15 Random Things about me!

At Small Group we were encourage to write down 2 facts and one ficticious detail about our lives, so this led to me revealing 15 Random Things about myself!

1. For about ten years I turned my back on God and it took me almost dying for me to turn my eyes back to Him, but believe me when I say He has my attention now and I know He is real because He showed me on that mountain side!

2. My mom is one-legged lol. Sorry something silly to put here, she lost her right leg in a corn picker accident 58 years ago! Wow but she can still kick it OLD SCHOOL!

3. I actually have 3 sons and 1 daughter but due to some regretful decisions when I was not walking in Christ I only have Austin and Julie in my life now! Jarrod and Jacob are my other two angels!

4. My father died when I was 17 and in the middle of my Senior year of High School (1992) Yikes that was awhile ago, I took it really bad and blamed God ....see no. 1

5. I currently work for a parts delivery company, but my real love is Sales. I used to work for an Insurance company and I loved it. Wish I could do something similar with a salary!

6. I am a huge Star Wars freak...ok I don't get crazy enough to get all dressed up like a wookie (although having the hair would be nice, you know a little nookie with a wookie!) but I still love Star Wars.

7. My absolute favorite thing to do with my kids is to go swimming.

8. I am a huge BUCKNUT! I love the Buckeyes almost as much as God....ALMOST!! I can't get mad at Him because He wouldn't lose to the stupid SEC! Oh yea I almost forgot to include the wife in this equation too!

9. My biggest secret is that I desire to do somthing like "Dancing With The Stars" Well I want to learn how to dance like that anyways! Shhhh Big secret!

10. I kissed my first girl when I was the ripe ole age of 5. LOL. She and I are still friends and I named my youngest son after her youngest brother! He is like my little brother he is pretty awesome.

11. I have another secret. I love Classical music. You know....Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, and Tchaiovsky.....Love em to death. I used to listen to it all the time when I was a teenager!

12. I called off mine and Diana's wedding two weeks before the first time it was supposed to happen. She was a little upset, but I knew the timing was off, after about two months of her being very upset with me she realized we had made the right decision and in June 2006 she blew me away in that awesome dress she had!

13. About 95% of the time I am listening to Klove/Air 1/Star 93.3 on the radio and if you are a christian I believe you should be too. I once heard someone say that you might as well practice praising God everyday now because when you get to heaven that's all you are going to be doing!

14. The BEN-GALS Stink!!! I am a Buccaneers fan! HA HA We have a Super Bowl Ring and one of those is better than two Runner Up Rings! Long Story as to how I became a Bucs fan.

15. My biggest pet peeve is having my feet being touched! I accidently, because of my reflexes kicked Austin in the face when he was about 3. Sorry Bub!

Good Soil

Another week, and yet another amazing week with our Elevation family!





All I am going to say is, if you are not in a Small Group. You are truly missing out! This next Tuesday (tomorrow as a matter of fact) is our last Small Group for Summer which saddens me and my wife deeply! We experience so much joy out of going to our Group, hanging out with everyone, and doing our devotionals together that Phil has been so kindly handing out every week! It has blessed us immensely!





Craig when you read this, I have a suggestion that I already took the liberty of mentioning to our gracious host Joel King. One of the old Small Groups that my wife and I were a part of met once a month all summer long for a cookout or dinner or whatever. Just to keep those relationships intact over the summer! I know we have A LOT of other exciting and new events coming this summer, but please consider this! Lol, we are going to miss it too much!!!!





If you missed the sermon Sunday, sorry about your luck! Seriously though you need to go ask for a copy of this message on CD and listen to it. Phil did an outstanding job. I was blown away by how easily he taught the "Parable of the Sower". I had never heard that sermon taught that way. Phil, I am responding to your message, by dwelling in the word more, and by praying and worshipping with my guitar more at home by myself this week. I was truly blessed by the obedient words that you spoke.





I loved the fact that you addressed the topics that can cause division in our church, and that you and Craig both say that our body will not stand for it. I really do commend the honesty of those words, and am grateful that our leadership feels that way.





A BIG shout out to my new buddy Steve Nelson also. Steve was representing on the drums, and looked right at home and as if he didn't miss a beat (pun intended). Diana and I were also blessed to help Steve lead the Youth Group while the Beck's (lucky dogs) were in Florida this week. Steve did an amazing job teaching the youth about the Apostles and the fact that nearly all of the died a martyr's death, and it was amazing to hear him share a little bit of his testimony.

I am not sure that Steve or the Youth Group even realize how closely the 2 messages for Sunday can interact with one another, but I put this together out of both messages I heard.....

Follow me on this. Phil's message talked about us sowing our lives into God's word and that going deeper into God's word was the only way to have a FIRM foundation. Steve's message talked of having a faith in Jesus, a faith up to and even in the face of certain death. I find that it had to have been easier for the Apostles to have that kind of faith in Jesus because that actually witnessed Him performing miracles every single day and they got to love Him first hand "face to face". Whereas we as Christians now have to have a stronger more "blind faith" because we don't see Him everyday on a daily basis. Now, that takes me back to what Phil was saying, IF only IF we are in our Bible everyday, praying everyday, asking God to intercede in us through the Holy Spirit everyday, then we too can also have that same "Day to Day", "Face to Face" relationship the Apostles did. Try it, you will see such amazing results. I am on a daily basis, and trust me if you apply what they are teaching then you will too.

With Brotherly Love, Scott

Open Your Bible

Today on the way home from work I was coming back into Blanchester, and saw a church sign with one of those clever messages on it. You know the ones that I'm talking about the ones that always make you chuckle when you drive by and see them.

First I am going to post some pics of some funny pics I have seen before.

Ok, so now back to the one I saw today. This sign read "Open your mind, open your heart, open your Bible." A great message, but as a Christian I would say that they have this a little out of order, since I am assuming that is who this is meant for since most Non-Christians wouldn't have a Bible.

Shouldn't this sign read "Open your Bible, Open your heart, Open your mind?" Isn't that the order it would have the greatest impact in your life?

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD,and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:23
The steps of a man are established by the LORD,when he delights in his way
Psalm 40:8
I delight to do your will, O my God;your law is within my heart."
Psalm 111:2
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them
Psalm 119:16
I will delight in your statutes;I will not forget your word
Psalm 119:24
Your testimonies are my delight;they are my counselors

All of these verses speak of delighting in God, or His law which is the Bible. If we spend our time reading His word and dwelling on His word we will know His law. If we do this and we make this a part of our daily life, it will not only be a delight to Him, but to us as well!" It would indeed open our hearts, and our minds to all that God has to offer us.

I know for Diana and I, we had not been spending much time in the word before attending Elevation. We read maybe once or twice a week, and NEVER together! Since then, and after attending our Small Group we have been spending a lot more time in the word, and wonderfully reaping the benefits of it. God has been blessing us in so many ways. Most of it starting right here at home. It truly is changing the foundation of our lives because we are living and breathing everything we are learning instead of just getting fat in our faith (as Craig like to put it).

I wanted to share one of my top 5 favorites Bible verses in closing. This verse is so true, and can really help you learn to overcome so much! Use it apply it, and own the words of it and allow it to work in your life as I have in mine!

Hebrews 4:12 (English Standard Version)
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

We were made to SERVE!

This is pretty crazy, in the few weeks that we have been attending Elevation I have had several topics that God has laid on my mind and heart to blog about and Craig has beat me to both of them from the pulpit! Lol. I asked him via text if he was hacking into my phone (I put all of these ideas when they come to me in my notepad on my phone) for my ideas.

It really isn't a coincidence, but I believe a God given confirmation of what Craig is preaching on and what God has been laying on my heart, and on the hearts of the people I love dearly in my life.

Diana and I love to serve. We will serve in just about any capacity that is needed. She will works with the kids, me NOT so much. We both enjoy helping with the Youth, and so we volunteered to help out with the Lazer Kraze event this last weekend.

As many of you know I have been a bit under the weather. Saturday we got up around 9 got ready and headed out for a day of outdoor sporting events. First my niece Celia's softball game, which they won 6-5 in the bottom of the 7th! Then my daughter Julie's soccer game which they won 3-2!! Julie was not feeling well either, but bless her heart, she didn't want to let her team and more importantly Coach Angie down by not being able to play. So she stuck it out!!! Very proud of her!

So after all of that we headed straight over to Lazer Kraze, and by the time we got there I was wiped out! I also started having some abdominal pain. It wasn't very pleasant. We decided we too were going to stick it out as long as we could. We made it over to the room, and the kids all sat at their table, and Brent was out arranging some things for the games, and Candy was talking to us about the upcoming Youth Camp. As we were talking we noticed that the kids were sitting there with their pizza's in front of them, patiently waiting to pounce on them. Candy quickly said to Brent "Let's pray so these guys can eat".

The funny part is I really felt God telling me that is exactly how we act sometimes with our faith or more importantly with attitude to serve. We can have all these talents and all these abilities that God has given us to use to serve His kingdom, and we just patiently wait to use them (usually when someone asks us, or tells us to) instead of actually getting off our (as Craig put it) sanctified behinds and putting them to use ourselves.

Craig's message on serving yesterday was phenomenal. I truly enjoy listening to him bring us God's word. Quite frankly he was right on about his message.

In case you missed it he taught on Ephesians 1:3-11

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.[b] 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,[c] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

This passage has one of my favorite topics in it. I love the topic of us being predestined. I actually had this conversation with a previous Pastor who shared different views of the definition of predestination, and of how God has predestined us. I totally agree with how Craig defined and explained predestination and how God has (way before we even born, conceived a purposeful destiny in and through us). God chose me to be a part of Elevation, God chose me to be in Blanchester, God chose me to lead this family, God chose me to write this blog for you to read. Bottom line is GOD CHOSE ME, and guess what HE CHOSE YOU TOO!!

As I was preparing this blog and doing my typical prep, I was reading in Hebrews 12, and came accross this verse...

Hebrews 12:28-29

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

I love the definition of Reverence... "a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe"

Isn't this how we should be in our attitude of serving the One who created us?

A Journey in Ministry!

Where to start?

I want to tell everyone of this Journey. This journey that my wife and I have been on together this last couple of years! A journey towards ministry! Incorrect, a journey OF ministry!

You might want to grab a snack and a drink, this is going to be a long one!

Let's start with around Christmas of 2007. My wife and I had grown very stagnant at the church we were attending quite frankly so much that I had quit going altogether. I know really, me not at church. It even seems weird to me now that I look back at it. Anyways, I had quit going and Diana had been attending off and on at Dove, and some with her Dad at Northeast as well. I was not interested in any of it, but was still wanting to go to church.

At Easter of 2008 our friends Danny and Sarah Simpson invited us to Center Pointe Church in Goshen. So we went. It seemed like the pastor was talking right to us, we immediately felt like we were called to at least hear the messages. So we decided to meet with Ray and Melissa and move towards becoming members of the church. We dove into serving, Men's group, hanging out with people, serving in any area we could. It was going great. Had been for quite awhile an in the summer of 2009 I stepped down from serving full time for a multitude of reasons, none of which really make much sense now, because in doing so I only let the devil get a small victory! Well, you live and you learn! By Christmas of 2009 we were once again feeling very stagnant at church! Then comes our 1st family vacation to Florida to see my Momma. We had all these plans of spending everyday at the beach, and visiting the zoo and all kinds of other crazy things, but God had a different plan. As we went to visit my mother, we obviously went and checked out her church with her. They had a special guest in to lead their Christmas worship service (you may have heard of Beckah Shae on Klove or Star 93.3, she is amazing!!!!!!) and man was the Spirit of God every hopping in this place, and we needed it. Needless to say, we ended up spending about 90% of our "vacation" with my Mom's church family! We had an awesome time and came back from Florida so refreshed in the Holy Spirit! It was much needed to!

We came back and since we had withdrawn from several roles at our church we had in the process offended some people which was never the intent! So we wanted to mend some fences, but this was not accepted very well.

The night I will never forget is when Diana and I had been asked by someone in leadership to come out for a little get together and hang out, we were asked by the couple hosting it not to come! This devastated Diana! She was really upset and in tears for quite awhile. I mean how could we be coming of this high of the Holy Spirit coming back from Florida, and things turn out the way they were turning out? It just didn't really add up to either of us! So that evening with like $8 in our checking account (we were broke when coming back from vacation LOL) we went to McDonald's (hence the Golden Arches in the pic above).

We had went up, ordered some food for us and the kids, sat down and discussed how we were going to handle things in our life regarding church, and moving on. We both had felt very rejected and both had mentioned never stepping foot in another church at that point, but as we were packing up to leave the most MIRACULOUS thing occurred! Out of nowhere, this Man and Woman came up to us, and asked if they could pray for us! Weird!!!! We were already in the car! Diana and I didn't even notice these people inside, so we aren't really sure where they came from, but this lady prayed for us. She prayed specifically that we were going to be used to Minister! For God's ministry! We thought, how can that be after tonight? Is this lady nuts? She then pointed to me, and said God has a specific plan for you in a ministry role!! At that point all I could think was, Did my Mom send you here to mess with me? LOL, or am I on Candid Camera? LOL.

That was January of 2010. We spent most of last year looking for a church! We visited between 15-25 church's during that time, praying that God would put us where we cold SERVE AGAIN!! I love serving, my wife loves serving, and the best thing of all MY KIDS LOVE SERVING! I have a 15 year old and an 8 year old that would give you the shirt off their own back. How amazing is that! They both have such BIG hearts for God, and for advancing His Kingdom through servitude! I love it!!!

So for those of you who read my blog or my are just my Facebook friends, if you haven't noticed or seen it, my wife and I have found a new Church home! More importantly a phenomenal church family! Our Small Group is amazing! The Youth Group is amazing! The Children's Minister is amazing! I LOVE our Pastor! I LOVE our Worship Pastor (even though he and his brother are not Buckeye fans)! We are quickly making tons of new friends. God is doing amazing things at Elevation Community Church! AMAZING THINGS!!! 11 people were baptized yesterday, one of which was my Mother-in-Law. Which was an amazing blessing to be able to be there and support her in that decision, and to be able to get up and announce it to the church for her! God is soooooooooo GOOD!!!

After all that is said! I will close with this. I may not be an actual minister, BUT I have had many people the last couple of weeks come up to me and tell me that my blog is uplifting to them in the middle of their tough weeks, or people are just coming up to me and saying that they love my blog and it is blessing them.

I love the feedback people, I really do. I speak TOTALLY from a souled out, surrendered, and humbled heart that only happens because of the Grace of God!

I believe this is my Ministry! I will continue to use this tool and many of my other attributes to advance the Kingdom of God.

If life is a game of Chess than I am glad that I have the most powerful piece in the Universe, The King of Kings (and yes Craig, you can quote me on that!) ;-)

Oh yea and I hope I don't get sued for using their logo like this!

The Art of Marriage

What a powerful and moving weekend, so far! Last night my wife and I had made plans to attend "The Art of Marriage" video conference being held at our church and hosted by Warren & Mary Bistline (Big thanks to them, and for their prayers this week).

Looking back over the past week there have been many spiritual attacks that could have made me just say "I'm not going to make it to this conference." It could have been so easy to just stay home an recuperate.

I had a few days of dizzy spells, followed by nausea, and then horrible headaches in the top of my neck/bottom of my head! Yesterday, they finally let up, but today before the conference was over THEY WERE BACK!!

Other attacks! Diana and I had both had a couple of long and grinding days leading up to this weekend, and both had kind of short fuses due to being stressed out! Her by work, me by work and not feeling well. Needless to say, we had a couple of not too pleasant arguments over some of the dumbest things imaginable. (She did forgive me for it by the end of the session on Saturday!)

I am so glad that we attended this conference. I am glad that we persevered and was able to attend.

I was also impressed with the fact that Mike and Carol were able to stay and the commitment they showed not only to their marriage and each other, but to God by sticking it out through the conference with all they were dealing with. They were a true inspiration! God will continue to bless them, and will use them in great ways.

This last two days has already helped our marriage out in several ways. Here are a few ways!

1. Diana and I have in the past said a lot of mean and hurtful things to each other (what married couple hasn't). That finally has closure! We both asked each other for forgiveness for the first time ever, and when it happened it was like a HUUUUUUUGE weight was lifted off of my heart! A much needed relinquishment of burdens that had been held onto for far too long.

2. I had never looked at our marriage as anything but for Diana and I. Never had I even thought of how it really affects my children, grandchildren (don't have any yet, thank God!), great grandchildren, and future generations on down the road! At the end of the conference it talked a lot about leaving a legacy! I want that for my kids! I want them to see Diana and I as an example of how their marriage is supposed to be! My parents were together for 19 years before my Dad died, and I want my marriage with Diana to go above and beyond what theirs was. They fought over the same things Diana and I do now, I want to end that with my legacy!

3. I never had looked at sex, as being a way to show God my Oneness with my wife! I always looked at it as a way of us pleasing each other, not as a way of pleasing God too! I thought that was an awesome example. These are things that I have never in my life even heard of!

4. RESOLVING CONFLICT! I learned a lot about how Diana and I would both like to be able to resolve conflict now, and in the future! That is probably the single most important thing that had to change out of this weekend. Both of us grew up in different family backgrounds and both of did not really have the greatest examples in our life on how to resolve conflict, so some of these exercises will really end up being very valuable to our marriage and to our family!

5. Realizing our Roles. Diana and I have heard Ephesians 5 many, many times! It has seemed like a broken record! I remember the first time we heard it together, she was like submit....HA!! I was like, I do love her like Christ loves the Church. Little did we know that we were far from it! This weekend, during our get away sessions we used some of our time to discuss this verse, and how it reflected upon us, and what would happen if we both did more to "step up" into these roles! Me as the leader (which quite frankly, I have been slacking in) and her as the "helper". I think this conversation has made us both see, that 1 we are willing to do what it is that is God's intentional will for us, and 2 that we care enough about each other that we are willing to to exactly what it takes to be committed to each other, and to God at the same time!

Most of all, above everything else I want to thank Jesus Christ for sacrificing himself on the cross for my sins. Without His grace none of this would have been possible! He truly is worthy of all our love! I can not love my wife without Him, because without Him there is no such thing as love! God is love!

This conference, and Elevation Church have been such a Godsend to us, to our family, to this community! It has truly been an abundant blessing from God. We couldn't be happier with how things are moving along, and we are continually looking forward to what new and exciting things that God will be doing in and through this church and community!

I would encourage you that no matter how strong your marriage is or isn't.... this conference will help you in many areas and I highly recommend it!

Thanks again, Warren and Mary!!

My father, and My Father

Tomorrow, May 11th, would have been my Dad's 60th birthday. Sadly he died 12/07/1991 at the very young age of 40.

I have so many awesome memories of my Dad. I will take a few minutes to name a few.

1. No matter where, when, who, what, or why. My Dad could put a smile on anybodys face. (As seen in the picture to the left)

2. I remember one time, it was snowing really bad outside, and my Dad had two brown paper bags FULL of groceries, and my cousin Randy threw a snowball at him and it hit him right smack dab in the middle of his big belly and in the middle of the front yard his pants fell down around his ankles! LOL

3. When I was 12 we went to Disney on vacation. He was scared to ride Space Mountain, and so was I. Neither of us like heights. Although, now I love roller coasters.

4. I remember going to Taco Bell on time by the Dayton Mall with Mike Simmons, my friend Larry, and my Dad. It was the absolute WORST food EVER!!!! Mike and I still to this day refer to that place as the kitty litter Taco Bell.

5. This is my favorite. I got my driving permit on his birthday in 1990. We lived like 4 blocks from the High School. He let me drive to the High School. I turned into the school parking lot nearly missing a tree, he told me to put it in park, and get out. His next words "your mother is going to teach you how to drive". LOL

So many great memories. If I wanted to list them all I would be here for awhile.

Most of all I miss getting to spend time with him!

That brings me to the reason I am writing this blog tonight. Yea part of it was to commemorate my Dad, but it is also to express how important it is to spend time with my heavenly Father.

My Dad died when I was 17 years old. I was in the middle of my Senior year at Wilmington High School, and it totally devastated me. At first I was just in shock. I mean, I am not even sure it really sank in for a couple of months. Then after a few months went by, I started rebelling in a BIG WAY!!! I was rebellious to my Mother, my Youth Pastor, Elders in my church and worst of all to God!!

After he died I started down a path that was just a downward spiral for me for many, many years! I did some pretty awful things, things I am still not proud of to this day! I totally blamed God for everything! By everything, I mean things like, my Dad's death, the crud I was into in my life, the way people were treating me, pretty much everything that you could think of. If it was in my life and it wasn't what I thought it was supposed to be I BLAMED GOD!

Here is the thing not everyone knows about God. Even if you are blaming Him, even if you are rejecting him 1000 times over, even if you HATE His guts. He is by your side, He loves you, He accepts you...... JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!

For 10+ years that was my attitude towards God. One day He grabbed me by my heart and said "Listen, you have tried this on your own for a very long time, and look where you are. How about letting me lead you from now on" (paraphrasing), but that is basically what it felt like!

So for 10+ years I was upset that I didn't have a father, but I did have a Father. Funny thing is and I honestly hadn't even seen this until a few weeks ago. God protected me every single day EVEN when I wasn't worshipping Him, reading my Bible, or even attempting to confess Him. He had His protective hands all around me.

After knowing all that I know now about how God has been there for me, it makes me wish I could turn back time and be there for Him more. In serving, worshipping, witnessing, loving, and many many other ways.

God is so good!! So as I celebrate my Dad's 20th year with God, and remember his birthday today! I am also celebrating my time I get to spend serving my Father, loving my Father, and worshipping my Father!

I hope this blog blesses you as much as it blessed me by writing it. Sometime writing these is more of a release of emotion, and love than it is anything else!

God Bless, and thank you for your support!

Catalyst/Small Group

Tonight was the beginning of an awesome group! Diana and I had so much fun tonight. Got to know a little bit about everyone there, Austin got involved. Julie has a new BFFL (Whatever that means).

It felt so amazing to have this new beginning that Diana and I have so longed for. If you have not joined a Small Group, come check us out next week. You do not know what you are missing until you come check it out!

Great job leading tonight Phil! A special thanks to the Kings (Joel & Rebecca) for hosting the group as well.

I can tell already that this is going to be a fun and entertaining group as we all get more comfortable with each other.

Afterwards, Diana and I were discussing how much Elevation has the right things going in the right direction. We are so pleased to be a part of the growth of this church in our own community and we are both eagerly anticipating serving in more areas! Come check out the group, SERIOUSLY you will not regret it!

CPR

CardioPulmonary Resuscitation

Used alone, CPR will result in few complete recoveries, and those who do survive often develop serious complications. Estimates vary, but many organizations stress that CPR does not "bring anyone back," it simply preserves the body for defibrillation and advanced life support.

Just about anyone who is in the business of "saving" lives, policemen, emt's, firefighter's, doctor's, nurses, and many other professionals need to know CPR. It is a mainstay in many fields of a way to preserve someones life until they can get treatment at a medical facility.

I want to talk more about a different type of CPR. Christ's Perfect Redemption. This CPR was developed for one purpose and that was to save the lives of everyone it touches. It is given to those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and to those who believe that Jesus died for their sins. It is a beautiful redemption.

The thing is there are people who are all around us that are dying! People who are laying lifeless on the sidewalk of their own lives. People who are empty inside, and searching for something to fill that void, whether it be a needle, or a bottle, or a woman/man. People who just want to feel loved. People who are hungry, not for food, but for spiritual sustance and may not know how to get or even what it really is until it is on the tablein front of them. People who are crying out to you, your spouse, your sibling, your parents, or your, co-workers. People who are in your circle of friends whom need Jesus and may never have had the chance to experience what He truly is, which is the God of Love, Peace, Compassion, Forgiveness, Joy, Redemption and so, so much more.

One of the greatest things you can do for someone you love is give them the chance to have this version of CPR!

The Mendenhall/Church view on Osama's Death!

Well today at church Pastor Craig kind of beat me to the punch on my next blog topic!! Addressing the death of Osama Bin Laden and the effect it has on the church and Christians in general. BTW, I though Craig did an outstanding job of spelling out what God has to say on this matter, and I loved the reference to King David on this subject.

I was going to take a different route with it in my blog, so I will attempt to do so today without discrediting anything that Craig said today as well.

Last week after the killing of OBL (Osama) I had heard all kinds of stirring over some comments made on Twitter by Pittsburgh Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall whom I am not a big fan of as a player mostly because he is from Illinois, and he ran all over my Buckeyes a few years ago to nearly knock us out of the National Championship scene.

Here is one of the articles from Sports Illustrated's website here.

After reading what Rashard had said, it made a lot of sense in some aspects. Should we be celebrating in the streets over a man's death? I really agree with Craig over being excited that good has conquered evil. I dig that! I also agree with the fact that we should not be doing somersaults and backflips in celebration of a man's death which to me is exactly what Rashard was saying in his Tweets.

I for one am glad that OBL is dead, because it sends a strong message to other terrorists organizations in the world that if you mess with the USA, we will send our best to hunt you down and eliminate you! Hopefully it will be the beginning of more of our troops coming home. Sadly I have a close friend (Danny V) who will be going to Afghanistan in January. Breaks my heart that his 5 year old daughter and his lovely wife are going to be Dad/Fatherless for about a year or so. My wife and I just visited with them on Friday for the first time in several months, and got the news. On the way home we were discussing how we can step up to be there for Danielle, and Bre. I hope that they know we will do everything we can to help them through this time. They are our closest Christian friends and we want to be there for them when they need us the most! Pray for them and for us over the next year and a half as they go through this transition time, and that God will grant us wisdom in how to be there for them!


The other thing that Pastor Craig mentioned is the destruction of Alabama due to the tornados. He mentioned Matthew 25 Ministries and praying for the people who are homeless and that have lost loved ones in this disaster. THEY NEED OUR PRAYER FIRST AND FOREMOST. They also could use our financial support. If you weren't sure on how to get to the webpage to do so before, be not afraid I got your hookup right here.

One last thing Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful ladies, my Mother Bonnie Smith, and my wife Diana Smith, and my terriffic Mother-in-Law! You are all so amazing and I love you all very much! Cannot wait until next Sunday! My mother in law Lynn is getting baptized!

Oh and a special thanks to the lady who came up to me while I was greeting (sorry I didn't catch your name) for saying you enjoyed my blog! I really do enjoy all the positive feedback, and any other constructive criticism is welcome as well! Please feel free to comment on my Blogs! It is open for discussions/debates as well!

Handling Rejection

The Bible says that we are made in God's image. If that is so, does he have the same characteristics that we do? Things like a good sense of humor, or not handling rejection well, things like that...

I mean, I really wonder how God handles His people, the ones He created to love Him unconditionally? I can only imagine the heartbreak He must feel every time someone turns from Him or just flat out doesn't even acknowledge Him.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

My friend Kristi Jones had this quote posted on her Facebook this week:

...is going to trust that rejection--in any form, from anyone--is simply God's way of saying "Careful, kiddo. You were going the wrong way."

I love this quote. So many times we get upset when something doesn't work out the way WE want it to, without even considering if it is God's will for us or not.

Funny this week I was reading that book of mine 100 Versus Every Dad Needs To Know and came across this verse again.

Matthew 7:7-8
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

If we follow this simple procedure everyday in our lives wouldn't we all handle rejection a little bit better?

I mean if we are asking for what we NEED, seeking for Him, and knocking on the door (for it to be opened)..... everything we will ever need or really could want will come to us.

Need a spouse/partner in your life?.....ask God for it!
Need a better paying job?.... Look for one, then knock on their door of opportunity.

If you don't get it, SO WHAT, that just means God has something better planned for you anyways!

What do you see?

Without you I am nothing more than a cadaver

Moving about feeling like nothing matters

Useless flesh waiting to decay

Running a race and waiting for my day

Then one day I awaken from my death

Come to life and breathe you in with a sudden breath

Feeling at first like a newborn child

Taking baby steps hoping to see you smile

Still running that same race

Waiting for glimpses to see Your face

Bowing down to Your throne

Do I do it cheerfully or with a slight groan?

Very much time has passed me by

Still not sure how I look through Your eyes

Living my life in a grim disguise

If I am not living my life for You, I'm living a lie

Then one day a beautiful change

I found out who I am in You, and why I was made

To bring Glory to Your Great Name

and do it with an obedient heart that has no shame

Giving thanks for this new me

hoping when your eyes gaze upon me

it is You that You see

by:

Scott Smith

Being a Witness

I am not sure how many people know, but I know most of my Facebook friends know that I am coaching Semi-Pro Football for the Goshen Rampage.

What many people may not know, is why I decided to do that??

I had been contemplating playing again this year, and my back (a pinched nerve, and a aggravated disc) were not going to cooperate with me to allow me to play. So I was asked if I would like to coach. I thought to myself "Coach Smith, hmmmm that sounds pretty good, and it gives me a chance to boss people around too" lol. Not to mention that I LOVE FOOTBALL!


Well after posting it on Facebook that I was considering accepting one position, I had a friend mention the opportunity for another coaching position that was, yes, closer to home. I called the Rampage the next day, met with them on that following Friday, and have been coaching for them since.


I had decided that I was going to use this coaching opportunity to be a light for Jesus, to show people that God is a God of love.


A few weeks ago, at one of our scrimmages my lovely wife had to remind me of why I was out here and what my goals were for being out there. Imagine that, she was right! She is right a lot, just not all the time, despite what she thinks.

So since she reminded me of that again, I have made more of an effort to share my faith with the players on my team. To profess it more with my mouth out on the field, in the huddles, or on the sidelines.

Last Saturday, we had a tough scrimmage. We drove all the way over to Middletown, Ohio to play in the wonderful Thunderstorms, and got poured on the entire game, only to lose 7-0. Our guys play with such heart and emotion though, it didn't seem like it was as long as it was. It was cold, windy, rainy, and to top it off it there was lightning every where but right over us! That is God protecting His children.

After that game, we endured a bit of a hardship. We had a couple of key players that were getting discouraged because of our losses and quite frankly our lack of offensive production and they had all but quit the team, and had explained that they were done and couldn't do it anymore.

That evening, Easter eve/Easter morning, I spent 2 hours on the phone with one of these guys talking to him about the team, the offense (even though I am the defensive guy), and most importantly his character, and if that was the impression he wanted to leave on 40 other guys. He certainly didn't want to let down those who had become his "family" now did he? After talking to him, and then the other coaches talking to him, they all finally came to an understanding with each other.

This Saturday, he came up to thank me for talking to him about his character and convincing him to stay with the team.

Also this Saturday, I was helping out one of the players get a bandage over his newly inked tattoo of "The Grim Reaper". While doing so, I asked him why he would want the grim reaper on his body. He simple said that is who comes to get you when die. I said "well not if you are a Christian"! To which his response was "Not to be rude, but I don't necessarily believe that", then I responded with "Man, it is ok if you don't believe right now, but someday you will." The next words out of his mouth just blew me away. He responded by thanking me for not jumping on him for not believing. It is sad when so many unsaved people see Christians as threats because they are so quick to forget the Grace that Jesus had once gave to them. This guy had obviously been pushed towards Christianity so much that he now is on the defense against any and all believers. This is so common that it makes me sick. We as Christians are called by Jesus to simply LOVE!! The greatest commandment is to LOVE God, the next is to LOVE your neighbor as YOURSELF.

Are we loving them, buy ridiculing them for not believing as we do?

Are we loving them by not showing them the EXACT same Grace that Jesus shows to us for our mistakes. No one, not one is born a believer of Jesus. Each of us has to find it in our own way, our own time, in our own love!

Everyone that is a Christian has experienced the love of Jesus or else you would not have asked Him to come into your hearts. Take time and just share that LOVE with those around you in your daily walk, because that is the truest meaning of being a witness!!