Dear East Ohio Family,

It's been a tumultuous week in our world, with the ruling from the Supreme Court about the redefinition of marriage, to churches being burned, to things happening in our own backyards.  I don't know about you but the "noise" of all this stuff raises my blood pressure.  And then in a lapse of good judgment or intelligence I log onto Facebook to see post after post of...I struggle to find a word to describe what I see!  It's like listening to a radio station that is just out of range.  There is something out there but the static is so loud it frustrates and gives me a headache.

A passage of Scripture I've been thinking about for the last week is Ezekiel 37.  It's all about the valley of the dry bones.  God led the prophet to this valley filled with bones and asked this question, "Can these bones live?"  I keep asking this question everywhere I go.  I looked at my congregation Sunday and asked, "Can these bones live?"  I walk around Wal-Mart and see people and ask, "Can these bones live?"  I watch TV and see the crowds gathered in support and protest of issues and ask, "Can these bones live?"  How you answer that question will determine how you do ministry and life.  

The prophet responded back, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know."  Don't skip over that word "Sovereign."  It means God is in charge.  Not me, not you, not the Supreme Court or any talking head on a cable news station.  God is in charge and God knows.  And the hope that changes everything about us says, "Yes!  These bones can live!"  This is not an opinion but the voice of God that has power to create and speak life into anything that is dead.  I don't care how dry the bones are, the life of God will always overcome!

Then God told the prophet, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord...I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life."  God brings life and we are called to prophesy.  The question I've been thinking about and talking to God about is what does it mean to prophesy?  I think I know what it's not.  It's not yelling at the bones and telling them how dry they are.  It's not posting about them on Facebook.  It's not saying, "I love you bones, I just hate your dryness."  It's not ignoring the bones either.  It just seems like there is a lot of loud talk going on without much life being breathed.

The definition of prophesy isn't telling the future.  It's not "foretelling."  It's "forthtelling."  It's sharing the hope of the Gospel, the radical optimism of Christ, the transforming power of the Spirit that makes us a New Creation!  It's the truth that "Greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world!"

I have a friend here in Napoleon who played basketball for the State Championship High School team from Napoleon.  When a small town wins a state championship it's a big deal!  And he was the star of that team.  He went on to play basketball at the University of Akron.  While he was there, the team got a new coach.  The coach was young, unproven, and full of energy.  My friend was nervous about this change and the new coach.  This coach is now the third winningest active coach in college basketball.  He coaches at WVU and has been to two final fours.  I'm talking about Bob Huggins.  

Since I'm a WVU fan, my friend told me he was going to send me a copy of a letter Coach Huggins sent all the players from The University of Akron the summer before he started.  My friend has saved it for nearly 35 years.  I wish I had permission to reprint it because it is the most inspirational, motivational, almost prophetic thing I have ever read!  He challenged the players to excellence and high standards.  He talked about integrity and true teamwork.  He talked about sacrifice, hard work, and commitment.  By the time I finished reading the letter I was out of my chair and ready to run through a wall for Coach Huggins.  And the letter wasn't even to me!  

In two years the team went from 8-19 to 22-8, from last place in their conference to first.  I'm not sure Coach Huggins understands prophesy, but he spoke life into a team of dry bones.

As I am getting ready to begin a new season of ministry and life in East Ohio, my prayer has been, "Let me prophesy to the bones."  Let me speak so that the breath of God brings life to where there is dryness.  Convict me when all I do is point out what is dry."

Pastors and churches, we have the greatest job in all of the world.  We have the greatest message in all of the world.  We have the greatest opportunity in all of the world.  Let's prophesy to those dry bones and let the Sovereign Lord breathe life into the dryness.

Blessings,

Dave Lutz

 

 

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Dear Pastors, Sunday School Superintendents, and Children Directors.

 

If you or someone from your church is coming to be a camp counselor, please see that the following information is turned in to Pastor Mike and Laura Kimball as soon as you can.

 

1. A letter from your Senior Pastor stating that you are in good standing with your church and activily attending services at least once a week. If your NazSafe is up to date and current please state that in the pastor's letter. 

2. If it is not or if you have not had that done you will need to fill out the District Application and also sign the District Policy and Procedure which is located on the District Web page.

3. Send all information along with your t-shirt size and any campers you are requesting to be in your cabin to:

 

Pastor Mike Kimball

636 W. Maryland Ave. 

Sebring, Ohi 44672

mlkimball@sbcglobal.net

Pastor Mike - 330-248-1589

Laura - 330-257-0603

Nazarene Day at Cedar Point

Thursday July 23, 2015

$38 per Ticket

Invite everyone from your church to take part!

Did you know that 4 billion people in the world can't, don't or won't take in new information or communicate by reading?  Yet, 90% of us Christians use printed material to try to communicate the gospel.  Would you like to learn how to communicate better with these 4 billion people?

The full 'Tell THE Story' Training is being offered at MVNU this summer, July 21-23! This is a totally oral method of sharing the gospel which can be adapted for many different audiences.  I hope several of you will be able to take advantage of it on the days it is offered. It is a huge advantage to not have to travel to Kansas City, and I'm thrilled we will get to have it right here on MVNU's beautiful campus!

Click HERE for more information and a copy of the invitation

Learn: 

• How to learn Bible stories "by heart" rather than by memorizing 
• How to make Bible stories "come alive," as when they first happened  
• How to engage listeners with a proven model 
• How to make learning memorable 
• How to encourage life transformation
• How to empower listeners to become Story Tellers