Category Archives: church planting

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2 Who are Putting Hearts Out There

Two recent stories caught my attention of people putting their hearts out there. They both gave me, JD, some inspiration to throw it out there again!

1. Lolo Jones of the 2012 Olympic Games, “When you put your heart out there, obviously, it opens you up to a lot of negativity. At the same time, if I can just maybe reach somebody out there…I hope my story can give somebody hope. There are lessons to be learned in winning and in losing.” 

She was commenting on negativity in press towards her. She worked 6 days a week for 4 years for 12 seconds of a race.
Who can I open up to today to maybe, just maybe, reach for a better future?
See More HERE.
2. Shaun King of HOPE MOB, “Every now and then I have to lay it all on the line and pour my heart out.  This is one of those times.  For the next few days I am perfectly willing to make a complete fool of myself begging and pleading for your help.  What we have means that much to me and hope it will mean that much to you.”
See More HERE. 
 In all of our lives we’ll find moments, if not years, of turmoil, strife, hardship, misunderstandings and worse sometimes.
In all these we have the great opportunity to press on with hard work, make courageous decisions and when necessary move up or on.
These 2 stories alone show us there is a pathway to renewal through faith and hope that inspires us. We can inspire others, too!
What are some instances you have been inspired? What are ways you can inspire others?
Blessings, JD 
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Gold Medal Values

There are some pretty valuable pieces of hardware being given out at the 2012 Olympics this summer. Surely, those of only Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin are high dollar value!

The composite of the this year’s Summer Olympic gold medal is 92.5 percent silver and 1.34 percent gold, with the rest copper. Their actual cash value for the materials is about $620.82 according to Lear Capital. And that isn’t the most valuable they’ve ever been just for their composite materials! Of course, if an Olympic medal is ever sold or auctioned, they can fetch far more than the value of their component metals. That’s because they have extrinsic value. And for some athletes, that extrinsic value translates into actual hard cash when they win. Many will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses for winning for their countries a Gold Medal. Others will receive untold amounts in endorsement fees, etc., as referenced in this BBC article.

We all have valuable pieces of our lives that lead to sustainability, progress and multiplication. We’ll call those Core Values. They are Gold Medals of our lives as we live by them. Their intrinsic and actual values grow over time. Some would offer that they are far more valuable than precious metals.

Knowing What and Who you stand for, your Core Values, keeps you guided, on track, as well as guard you from any attack to distract you.

A way to do that is to write it down and truly review it from time to time.

Another way to instill those Core Values deeply is to share them with others.

We’ve all heard it said that if you don’t stand for something that you’ll fall for anything.

Here are some values important to how we operate our missions, ministries and life.

1. Praying in faith believing the Lord answers
2. Acknowledging Scripture as infallible
3. Caring for one another
4. Loving others unconditionally
5. Respecting the worth of every person
6. Serving others in honor of the Lord, expecting nothing in return
7. Striving for excellence in everything to bring the Lord glory
8. Living and serving above reproach
9. Advocating for and responding to those in need, practically and spiritually
10. Unifying in inter-denominational, multi-ethnic, multi-generational, across socio-economic & other divisional partitions; real and perceived
11. Assisting and serving local church congregations, businesses, civic groups, schools and others groups since they are the most able to lead their communities
12. Building collaborations that do more together than separately
13. Engendering evangelism, expanding discipleship, multiplying Christians by building confidence for people in their destiny with the Lord
14. Praising the Lord for His mighty exploits He does through the hands of people

Although we’ll not be able to reach a perfect score or perfection, we surely strive to achieve our Goals, our Core Values.

What are the Core Values of your life? How have they guided and guarded you?

Blessings. JD

PS. I’m looking for some Virtual Assistants. If you’re interested, contact me.

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4 Keys to 11 Years.

Cute picture makes moving look fun. HA!

11 Years ago today, August 2, 2001, we finished loading up the U-Haul truck in Charleston, West Virginia (from our house we could see the WV state capitol building) as my little family moved to the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

My wife and 9 month old baby boy drove on ahead of me that day. The next day, August 3rd, I drove the U-Haul down to meet them where new friends met us to help unload. Tomorrow, August 3, 2012, we have a little celebration lunch in honor of how the Lord has not only sustained us thus far, but on all the miraculous ways He has thousands GOING, too!

Surely there have been many times to remember why we went that help us not be fatigued or shattered in the processes of life. We went because we vetted out various ways we heard the Lord say, “GO!” Just over a month after we moved, the horrors of 911 occurred reshaping millions. if not all, of American lives.

West Virginia State Capitol

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Like many people before us, we were pretty sure we knew what “GO!” meant. It probably meant at least something of what we thought, yet, it surely has meant a whole lot more. I’m not sure we ever have seen exactly what we thought it meant, though, as that is probably still a work in progress. One thing of many we have witnessed as we did our “GO!” is how literally thousands are “GOING!”, “GONE”, or will “GO!” with us!

This week, our CitiIMPACT Missions ministry released a summary of the 2012 Summer Missions thus far. Few of those involved in 2012 were even in our spheres of influence in 2001. Back in West Virginia where we first started, we were handing off missions ministries to inner-city families and a church plant to local folks and churches in 2001. Later this year, we’ll continue to “GO!” as we take another step in Liberia for starting schools, churches and rescuing families with their children.

4 Keys we’ve learned, each category of which could be its own book if expounded.

1. DON’T presume you know all of the story the Lord has unfolding in your life. He’ll likely as not show you just what you need to know while giving you enough faith to step out and “GO!”. After all, if we knew everything ahead of time, is there any faith in that?

2. DO know that the Lord is always with you, as He tells you to “GO!”

3. DON’T be surprised or alarmed when your best laid plans go wrong. It’s no shock to Him, and He has a better plan anyway.

4. DO remember that you’re going to serve at the will and pleasure of the Lord. This isn’t about us at all. It’s all about Him and His getting more souls rescued.

American, and other nations, athletes get up and get going to train, with persistence, for the Olympics. I hope you’ve experience many of their great stories as they have moved past often being SHATTERED to victorious celebrations. Our family sure has! Like them, we all need to get GOING sometimes. Focus on hearing the “GO!” from the Lord first and foremost!

Experience has taught us many things, as it does all of us, so we know that when we GO with God, we’ll experience more than we know how to think or ask! 

When has the Lord told you to “GO!” and how did you see Him work in your life?

Blessings! JD Smith

PS. I’m looking for a Virtual Assistant (part-time). Contact me if you are interested.

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