What's Your Perspective?

by Tim Howard

Have you ever witnessed something with several other people present and when asked about the event, everyone shared a different perspective? It’s amazing to me how several people can experience the same thing and yet have several unique interpretations. How two children can be brought up in the same household with the same parents at the same time and develop such different philosophies of life is very intriguing.

There was a time in history when a man named Moses sent 12 of his military personal out on a reconnaissance mission. It’s recorded in the book of Numbers Chapter 13. They were given these instructions: “Go through the desert and into the hill country. See what the land is like and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls or are they unprotected?

The purpose of this exploration was to help the Israelites develop a strategy for acquiring that territory since God had given it to them as their inheritance. Here’s the report they gave to Moses.

“We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is a magnificent country but the people living there are powerful, and their cities and towns are fortified. We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are! We even saw giants. We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that’s what we looked like to them!” But Caleb tried to encourage the people along with Joshua as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” 

Twelve different people and two very different perspectives! Ten saw things in a very negative way and only Joshua and Caleb saw things in a positive light.

In my early years of life and even into my mid thirties, I was an extremely negative person. If someone came up with an idea or a suggestion, I could give 10 reasons why it wouldn’t work. I was so good at being negative; I thought I had a special gift! My philosophy was simple: expect the worst and you won’t be disappointed. This philosophy seems to guarantee a certain level of stability but it also keeps you from experiencing a whole lot of joy.

A pessimist has a tendency to see the worst rather than the best and this is witnessed by the way they talk. Everything is negative!

If you have a negative perspective, you may need to change your position. When standing on the ground, things can look overwhelming and intimidating but when you get into a plane and fly a few thousand feet above land things look a lot smaller. You gain a new perspective by simply changing your position. 

If you know God, Ephesians 2:6 says: “you are positioned in the heavenly realm with him.” High above all things!  In other words, you can see with God’s eyes. He has a greater vantage point and a much broader view. The Israelites would have done better had they put their faith in God and viewed things through his eyes rather than their own. 

When you try to see God through the myriad of problems you encounter rather than seeing your problems through God’s eyes your perspective becomes skewed. If you tend to see things in a negative light, it might be time to put your faith in God and get some new ‘spiritual glasses.’ It will be amazing how your perspective will change. 

Keep On Keeping On

by Andrew Cromwell

We’ve all seen the cartoonish depiction of the frog who is choking the neck of the stork even while he is being swallowed whole. The caption reads “Never Give Up.” There is something about that image that speaks to us because we frequently need to be reminded to keep fighting and never quit.

Life is difficult. I’m not saying that it doesn’t have its wonderful moments, but because we live in a fallen world, death, disappointment and disease are part of our reality. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we think they should. Sometimes that job doesn’t work out. Sometimes people let us down (or we let them down). And sometimes tragedy strikes.

But have you noticed that there are some people who just keep floating to the top? Life might throw them in the drink again and again, yet they find a way to float back up and start again. I believe it is these people, more often than not, that in the end are the winners in life. They have learned the secret of not giving up. If life deals them a bad hand, they take the blow, shake it off and get up and move on again.

Too many people quit too early. They get discouraged—and we all understand why—because the wait is too long or the pain too intense or the cost is too high. But when you quit you take yourself out of the race and only the ones who stay in win the medals.

There is an interesting passage in the book of Ephesians where the Apostle Paul talks about the battle of life. He says, “and when you have done all else, stand.” Listen, sometimes you have done all the work, you have paid all the bills, you have talked to the right people and you have put in the time—but you are still not seeing the victory. That is not the moment to give up, that is the moment to stand. Don’t sit down and don’t turn your back or walk away. Keep on keeping on.

What is it that you are tempted to give up on right now in your life? The dream of your college degree? The beauty of a love-filled marriage? The joy of a significant relationship with your kids? Success at your work? Don’t give up just yet! Keep pressing, keep trying, keep working—victory is around the corner!

The best news is that Father God wants to see you find victory as well, and the greatest joy is discovering that true success can only be found through and in Him. The pastors of Kings County would love to encourage you and your family to keep on keeping on this weekend. Why don’t you visit one of the many wonderful churches in our community....don’t give up just yet!

In Due Season

by Tim Howard

I was brought up in Maine, a state that offers four distinct seasons. While talking with a person who visited this state recently for the first time, I was told he was thinking about relocating to Bar Harbor, Maine. My council to him was simple. Don’t make any decisions until you have experienced all the seasons. Each one is totally different than the ones we experience here in Hanford.

I have my favorite season and possibly you do as well. God, however, is the creator of every season and there’s something positive about each one.  Maybe he gave four seasons for our pleasure or possibly to afford us some variety. But one thing is sure, He uses each season of our lives to develop character and make us more like him.  

“But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be people who are perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.” —JAMES 1:4 

James encourages us to patiently walk through every season of life. Don’t be in a hurry to move on. Enjoy and even endure if necessary where you are currently planted because God is at work in you! When you are working on something - That something is working on you!

Things happen in “Due Season.” Note, It’s God’s season, not ours. We are in a hurry; God isn’t. He takes time to do things right—He lays a solid foundation before He attempts to build a building and we are God’s building under construction. He is the Master Builder, and He knows what He is doing. We may not know what’s happening, but He does, and that will have to be good enough. 

Some seasons are more difficult than others but all seasons are significant and play an important role in our overall development. Paul tells us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time (in due season) we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 

In order to bring forth fruit you will need to plant, cultivate, water and work. Some blood, sweat and tears will be required. These seasons are not necessarily fun or as glamorous as the fruit-bearing season but without them, there will be NO fruit. 

David gives a promise to those who put God first and choose to follow him closely in every season of their lives. “They will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit ‘in season’ and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he or she does prospers.” Psalms 1:3

What season of life are you in right now? Is it a season of new beginnings? Exhausting labor? Great difficulty? Tremendous fruitfulness? Abundant Joy? Whatever season of life defines your current situation, one fact remains true. A new season is on the horizon!

Learn to relax in the current season. Even as you change from sweaters to short sleeve shirts for the summer heat, adjust your thinking to enjoy your present circumstances. 

Rather than asking God to deliver you ‘from’ the season, ask him to deliver ‘to’ you the necessary tools to make this season fruitful. If you do, you will Bloom Where You Are Planted. 

Lay It On The Line

by Andrew Cromwell

It seems a strange paradox to humans that when we seek to be happy, we rarely find happiness, but when we seek to bring happiness to others, we find it ourselves. Life is full of such upside-down realities. A well-known author said, “When I was young I used to try and be an interesting person, then someone told me to stop trying so hard and just start being interested in others.”

The thread common to both being happy and being interesting is the focus on others. Albert Einstein said, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” There is something about getting outside of the continual focus we have on ourselves that makes us bigger and better people. When we begin to ask what we can add to the world rather then ask the world what it can add to us, then we begin to enlarge the very quality of our souls.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends.” If we desire to live a life that is great, if we want to have our life mean something, then we must stop living for ourselves. We must start to live and think differently.

When everyone else is trying to figure out how they can get a raise so they can get a bigger house, car, boat or RV, we need to be thinking about how we can get a raise so we can make a difference in the lives of kids who are hungry and need an education. When everyone else is thinking about how to make themselves look better, we need to be thinking about what we can do to make someone else look better. And when everyone is busy complaining about how bad things are, we need to be rolling up our sleeves and doing something about it.

People who are willing to lay it on the line are people who are willing to be smaller so someone else can be bigger. We spend a lot of time talking about the generation that went to war in the 40’s—we call them “the Greatest Generation”. We talk about them because they sacrificed for others.

The challenge to all of us is that greatness costs. Greatness costs your comfort. Greatness messes up your schedule. Greatness requires blood, sweat and tears. Great parents are willing to put their kids first. Great employees are willing to put their co-workers first. Great friends are willing to put their friend first.

All the world seems to be saying “me first.” But the great ones say, “you first.” What do you say?

The pastors in Kings County would love to help you know more about the one individual who redefined greatness by willingly choosing to die for you and me. Perhaps the road to your own greatness begins with Him?

The Fight: Round 12

by Tim Howard

Those who don’t give up win title fights. Three things are needed to win the battles of life. Jesus commended a woman who was experiencing tremendous difficulties and in need of legal assistance. She was battling an arrogant Judge who resisted her pleas. Continuing to persevere, however, she won him over and received justice. 

I’ve seen a lot of fights won in the last round. The fighters may have led on points according to the judges but going into the 12^th and final round they were knocked out and lost the battle. Why? The contender persevered! It’s reminiscent of Ecclesiastes 9 that says: the race is not always won by the fastest or the battle to the strongest nor does wealth always come to the most brilliant. Sometimes other factors come into play. You need PERSEVERANCE to win.

It’s not how you begin a fight that’s most important but how you finish and you won’t finish if you aren’t prepared. Being PREPARED for battle before the battle begins is the second key to obtaining victory. Many times we lose because we are taken by surprise and not ready for what’s ahead.

Paul in Ephesians Chapter 6 gives us seven directives that prepare us for the challenges ahead.

1. Make sure your head is screwed on straight. Know whom you can depend upon. If you are in need, Jesus is the one who can save you. He alone rescues. 
2. Commit yourself to doing what’s right. You may not always do things the right way but you can do the right thing. 
3. Determine to be truthful. Lying will undermine what God wants to do in you and through you. If you want to finish the fight, every round must be founded upon truth.
4. Pursue peace and not war. Blessed are the peacemakers.
5. Don’t’ fight the battles of life without faith in Christ. We all have faith but the question is: Who or where do we put our faith? Some put confidence in their financial wealth. Others depend upon their skills and abilities but those who finish strong put their faith in Christ. 
6. Don’t let people’s opinion have more power than God’s word. Realize and recognize God always has the final word.
7. Don’t fight battles alone. Keep in contact with the coach. Jesus! Pray at all times in a variety of ways. Don’t settle for only talking to others when you face difficulties. You have a Heavenly Father who listens whenever you call. 

Paul calls these seven directives the armor of God. They will protect you and lead you to victory. When you prepare yourself in these seven ways, you can stand against anything that comes across your path. 

The third key to victory is being PRO-ACTIVE. You must live life on purpose! Be intentional. Paul, who gave these directives, said: “Fight the good fight.” Get involved! Don’t be passive. Press on to victory. Many fights aren’t worth fighting but others must be fought and you must win. Don’t wait for victory to come to you, go after it.

When all is said and done the Apostle Paul penned these words: 2Tim. 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”    God wants to equip you to become a championship fighter. You may be fighting depression, hopelessness, sickness, chronic pain or some other battle. God says: John 16:33 … “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The Fight: Round 3

by Tim Howard

One of the greatest fights recorded in scripture is about a man named Goliath and a boy named David. Here’s the Biblical record.

“A giant nearly ten feet tall stepped out from the Philistine line into the open, Goliath from Gath. He had a bronze helmet on his head and was dressed in armor—126 pounds of it! He wore bronze shin guards and carried a bronze sword. His spear was like a fence rail—the spear tip alone weighed over fifteen pounds… Goliath called out to the Israelite troops, "Why bother using your whole army… pick your best fighter and pit him against me.” … Hearing the Philistine's challenge, they were terrified and lost all hope.” MSG 1 Samuel 17.

You may be asking: How could anyone stand up against someone like that and win? Evidently others were wondering the same thing, because no one dared to accept his challenge except a boy named David.

David told the King he was prepared to do battle with this Giant even though he was small in stature. God was with him! He would use weapons, which included 5 stones and a sling. Here’s what the record says: “David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt. That's how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone.” MSG

A better question might be: How does a much larger man, a much stronger man and soldier with much more training in warfare fail to win this battle?

Let me give you three reasons:

1. Goliath overestimated his own strength and underestimated God’s strength. David didn’t! His confidence wasn’t in his own abilities but in the promises and power of God. David didn’t lean on his own understanding. He fulfilled Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight…” NIV

2. Goliath devalued, disrespected and disdained David because he was small. David, however, used five small stones to do the impossible. If you are going to win the fight against your giants, you’ve got to know that every little bit helps. It’s the little things that are important and it’s the little things that add up to a lot. Rick Warren said: “One snowflake can’t do much but if you get enough of them, you can stop traffic.” Don’t look down on the little things of life. If you do you will lose the battle.

3. Goliath didn’t take into account his weakness. Even though his armor almost totally covered his body, he was still vulnerable. Pride can blind you to your weaknesses. David walked in humility and it proved to be the key to his victory. Humility is a powerful weapon. James said it best: “God gives us more and more strength to stand against…evil…. God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.” St Paul puts it this way: 2 Corinthians12:9  “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” 

What giants are you facing and fighting today?

Don’t depend upon your own abilities but trust in God. Don’t wait for the 15^th round, hoping to get a KO. Keep throwing the little punches every round. They are paving the way to victory. Make sure you walk humbly before God. He will help you win the fight.

The Fight: Round 2

by Tim Howard


Have you ever had someone come at you with harm as his or her intent? If so, you’ve been confronted with a very important question. Is this a flight or fight situation?

I’ve heard people say they are lovers and not fighters. They want peace, not war. King David was that type of man. Psalm 120:7 clearly reveals his innermost desires. The problem however, was simple.  Those who wanted war surrounded David. They wanted to fight!  They didn’t want peace! David’s story reveals he was a man who loved God but was also a great warrior. He was both, a lover and a fighter!

I’m a promoter of the ‘flight’ response if at all possible but realize there are times when the ‘fight’ response is necessary. I say this not out of cowardice but wisdom. If a fight can be avoided and the right goals succeed, it is best. 

When you must fight, however, the right weapons can bring victory. 

Paul the Apostle addresses this issue in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. “The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God…Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.” MSG

The tools or weapons God uses aren’t your typical type. They aren’t designed to help you carry out revenge like Dirty Harry. They won’t help you to fight fire with fire and they can’t be used for your own personal vendettas. The weapons given by God will bring forgiveness, freedom and fullness when used properly.

Of all the weapons we have received, I think ‘Truth’ is among the top ten. In Ephesians 6 when Paul is talking about warfare he tells us to make sure we have truth on our side whenever we encounter opposition and need to fight. He likens it to a belt which when buckled around the waist keeps everything together and in place. 

A marriage between a man and woman will fall apart if truth doesn’t reign in the relationship. A business venture will fail if it isn’t based upon truth. An argument founded upon a lie will never turn out well. 

“Speak the ’truth’ in love” is what the Bible tells us to do. When you speak the truth, it has the power to break through the opponent’s facade. When you speak the ‘truth in love’ it has the power to build the opponent’s character. Everyone wins.

Truth can hurt but in the end it’s worth embracing. A doctor’s knife may cause pain but when the cancer is removed, the joy is overwhelming. 

When you speak the truth at the right time, in the right way and with the right attitude the results will be freedom. It may not stop the battle but it will free you in the midst of the battle.  

We all live in a world that requires us to fight. You must fight against depression, which comes frequently. You must fight the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness that comes when you hear the daily news. You must fight to keep your head above water when your dreams are shattered and disappointments abound. When you fight, make sure you know the truth about God. He’s on your side.