Champion Life Magazine Winter 2014

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KEVIN & SHEILA GERALD, LEAD PASTORS AT CHAMPIONS CENTRE VISIT CHAMPIONSCENTRE.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WEEKLY SERVICE TIMES AND OUR EVENT CALENDAR. BELLEVUE 425 • 289 • 1878 TACOMA 253 • 475 • 6454 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @KEVINGERALD @SHEILAGERALD @CHAMPIONSCENTRE

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO SET ANOTHER GOAL OR TO DREAM A NEW DREAM.” — C. S. LEWIS

FEATURES 1 0 YOUR GREATEST

BY KEVIN GERALD

POWER

2 0 JESUS STORIES

BY JODI CAMERON 2 4 LOOKING UP

BY KEVIN GERALD

IN THE KNOW 6 TEAM SPOTLIGHT RESOURCES

1 4 CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION UPDATE 1 8 DR. CAROLINE LEAF

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 LET’S TALK 4 YOU TO US 8 CHAMPION FINDS

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ABOUT US

Champion Life Magazine purposes to equip people to live successful Christian lives.

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E XE CU T IVE PU B LIS H E RS Kevin Gerald & Sheila Gerald

E DITO R-IN-CH IE F Jodi Cameron

S E NIOR P ROJE C T MANAGE R ART DIRE C TOR CONT RIB U T ING E DITORS

Jen Mueller

Dallas Drotz, Drotz Design

Kim Ludwick, Judi Shackett, Carissa Dwyer

Raelynn Poulin, Leslie Powell, Mark Stewart CONT RIB U T ING P H OTOGRAP H Y

Ardorlit Photography, Josh Buck Photos CONT RIB U T ING GRAP H IC DE S IGN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kevin

Venessa Koehn & Mickey Elliott

Gerald, Sheila Gerald, Jodi Cameron,

Corianne Burton, Dr. Caroline Leaf, Jo Kling, Sue Spellmeyer DIST RIB U T ION

P RODU C E R

Kim Ludwick

Champion Life Magazine is produced by Kevin Gerald

Communications (KGC). KGC is a department of Champions Centre in Tacoma | Bellevue, WA, a non-profit organization.

TO S U B S CRIB E championscentre.com/magazine Phone: (toll-free) 888-935-6914

TO S P ONS OR

If you are a business who would like to partner with

our magazine through distribution or sponsorship please contact

YOUR GENEROSITY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

us at: 253-475-6454 x361

QU E ST IONS / COMME NTS / IDE AS

Let us know. We welcome your

feedback. Please write us at: championlife@championscentre.com

MAIL Champion Life Editorial 1819 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404

Produced by Champions Centre Publishing Š 2014. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without expressed written permission is prohibited and a violation of applicable laws.

2014 copyright. Printed by Print NW

CHAMPIONSCENTRE.COM/GIVING

lets talk

THERE IS MORE Although we’re not here simply to occupy space, let’s be honest: we’ve all felt like that from time to time.

We’ve all probably assumed, at one point or another, “this is as good as it gets.” We’ve all been tempted to settle, assuming that what we’ve seen from God is the best there is.

The reality? God has more in mind for our lives than we can ever imagine for ourselves. So why do we allow ourselves to spin our wheels in maintenance mode, surviving day to day on yesterday’s grace and last year’s miracle?

In this issue of Champion Life Magazine, we’re focusing on the fact that there is more. What God has done is not all He wants to do. You don’t have to feed yourself from last year’s harvest. This life is not about simply surviving—it’s about thriving. Let’s not assume what God has done is all He wants to do. Whatever

you need more of, God is the source of an endless and generous supply.

Don’t cling tight to what you have, in fear of losing it all. Your past supply is not your last supply—God’s grace is unending. His mercies are new every morning. Sometimes all God needs is some room to work, so it’s time we move things around and allow God space to do His thing. If you’re down, you don’t have to stay down: we serve a God who is all about the comebacks. He is a God of restoration and healing. So, get up, dust yourself off, and expect more.

My prayer is for God to stir something deep within your soul. I pray that you realize beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is more: beyond any setback, any trial, and circumstance… there’s more to your story. There’s a new victory heading your way.

P.S. Tell us your story at championlife@championscentre.com

IN THIS ISSUE OF CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE, WE’RE FOCUSING ON THE FACT THAT THERE IS MORE.

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you to us

I love Champions Centre's mission, purpose, and beliefs.

Champions Centre has something for everyone, children, students, and adults. I start my week at Champions Centre with amazing worship, and awesome messages. Plus, I get to volunteer and hang out with lots of wonderful people who love God, love others, and love building the Kingdom of God! — Karen H.

“Be scared of a life lived without vision…” I am so thankful for this outstanding message (as every one of them), my life will never be the same. Every word spoken was a word from God, to heal my heart and to give me hope... Thank you... I love my Church, Champions Centre. — Olga A.

CR and Champion Centre is a big part of my life now. I am so grateful that I have found a church like this that cares so much for everyone. I thank God everyday for what and where He has put me in my life today. Once again thanks Champion Centre and CR for all you do. — David C.

CHAMPIONS CENTRE TWEETS

Here are some of the recent online tweets we’ve seen about Champions Centre in 140 characters or less. Join the conversation at twitter.com.

Glance back but focus forward!

Big windshield; small rear view mirror. Great! #thereismore — @gigicastlerock

The fact that u made it here (to 2014) means God has more in store for you! #thereismore — @the_lou_moreno

Don't settle in your set back... God's all about the comebacks! -via @ kevingerald @ChampionsCentre #thereismore — @ricardoinnocent

Everything that’s happened to you is not suppose to go forward with you!

"Move out the old, make room for the new." (Lev. 26:10) #thereismore — @kevingerald

So thankful to go to a church where they remind me that even though I'm not perfect, God is not finished with me yet. #thereismore — @_elainenabua

There is MORE! Technology is amazing gift! I am here in Tokyo JAPAN and linked with you! Thank you! I Love my church! #thereismore — @divarenako

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

What is God doing in your life through the ministry of Champions Centre?

PLEASE WRITE US AT:

@championscentre makes me excited to be part of a group of BIG thinkers! #church #jesus #thereismore — @tinianelson

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championlife@championscentre.com

MAIL:

Champion Life Editorial 1819 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404

TEAM SPOTLIGHT:

RESOURCES SUE SPELLMEYER

hos•pi•tal•i•ty: THE RESOURCE DEPARTMENT is a com-

bination of the Bookstore, Coffee Shop and Guest Hospitality on all of our campuses: Tacoma, North Tacoma and Bellevue. In reality all of these areas exemplify the spirit of hospitality, serving with food, beverage and resources for our guests. For years the Christian bookstore was the place to meet, talk about church happenings, and purchase an occasional card, Bible or just the right Christian book. Today, the same Christian bookstore has morphed into the church’s own coffee shop/bookstore, the same yet also very different.

In an interesting article the author says, “Starbucks, which for an entire generation changed the way people viewed coffee shops, has also helped in the growth of the church coffee shop/book-

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the friendly reception and treatment of guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.

store. Churches count on the connecting power of a cup of coffee, a conversation, the power to create relationships and to draw people who call the church their home or who might eventually make the church their home. In reality, the church has tapped into the same mentality that helped grow Starbucks into a global retailing power, offering a place to sit, eat, and drink a cup of coffee and fellowship.”

Our mission statement in the Resource Department is: “To pour out inspiration, ignite fellowship and provide resources that encourage people to live successful Christian lives.”

The Coffee Shop is a great place to bring a first time guest, someone who may not feel comfortable in a church setting, but can walk into the Coffee Shop and see or

smell something they find familiar. Most of our new guests are very familiar with a coffee shop, while they may not have recently or ever felt comfortable in a church. It helps them let their guard down so they can relax and enjoy their church experience.

This is especially true of our coffee shop, 148th Ave Coffee, located at our Bellevue campus. It is located right in front of the Bellevue College campus and draws in many students to have a cup of coffee, enjoy free WiFi, study and hang out. Daniel Mejia, manager of 148th Ave Coffee, has formed relationships with the students and is seeing many lives changed.

We love when people tell us their life changing stories. For instance, I was recently in the Coffee Shop and met a lady who said it was her first time at Champions Centre. I learned that she and her family recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest and were searching for a new church home. That particular Sunday she and her daughter were out running errands, saw our Coffee Shop sign, all the cars in the parking lot and decided to check out what was going on. They ended up having breakfast in the Coffee Shop. After breakfast she took her daughter to the

the parking lot until service started debating whether to come in or go back to the shelter. They finally got the courage to come inside and go into service. That morning Pastor Kevin was talking about struggles. They thought Pastor had heard they were coming and was telling their story because the message hit so close to home. They cried the entire service and both went to the green tent and met some of our team, where her husband Sing rededicated his life to the Lord and Memory gave her heart to the Lord for the first time. They said that they had never felt so loved and accepted by so many people that first day.

Both have become members

“To pour out inspiration, ignite fellowship and provide resources that encourage people to live successful Christian lives.”

and are now serving as volunteers at Champions Centre, making new friends and lifetime connections.

fees. The Bookstore was humming with excitement, our volunteers helping resource people with books and music. The overwhelming comment from guests attending from other churches was that our spirit of excellence was over and above, and that Champions Centre was like a retreat where they felt rested and refreshed and renewed. Pastor Kevin in his book, By Design or Default, says, “Create an atmosphere where excellence is applauded. The idea of excellence is to exceed the normal effort, to go the extra mile, and to offer more than has been requested or expected”. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—whatever is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

During Team Church Conference our hospitality team was truly amazing, serving over 900 meals.

Our Coffee Shop team pumped out 915 lattes and set up 3 extra coffee bars serving over 450 drip cof-

The Resource Department is one spoke in the wheel of the life of Champions Centre. We are all working together to create an atmosphere of excellence, a life-giving, life-changing experience for all who enter our doors.

kid’s area, and stayed for church. I am thrilled to say they loved their experience and have made Champions Centre their new home church. So the idea of finding something familiar like the Coffee Shop, and it leading to people trying out our church, is exactly what we hope for each and every week.

Our volunteers have so much fun serving on the Resource team. We have an amazingly diverse group of volunteers and have even reaped the benefits and talents of professional chefs, and Starbuck’s trained baristas, all volunteering their time to make the Resource Department and our guest’s experience at Champions Centre the very best it can be.

One volunteer in particular has made such a huge difference on our team with her spirit of excellence and sweet personality. Her name is Memory, and just as recently as six months ago her family was homeless. She, her husband and two year old son were living in a homeless shelter when someone who worked at the shelter invited them to come to Champions Centre. They came that next Sunday and sat in

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CHAMPION

FINDS

JESUS STORIES (4 CDS, DVD) When Jesus proclaimed the year of the Lord's favor, He was proclaiming the era we live in today and that God is turned towards man. When you turn towards God’s favor there’s a very real experience of favor for your life: freedom, hope, weight off of your shoulders, promotions, financial increases, and times of refreshment!

UP (4 CDs, DVD) Looking UP heightens our awareness of God in our every day. In this encouraging series, Kevin Gerald calls us to refocus our vision! Position yourself in a place of strength... look UP!

LOCAL 253.475.6454 ext. 361

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CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

ONLINE kevingerald.tv

YOUR GREATEST POWER (3 CDS, DVD) The greatest power God has given us is the power to choose.

People oftentimes believe that God will make their decisions for them, and they relinquish their power to choose, living passive and indecisive lives. They make a common error of not understanding that we choose to follow God’s will for our life, not that God decides these things for us.

THERE IS MORE (3 CDS, DVD) Let’s be thankful for what God has done, but let’s not assume that what God has done is all He wants to do. The reality is, God has far more in mind for our lives than we can ever imagine. God’s not done with you yet—there’s more to your story!

SHIFT (5 CDS, DVD) A Holy Shift is when heaven moves on your behalf. When a shift happens, it brings answers to prayer, it opens up doors of opportunity, brings provision, healing, restoration, or a special delivery into our lives. When we listen for God and allow Him to make a shift in us—in our attitudes, our routines, our perspective, our choices—God is then able to shift things through us and for us.

RESOURCE YOURSELF AT KEVINGERALD.TV Go online to find a wealth of resources, including free videos from Kevin Gerald and MP3s of messages.

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YOUR GREATEST POWER

BY KEVIN GERALD

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“CIRCLE OF LIFE” SOME THINGS ARE SECRET THINGS—THINGS WE CAN’T CHANGE THAT WE TRUST GOD IN. SOME THINGS ARE REVEALED THINGS—THINGS WE CAN CHANGE.

T THIS VERY MOMENT,

people are boarding planes at Sea-Tac airport, on their way to various destinations. A flight attendant will remind them before departure that they have made a choice to go to a specific place. In a similar way, we are all on our way to somewhere in life...and when we get there it will be by choice—not by chance.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, God tells us, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

A life of blessing and rewards doesn’t happen by chance—it happens by choice. Some believers assume that if they acknowledge the power of their choices, it’s denying God’s power in their life. Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, nothing honors God like a person who takes the God-given, delegated power of choice, and makes choices that lead to life, and blessings! Choices that lead to prosperity, health, better attitudes and better relationships.

Our greatest power is our power to choose. God is saying, “I’m choosing to not choose for you. I’m here for you, I’ll lead you, I’ll guide you, I’ll help you, I’ll show you the best way to go. What I don’t want to do is make your choices for you.”

God doesn’t make our choices, we do.

Wherever we are in life today, we’re there by choice and not by chance. I know we’ve all been affected by other people’s choices. We’ve all felt the impact of negative choices made by our parents, our friends, people in our community, or people in leadership.

On the other hand, people’s good choices have had a positive impact on all our lives. God has worked in our lives because of other people who exercised their power to make good choices.

can be part of something great in our lives. The thing I want to impress upon you is that we have power, through our choices, to change the current circumstances of our life.

There are some things that we cannot change but we underestimate our power to change most circumstances in our lives.

Let me introduce you to what I call the “Circle of Life.” Some things are secret things—things we can’t change that we trust God in. Some things are re-

GOD DOESN’T MAKE OUR CHOICES, WE DO. It’s not only the choices they have made that have benefited us, it’s also the good choices we have made! Maybe you’re thinking you’ve made too many bad choices that have impacted your life in a negative way—We all have! The good news is, you can make some choices about your bad choices that can turn those choices into something good and positive in your life!

When we make good choices—about the bad choices—then the bad choices

vealed things—things we can change, and that God can trust us with.

There are stories all over the Bible of people who assumed they were powerless in their circumstances, and then God came along and told them, “You can do something about this!”

For example, Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law when the Lord called him to set his people free.

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TOP 10

LIFE AND DEATH CHOICES CHOOSING TO OBEY GOD = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING TO EMBRACE MY REALITY = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING TO DESPISE MY REALITY = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING TO BE POSITIVE = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING TO BE NEGATIVE = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING RIGHT WORDS = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING CARELESS WORDS = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING TO HANG OUT WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING TO BE HEALTHY = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING TO NOT CARE = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING TO RESPECT AUTHORITY = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING TO RESIST AUTHORITY = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING TO BE PLANTED IN GOD’S HOUSE = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING OTHER PRIORITIES = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING TO NOT BE OFFENDED =LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING TO BE OFFENDED = DEATH CHOICE CHOOSING TO FORGIVE = LIFE CHOICE CHOOSING TO NOT LET GO OF THE PAST = DEATH CHOICE

Moses said, “Who am I and what can I actually do about this?”

Moses was underestimating his power to do something about the people in slavery.

There are some of you reading this who have underestimated your power to change the current conditions and circumstances in your life. I don’t know what you wish were different, what you want to see changed in your life, but chances are you have underestimated what you can do to change the circumstances. Chances are you’ve underestimated the power you have to choose and the impact it will make when you do.

When you make choices to change the circumstances and stay committed to it, God will work on your behalf.

God wants us to use this power He has given us for good—our good and the good of others. “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live...” Exercise your power to choose so that you can experience God’s best in your life!

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We are all empowered by God, and invited by God, to the creative process. We are not robots, we don’t have to join in; but we are invited, encouraged, and instructed in scripture, to partner with God in the process of creating, by way of choosing the future.

There are optional futures in front of you, there is no such thing as not choosing—default is a death choice. Doing nothing is a choice…it’s a death choice.

I’ve compiled a list of what I call The Top 10 Life and Death Choices, and at the top of the list, choosing to obey God is a life choice, while choosing to do what I want is a death choice. The other nine on the list are great guidelines but even they can be summed up in obeying God and obeying His Word. In Isaiah 1:19, it tells us that, “if you are willing and obedient…you will eat the best from the land.”

I’ve found that I don’t always want to do what God is teaching or telling me to do. In fact, sometimes, what He’s telling me to do is the last thing I want to do. You may not want to read the Bible, maybe the sports app is more appealing than the Bible app, or maybe reading a novel is more appealing than reading your Bible, I understand!

You may have a resistance to prayer, serving on a team, or giving, feeling like you don’t want to tithe, or don’t think you can, I understand; however, we won’t eat the best of the land only doing what we want to do! We don’t experience life and blessing only doing what we want to do. We experience life and blessing when we embrace God’s commands and obey His commands in our life.

We don’t see where the path of obedience takes us until we walk that path. We don’t see the new relationships, the doors of opportunity, the new and better person we become, until we walk the path of obedience. You can’t walk the path of obedience unless you choose obedience. Nothing can compare to the blessing that comes through obedience to God in your life. Choose to obey God. Choose life!

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION UPDATE

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Continue to equip yourself with tools to become an ‘educated voice’ against the injustice of sex trafficking

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Connect with what’s happening today by using social media feeds and seizing options to participate in local and global grassroots efforts to change the landscape of our communities.

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CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION | WORLD VISION PARTNERSHIP

Contribute financially to the cause of abolishing the injustice of modern day slavery.

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World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. “We work together with all those who care, recognizing that more is achieved through co-operation than competition.”

Champions Foundation is honored to be partnering with World Vision through a number of local and global initiatives. Their purpose is clear.

“EVERYTHING WE DO HAS JUST ONE GOAL: THE SUSTAINED WELLBEING OF CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE.” As a non-profit, Champions Foundation is privileged to link arms with and learn from an organization of such integrity. Their caliber of caring has an international reputation for making a sustained difference in the quality of life of vast communities and solitary individuals alike.

Briefly their history: “When our work began in 1950, our approach was basic. We provided food and shelter for children in orphanages through child sponsorship. Over the years, we’ve learned the complexity of finding long-term, meaningful solutions to poverty. We work in the most difficult contexts, in some of the poorest countries. But we believe in children. And when we partner with children and families, we can help them transform their communities. Long-term sustainable community development focuses on helping communities meet the needs its members identify, like clean 14

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water, education, health care, agricultural improvements and sanitation.”

In the summer of 2013 at Team Church, Champions Foundation began to ‘experience’ the effectiveness of supporting children...to change a community. For what seemed to be only a moment in time, World Vision’s Kisongo Trek exhibit was on our Tacoma campus. Champions Foundation chose to promote child Sponsorships in Swaziland which has the highest prevalence rate among adults of HIV and AIDS in the world. More than 190,000 Swazis are HIV-positive, and at least 56,000 children have lost one or both parents to this disease.

We are in an incredible position, here in the Northwest, to access the national headquarters for the World Vision offices in Federal Way, Washington. If possible, make an appointment on your calendar to stop by their Visitors Center. Immerse yourself in their 1,500 square foot interactive experience that illustrates how villages are transformed into a selfsustaining community that provides hope for generations to come.

Champions Foundation is convinced that a partnership with World Vision will provide an opportunity to accomplish more together than either one of us can do separately.

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION | A21 PARTNERSHIP Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings, mainly for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. As the second largest criminal industry in the world, it affects every nation. There are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage across the globe. Men, women, and children are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF A TRAFFICKING VICTIM IS 12 YEARS OLD. Women and children are often kidnapped into the sex slave industry—and yes, it’s happening in our own backyard! Human trafficking is on the rise in the United States. People often ask, “What can I do?” when faced with such daunting statistics. The question becomes impossible to ignore when we realize how personal it has become. We’re talking about our own neighborhoods, schools, shopping complexes and perhaps our own street.

During Team Church Conference, Christine and Nick Caine unabashedly exposed the stark reality of this crime. This is not a problem limited to Europe, Asia, or another distant land we only hear about in some global news media blip then disappears off the radar. Every 30 seconds, someone is forced into this type of bondage.

Champions Foundation has made a commitment to partner with A21 in a battle to stop this infectious injustice that has, up until now, crept into our cities and affected society where she is most vulnerable—the potential of this generation.

The A21 Campaign’s comprehensive approach includes PREVENTION, PROTECTION, PROSECUTION and PARTNERSHIPS. Recognition and prevention begins with education.

Under development is a fully aligned curriculum to the Common Core with corresponding resources and learning labs for 9th and 10th grade students. Do your homework.

Watch for recent updates on: theA21campaign.org

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. Our mission is to inspire faith, hope, compassion and education through collaborative partnerships in our community and worldwide.

Web: championsfoundation.com Email: info@championsfoundation.com Phone: 253.475.6454 Ext. 108 WINTER / 14

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loneliness, like chronic stress, taxes the immune system

BY DR. CAROLINE LEAF (MESH CONFERENCE SPEAKER)

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H E N T H E M E DI A flash headlines similar to the title of this article, it often gives the impression that the research it is citing is something new and extraordinary. The truth, however, is that science is catching up with the Word of God. The scriptures are very clear that we are not meant to be alone, that we were created for relationship, first and foremost with God and then with each other: Genesis 2:18 “It is not good that man should be alone,” and 1 Corinthians 12 -20.

Poor quality relationships, which make you feel lonely, are definitively linked to a number of health problems.

More specifically, research links loneliness to a number of dysfunctional immune responses and increased blood pressure. Researchers saw that people who were lonelier produced more inflammation-related proteins in response to stress than did people that were more socially connected. This means they reacted more strongly to stressful situations than those people that did not consider themselves to be lonely. Chronic inflammation is linked to numerous conditions including coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease as well as the frailty and decline that can come with aging.

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we are not meant to be alone, we were created for relationship, first and foremost with God and then with each other.

Feeling lonely, as distinct from being alone, not only affects our health, but also affects sleep, with more disruptions in the night. It affects the brain—fmri scans show a difference in people’s brains who feel lonely and isolated to those who don’t feel alone. Behavior is different as well.

Loneliness has even been shown to spread like a virus amongst people!

At the heart of quantum physics is the law of entanglement, which shows that every thing is linked and that there is no space/time dimension when it comes to matter and to life. Your thoughts affect yourself, the people in the current generation and the next four generations.

Our brain structures and brain circuitry are specifically geared to relating with each other, feeling empathy, sharing. In fact, interconnections and interrelatedness are fundamental laws of brain function. You are designed to be honest, open and connected to God. He wants you to be vulnerable to Him so he can fill you and build you up!

But God also wants you to reach out and connect to others, deeply and genuinely. This doesn’t mean you open your heart to everyone, but you do need to have a few people you truly share your heart with.

We are all aware that there are different levels of relationships; however, the point of a good relationship, whichever level, is to be honest and genuine. Align yourself with God’s way and not the world’s shallow and needy way.

Reach out, make friends, smile, laugh and give 100% in your unique way because you have something to offer that no one else can offer. When you give 100%, you divert loneliness in yourself and others, and there is an added bonus: your health, peace and happiness will improve!

Since 1985, Dr Caroline Leaf, a Communication Pathologist and Audiologist, has worked in the area of Cognitive Neuroscience. She specialized in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Learning Disabilities focusing specifically on the Science of Thought as it pertains to thinking and learning. She developed a theory and did some of the initial research back in the 1990’s showing how using non-traditional techniques, based on neuroscientific principles of neuroplasticity and neuropsychological principles, that the mind can change the brain and can effect behavioral change as seen academically and emotionally. A large part of her research in recent years has been to link scientific principles with scripture showing how science is catching up with the bible. She applied the findings of her research in clinical practice for nearly 20 years and now lectures and preaches around the world on these topics. She is a prolific author of many books, articles and scientific articles. Her passion is to help people see the link between science and scripture as a tangible way of controlling their thoughts and emotions, learning how to think and learn and finding their sense of purpose in life. Caroline and her husband, Mac, live in Dallas, Texas with their four children.

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JES US STO RIE S HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO BUILD ANYTHING?

BY JODI CAMERON

aybe you’ve attempted to put together a kid’s play-set or dollhouse, maybe you’ve tried to assemble a bed or other piece of furniture for your house or as a gift, or maybe you are in the business of building things. My husband, Ryan, is definitely the handy one between the two of us. He’s built some legiti-

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mate things since I’ve known him and he’s not even a contractor by trade! Inevitably, whenever I try to put something together—especially a kid’s toy or something like that for my son—it doesn’t turn out quite like the picture shows it.

Jesus told a story in the book of Luke comparing wise and foolish builders: LUKE 6:47-49 NIV “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the tor-

rent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Jesus had a way of telling fictional stories and speaking of potent analogies with real life meaning, they are often referred to as “parables.” We can pick up several truths from this short passage of scripture, let’s take a look at a few.

JESUS WASN’T TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A HOUSE; HE WAS TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A LIFE. The house in this Jesus story is an analogy.

He was using the image of a house, and the comparison of whether a house is built on a good foundation or not, to bring out a truth.

Can you imagine the horror that enveloped the friend in this story? He had unknowingly cheated himself out of a huge blessing by trying to cheat the system. The truth is, whether we realize it or not, we’re all building our own lives like this man was building his own home. If we cut corners and compromise God’s principles, it’s not hurting anyone more than ourselves.

JESUS IS SAYING THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO BUILD YOUR LIFE.

We have choices to make as we build our lives and the first is what kind of foundation we will build on. We can build on no foundation or on a good foundation. The life built on no foundation looks like a person who builds their life on beliefs, concepts, and principles that are not based on God’s word. Whereas, the life built on a good foundation looks like someone who builds their life on the beliefs, concepts, and principles based on God’s word.

"WHEN THE FLOOD CAME, THE TORRENT STRUCK THAT HOUSE BUT COULD NOT SHAKE IT, BECAUSE IT WAS WELL BUILT.”

I read a story about a wealthy man whose friend was a builder. The friend was down in his business, so the wealthy man decided to do something for him to help him out. He gave his friend a set of house plans and $300,000 and said, “I want you to build me a new home… you make all the decisions, I trust you. If you do a good job, I promise to pay you well.” The builder was excited—he finally had some work! Soon, he started thinking, “If I cut a few corners here and there, maybe I could pocket some of the $300,000 for myself.” So, he bought the cheapest concrete and watered it down.

He purchased inexpensive lumber even though some of it was bent and warped. When it came to the electrical and plumbing he did the same since it would all hide behind the walls anyway. When the project was all done he had pocketed about $40,000.

The wealthy man came to the completed house and took a tour with his friend, the builder. He looked around and was impressed because on the surface the home looked beautiful. Once the wealthy man had praised his friend on a job well done, he handed him the keys and said with enthusiasm, “You know I don’t need this house, I was trying to do you a favor… this house is for you. You’ve just built yourself a brand new home!”

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TOOLS

TRUST GOD’S WORD BY KNOWING IT: 1. ATTEND A BIBLE-BASED CHURCH WEEKLY 2. START OR JOIN A SMALL GROUP AT YOUR CHURCH Some of my favorite small group curriculum: • Mind Monsters, Kevin Gerald • Forces, Kevin Gerald • Truth Project • Greater, Steven Furtick • Battlefield Of The Mind, Joyce Meyer

3. DOWNLOAD APPS ON YOUR SMARTPHONE Some of my favorite apps for reading/learning the bible: • Youversion • Choose A Bible Reading Plan • Champions Centre App • Idisciple App (Brand New!)

Building a life on a good foundation is a life that is built to last. Recently, I was reading about the importance of a good foundation when it comes to building a house and found: “The purpose of a foundation is to hold up and hold together the structure above it. A house which is just plonked down on bare earth is more likely to be cracked or damaged over time by natural forces. A properly-built foundation increases the amount of abuse a house structure can take and remain safe for the people inside it... It is also the most important as it will determine the stability of the entire structure.” (from a couple articles on http://ehow.com).

The foundation we choose to build our lives on determines the stability, endurance, and overall strength of our lives. The great thing about choosing to build your life on a good, solid foundation today is that it is something that can that be passed on. The foundation of beliefs, concepts, and principles based on God’s word are timeless and equally valuable in different cultures and generations.

I’m so thankful that my great-grandpa on my dad’s side found his way to a church service when he was a young man. He cut ties with the alcoholism and abuse he was raised with and began to lay down a new foundation based on God’s word. Four generations later I see the positive repercussions already showing up in my young son when we lay down to sleep every night and he recites the Lord’s prayer now by memory.

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If you are the first one in your family to say yes to God, do not lose heart! You are paving the way for next generations! Your great-great-great-great granddaughter will look back someday at your decision and be full of gratitude.

THERE’S A DIFFERENCE IN HEARING GOD’S WORD AND PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE.

When it comes to hearing God’s word and putting it into practice it is a lot like going to the gym everyday and using the equipment. If I go to the gym everyday and don’t actually use the equipment I’m not going to get in shape.

I have a friend who was trying to change his habits and someone suggested that he wake up in the morning and whatever it took to get him in the room with his treadmill he should do it. So the first morning he got out of bed, took a pillow and a blanket and laid on the floor next to the treadmill. He did that a couple days, then he spent a couple days standing up on the treadmill. Finally, he figured since he was down there he may as well use the thing. It took some time, but as he used the treadmill on a consistent basis, along with other changes in lifestyle habits, he began to get in better shape.

Just like our weight loss goals aren’t reached just by sitting in a workout facility, or after one training session, the life God has for each of us doesn’t happen overnight.

None of us become what we are capable of being in an instant. Accepting Christ into our lives and receiving his grace is instantaneous; however, allowing Christ to be formed in us usually takes time. Psychologists say it takes an average of 21 days to develop a habit. In other words, we can’t do something a couple times and expect to do it naturally from then on, it takes time and effort to make it part of who we are. We’ve got to be committed to not only hearing the word of God, but putting it into practice to allow it to really shape us.

A WELL-BUILT LIFE WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN.

The house that is well built is not exempt from the storms of life, but it’s unshakable. I want to encourage you to take a good look at what you’re building your life on. If we want to have a well-built life, that is strong through the storms of life, then we need to build our lives on the timeless, ageless principles of God’s word.

I read a parallel between the fox and the hedgehog in Jim Collins’ book, Good to Great. It talks about how the fox pursues many ends at the same time and sees the world in all its complexity. They are “scattered or diffused, moving on many levels...never integrating their thinking into one overall concept or unifying vision.” In contrast, the hedgehog simplifies a complex world into a single organizing idea, a basic principle or concept that unifies and guides everything. It doesn’t matter how complex the world, a hedgehog reduces all challenges and dilemmas to a simple, almost simplistic hedgehog ideas.

What if we all adopted that hedgehog mindset? If we want a strong foundation, we can break down all the complexities of life into accepting this simple truth: Trust God’s word. So many people can get caught up in complexity and analyzing the strategies of life. I’m an analytical person by nature: I ask a lot of questions, I want to see something from every possible side, I am skeptical, I can be a doubter, I can create scenarios in my mind of possible outcomes that are based solely on imagination only. If I’m not careful, I can allow paralysis of analysis to set in and an opportunity goes flying by. As I get older I’m realizing more and more that while all the analyzing can be a positive thing, I need to remind myself to base all the “next steps” on a solid foundation of a “first step.” It’s adopting the hedgehog mindset: a simple choice to trust God’s word. Trust God’s word. It’s so simple it’s almost debilitating. Trust God’s word. Trust God’s word through

good times. Trust His word through hard times. Trust His word while scrutinizing situations and through intellectual dialogue.

Trust God’s word instead of basing our perspectives and ideas about life on family expectations, what’s normal in business, or what we feel like doing. Instead of centralizing our perspectives on something we heard on the news, or something someone said to us 10 years ago. It all comes down to trusting God’s word.

"BUILDING A LIFE ON A GOOD FOUNDATION IS A LIFE THAT IS BUILT TO LAST."

All that skewed thinking based on everything but God’s word leads down a pathway of frustration, emptiness, and eventual devastation. Unless we simplify our view of the world down to trusting God’s word, we will be like the fox—diffused at best in our beliefs and scattered or confused at worst—able to be tossed here and there by the waves and storms of life. I want to challenge you to join me in becoming more like the Hedgehog and build your foundation on God’s word! Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Build a life that is built to last!

Upcoming Oxygen Nights March 5 & June 2 championscentre.com/oxygen

UP LOOKING BEING SUBMERGED IN 18,000 GALLONS OF WATER FOR SEVENTEEN MINUTES AND FOUR SECONDS—IT’S WHAT MAGICIAN DAVID BLAINE DID A FEW YEARS AGO ON THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW WHEN HE SET A RECORD FOR HOLDING HIS BREATH. AFTER SPENDING 23 MINUTES BREATHING PURE OXYGEN AND THEN ACCOMPLISHING THE WORLD RECORD HE SAID, “I THOUGHT I WASN’T GOING TO MAKE IT… AT MINUTE TWELVE, I FELT THE PAIN COMING AND BY MINUTE FOURTEEN IT WAS OVERWHELMING.” ost of us actually suffer from a lack of oxygen—whether from improper breathing, poor diets, air pollution, or lack of exercise—our cells are being deprived of this vital element and thus weakening our immune system.

Oxygen is one of the most important elements required to sustain life. Without it, our health begins to suffer and/or we die.

M

The same is true for our spirit: we are not designed to operate on a limited weekly worship basis, only breathing in God when Sunday rolls around. We are designed to function on a moment-by-moment connection: worshipping God in a personal way continuously. In a way that becomes as much a part of our lives as the air we breathe.

BY KEVIN GERALD

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Too often we try to breathe in 23 minutes of pure oxygen for our spirit at a weekly church service and wonder why our spirit can only make it seventeen minutes holding it’s breath. We wonder why

our spirit feels so susceptible to the things the world throws at us. Just like our bodies need oxygen, our spirit needs time in worship with God. COLOSSIANS 3:1-3 (MSG) “SO IF YOU’RE SERIOUS ABOUT LIVING THIS NEW RESURRECTION LIFE WITH CHRIST, ACT LIKE IT. PURSUE THE THINGS OVER WHICH CHRIST PRESIDES. DON’T SHUFFLE ALONG, EYES TO THE GROUND, ABSORBED WITH THE THINGS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. LOOK UP, AND BE ALERT TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND CHRIST—THAT’S WHERE THE ACTION IS.” Looking up is living a life of worship. In the morning, afternoon and night, when we are happy and when we are sad, the one absolute essential is to develop a constant habit of looking up. My goal is to broaden the definition of worship, and to explore the huge benefits of living a life centered around worship.

There is a story in the book of Genesis that could very well be your story. It’s the

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BENEFITS TO A LOOKING UP APPROACH TO LIFE

LOOKING UP KEEPS OUR PROBLEMS IN PERSPECTIVE. Whatever we put attention on grows.

story of someone who got fixated on themselves and the people around them.

The more we focus on our problems, the bigger our problems become. If we turn our attention towards Heaven, our problems don’t go away, but our perspective changes. Suddenly, in light of the bigger picture, our problems seem much smaller.

GENESIS 29:31-35 “WHEN THE LORD SAW THAT LEAH WAS NOT LOVED, HE ENABLED HER TO CONCEIVE, BUT RACHEL REMAINED CHILDLESS. LEAH BECAME PREGNANT AND GAVE BIRTH TO A SON. SHE NAMED HIM REUBEN, FOR SHE SAID, “IT IS BECAUSE THE LORD HAS SEEN MY “MISERY”…

SURELY MY HUSBAND WILL LOVE ME NOW.” SHE CONCEIVED AGAIN, AND WHEN SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON SHE SAID, “BECAUSE THE LORD HEARD THAT I AM NOT LOVED, HE GAVE ME THIS ONE TOO.” SO SHE NAMED HIM SIMEON. AGAIN SHE CONCEIVED, AND WHEN SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON SHE SAID, “NOW AT LAST MY HUSBAND WILL BECOME ATTACHED TO ME, BECAUSE I HAVE BORNE HIM THREE SONS.” SO HE WAS NAMED LEVI.” Let me give you a bit of background on two sisters, Leah and Rachel. They were married to the same man, Jacob.

Leah is the older sister and apparently was quite average.

Rachel, on the other hand, was strikingly beautiful and eloquent. Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah, and finally was able to marry the one he really wanted to marry to begin with… Rachel. All her life, Leah watched her sister get all the attention, all the compliments and all of the praise. Leah, understandingly, felt inferior. This was her misery: she woke up to it every day, and went to bed under the cloud of burden each night. Then, something happened that gave her hope.

In those days, having children was a status symbol—especially having a boy. Her sister, Rachel, could not have children. God saw Leah’s misery, and He enabled her to conceive. To her, this was her ticket to the validation and approval that she longed for. Leah’s first son is born and she says “surely my husband will love me now...” Her hopes are high that she will finally feel valued and loved by her husband. Unfortunately, even after three sons, she remains disappointed and unfulfilled.

THE FEELING OF INADEQUACY IS COMMON TO ALL. We tend to focus on our flaws or weaknesses, and this causes a distortion of reality. Rather than seeing our strength, we get caught up in our inadequacy. A lot of this is caused by comparing ourselves with others. It’s easy to do, with media constantly flashing the best, brightest, and most beautiful. And, to make matters worse, it’s not just the few people in our airspace, either: it’s the mod-

LOOKING UP BRINGS TO MIND ALL THAT IS GOOD IN OUR LIFE. I was out of town and heading to the airport to catch my flight home to Seattle. As I was getting in the car, the driver noticed I had a bag of snacks and said: “I’m looking at you and what you have in your hand, and it’s so true that we are what we eat.” I wasn’t sure how to take him: I was holding a bag of fruit and nuts! Well, that conversation led to talks about fitness and marriage during our drive. He said he had been married three times, and was single again. I told him I have been married for over 30 years. He then asked about my wife. He said “Is she like you? She takes care of herself?” I started telling him about my wife, and all the things I love most about her. The more I talked about her, and the more this guy told me how lucky I am… the more excited and thankful I was to be married to this woman!

LOOKING UP GIVES US A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON GOD’S CHARACTER. My dad fell once. He went to the hospital, and during some routine x-rays, the doctors found an arterial aneurysm. This was something not caused by the accident… it was already there. The doctor said that this discovery might have saved his life! When things seem to be going wrong, it’s easy to wonder why God lets bad stuff happen. However, making the decision to look up reinforces God’s character in those difficult times, and allows all things to work together for good.

LOOKING UP INSPIRES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. There are a lot of people who want to live a looking up kind of life…but they simply lack the courage to do so. You can be that catalyst for them; that positive reinforcement they want and need in their life. If you’re afraid of pushing people away with your incessant positivity and attitude of worship, think about this: if living a life of gratitude to God drives people away from you, that’s not good company for you to be in anyway.

It’s inevitable. Some people will distance themselves from you, and some people will draw closer. If you look up, you will help those who want help, but just lack the courage to look up themselves.

LOOKING UP CHANGES THE OUTCOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. One of the greatest examples of this is in Acts 16, where Paul and Silas have been put in jail for preaching the gospel. Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Never underestimate the power of looking up.

If Paul and Silas were absorbed by the things right in front of them, their story could have been very different. If you’ve been tirelessly seeking the approval of people, or if you have an unhealthy craving for acceptance, today can be a “this time” day for you. Looking up changes the outcome of circumstances.

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THE LOOKING UP APPROACH TO LIFE NOT ONLY GIVES GOD WHAT HE DESERVES FROM US (THANKS, GLORY, PRAISE), BUT ALSO HAS A BOOMERANG EFFECT ON OUR OWN LIVES

els, the intellectual giants, the rich and famous that are paraded in front of us every day. We compare the beauty and brilliance that we see in others against the weakness and inadequacy that we see in ourselves. This is an unfair and unreasonable comparison.

THE FEELING OF INADEQUACY DRIVES AN UNHEALTHY SEARCH FOR MAN’S APPROVAL. For Leah,

having sons was her way of impressing others. Today, we go after muscles, flawless skin, high-paying jobs, fancy cars, and education. We are trying so hard to prove something, and we are haunted with the realization that we may never measure up. However, if our significance is found in man’s approval and man has the power to validate us, then guess what? That means man also has the power to invalidate us.

Thankfully, Leah’s story doesn’t end here. Leah is stuck, self-absorbed and fixated on getting her validation and self-worth from her husband. Howev-

time my husband will love me”, Leah says “This time, I will Praise the Lord.”

An important thing to note is that Leah said the words “this time”.

These words represented breakthrough for Leah. It represented the moment where she stopped the struggle for man’s approval; it represented a new peace within her.

And guess what? It was from the line of Judah that Jesus was born!

Leah’s decision to look up was the key to release God’s plan to do great things through her and her house in the future.

A looking up life is not something we naturally do, but a habit we must develop.

I think most of us would agree that this is a lot easier said than done. A lot of what we do revolves around our cares, concerns, opinions,

A LOOKING UP LIFE IS NOT SOMETHING WE NATURALLY DO, BUT A HABIT WE MUST DEVELOP. er, the change happens when a fourth son is born. “She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.”

So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.”

The woman who had been looking to her husband for approval is now looking to God. Rather than saying “this

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goals, and ambitions, and that’s not a bad thing! God wants us to be ambitious and productive. He wants us to take care of ourselves, our families, and to enjoy our lives. So the question is… how do we keep from getting self-absorbed?

In the looking up kind of life, WE GIVE GOD THANKS DAILY. We’ve

all spent some time focusing on ourselves. We’ve complained about circumstances we don’t like, but the looking up kind of life turns our attention to what we do like, what we do have, and what we are thankful for. Remember, whatever we pay attention to grows… so our goal is to pay attention to what we want more of in our lives.

In the looking up kind of life, WE GIVE GOD GLORY. We give Him

credit, and honor. James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above."

In the looking up kind of life, WE GIVE GOD PRAISE. We declare His greatness and His power. Praise to both Him, and to others about Him. Praise can be in a conversation, a song, or a prayer.

The looking up approach to life not only gives God what He deserves from us (thanks, glory, praise), but it also has a boomerang effect on our own lives. It gets our mind off the things that try to bring us down and reminds us of God’s greatness, power, grace and love for us.

Worship works wonders! We can’t always explain how, but it changes situations. It changes us. It changes the outcome of things in our lives.

If you have not been in this habit, try it and watch what happens. It’s a secret weapon in the life of overcoming believers.

k. wise

BY KEVIN GERALD

THE HIDDEN TREASURE ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHRASES THAT WE’VE USED OVER THE YEARS IN GROWING THE CHURCH IS, “SOMETIMES THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE COME FROM THE MOST UNEXPECTED PLACES.”

friend who bugged them to go to church.

Others did when they figured a promised lunch was good enough to take a chance to attend. There are many paths to God’s Kingdom.

Matthew 13:44 tells the very brief story of an unidentified man who comes face to face with a lifechanging opportunity. He finds a field with hidden treasure. Excited, he keeps the find to himself, decides he must have the field and its treasure, sells all his possessions, and makes the purchase.

On the day of this unidentified man’s life, something that had been hidden from him was revealed to him. The good news of salvation remains abstract and obscure, hidden until it is revealed. Many walk in the field, through it and around it, and yet they never see the treasure.

...it typically comes in unexpected ways, at unexpected times, and in unexpected places.

This parable says God’s Kingdom is like the hidden treasure. It doesn’t say how the man found it, whether he was looking for it in the first place, nor whether he was interested in it before he stumbled upon it.

In fact, the parable implies that he was surprised to discover this treasure at all.

But, once he found it, he was ecstatic. He invested all.

He sold out for God’s Kingdom.

I’ve never met a person who expected to find what they found when they found God’s eternal Kingdom. Some find this treasure when they give in to a

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Some wonder why their friends are so sold out in their relationship with God. They don’t understand the mystery until they have a special moment with God when he reveals His treasure to them.

This moment is like walking into a house blindfolded. Once the blindfold comes off, and the owner realizes the value of the house, and meaning of being there, they decide they never want to leave. So the individual buys the house.

The most important point of this short parable is that the man didn’t miss the window of opportunity provided by God. Two things are important about God-given opportunity: it typically comes in unexpected ways, at unexpected times, and in unexpected places; and our lives are defined by how we respond.

DREAM BIG.WORK HARD STAY HUMBLE —RUSSELL WILSON

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