When: August 6-10 from 9-11:30am

Where: Mountview Baptist Church

Registration: Register Online

How do you give kids a high view of God?  We believe it is by modeling a high view of Scripture. Kids will focus on an attribute of God and then praise Him in response. This is a curriculum where kids will actively be using their Bibles. Through daily skits, crafts, snacks, games, and music, kids will have an awesome time while giving God the praise only He deserves. Each day kids will learn to:

• Praise God for His Greatness
• Praise God for His Authority
• Praise God for His Providence
• Praise God for His Power
• Praise God for His Love

Come and join us in this movin’ and groovin’ VBS brought to you by the Go Fish Guys! We will start and end each day with a “concert” and “encore” time of worship. Children will then take their backstage VIP passes and their Bibles to explore all of the areas of Vacation Bible School.

“How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth.” -Psalm 47:2

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” —James 3:1

About a week before I began preparing the message, I was in discipleship group with our college students. I shared a prayer request with one of our students about filling in for Kevin while he was on vacation. I shared with this student, Aaron, that I wanted to make sure my heart, while teaching, was centered around bringing honor and glory to God and instructing the church in the truth. I shared this with him before I looked at the verse in James I would be teaching on this week. I was very humbled when I sat down to read James chapter 3 and saw that I would be teaching on the topic of teachers; more specifically, that James says they will be judged more strictly.

That being said, I thought this might be a great opportunity to share with you a little bit about the process I go through in preparing to teach while Kevin is off wearing out his sand wedge on a golf course far, far away.Preparing to teach

Step 1:  Prayer. Seeking God’s will and direction which He desires to communicate about Himself to you and for God’s direction to make that truth not only known but transformational in your life.

Step 2:  Finding the passage. Normally, I would be in the process of determining what to teach on, but because we are in the midst of a series, (working ourselves through the entire book of James in four years or less), the passage has already been determined for me.

Step 3:  Read James 3:1 and the surrounding verses that make up the context of that verse. (James is a shorter book of the bible, so I ended up reading the entire book). As I read, I typically  jot down any words or phrases that stand out, are repeated or that I do not understand. From there, I use a program I highly recommend called, “logos,” to assist me in finding the definition of words I don’t understand, cross references, and differences in translation.Step 4:  Begin thinking about a possible introduction and the main idea of what James is trying to communicate in James 3:1.

Step 5:  Watch pastor Kevin’s last two teachings from James on the church website.

Step 6:  Write, review, pray, repeat-until I have good rough draft.

Step 7:  When possible, e-mail my rough draft to Pastor Kevin for insight and direction.

Step 8:  Cry, because I just got an email back from Kevin that basically says I need to rewrite the whole sermon. (Just kidding…or am I?)

Step 9:  Read through Kevin’s insight and begin working towards a finished manuscript. The manuscript should typically be between five and seven pages in length.

Side-note: I had never been taught to prepare a full manuscript before coming to Mountview. While writing out an entire sermon, then learning the discipline of memorizing it has been a difficult task, now I can’t imagine doing it any other way. Pastor Kevin, on the other hand, learned to write full manuscript sermons when he was in seminary. Often, his professors would tease him for actually memorizing every single word.

Step 10:  Pull from the manuscript an outline to be put in the worship folder as an aid for you to following along.

Step 11:  Work out kinks, wording, and transitions by practicing the script out loud. I often find that this is a time when God will speak into my heart. It is also the time in which I begin to build excitement for being able to share what I have learned from the text with all of you.

Step 12:  Print final draft and start memorizing. (For me, this is one of the hardest parts.)

Step 13:  Practice in front of Pastor Kevin in the sanctuary to gain insight and work on delivery. (This is extremely out of my comfort zone, but it is also where Kevin has been helping me to grow the most.)

Step 14:  (Sunday Morning) Wake up around 6am. Work through the manuscript several times starting at the end and working back to the beginning.

Step 15a:  Head to church, meet with those who are helping lead the service, pray with them, then teach!

Step 15b:  Somewhere in the midst of arriving at church I am always greeted by Bill Cleverley, long time member of Mountview and regular usher, who always reminds me, “Hey don’t mess it up.”

It is a humbling experience and an honor to be used by God in the teaching role. A role I do not take lightly. I share this with you not so you will be impressed with how hard Kevin, myself or Jamie have worked in preparation of any given Sunday. No, I share so as you prepare your heart for corporate worship, and as you seek for God to speak to you on a Sunday, you would also be reminded to pray for those who have been entrusted with the responsibility to teach.

Step Up To Quality is a voluntary quality rating system created by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Bureau of Child Care and Development, our licensing agency. SUTQ recognizes three progressive levels of program quality and builds upon Ohio’s health and safety licensing standards.

The goals of Step Up To Quality are to improve the quality of early care and education programs in order to support the optimal development and learning of young children and to assist families in selecting high quality early care and education programs.

A Step Up To Quality Two Star rated program means those children at Mountview Christian Preschool are in a program with:

Lower ratios in preschool classrooms. This means our teachers have more time to support a child’s individual development and learning.

The administrator and at least 50% of teachers have a credential and/or a degree in early childhood education. This means the administrator and teachers have formal knowledge to support children’s development and learning.

The administrator, all lead teachers and assistant teachers complete 20 hours of specialized training every two years. This means the administrator and teaching staff are committed to expanding their knowledge and skills to better support children’s development and learning.

The program provides annual performance evaluations, professional development planning and at least two benefits to employees. This means that Mountview Christian Preschool is a place where employees are supported and treated professionally.

Teachers conduct a developmental screening upon student entry and utilize Ohio’s Early Learning Content Standards in their curriculum planning. This means our program uses research–based information when planning the students’ day.

Blessings,

Pamela Larson, M. Ed.

This weekend, God showed me in several different scenarios where He is doing just that. On Saturday afternoon, some members of my D-group teamed up with our College D-group to prepare and serve a meal at Friends Ministry on the west side of town. Every Saturday, Friends Ministry has a dinner and worship service for people in the community. After dinner was served, we all sat down together to worship and praise God. I was particularly moved by the man who led the music. He gave a passionate testimony that Jesus is enough, and no matter what happens in your life, if you are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, that is all you need; nothing more, nothing less, just Jesus. What a great reminder.

As I headed to the church on Sunday morning, I was listening to a local Christian radio station, which had guest speaker, Mandissa, on the show. She shared with the listening audience how her song, Stronger, was a reminder for her that no matter what you are going through, God is always there and He will make you stronger in the process.

Sunday, after worship, some friends and I headed out to lunch, where I had a chance to meet a woman named Rose. Rose is going through some hard times right now. She’s a single mom, doesn’t have a permanent home, is only able to work part–time, and recently was hurt at work. The injury even caused her to need several stitches in her arm. The good news is, Rose has a personal relationship with Jesus. She shared with me how she knew God had a bigger plan in all this. How He takes care of her and her son every day, and how He is always faithful. I had started talking to Rose to pray for her and encourage her, but she ended up encouraging and blessing me even more.

Throughout this past weekend, I was able to really see and feel the truth that God is always there and in control. God is always working in our midst, we just need to remember even in the times when we can’t see Him at work, He is there; every step of the way, always present, always helping. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1

Last evening we wandered through the numerous shops that line the black lava coast of downtown Kona; where the Ironman Triathlon is held every year. This afternoon we are off to see Kilauea, which may be the world’s most active volcano, and tomorrow morning we are off to do some snorkeling. If we are fortunate, we will see some dolphins and maybe even a stray whale or two. There are mongooses that dart in and out of the bushes, ants crawling on the countertops and wild cats wandering the sides of roadways. From our lanai (Hawaiian for balcony) you can see the boats coming in and out of the local harbor, a huge Coast Guard plane cutting through the skies along the coastline and breathtaking sunsets. Where the ocean stops and the horizon starts, is hard to tell.

With some time to reflect on God as Maker this morning, I am reminded that Paul writes in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” No doubt about it Father, you made all this: the oceans, the skies, the palm trees, the birds of the air, the fish in the sea; and I am without excuse in recognizing and thanking you who made this and you who are working in the midst of this.

I praise you Father that like the creatures of the deep, you fearfully and wonderfully made me; prized and cherished above all your creation, and wow, is your creation marvelous.  Help me to see you more often, to thank you when I do, and to look for you not just when the water is blue and the sun in shining, but especially in the moments when gale force winds threaten the safety and security in which I am dwelling. I am yours. I know this full well. Do with me as you have done with your creation, exactly as you have designed. I can’t wait to fulfill the purpose you have for me today and every day.

Yours…Kevin

After the prayer walk my group continued on to the job site where we were installing sub-flooring in one half of the house and preparing the other half for occupancy. While on the site we met the owner, Larry, who has five kids at home and is currently living in an apartment. Through the course of the day I was privileged enough to hear Larry’s story. Seven years ago Larry was an unsaved man with a new marriage that was quickly falling apart, then Katrina happened. During the flooding, Larry and his family spent two days in the attic as their home was completely destroyed below. After borrowing a boat from a neighbor, his family made it to a bridge where they were rescued and taken to the Super Dome. From there, his family was sent to Arkansas where they lived for a year and a half. They finally moved back home to New Orleans to live in a FEMA trailer parked behind their home as a temporary living space while he worked to rebuild. During the reconstruction process Larry experienced some road blocks; including the loss of neighbors and friends. He even took a moment to show me the four foundations around his property where homes of friends once were; all of whom died, either in the flood, or from the subsequent stress.

While Larry and his family were out, their trailer caught on fire and exploded. The fire damaged the roof on his home, which was the only unaffected part of his house at that point. His family had to find an apartment to stay in while he worked to fix up the house. Unfortunately, this extra burden of paying for rent severely drained his rebuilding funds. After all this, Larry paid a plumbing contractor to install new water lines under the house, which were subsequently stolen for the copper. Again Larry had to pay a plumbing contractor to install water lines and replace the sanitary lines under the house. Larry had to pay upfront to cover the cost of material for the contractor, but the man only did a fraction of the work and never came back. Seven years later, Larry is stuck in a cycle of trying to maintain work, pay for an apartment he can’t afford, and rebuild his home; all in an attempt to provide a semi-normal life for his family. After telling me his story, this man who could be bitter towards God, tells me that shortly after Katrina hit, he gave his heart to the Lord and began serving as a deacon in his church. He tells me the events of Katrina saved his life, changed his heart, brought him and his wife closer together and pulled his family back from a dark path. Then he says how thankful he was for the events that brought him to where he is today. I came to that job site with the expectation of lifting up the least of these and showing them the love of God, but instead I was shown a powerful God already doing a good and perfect work here New Orleans.

Following the work day, we went to a church called the House of Hope for a block party. While we were there, we walked around the neighborhood and invited people in the community over for a cookout and some games. We got to meet more of the community and played “bottle soccer” with one of the local kids. I went there with the expectation of uplifting a community but was uplifted myself by seeing a church that is thriving in what I would have considered an inhospitable environment. I also saw the lengths God is willing to go to reach his children. After the block party, we finally took a break from our responsibilities; although God apparently wasn’t taking a break.

We went to the French Quarter for Beignets (french donuts) and coffee at Cafe Du Monde and enjoyed some Jazz music. Then a group of us decided to find some authentic Creole food. A group of thirteen of us went to a restaurant called “Gumbo Shop”. We said a quick prayer and had a wonderful dinner with friends. We reminisced about the week and had a great time just taking a break from the week. As we were finishing up, a man sitting behind us asked what we were doing in New Orleans. We told him we were on a mission trip working with EFCA to rebuild homes here in New Orleans. He gingerly said, “That’s what I thought and that is the reason why I paid for all your meals.” Then he disappeared out the door. I went there with the expectation of relaxing with some friends, but God decided to make another appearance to show us His love.

I think more than anything on this trip God has shown us that we shouldn’t build up expectations when serving Him. We should do as we feel led, but let God do the revealing. When we put things in God’s hands we are truly able to see His blessings. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve here and I’m grateful for loving a God that is actively working in our world.

Markus Lott

Lance’s team and Kurt’s team are working on a duplex. The homeowner, Larry, his wife and five daughters were displaced from their home and are renting a small place for $1200/month, while also paying to fix his duplex. We are working on one half of the duplex so they can move in and drop the apartment rent. Once they move into the renovated half, Larry will work to finish the other half; this will become his family’s permanent residence. We are painting, staining wood, doing electrical work and finishing work as well as some plumbing. Lance and some of the others have already met people from the community and spent time talking about their situations.

Justin’s team is working at Castle Rock church on a facility called “The Porch.” Renovated areas there will be made into offices for church staff, a sanctuary, classrooms and meeting spaces, including ” The Porch,” which is a safe gathering place for the community to grab a coke or coffee and hang out. Pastor John has a big vision and a growing passion to reach the community. This isn’t a guy who says all the right thing and knows the Word of God in his head, this guy is living out serving the least of these. The team even unloaded the baptism pool from the truck and installed it in the church. Can you imagine the people who will be baptized here? Awesome, God is just so awesome!

This morning we did a prayer walk through the garden district with Eric, a missionary preparing a church plant here. He and his wife have two small children and believe they should pray over all the streets in the neighborhood before planting the church. Today we prayed for the businesses; praying they will succeed and in turn, be able to pour more money into the local economy through wages. Many local residents are working all day at multiple jobs, most earning around $8/hour. With so many people working long hours for little pay, the family unit suffers, causing broken homes and broken people. Eric and his wife are meeting many people in the community in hopes of building long-lasting relationships through a method he calls “Eat, Play, Serve.” His plan is to engage people in each of these three categories of life. He is seeing and feeling some resistance, especially in terms of his home and car. His home has been vandalized, his car repeatedly broken into and just yesterday he experienced some verbal threats. Eric is experiencing real persecution, right here in the United States. This man is doing his ministry, working small jobs and being a father, while trying to provide for his family and put food on the table. The best praise from him was this comment, “I haven’t had a regular paycheck in 28 months, but God continues to provide and we will continue to serve, even though we are barely above the poverty limit.” As these stories prove, great relationships are being built with the people on site and within our own team, not to mention among the other teams working here.

As we head back to the job sites and back to the people, please be in prayer for these things:

Hearts – Those of the people we serve and our own. Some are seeing new things and spending time with God unlike ever before, pray that it continues.
Health – A few in our group are under the weather.
Strength – Some are starting to feel sore from the manual labor.
Safety – God has kept us safe thus far, pray that it continues
Tonight’s block party – We are hosting two community parties tonight for people to stop in and grab some food, pray for the people we will meet.
Leaders – Things are great from a leader’s perspective, pray that God continues to guide us.

Thank you Mountview Family for your support,
Justin Gardner

For example:

1. When telling Rachel’s parents over Skype, Rachel’s mom cried so uncontrollably that she almost fainted, while Rachel’s dad continued to work on an open bag of Doritos. (He did say congrats after finishing the bag. Remember, never talk with a full mouth.)

2. Many of the middle school girls screamed at a pitch so high only dogs could hear; while one of the middle school boys simply stated, “Well I guess someone’s been busy.”

3. One of my closest friends (and boss), Pastor Kevin, discretely asked “Who’s the father?”

Okay, so maybe the last one didn’t actually happen, but the first two did! To be completely honest, (I’ve been told this is common) it really hasn’t sunk in yet. I have had minor freak out moments, and moments of excitement, but the reality of how my life is about to change hasn’t truly hit me. The fact that my wife has a brand new human being growing inside of her is hard for my brain to process. This pregnancy reminds me of something else that I have a hard time processing. In Luke 17, a Pharisee asks Jesus when the kingdom of God will come, to which Jesus replies, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” —Luke 17:20–21, NIV

Some versions translate that the kingdom of God is amongst us, or in our midst. Personally, I like the NIV translation best because Jesus is talking about our faith in Him. When Jesus came into the world, born of the virgin Mary as both fully God and fully man, He brought with Him the “kingdom” and His personal return will bring it to completion. What is the kingdom Jesus is referring to? It is the reign of God in human hearts, it is what Jesus prayed for in Matthew 6:10, “His will done on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus’ prayer was for the kingdom to come. In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” As amazing as it is to think about a little baby growing inside of my wife, how much more amazing is it to think that because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we are made holy, we are the temple in which God himself, in the form of the Holy Spirit, dwells?

Not only am I struck with an overwhelming sense of humility, but it brings about great conviction as well. Now that my wife is pregnant, deciding what to eat has become significantly more difficult. Not because my wife only wants “pickles and ice cream” or because all I want is the new Doritos Locos Taco from Taco Bell, but because what she eats doesn’t just affect herself, but it also affects the baby. Mercury in seafood, caffeine, bacteria in cheeses and meats, the list is overwhelming; all of which can be detrimental to the development of our baby.

Isn’t the same true for us in relation to the kingdom of God dwelling inside of us? If I am consuming the lies, the ideologies, the world-views, the sin that is so prevalent amongst us, is that detrimental to the development of the kingdom of God that Jesus prayed would come and reign in our hearts? In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul goes on to say, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” I have put so much thought into what my wife and I are going to have for dinner over the past couple months of our pregnancy, I’ve searched Google, consulted friends, read books; hours have been spent determining what to eat. Yet, so often I give little or no thought to what I consume in my heart and in my mind. How about you? How much time do you spend discerning what you put into your own heart and mind? How much time do you spend helping your family discern what they are consuming? Need help? Here are a few resources to get you started:

http://www.pluggedin.com/
Want to know what the new pop album says? What the new hit movie is about? Check out Plugged In for an honest review.

http://www.cpyu.org/Default.aspx
Understand today’s culture and how to impact it

http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/
Movie and Music reviews.

http://www.covenanteyes.com/
Accountability and Filtering helps you protect your family online.

http://www.internetsafety.com/safe-eyes-parental-control-software.php
Safe Eyes is Mac, PC, and iOS compatible software that protects your family from harmful content and other dangers on the internet.

As my friend was pulling up to the gate at the airport, we saw a van that clearly was unloading band equipment. So my friend said, “I wonder what band that is?” I looked over and immediately recognized the drummer and bass player to my favorite band, Switchfoot. Of course, I didn’t have any time to be excited, or contemplate whether or not I should go up and talk to them, so I just ran to the check-in counter. I was immediately reminded that wherever I go, I am always, always, a Christian first. Seeing my favorite Christian band was a good reminder to me that there is no reason to ever treat a person unkindly.

There were lines, of course, at the baggage counter and security, and I barely made the flight in time. I hear horror stories all the time about how people act in airports and on planes today. Other than being rather sweaty from running down the terminal towards my gate, it ended up being a great experience. Everyone in that airport was incredibly kind and helpful to me. As I checked my baggage, the attendant told me, with unmistakable nervousness that he would be yelled at, that my bag might not make it on that flight. My response was, “No problem, I just hope I make it!” His face immediately relaxed and he wished me well. (And my bag did make it!) In the security line, a very kind TSA agent told me where another line existed that had zero wait, I am so thankful to her! As I ran up to the plane, I apologized to the flight attendants, quickly found my seat, buckled up and had a great conversation with them during the flight!

Last month we talked with our elementary students all about honor: letting someone know you see how valuable they really are. In a stressful situation where it would have been easy for me to be selfish and lash out at others, God showed me again the importance of putting Him, and others, first. Remember, we are always, first and foremost, disciples of Jesus Christ. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living in us, and we need to act like it. Whether it’s in an airport, at school, on the playground, or at work. Shine Christ’s light wherever you go.

“Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves.” —Romans 12:10, NIRV

What we remember from these verses most often is that “faith without works is dead.” Generally we think about works as anything we do on behalf of God. But what if James’ intent was specific acts of mercy? After all, the example he gives here and what he was talking about previously in verse 13, mercy, can be defined as “the attitude and action to aid the afflicted.” So what if he really meant “faith without mercy is dead”? What would that mean for our spiritual lives?

- What about the people who we are currently unwilling to forgive?

- What about the hurting who are reaching out to us that we are ignoring?

- What about the friendless we continue to humor but refuse to really befriend?

- What about the poor and the poor in spirit we are too busy to invest in?

I am realizing again, I have great work that needs to be done in me before I could ever be viewed as one who is merciful. Rather than rushing out and doing more stuff, like I so often do at the moment, I am seeking God’s mercy personally; while learning to be merciful to those in my day to day life first. As I see God’s mercy being poured out on me, and how desperately I need it, my attitude towards others changes drastically. Then, as I am faithful with the few, I know the increase is sure to come.

God is systematically revealing some dead spots in my life as it concerns my lack of mercy. If I am to continue to grow in Christ, it starts inward and moves out from there. If James looked at you and said, “faith without mercy is dead,” would your faith be on fire or on life support? Start by having God continue to search and try your heart, allow yourself to experience His mercy all over again, and it will radically change your willingness to pour out His mercy on others.

In His Love,

Pastor Kevin