Thanks

Posted in Thank You! on November 11th, 2008 by Administrator| | 0 Comments.

For the past eight years NorthStar Church has teamed with Acworth United Methodist and local elementary schools to pay tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces. The “Thank You” service has become so popular that we can’t advertise it to the public because every seat in the sanctuary at Acworth United Methodist is filled.   It is an amazing night watching children sing, learn and talk to veterans who have served in past wars, and to men and women who are currently serving our country.

Over the past 11 years NorthStar Church has been involved in a lot of community projects.  One that stands out to me is our involvement with the Veterans Memorial on Patriots Point located at Cauble Park in Acworth.  

During the 2000 Allatoona Charities Parade, the NorthStar Church float was placed beside the VFW Post 2458 and Veterans ff Vietnam War floats.  As we were loading our kids on to our float, the kids asked us dads about the people on those two floats.    Why are they in the parade? What did they do?  Why do they wear those hats?  My son was one of those kids asking those questions.  I was embarrassed as a father.  I remember walking down the parade route thinking about the fact that we take so much for granted.  NorthStar Church was a brand new church meeting at North Cobb High School and having Bible studies in homes because of the men and women on those floats, and our kids are asking “Who are they?”  That day changed me forever. 

Since that day, NorthStar Church, along with so many partners in the community, have worked together to insure that kids never again ask the question, “What did they do?”  The Veterans Memorial on Patriots Point and the “Thank You” service have become fixtures in our community.  I have to admit that I get teary eyed when I see parents and kids go down to the memorial and pay tribute.  I love seeing the joy in the veteran’s eyes when they talk to the kids and watch the kids sing to them. I love hearing the kids sing patriotic songs and watching them develop a passion for our country. 

Veterans Day is on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended  World War I.  Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.   This year will mark the 90th anniversary of that great day.  My prayer is that you will put out your flags, visit a memorial, send a card, or a make a call to pay tribute to the men and women who have sacrificed everything for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Marlon

REDIRECTED

Posted in Thank You! on October 18th, 2008 by Administrator| | 1 Comments.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”  Isaiah 55:8 (NIV) 

I have always been amazed at how God has redirected my life.  For the past 10 years I have had the privilege to be apart of the DreamBuilders program at NorthStar.  I remember God giving me the burden and the vision for this mentoring program.  My oldest son Todd’s elementary school was dead last in reading and writing among all local elementary schools.  When I met with the counselor of the school to find out why this the school was so far behind, she told me that the school had 42% of the students on the free and reduced lunch program.  She told me that 22% of the kids lived in the housing authority, and 17% lived in weekly rental hotels or trailer parks. 

 After meeting with the housing authority, a group of volunteers and I started a program called DreamBuilders.  We originally thought the program would be a mentoring program that helped kids with their homework, to help them with their math and reading skills; But, one night God showed us what DreamBuilders was to be about. One night at DreamBuilders I had to leave early to go to the PTA meeting to hear my son, Todd, sing.  My wife came to the housing authority to pick me up and take me down to the school.  As I waved good bye to the kids, and told them where I was going, they rushed to me and said “We know the song!”  After hearing them repeat that phrase about five times, it dawned on me that these kids are in Todd’s class and they had been practicing the song, and were supposed to that song with Todd.  The problem was that they didn’t have rides to the school.  I remember looking at Libby and she smiled and said to me “Go get the church van and bring them.”  After that night I began to wonder how many other events at the school did these kids miss because of not having a ride.  So DreamBuilders started to take the kids to “Skate Night,” “Cici’s Pizza Night,” and “Bingo for Books Night.”  What I learned was that was the first time that they got to be with their classmates after school.  The smiles on their faces when the kids would see their classmates were priceless.  God wanted DreamBuilders to be more than just a mentoring program to help kids with their class work.  DreamBuilders was to be about helping kids enjoy and be able to participate in school. 

The question is: Do we really seek God’s way for our life?  Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) says “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”   Every testimony that I have heard has quoted that verse, then you hear Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,  plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (NIV) 

Adrian Rogers said, “God cannot steer a nonmoving ship.”  God is not a God of disorder, and because he makes plans, we are to make plans too.  My prayer is that you will always be sensitive and open to God’s redirection for you. 

 Marlon 

 

 

Training Ground

Posted in Thank You! on September 30th, 2008 by Administrator| | 0 Comments.

“You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converted to Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints.” 1 Cor. 16:15 (NIV) 

One of the many purposes of the family is to be a launching pad for ministry and service to others.  I was so fortunate to grow up in a home that was committed to the Lord and service to others.  Some of my favorite moments as a family were when we would help dad with his community projects.  

Every 3rd Saturday in May was the WHAS Crusade for Children.  Throughout the state of Kentucky the fire departments would go throughout the community and collect money for special needs children.  My brother Gregg, sister Debbie, mom and I would help the Fairdale Volunteer Fire Department go house to house, stand in front of grocery stores, department stores, and out on the road in front of traffic lights to collect money.  The biggest thrill was to ride with dad on the yellow jeep that was used to fight field fires to go to homes off the main road to collect money.When we would go to those homes, they would be at the door waiting on us to give. The biggest thrill was when the fire departments would go to the TV station and announce their totals and pour the money into the fish tanks.  We would be at the Fire Station watching with a great sense of community spirit and pride when they would flash Fairdale Volunteer Fire Department on the TV screen.  

The Christmas season brought in some great memories.  The annual “Lighting of the Tree” was always at the firehouse.  The firehouse would always have the biggest tree in front of it.  Dad would have the firehouse covered with Christmas tree lights that would light up downtown Fairdale.   I loved watching Dad put Santa Claus on top of the fire truck and take Santa to places he needed to go to first. Sometimes Santa would stop at some of the firemen’s homes who fell upon some hard times.    

My wife Libby and I have tried our best to make our family a launching pad for ministry.  At NorthStar, beginning in October, there will be plenty of opportunities for families to start training their children in ministry and in service to the community.  For the first time NorthStar will be partnering with Cobb Christmas to bring toys and other goodies to children.  In November we will be working with the Joy Foundation and Redemption Baptist Church to take turkeys and canned goods to needy  families.  In December we will have Adopt a Family, where we partner with our local schools’ social workers and adopt needy families for Christmas.  For the 10th time we will provide volunteers and sponsor children for Shop with a Hero.   

My prayer is that you take these opportunities to make some ministry memories with your family that will one day lead to a ministry of their own. 

Marlon 

Taste

Posted in Thank You! on September 10th, 2008 by Administrator| | 0 Comments.

“I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.  They are a fragrant offering, an  acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”  Philippians  4:18 (NIV) 

 This past weekend was the Taste of Kennesaw.  Over 30 restaurants participated in this great event.  The smell from the food filled the air in Kennesaw with an aroma that just made your mouth water.  Over 15,000 people came to sample the food that these restaurants provided.   Proceeds from the Taste of Kennesaw went to four localcharities.  I am so proud of NorthStar’s involvement with this great event. 

Paul thanked the Philippians for sending him aid and supplies while he was in prison.   The Philippians believed in Paul’s vision of taking the gospel where it had never been.  Paul says the gifts that the Philippians sent him was a fragrant offering and an acceptable sacrifice to God.  He was referring to Leviticus Chapter 7.  In Old Testament times the people would lay a sacrifice on the altar, pour it out and that would create steam that the whole community could smell.  Why could Paul make such a statement like that? Because Jesus said it.

 “In as much as you have done unto the least of these, my brethren,  you have done unto Me.” Mattthew 25:40

 Every act of kindness is a sacrifice to God.  Anytime you have the spirit of giving it is encouraging to others.  It is an investment in eternity and it pleases God.  It leaves a beautiful fragrance for the community to smell.  Over the next few months at NorthStar there will be plenty of opportunities for you to serve and invest in eternity:     

 

OLD FASHION WAY

Posted in Thank You! on August 19th, 2008 by Administrator| | 0 Comments.

“But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.” Phil 2:7 (NIV) 

Commercial tag lines have a way of just sticking in your mind.  I remember growing up with tag lines such as “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin,”  “Have it your way!,” “Trix is for kids,” and so on.  The one tag line that I want to focus on is by an old investment company that said, “We make money the old fashion way.  We earn it!” 

At NorthStar we do ministry and share the good news the old fashion way… by serving.  Jesus modeled that for us when he left heaven and came to earth.   Philippians 2:7 is a verse that I have meditated on quite frequently.  It blows my mind that the creator of the universe - the one who spoke this world into existence - came to earth as a servant.  He didn’t come to earth and say, “I’m God so worship me!” or “I’m your creator and you wouldn’t exist without me!”  He instead took the role of a servant.  He healed the sick, fed the hungry, took care of the blind and ministered to those in need.  He modeled for us that you have to earn the right to be heard by serving. 

Many of us have been to sporting events where we have heard ministers on the streets yelling at people.  I recently took my son Jacob to WWE SMACKDOWN. The lines were so long to get into Philips Arena.  While we were in line, there was a minister yelling at all of us.  I watched the people in line just turned off and outraged.  Everyone was handed these little post cards with scriptures on them.  When Jacob and I finally got to the doors to go in, you could see piles of those cards stacked up at the door and trash cans filled with them.    

Romans 8:29 tells us that God’s number one goal is to conform us to the image of his Son.  At NorthStar, we take the role of a servant and earn the right to be heard the way that Jesus did.  That is why we do so many acts of kindness.  We are building the relationships that will one day lead to the sharing of the good news.  By serving and meeting the needs of our community we are becoming like Christ and earning the right to share him with others. 


Over the next few months we have many opportunities for you to help us earn the right to be heard.  My prayer is that you will join us and help us earn the right to be heard the old fashion way… by serving! 

 

Marlon    

 

 

GOODNESS AND MERCY

Posted in Thank You! on July 12th, 2008 by Administrator| | 1 Comments.

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms 23:6

So many of us spend our whole life worrying about tomorrow that we never stop and enjoy today. Psalms 23:6 is a great verse that serves as a reminder to us about God’s love and faithfulness to His word. Because of God’s goodness and faithfulness we can expect His protection and provision. No matter what happens to me I can expect three things to happen:

1. It will be for my own good.
 2. It will be for the good of others.
 3. It will be for the Kingdom of God.

David, when he wrote Psalm 23, had a lot of disappointments. David says that good will always come out of whatever happens even in the bad, the evil, and difficult.

In April of 2005, Libby and I were told that our youngest son, Matthew, was autistic. I will never forget carrying my not yet two-year old son from the doctor’s office out to the truck. My eyes were filled with tears, my heart was broken, and I trembled with fear about facing the future. How do I provide for him? Will we ever connect because Matthew doesn’t talk? What kind of father and son outings will we have? What goodness and love will follow us in the days to come?

Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer not to get overwhelmed about the future, but to take it one day at a time. He teaches us to pray for our daily bread, the strength to make it each day. In the days since Matthew’s diagnosis, I have learned a lot about God’s goodness and love. I am a 100 times better dad, minister and person because of Matthew. I love him and need him a lot more than he needs me.

On July 19, I will have the privilege to do the invocation for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Special Needs ball field at the Acworth Sports Complex. The special needs ball field will be the first of its kind in many ways. It will be the main field at the complex. All of the kids will be playing together at the same complex. The concession stand will be operated by children with special needs to help them develop their job skills. I hope that other cities throughout America will follow our lead and build more special needs sports complexes.

God’s goodness and mercy truly has followed me every day since Matthew’s diagnosis. My eyes have been opened up to a whole new world. God has expanded my ministry to new horizons. I would have never dreamed about building a special needs ball field. I would have never met so many wonderful children and parents. I would have never have met so many wonderful people who have given their time, talent and treasure to such a great cause.

I can’t wait until July 19 when my family will join other special needs families to witness God’s faithfulness. My prayer is that when you are faced with a tough life circumstance, that you will remember God’s goodness and love and that you will trust him for all of your tomorrows.

Marlon

P.s. I love you Matthew with all my heart!

PLAYING IT SAFE

Posted in Thank You! on June 26th, 2008 by Administrator| | 0 Comments.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb. 11:6 (NIV)

What does it take to please God? So many people think it is through rituals, through rules, through regulations. Some people try to please God through religion, where if you observe certain days or go to church and take communion, that God will put you on his favorite list.

The Bible says the way to please God is to have faith. What is faith? Rick Warren, in his message “Building A Life Of Faith,” explains that faith is like a multi-faceted diamond. There are many aspects to faith.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb. 11:1

One aspect of faith is believing when I don’t see it. Last week I witnessed our church feed over 1200 hungry kids in Cobb County. I remember when Kelley Maddox came into my office with the idea to help out MUST Ministries. When she proposed the idea, she looked at me and said, “NorthStar can do this!” When she said that, she had no idea who would bring sandwiches, juice drinks, brownies, and applesauce boxes. She had no idea who would help her sack the lunches, count the lunches or deliver the lunches. All Kelley had was a vision that God gave her because of her burden to feed hungry children and her faith that God would provide. Kelley pleased God with her faith.

Kelly’s faith reminds and challenges all of us to do something great for God and not be afraid to try to do the impossible. Warner von Braun, the father of the space age, who built the Atlas rocket and the Saturn rockets that sent men to the moon, once said, “There has never been any significant achievement in human history that was not accompanied by faith. It all started out that somebody believed it was possible in advance.”

NorthStar Church was started because a group of people believed it before they could see it. Each Sunday over 2500 people come to worship on a campus that
sits on 46 acres because of their faith. Last week 1200 children were fed lunch because of Kelley’s faith.

The big question is what are we doing in our lives that requires faith? What burden or vision are we working on that God has given us that requires faith? Are we truly seeking to please God?
My prayer is that you develop a burden for God’s people so that He can give you a vision to do something significant, something that will draw you out of your comfort zone so that your faith will please him.

Marlon

Family Business

Posted in Thank You! on June 10th, 2008 by Administrator| | 0 Comments.

“Your children like olive plants around your table.” Psalms 128:3 (NAS)

The Olive Tree is a symbol of vitality. Its lifespan can reach close to 1,000 years and still bear fruit. When the Olive Tree maximizes its fruit production, it is then cut down to a stump. Out of that stump an olive shoot will sprout up. That olive shoot is then planted and, in years to come, will produce fruit. That is a beautiful picture of our children taking over the family business.

For 35 years, my father served as a volunteer fireman for my hometown of Fairdale, Kentucky. From 1969 to 1984, my dad was the Fire Chief. My father served the community of Fairdale like no other. I witnessed him fighting fires all night long. He would park cars at all the high school games and local fairs. He would take the jeep that was used to fight field fires and water all the little league fields. He coached little league teams. He would have the fire house involved in all kinds of charity events. God blessed me with the greatest example of what a community servant was all about. My dad will always be my hero.

In June of 1994, my brother Gregg called me at work and told me Dad was in the hospital. I thought Dad was invincible. He worked all day at International Harvester and fought fires all night long. He never missed a game that Gregg and I played. He never took a vacation day that he didn’t spend it with his family. He was always on the go. While in the hospital, we were told that he had cancer. Dad put up one awesome fight but eventually he lost his battle with cancer on December 11, 1995. I will never forget the last words my father said to me while he was alive. At Audubon hospital in Louisville with tubes strapped and taped all over his body, he lifted himself up with all his strength turned and said these words to me:

“Marlon if God would give me a little more time, I would spend it all with young people.”

My father dedicated his whole servant life to kids whether he was coaching them, working the concession stands, parking cars, getting the field ready for them to play, or raising money for special needs children. I looked at him and said “Why would you spend more time with young people, Dad?”

He responded: “They need somebody!”

The greatest advice I was given is to live a life that honors your dad. Everyday for the past nine years I have tried to honor him by being that somebody for children. I have tried my best to be an olive shoot of my dad and keep the family business of community service going strong.

I guess the questions that I want to ask dads this Father’s Day is: What family business will your children take over once you leave this world? What legacy of service are you passing on to them that they will one day take over? My prayer is that my three boys will one day continue the family business of community service, and for your kids to do the same.

Marlon

Dream Big

Posted in Serving on May 16th, 2008 by Administrator| | 1 Comments.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us.” Eph. 3:20

That verse to me is a challenge from God. It is almost as if God is daring us to out-dream Him. Our imagination is a God-given ability. Our dreams determine our lives; they define our lives. We need dreams because they are psychologically healthy. If you don’t have a dream for your life then you are not really living – you’re just existing. Without dreams you won’t go far in life.

Kids have unbelievable imaginations and dreams. I loved teaching Character Education for Mrs. Poper’s 5th grade class at Ford Elementary. Listening to the children share their dreams reminded me of all the dreams I had at their age. I wanted to play for the Big Red Machine and be the next Johnny Bench. I wanted to lead my high school to the Sweet Sixteen boys’ state basketball championship in Kentucky. I wanted to replace the legendary Cawood Ledford as voice of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Why is it that when we become adults we lose the capacity to dream big? The older we get the more we lose the capacity to dream. Everything that God wants to do with your life will start with a dream. He gave Noah the dream to build an ark. He gave Moses the dream of leading his people out of bondage. He gave Paul the dream of taking the gospel to places where it had never been heard. I love the words that Paul used in Acts 26:19 when he stood in front of King Agrippa.

“I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.”

Dreams come from burdens. All of the dreams that God has given me have come from the burdens that He has laid upon my heart. It bothered me that a local school was dead last in reading and writing. So I started DreamBuilders, a mentoring program in the Acworth Housing Authority. It bothered me that kids who live in weekly rental hotels and trailer courts were being left out at Christmas time; so, we partner each year with the Joy Foundation and two local high schools to take those kids Christmas shopping. It bothered me that the City of Acworth didn’t have a veteran’s memorial, so NorthStar partnered with the city in building the new veteran’s memorial at Patriot’s Point. It bothered me that over 14,000 special needs children didn’t have a playground or a ball park to play on. We are just weeks away from breaking ground on the first ever special needs sports complex.

The biggest dream that God gave me as community pastor for NorthStar Church was to make NorthStar the first call for help in the community. Last week we got a call from MUST Ministries for help. MUST Ministries feeds 1200 hungry children every day over the summer and they have asked NorthStar Church to sponsor three days. This is one of the biggest acts of kindness that our church has ever taken on.

To feed 1200 children for a day we are going to need:

40 volunteers to provide 30 bologna and cheese sandwiches.
20 volunteers to provide 60 individual applesauce’s.
20 volunteers to provide 60 brownies.
20 volunteers to provide 60 juice boxes.

My prayer for you is to join me in claiming God’s promise in Ephesians 3:20: that you will develop a burden for his people so that He can share with you the dream that He has for your life.

Marlon

MOM

Posted in Thank You! on April 28th, 2008 by Administrator| | 0 Comments.

Every Mother’s day most ministers preach from Proverbs Chapter 31. When it comes to beautiful words and illustrations to describe moms, Proverbs 31 is better than any poem or any Hallmark card that has ever been written. So for this blog entry I thought I would use the words of Proverbs 31 to pay tribute to my mom.

Proverbs 31:10 (NIV)
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Proverbs 31:23 (NIV)
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

My father was a volunteer fireman for 35 years. For 15 years he served as Chief of the Fairdale Volunteer Fire Department. My father was one of the most respected men who ever lived in Fairdale. He has four scholarships at the high school named after him. He was twice named Fairdale’s “Citizen of the Year.”The walls in our home were decorated with plaques paying tribute to his community service.

Former Spelman College President Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole once said “Behind every hero is a shero.” My father would not have been able to put out the first fire in Fairdale had it not been for my mom’s willingness to share him with the community, and for her willingness to step up and take care of business at home.

Proverbs 31:16 (NIV)
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

For over 30 years my mom worked at the Fairdale Post Office. She was so proud of that job. Mom married dad at the age of 18 and didn’t go to college. She always thanked God for blessing her with the job at the post office. Mom didn’t use her money to buy blue chip stocks, or purchase beach front property. Mom’s vineyard that she invested in was her family. She was the driving force in my brother and me graduating from college. She has been a tremendous help in my sister Debbie’s successful business career. All three of us would not be where we are today without her sacrifice and belief in us.

Proverbs 31:26 (NIV)
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

No other verse in the Bible describes my mom any better than this one. My mom has weathered more storms and climbed more mountains than anyone I know. My mother’s greatest witness to me is how she has handled so many of life’s greatest heartaches. She was rejected by her parents. She went to live with her grandpa, who loved her dearly, but was well past his prime in raising children. She went to live with my great uncle and aunt who already had a full house with five kids. She married my dad and, after 36 years of marriage, lost him to cancer. Over the next
few years she has buried her dad, mom, brother and, recently, her second husband. Through all of her heartache she has kept her faith and strength. Her relationship with Jesus Christ is so solid. She has maintained her dignity and has been an unbelievable witness to so many. Whenever I am faced with a major test in life or a major hurdle, I always call mom. Whenever I hear her say phrases such as “ You’ll be ok!” or “You’ll make it”, I get the confidence that I need to go forward. When we are faced with a tough situation, we need to hear a voice from our past to calm us down and help us focus on the task at hand. Mom’s voice has helped me pass so many major tests in my life.

Proverbs 31:29 (NIV)
Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.

On Mother’s day I want to thank God for His amazing grace. God blessed me with the greatest mom of them all. I love you mom! To quote legendary soul singer Tina Turner “You’re simply the best! Better than all the rest!”

P.S. I’m still calling you everyday!

Marlon

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