover ourselves and what our best qualities are…But the biggest thing I feel this process has done for our church is equipped us with the right people for all tasks and given them all servant’s hearts.” Adam

“This process has helped me realize my pastor needs to be supported more. It has shown me that without the member’s support the vision will be harder to fulfill. Our church body has realized the Pastor has a vision and it will move forward…” Trenell

“I am so excited to see that our church is changing spiritually. I see a new, calm spirit in our church. We are growing as a spiritual unit. During the process we have baptized several new members, our Sunday School attendance has increased, we had an excellent Vacation Bible School, we now have a youth choir and a Friday night ministry, new leaders have come on board and they are eager and excited about ‘reaching souls for Christ.’” Aquilla

“While attending Reaching the Summit I was able to gain insight on how established churches have been successful. There are many things to take from this journey that will help me streamline the process for continued growth in Grace Missionary Church. Having the ability to open our minds to growth while hurdling over any obstacle constructively gives a direct path for success.” RJ

“Our church is at a point of spiritual unity that we have not been at for several years. We had naturally drifted away from evangelism and the Reaching the Summit activities allowed us to pull people back in.” Tim

“My first thoughts of the Reaching the Summit process is that it was long, slow, and did not move quickly enough. This was due to my professional training…But as I read back over my notes I found that they were jam-packed full of important information that will help as we move forward with this process. This process has made me more aware of being patient and waiting on God and His timing.” Terri.

“Reaching the Summit is a great tool for ministry. It gave our church an open and honest assessment of who we are and how we arrived where we are today. Personally it has given me the assurance to stay true to God and He will lead me.” Robin

“Reaching the Summit has been a real blessing to me. For me personally it has given me a lot of confidence that I didn’t have, from one of the first exercises where we had to write devotions. A little selfishly I feel like it’s done a lot for me.” Jodi

“Reaching the Summit began somewhat rocky for our church…But from that point God took over. I knew Satan fought it so much in the beginning that God was going to do something. I’ve seen God take a church that was in serious decline…Our chairman of Deacons recently said, ‘our people now have hope.’ Some of our (Reaching the Summit team) meetings have been revival meetings. If you’re a pastor who’s looking for something to help you turn the decline around in your church, God is using Reaching the Summit.” Pastor Ken

For more information on Reaching the Summit and how it can help your church or ministry organization contact George Yates and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries on the internet. Visit the website for more interviews (written and video)and watch for more on this blog site.

“How did you get hired?” I was asked this question by a corporate recruiter three to four months after he interviewed and hired me into a management position with the second largest hard-lines retailer of its kind in the nation. My only response to him was, “You hired me.” It was true. After going through the interview and testing process this man made the final decision.  So, why  did I find myself sitting in an office across from this man from corporate office being asked this question?

The tone of his voice had declared he was not second guessing his decision. I was not underperforming. In fact I was moving through the management training program at an accelerated pace.  His response to me when I said, “You hired me.” Was, “I know I did. But you cannot get into the management training program with us (company) without a college degree or coming up through the ranks of one of our stores which takes years.” I knew this from the interviewing process and was surprised when I had received the call that the job was mine if I desired. He went on to say, “You have neither. So, how did you get hired?” He said it with a slight smile.  I believe he knew as well as I did at that moment that this was a God-thing. Somehow God had blinded this man and other decision makers through the interviewing process – blinded them to the company policy and my lack of meeting those requirements.

The management training course was a 10-12 month process. I completed it in less than six months and was in a store supervising the sales floor and operations. During my seven year tenure with that company God blessed me tremendously and grew me greatly. The leadership training this company provided for it’s leadership was second to none in the western hemisphere. In fact it was so good that other companies were continuously stealing away this company’s leaders with higher pay, benefits, and other incentives. I had several opportunities to leave. God would later show me why He had me there for the seven years.

Retail management is very demanding on your time. I often worked 80-100+ hours a week while also serving as youth minister for a growing church. At one point my wife and I began praying for God to move me out of that company and into a position where I could better serve Him. Instead of moving me out, God moved my supervisor out. He accepted a position at the company’s main offices. This was not a bad or evil man, though his actions sometimes seemed a little vindictive or perhaps spiteful. We were relieved at his transfer but not certain what the next supervisor would be like.

While sitting in my office one morning I saw my new supervisor for the first time as he entered the office hallway carrying a box into the empty office across the hall from mine, that was to be his office. I went over to introduce myself and as soon as I said my name he turned to me and said, “I hear you like to go to church. From now on when it is your Sunday to work, you come in after church.” Wow! What a change from the man who previously occupied this office. It was at that moment that I realized God was telling me He had heard our prayers. And He was clearly telling me that he was not finished with me yet at this company.

Over the next three to four years I was able to see the hand of God at work with opportunities to share not only my Christian walk, but also scripture, counseling, and leading persons to faith in Christ. At one point a discussion arose among the sales people and other employees as to what was the impardonable sin. Apparently after some time of discussion a couple of employees came to me and I was able to write a two page paper on the topic (sharing the gospel in the midst) and gave it to be distributed amongst the employees who desired to read it.

About three years after I left the company and was serving full time in ministry at a local church my path crossed with one of my former employees. This young man had been a good employee for a couple of years until one day he used bad judgment. That day I terminated this employee for theft. But now some five years later when we met he told of his current life situation including his engagement to be married. Then he asked if I would perform the marriage ceremony. This man that I had terminated – I had fired – was asking me to perform his wedding ceremony. I agreed and during our second pre-marital counseling session, he and his fiancé accepted Christ as personal Lord and Savior of their lives. They began a new walk together as one and one with the Lord.

You never know how or when God is going to use you. Don’t close the door because you want something better or because you do not believe that you belong. God has far greater vision than you or I. Keep praying and keep your eyes on God. He will lead you into opportunities that you never dreamed possible. So when a question comes to you similar to, “How did you get hired?” don’t fight it. Instead, smile, look up and say, “I’m ready Lord. Let’s do this!”

When you hear the word giving, what comes to mind? Why does money stand out? While reading this post, I want you to do me a favor. Do not envision it in terms of money. Giving is of the heart. There is no money in any person’s heart, is there?

John 3:16 does not say, ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave money.’ No, He gave His Son – His only Son. His giving was sacrificial. Sacrificial giving is of the heart.

You give to someone or something you love. I do not approach my wife each morning and say, “Pam, I love you, and here is $20 to show my love. She does not do this to me, either. Nor do you to your spouse, or children.

How do you express love to your spouse and children? Love is expressed through actions, acts of service and devotion. Love is from the heart. Therefore, giving in love is from the heart.

The same is true with anything you love. God and ministry are no different. Israel’s King David loved the Lord, God. He gave not only treasure, he gave His all. He poured His life into preparing for future generations as well as the generations he served.

In 1 Chronicles chapter 29, we read how service to God started with King David and moved through the order of leadership to the people of Israel.

 “Then the rulers of the fathers’ households (heads of the twelve tribes), and the princes of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the overseers over the kings work, offered willingly… And whoever possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord.” 1Chronicles 29:1, 5b-9, 17b

Notice the chain of leadership. First the King gave, then stepping down through the chain of leadership, each gave, and they gave willingly. They were not forced to give.

Remember, giving is of the heart. When we give from the heart, we influence others to do likewise. Every person is in leadership. Each person is influential in someone’s life. You have influence in the lives of others. Someone is watching you and being influenced by your actions. Every action you make in front of or on behalf of others is giving of yourself.

King David gave not only his riches; he gave his all because of his love for the Lord. He knew all he had was because of the gifting from God. We too are indebted to God. Because of His love for us, we are indebted to give of ourselves to Him. Because of our love for Him, we want to give. Everything we love, we sacrifice for – our spouses, our children, our career, our ministry and our Lord.

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

Our giving to God and His purpose in our lives today not only meet the needs today, but also the needs of future generations. Your willing obedience to be a servant leader in ministry and in your life’s God-given purpose today has an eternal impact on today’s generations and generations to come.

Leadership is perhaps the most important purpose of our gifts and our giving. You have the ability and power to influence many others – those around you today and many other lives in the weeks, months, and years to come. Your actions and speech are influencing those around you. They will carry what they see in you and will influence others who will influence others also. Are your actions an influence of gifting that will lead to eternal rewards for those who follow you?

“We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.” Douglas M. Lawson

My prayer is that you will be a leader who gives. Give of your all to make someone a better person than you are today. This is the true sign of great leaders. Will you be a great leader giving your all – from the heart?

For more information on this topic and becoming a better leader/influencer contact George Yates and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries.

Leighton Ford, one of Billy Graham’s associates, said one time, “I was speaking at an open-air crusade in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early. He came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd. Because he was wearing a hat and dark glasses, no one recognized him.

“Directly in front of him sat an elderly gentleman who seemed to be listening intently to my presentation. When I invited people to come forward as an open sign of commitment, Billy decided to do a little personal evangelism. He tapped the man on the shoulder and asked, ‘Would you like to accept Christ? I’ll be glad to walk down with you if you want to.’ The old man looked him up and down, thought it over for a moment, and then said, ‘Naw, I think I’ll just wait till the big gun comes tomorrow night.’

“Billy and I have had several good chuckles over that incident. Unfortunately, it underlines how, in the minds of many people, evangelism is the task of the ‘Big Guns,’ not the ‘little shots.’”

It matters not if you are a “big gun,” little gun, or even a sling shot, if you are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, part of Gods purpose for you is to share with others – share of your belief in Christ and what He has done in your life.

Each one of us, God’s believers, has a story to tell. It is the story of God in our daily lives. And God desires, even compels us to share that story with others. I believe one of the reasons God does not take us to heaven as soon as we accept His plan of redemption for us, is that He desires for us to share with others the joy and excitement of a changed life – a life changed because of God’s outpouring of love to us.

If you are a believer in Christ there are people in your life, your circle of influence that God desires you to reach with your story. It is your story that is needed in their lives, not one from your pastor or Sunday School teacher. My story will not accomplish the task. God wants you to experience the joy of sharing, the satisfaction of blessings from obedience to Him for sharing.

When you purchase a car and you enjoy and appreciate it you do not return to the dealership to learn how to tell others why you like it so much. You share from your own experience how it handles, the comfort of the ride, and the gas mileage. It is your experience that you share with others. You are the eyewitness and the person who has experienced the ride.

As a believer you have a story to share. You are an eyewitness to God’s unfolding love in your life. No one can dispute what you have personally experienced in Christ. Share your story. Share with others what God has done and is doing in your life. You have a story to tell and God gives you each day an audience waiting to hear. Share your story with the passion God has imparted on you. A person’s eternity may depend on it.

While having lunch with a group of ministers recently I was asked, “What are you seeing around the country – trending in the churches?” My first response was, “Well, there are still a lot of churches in decline.” Immediately, one of the other lunch attendees replied, “But you are seeing a lot of positive results, right?”

“Absolutely,…” I replied. God is alive and well and we are seeing many great and positive events and transformations happening in His churches. Personally, I have just finished walking for one year with six churches who have gone through the Reaching the Summit process. Each one of these churches has recognized areas of needed adjustment and implementation. Two more churches will be completing the process within the next two months. Every one of these churches is better equipped for effective ministry in God’s kingdom.

In the Reaching the Summit process we take a serious look at the reality of how the church is functioning. After this we begin to look at biblical principles and the adjustments needed in the current church practices to align with those principles. Each church undertakes what we call a Vigorous Face to Face Summit with Reality.

As a church walks through the process, of which prayer is a number one factor, practices, issues, and factors surface that have been holding the church back from being the greatest church God created them to be. Often times these factors or issues are underlying and have not been noticeable or uncovered for decades as the church has slipped through the phases of decline.

The Reaching the Summit (RTS) process is carried out in such a way that the Holy Spirit reveals these factors, issues, and practices to the church pastor and the RTS team members and not from the coach (consultant). Through healthy debate, prayer, and research the team and other church members procure a viable solution or adjustment of practices within the church ministries. The solution is always based on biblical principles, not on other church models. We use the mantra, “Do not copy models, Capture principles!”

Each church is unique. Therefore outcomes from the RTS process is differing for each church. Churches can experience an increase in baptisms, conversions, attendance, and membership, organization and structure change, outward focused ministries geared specifically for their community, using unearthed gifts, talents and abilities from within the church. For some churches the greatest outcome is to get all the ministries on the same track: all the wheels on the train of ministry turning in the same direction for the first time in decades. Each church identifies their true core values and a vision that some say is the game changer for their church. The vision retreat we send pastors on has been highly touted as one of the key elements of turning around these RTS churches. (We take a different approach to identifying core values and vision for the church)

A team member from one of the churches who recently completed the RTS process said, “It is truly a transforming experience!”

For more information on how your church can have a Reaching the Summit experience contact George Yates and visit the Reaching the Summit web pages of SonC.A.R.E. Ministries.

There was a doctor who told the little boy that he could save his sister’s life by giving her some of his blood. “Johnny, are you sure you want to give your blood for Mary?” the doctor asked. The boy hesitated for several moments; his lips trembled as tears filled his eyes. His parents and the doctor assured Johnny that the procedure would not be very painful and would be over with quickly. Finally, he smiled bravely and said, “Sure Doc. I’ll give my blood for my sister.” As the transfusion took place, the little girl began to respond immediately. Parents, doctors and nurses erupted into cheers and applause. When the ordeal was almost over, Johnny’s brave little voice was heard, “Hey, Doc, when do I die?” A stunned silence fell across the room. The doctor and parents suddenly realized what Johnny was thinking. Johnny thought when he gave his blood to his sister, he would die – a very high price that he was willing to pay.

If you found out that you had the only bone marrow transplant to save the life of a loved one, what would you do? Would you keep it to yourself? Would you hesitate before deciding? Likely, in this scenario you would not hesitate, you would gladly give of your bone marrow to save the life of your loved one.

Giving bone marrow is like giving blood. Your body will reproduce the marrow you need to sustain your life within a couple of days. Therefore, by giving of your bone marrow, you lose nothing. Quite the contrary, you gain. By giving of yourself – your bone marrow – you gain the extended life of your loved one.

You may never be asked to give some of your blood or bone marrow to save your sister’s life (or any other loved one). But my guess is just as little Johnny willingly stepped up to donate his blood to save the life of his sister you would likely do the same.

If you have the joy of Christ living inside you, you too are like little Johnny. Whatever gifts, talents, and abilities God has bestowed on you is to be shared with others. These are not given to you for your own glorification or gratification, but to glorify God by sharing them with others, to build others up. And the great ideal here is that whatever you give away of your gifts, talents, and abilities, you lose nothing. In fact you gain. The more you use what God has blessed you with, the more He will bless you in return. The more you use these abilities and talents for the glory of God the more Joy of Christ will be imparted to you.

Love that never fails is willing to pay a great price and make a great sacrifice. Love that never fails is yours to receive and yours to give.

For more information on knowing the true Love of Christ contact George Yates and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries.