My Hero Has Ascended

My hero, my brother, my mentor, my friend, has ascended this day, peacefully surrounded with God’s presence, love, and a legacy that will affect generations to come.  Thank you Steve, for pouring into my life, your life, the life of Christ, and the love and encouragement of an eternal God.  You are truly God’s man.  May I be t half the man of God you have shown me to be, an encourager, an example, a spiritual leader, and family patriarch. Pray for Steve’s family. His wife Darlene, and their kids.  A man of this caliber is not let go of easily.  Press on.

Life Lessons from my brother Steve

Many have asked for STeve’s message when he was at BCC.  Here it is.  click here and scroll down to “Life Lessons” by STeve LeVeck. You will be challenged and blessed.

A great Weekend…..Rewind

Friday almost 300 ladies were at BCC for the Testimony Tea.  Alma Salyer and Aly Reed gave their testimonies. It was powerful.  Our weekend gatherings, with communion were powerful.  We went Saturday afternoon and watched the Elarton boys play basketball in Sylvania.  BCC’s   Saturday night continues to grow with a few new families.  The 2 gatherings on Sunday morning were great, the 11 am is packed and need some of them to move to 9am or sat. night. 

Sunday afternoon I spoke to our students at the  ”without walls” outreach ministry that is started.  It was a blessing to see how many students want to reach out for Jesus and Serve the World.  Last night we had “pizza with the pastors” and around 50 came. We gave tours of the building, met a lot of new famlies and shared God’s plan for BCC. It was awesome.  It was great to hear what God has been doing in their lives!  Thank to Mike and Denise for being our hosts!  I slept last night like a lot, after working on my bathroom some.  

Looking forward to Global Outreach Faith Promise weekend, with a love offering being taken to launch our Toledo Campus.  What a blast serving Jesus and seeing new live be changed.

Self – denial, the path to exaltation

True Humility from Philippians 2 ,  ⁶     Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷     but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸     And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! ⁹     Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰     that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹     and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Php 2:6-11). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

This early church hymn, quoted by Paul in Philippians helps us understand that Christ laid down all the authority, power, and deity (kenosis) and become our servant, and became our sacrifice, for our sins.  That is true humility and true servanthood.  Conviction runs through my spirit as I read of this humility, love, and obedience of Jesus.  We need this!  Then God exalted Jesus, “to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”  So many want exalted, lifted up, without the denial of rights, authority, and position.  As we lay our lives down, we are exalted above the despair of sin, above the discouragement of selfless living, above the hopelessness of no Savior.  Lay it down today, and experience the exalting power of Christ!

Toledo Campus//Vision Video

Mercy, save, snatch them!!!

  ²² Be merciful to those who doubt; ²³ snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. The Holy Bible : New International Version. Zondervan.

If you did not catch the message this weekend  as I laid out the vision for the Toledo Campus, please listen on line at our BCC website or on I Tunes.  The message explains our multi-campus vision and how we are going to proceed with the Toledo Campus.  It has been a blessing to hear so many people so excited about moving out in outreach, because, Lost People Matter to God!  If they matter to God, then they better matter to the church.  The verse from Jude above the Lord has been burning in my heart as of late.  I see the word “mercy” twice.  The word mercy is used in context with lost people that are perishing.  God give us mercy and love for those not saved yet!!!   Ask God to give you mercy (opposite of judgment/religion/critical heart) for the lost people in your life.   If you did not see the video we did it will be on here soon.

Toledo Campus Questions

During this weekend’s gatherings I am going to be sharing in greater detail our plan for Toledo, OH.  I have had some great questions, and I hope to answer most of them.  I am thankful for all the fearless faith that has been communicated to me.  I am blessed by the vision of God’s people to move out of the zone of comfort, to being uncomfortable but obedient.  Here are some questions I am going to answer on Sunday.

• Why are we starting another campus?
• Do we really have to change our name? 
• Will people really want to see the message on video?
• Who is going to be the site pastor?
• Are you going to Toledo Pastor Nate?  (yes and no)
• Is there worship there?
• Who is going to be the worship leaders?
• Is the coffee free?
• Where in Toledo?  (not sure, God is going to open a door).
• When is this going to happen?
• Are you going to grow a mullet for real?
• How are we going to start another campus?
• How can I be involved in the vision?

I will be answering these questions on Sunday, and I think you know the answer to the mullet question.

Haiti Memories and action

This morning I am going to my son’s elementary school to talk about Haiti and present a way for their school to help by giving to H.E.H. (Hope and Encouragement for Humanity ) based out of Blissfield, MI.  I am thankful for this opportunity.  I also am thinking of our team leaving on Friday, the latest 6.1 earthquake this morning, and the trip I took a few years ago.    We were blesssed to see several schools and orphanages.  God opened a door for John Mazur and I, with a few other men to meet President Rene Preval, the President of Haiti.  We were able to speak with him.  I asked him if I could pray for him, he ran out of the room, got an aid, came back and we prayed for the President.  I pray for him this morning, for Haiti, for the children, and the suffering. We can all make a difference if we do our part.  I am committed to this.  Pray for our team that is leaving.  For their mission, their safety, their hearts, and remember, they are going in Jesus name, to be Jesus to the hurting!

Intimidation no more!

  in•tim•i•date \in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt\ : to make timid or fearful Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. 

Have you ever felt intimidated.  I remember many times where I felt fear absolutely grip my heart.  My first day of college, a wrestling match, a speaking opportunity.  I think of many people in the Bible that were intimidated by circumstances, the enemy, a challenge.  I find myself being intimidated when I think with my eyes, and not with my faith.

When God puts in us a challenge, a leading, a direction, or a mission, if we think with our “eyes” or what we can see, the mission can quickly become intimidating.  But when we think with our faith, our spirit, and our word from God, intimidation and fear flee.  I know so many people who did not follow through on what God has directed, because the direction intimidated them, as they looked through their “eyes” and their “reasonings” and not their faith.  I choose this day to look through faith.  For “faith is sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1).  So what’s intimidating you and what are you looking at it through?  Eyes or faith?  Be intimidated no more, walk in faith!

Prayer Quotes from BCC Prayer Times

We had times of prayer Tuesday-Thursday.  The Holy Spirit prayed many powerful things through people.  I wrote some down.  Be blessed.

• Anything that comes against the established body of BCC, will not prevail, Mypurposes will be accomplished here.  (Prophetic)
• Stir us LOrd for the lost and the broken. Break us where it breaks You.
• Stir the gift that is within us, that it would burn brighter!
• Lord teach us how to truly connect and walk with you day by day.
• God, I am from Toledo, it is my home town. As we plan the Toledo campus, would you do for my hometown what you have done for me through this church?
• I am expecting great thing because you are great, your are able, you are alive!
• Help us study your Word Lord, and not just read it.  I want to know you.
• Help me to be a good witness for Thee.
• Massage our hearts Lord when we get so calloused.
• Help us reach out to the people and display the Love of Jesus to all.
• Lord, let this be the greatest year for salvations that we have ever seen in the history of BCC!

I was truly moved and blessed by the each night of prayer.  I know we will see amazing things as we call on the Lord.  Do you want to add any prayer?  Comment and add your prayer for 2010 please!