Kevin is a guy like any one of us. A middle class business man who feel on hard times about five years ago. He had a drinking problem and finally realized that he needed help and went to A.A. It was there that he learned that he needed a “higher power” in his life to overcome this alcoholic addiction.

His mail-woman happens to attend Fairhaven and got to know Kevin since he was working out of his home trying to get business up and going. She told him that Jesus could help him overcome alcoholism, and even invited him to Fairhaven. He said what everyone says, “sure, I’ll come sometime.”

One day, Dotty invited him again and Kevin says that for some reason, he heard the invitation differently. He shrugged her off again. Later that day he was shopping at Kroger and as he was leaving, saw a guy come in with a Fairhaven shirt on. The man said Hi to Kevin and he got back to his car and knew that God was trying to get his attention.

The next Sunday, Kevin came to church and feel so accepted even though he was a recovering alcoholic that he kept coming.
After about a year and half he knew that something was missing in his life. So he came down to the church during the day unannounced to see if there was any way he could talk to a pastor. Jim Futrell happened to be there and came out to talk to Kevin. They talked for a while and Jim discovered that Kevin was not a believer. Asked him if he wanted to take that step. Kevin said “Yes!” Jim took him into the chapel and Kevin invited Jesus into his life.

This last Sunday afternoon, Kevin was baptized as he has been a follower for four months and wanted to world to know. He is a changed man!

While Kevin was being baptized a man in the audience got out of his seat and went out in the hallway and asked to speak to an elder. He told his wife who was still in the Sanctuary that he needed to use the restroom.
Out in the hallway the elder began to talk to Ted. Found out that Ted’s son Nathan had invited him to witness his baptism. Ted had never been to Fairhaven. Ted told the elder that he just wanted Jesus in his life. The elder took him to the chapel and lead Ted in praying to invite Jesus in his life.

Nathan was in line to get baptized when up the stairs comes his dad who had just five minutes ago invited Jesus into his life and wanted to be baptized as well. They both were in the tank together as I baptized both them.

Kevin came to Jesus because of a simple invitation! Ted came to Jesus because of a simple invitation! A simple invitation…Wow!

Well…I have said several times that I would post an answer to this question on this blog…some technical problems, several out of town trips, and a borage of emails later…I still haven’t posted the answer.

NO Worries…I am going to answer it this weekend!  Come and join us.

I mentioned that singles are feed many lies when it comes to the sensitive subject of sex. 

The challenge was…Don’t buy into the lies!  So, what are the lies?

There are five myths…lies that are easy to buy into.  

1. Sex is just a physical thing…in other words, it is no big deal.  You have a “drive,” a sex drive and it is just a physical thing. Well, that is a LIE!  Sex is a multi-faced, complex thing.  It was given to us as a gift from God and is much more than just a physical thing…it is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
2. Sex is a powerful drive that cannot be controlled. LIE!  You are not that weak.  It is true that this “drive” is strong and if you don’t make the decision before you get there, it is very hard to control your emotions and your drive if you are in the heat of the moment.  But you don’t have to be controlled!
3. Sexual compatibility is important.  Ya, Ya…you don’t buy a car without a “test drive.”  So maybe you ought to see if you are going to be compatible sexually.  That is assuming that you can find compatibility.  The truth is that no two people are exactly compatible.  Sex compatibility is found in the middle of commitment.  Added to just common sense is the fact that premarital sex produces fear and insecurity.  Big price to pay for empty compatibility.  LIE.
4. Sex is o.k. - because we love each other.  LIE.  If you love each other you’ll wait.  If you love each other, you will express love rightly!
5. Sexual sin is not unforgivable. True!  But when you go into something wanting to be forgiven…when you knowingly do the wrong thing.  There is more damage to your heart, your spirit, your soul.  Ask David…he was forgiven for his adultery but the damage to his heart was huge!

Remember…Sexual freedom only comes from honoring God.  With freedom there is…No Worries!

Monday morning I leave on an 11 day trip to Asia with my good friend and Fairhaven member, Jim Kohls. We will be going to Thailand and Malaysia visiting some of our global staff.

Do you want to go with us? Well, you can!

All you need to do is to clik on this U-Tube site and follow along with our video blog. You will get to see where we are going, what we are doing, the places, the sights…you will, however, have to use your imagination on the smells!

www.youtube.com/user/dktbpb

The food is hot, the weather is hot but the people are warm!

Here is how you can pray:

1. Pray for safety as we travel.
2. Pray that our global staff will be encouraged by our coming.
3. Pray for good health.
4. Pray for these countries…Thailand & Malaysia.

Thanks for traveling with us!

No Worries…Jim and David

A Tuk Tuk…3 wheel taxi in Bangkok

The church of tomorrow will be filled with kids that come to Christ today! At Fairhaven we are passionate about making church a place that excites kids to come and learn about God. There are so many things that are competing for the attention of our kids today, and the church needs to be attractive to them. If all we did was get them to come and to amuse them, you would be right…there are many more useful things to do with our money.

The reality is that hundreds and hundreds of kids have invited Jesus into their lives and because church is exciting for them, they are bringing their unchristian friends who are being introduced to Jesus Christ.

I wish you could see…the group of 4th and 5th graders that come every Saturday morning for prayer as they pray for their friends and missionaries.

I wish you could see…that same group of kids lead their peers in worship every Sunday morning.

I wish you could see…our children that visit nursing homes every month.

I wish you could see…our elementary children that go on missions trips every summer and minister to the homeless and less fortunate.

I wish you could see…80 kids who are in kids choir who sing worship songs with such joy and passion in our worship service, and in the community - the Greene, Dayton Dragons game, Dayton Bombers games.

I wish you could see…the Christmas party that the kids planned for over 100 single moms and children.

I wish you could see…the hundreds of children every Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday evening, Saturday night and Sunday morning learning about God and who He is through His word.

I wish you could see…the number of moms and dads that have been brought to church because their kids don’t want to miss church.

The truth is that our investment in making church fun and exciting for children is something that Christ would be pleased with as He himself invited kids into His lap.

Our investment is not limited to children as we have given millions of dollars to missionaries and national pastors from around the world. Hundreds of adults every year travel at their own expense on mission teams. In fact .26 cents of every dollar goes to a ministry beyond the walls of our church family. This year alone we have given assistance to many families who have become unemployed.

It is our passion to see people introduced to and transformed by Jesus Christ.

I guess what I am trying to say is…come and visit! Come see our hearts, our ministry, and what God is doing.

We would love to have you! If not…no worries!

Humbly.

Letter to the Editor: (Dayton Daily News)

“Fairhaven Church addition creates ‘exciting environments’ for kids,” March 19: “Where can you go to church, enter a submarine and slide down an enclosed swirling tube into an aquatic-themed room with 3-D coral and fish on the walls?”

This sounds more like an amusement park than a church. I can think of so many more useful and important things to do with the money.

A church is not supposed to be exciting and amusing. Its purpose is for the worship of God and to aid in the spiritual maturity of Christians. There are children in this country who are homeless and have no idea when or where they will get their next meal. There are families in this very state who are losing their homes and who are unemployed.

This article was a classic example of hypocrisy in the Christian religion. Churches are becoming businesses, with Starbucks cafes, fancy lobbies and services not unlike what I would expect at a rock concert.

What would Christ say to them in response to these foolish actions?

Andrea King
Centerville

His name is Bruce Barry! He learned everything he knows from his father, Dick Barry, a cartoonist for Walt Disney. Bruce began drawing and designing as soon as he was old enough to pick up a pencil. As a young boy he honed his skills by painting window murals for small businesses in his neighborhood.

Illustrations, sculptures, video animation… it didn’t matter which medium. He used whatever artistic means necessary to create the most intriguing, exciting environments possible. Bruce has been using his amazing gift of design artistry to create themed attractions and environments to inspire the nation.

Then one day Bruce got a call from a children’s pastor. He had NEVER stepped foot into a church. The pastor asked Bruce to hone his powerful skill on the church. “Use that “Disney-like skill and excellence for the church,” the pastor asked.

So, Bruce did! The pastor was so thrilled and affirmed Bruce so much that he began to trust this pastor. Long story short…the pastor told Bruce about Jesus. Bruce knew that he needed something, he was empty. His design wowed people everywhere he went, but that didn’t seem enough. The pastor asked Bruce if he was interested in the ONE thing that could give him meaning and significance.

“Yes!” Bruce said.

And that began a complete change from the inside out. Part of that change was that Bruce wanted to take his skill, his creativity, his vision and make a difference in the Kingdom of God.

He turned his creative energy on the church and the rest is history!

Wacky world is coming to Fairhaven Church to create such an excitement for kids that church is fun, creative, exciting and full of imagery that draws us right to the creator of all fun and creativity - God himself.

I asked Bruce if he would help Fairhaven reach more kids, and he said…No Worries!

You know we miss so much being Gentiles! The Passover Dinner is a chance to get connected with the history and symbolism of what we celebrate every month in Communion.

When we celebrate Communion, it is the third cup in what is a four cup celebration. The Passover Dinner is centered around relationships…the relationship of God to his people, the relationship of the family both church family and blood family and the relationship of the ancient forefathers with us.

If you like history, the Passover Dinner is for you! If you like symbolism, the Passover Dinner is for you! If you like to be connected to generations of God’s people, the Passover Dinner is for you!

If you like to be inspired during the Easter season, the Passover Dinner is for YOU!

When Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me,” he said this in the context of a Passover meal.

What we remember is that God has had a plan to redeem His people from the beginning of time, which culminates in Jesus.

In Jesus we have….well, No Worries!

If you have more questions about what the Passover Dinner check out: http://www.fairhavenchurch.org/easter/downloads/Passover-FAQ.pdf

If you would like NOT to skip this meal and join us, register here:  https://secure.fairhavenchurch.org/events.html

Ever found yourself in a place that you never expected? Didn’t want to be? Wondered how you got there?

Scary! There is just no other word.

We’ve all been there…and wondered, what is the secret in getting through?

You know, when you thumb through the pages of Scripture, you find many people…real people…who find them themselves in places that seem….well, just scary!

What were their secrets? How did they see God in those scary places?

Come, let’s find out together in our next three week series!

No Worries…

Two reasons….One-because God calls you to go! Two - Lost People matter to God!

Ron & Ruth are training church leaders to lead the church in Africa. Training them to share the “Story” that brings hope.

So often we have missions events with missionary speakers. This year we want a missions experience with stories from a missionary (Ron Julian).

So, the Sanctuary has been transformed to look like a church would look in the Congo! Tin roof, wood benched, makeshift pulpit, African drums, a keyboard and that is all.

Come experience Congo! Come worship like people in Congo!

Want to know more….No Worries - http://www.fairhavenchurch.org/ministries.php?id=Global%20%20Local%20Outreach&sub=MissionsFest

He said, “Dad, we learned about the importance of telling the truth!”

“Great, do you think telling the truth is important,” I asked.

“Ya, lying hurts you,” he said, “and it hurts everyone around you.”

Then he said, “you know, I am hurt because we have been lied too about the package.”

“Package, what package?” I confusingly responded.

“You know the one that is worth two trillion dollars,” he confidently said in return.

This is my ten year old saying this. He has really no idea what he is talking about except what he has heard at school, the neighborhood, news or other places….he hasn’t heard this at home! He didn’t even vote…can’t vote. And yet is mad that he was lied too!

My point is not to cast a shadow over our president. It is too, rather, say two things:

1. Our kids, grandkids, kids all around are listening to us adults. They hear more than they should or we want them to hear. The truth is I think many times we don’t think they understand.

2. Lying is devastating! NOW, you decide if you think we have been “lied to about the package.” Its true, lying hurts us and everyone around us…that I know!

In fact is, a ten year old knows that! The moral of the story is….Just be honest.

When you are you have….No Worries!