Mount Hope Church, Author at Mount Hope Church

About Mount Hope Church

We Are Family. Mount Hope Church is a community of people who love God and others—and that includes YOU! As a church family, it’s exciting to grow alongside others of all ages and backgrounds, coming together to experience the hope that is found only in Jesus. It is our desire that as you encounter God’s love and amazing grace at Mount Hope Church, you will truly feel a part of the family as we say, “Welcome Home!”

How to Share Your Testimony

Sharing your testimony can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Your testimony is simply the story of what Jesus has done in your life — and it’s one of the most powerful tools God has given you. Revelation 12 says that believers overcome the enemy “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” That means your story carries both encouragement for others and real spiritual authority.

Here’s a simple way to get started.

Step 1: Understand Why Your Story Matters

Your testimony doesn’t have to be dramatic to make an impact. Every single life changed by Jesus is a miracle. When you share your story, you:

Glorify God by pointing to His work in your life.
Encourage other believers who may be going through something similar.
Show non-believers that Jesus is real and still transforming lives today.

Remember: no one else can tell your story. God has given it uniquely to you.

Step 2: Use a Simple Framework

When you’re ready to share, think of your testimony as a short story with four parts:

Before Christ – What was your life like before you knew Jesus?
Encounter with Christ – How did you come to faith? What moment stands out?
After Christ – How has your life changed since? What’s different now?
Encouragement – How can your story inspire or invite others to know Him too?

This structure keeps things clear, relatable, and easy to follow.

Step 3: Prepare Your Story

A little preparation goes a long way. Try these practical tips:

Write it down. Jotting out your story helps you focus on the key parts.
Keep it concise. Aim for 3–5 minutes — short enough to hold attention.
Be authentic. Don’t exaggerate or try to make it sound “better.” Honest is best.
Embrace vulnerability. It’s okay to share your real struggles and emotions.
Use expression. Speak with warmth and energy. Let your story come alive.

Step 4: Practice and Share

The more you share your testimony, the easier it becomes. Start small:

Tell a friend over coffee.
Share in your small group or Bible study.
Write it out as a post or journal entry.

With each time you share, you’ll grow more confident and see how God can use your story in powerful ways.

Step 5: Always Point to Jesus

Your testimony is about your life, but it isn’t really about you. The purpose is to point others to Jesus — the One who saves, redeems, and transforms. Make sure your story ends with Him as the hero.

Ready to Begin?

Your story may be exactly what someone else needs to hear. This week, take time to write down your testimony using the simple framework above. Then pray for an opportunity to share it.

Because when you share your story, you’re not just talking about what happened to you — you’re showing the world who Jesus is and what He can do.

How to Renew Your Mind Daily

Practical Tools to Transform Your Thinking and Align with God’s Truth

Pastor Chris Cook

We’ve all been there—wrestling with toxic thoughts, old mindsets, and feelings that pull us away from God’s best. But the Bible gives us a blueprint to live differently. A renewed mind isn’t a one-time event—it’s a daily discipline that positions us to walk in freedom, clarity, and purpose.

You will never live beyond the identity you believe. So, let’s talk about how to renew your mind every single day.

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1. Start with Surrender

Scripture: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2

The first step isn’t striving—it’s surrender. We often think transformation comes by trying harder, but it starts by allowing God to shift how we think. By trusting His TRUTH to overwrite our “truth”. This means laying down cultural patterns, fear-based thoughts, and performance-driven mentalities.

Daily Practice: Begin each morning with a simple prayer:

“God, I surrender my thoughts to You. Align my mind with You and what You think about me. Replace the lies with Your voice. What transformation step can I take with You today?”

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2. Immerse Yourself in Scripture

Scripture: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” – John 17:17

You can’t renew your mind with empty space—you renew it by filling it with God’s truth. As we get to know our Father, He often reminds us that if you want to live a transformed life, you need to feed your mind what heaven is saying. The beauty of His heart. Let his Word wash over you, set His promises on fire in your life, and root you deeply in Him.

Daily Practice: Meditate on one verse a day. Don’t just read it—speak it, write it, memorize it. Let it become a filter for your thoughts. A Kingdom lens you view life through.

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3. Identify the Root and Replace the Lie

Scripture: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:5

Thoughts have power—but they don’t have authority unless we give it to them. A renewed mind means we actively recognize thoughts that don’t line up with God’s Word and replace them. Don’t let the enemy’s intrusive thoughts dictate your destiny. You are more than an overcomer!

Daily Practice:

• Ask God: What lie am I believing today?

• Identify the root: Is it “I’m not enough,” “I’ll always struggle,” or “God won’t show up for me”?

• Remove the power: I repent for letting this lie ____ have space in my life, and forgive anyone who caused me to give into it. Please forgive me Lord! I receive your forgiveness and choose to forgive myself.

• Replace it with truth: “I have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16) or “God is my ever-present help.” (Psalm 46:1) – ask the Lord to show you what specific gift or truth He is replacing the lie with.

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4. Speak Life Over Yourself

Scripture: “The tongue has the power of life and death.” – Proverbs 18:21

What you say is shaping how you think. If you’re constantly rehearsing defeat or insecurity, your mind will follow. Instead, speak the Word of God over your life. Get rid of silly verbiage like “I’m dead” and start declaring life and victory over your circumstances. It is amazing when the craziness in the storm transforms into an opportunity for the Lord to prove His love in your circumstances.

Daily Practice: Write or speak a daily declaration rooted in Scripture. Practice healthy “I am” statements. For example:

“I am a new creation in Christ. Old things have passed away. Today, I walk in wisdom, strength, and purpose.”

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5. Practice Gratitude

Scripture: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gratitude is a fast-track to mind renewal. It shifts your perspective from lack to abundance, from anxiety to peace. We encourage you to “train your focus,” you see what you magnify, multiplies. Scripture tells us we enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Press in to the Presence, let the Holy Spirit overflow with gratitude and praise within you!

Daily Practice: Write down 3 things you’re thankful for every day. It rewires your brain for joy and hope in a practical way. You start paying attention to things to be thankful for and opportunities for testimony.

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6. Surround Yourself with True Community

Scripture: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

Renewing your mind is easier when you’re not doing it alone. Find community—people who speak life, hold you accountable, and remind you of who you really are.

Daily Practice: Stay connected to truth-speaking friends, mentors, or life groups. Listen to podcasts, worship music, or teaching that build your faith. Check out our YouTube channel for all kinds of great truth!

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Final Thoughts:

Renewing your mind daily is not about perfection—it’s about persistence. It’s choosing day by day to invite the Holy Spirit to align your thoughts with God’s thoughts, until your entire life reflects the Kingdom within you.

Let today be the day you stop letting the past or the destructive patterns define you—and start living with a renewed mind that reflects your true identity in Christ. He will make you new!

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What’s one truth you’re choosing to believe today? Share it below and let’s renew our minds together.

How to Cultivate Community

“It is not good for man to be alone.” Genesis 2:18

Pretty much from the beginning, God establishes that humanity is not designed to be alone. He created Eve as a partner to Adam, a helper in caring for God’s creation. But Eve was also there to create community with Adam. It wasn’t good for him to be alone. So why do we think we’re made that way?

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, we saw what the world would look like in isolation. Forced to quarantine, it was easy for people to feel stir-crazy, cut off, and search for other ways to connect. Why? Because we were made for community. The National Institutes Of Health (NIH) reported that severe loneliness rose to 21% during COVID-19 compared to 6% prior. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-harm, dementia, and earlier death. These examples show that science reinforces what we already know: God created us to live in community.

As Christians, we are called to follow Jesus’ example, and He lived in community. The twelve disciples weren’t just traveling with Jesus to hear Him teach, they were learning from Him just by being together. Mark 3:14 tells us this with, “He appointed twelve of them. They were to accompany him…” The bonds these men built with each other were likely what made their ministry so strong after Jesus’ ascension. They were able to rely on one another and hold each other accountable to the task Jesus gave them.

This is why we need community as Christians. It’s not just for support, it provides accountability for the times when we struggle. When life is difficult, or doubt creeps in, your community is there to encourage you and help you to course-correct when you need it.

So we know community is important. But how do we build it?

1. Be intentional.

While time spent with others is important, the quality of the time is more so. Put away the phone, listen for more than how to respond, and be present. Invite people over, linger after church, follow up on prayer requests — small steps build deep roots. Hebrews 10:24–25 encourages us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.” Community doesn’t happen by accident; it grows when we make space for it.

2. Be vulnerable.

Real community isn’t built on surface-level connections. It’s built when we take the risk to be known — struggles, questions, and all. Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” But people can’t carry what we hide. Vulnerability allows others to step in with encouragement, prayer, and practical help. It also gives others permission to do the same.

3. Be consistent.

Community grows with time, trust, and showing up. That doesn’t always mean doing big things — sometimes it’s just being faithfully present. Whether it’s a small group, Sunday service, or coffee with a friend, regular connection builds familiarity and safety. Like Acts 2:46 describes, the early church met together “daily with one accord… breaking bread from house to house.” That kind of rhythm created a deep and lasting unity.

4. Be welcoming.

Cultivating community doesn’t stop with the people we already know. It includes making room for others who are new, hurting, or lonely. Romans 12:13 tells us to “practice hospitality.” In a world that often feels cold and closed off, warm and open hearts stand out. Be the person who invites others in — into your conversations, into your life, and into your circle.

At the end of the day, community is not just a Christian idea — it’s how we thrive as people. It’s a Kingdom necessity. It’s how we reflect the heart of a relational God. And in a culture that is increasingly isolated, we have the opportunity to be different by simply doing life together.

So let’s build the kind of community that lifts people up, points them to Jesus, and reminds them they are never truly alone.

Who Do You Worship?

By Elena Ardis, First Year MHLS Student – Worship Track

Did you know that you could be worshipping something other than God?

You might be thinking that sounds silly. We have worship in church on Sundays, where we sing praises to the Lord. Who else would we be worshipping? But it’s true—a lot of believers are actually deep in idolatry without realizing it.

In order to properly assess how that is possible, we need to ask: Why should we think about worship in the first place? What is worship, really? Why does it matter?

Worship and religion are connected, because they both focus on serving God. If you consider yourself to be a Christian, it is important to evaluate your views on worship.

Here is a look at the definitions of worship and religion:

WORSHIP: (noun) The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. (verb) Show reverence and adoration for a deity; honor with religious rites.

RELIGION: (noun) A pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.

RELIGIOUSLY: (adverb) With consistent and conscientious regularity.

MISDIRECTED WORSHIP

We may not make this connection in our conscious, but we can turn anything we choose into a religion. Think about it. Is there anything in your life that you are giving all of your attention to? What do you feel conviction for?

Matthew 6:22-23 NIV reads:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

As humans, we can easily be swept up in escapism and temporary pleasures that satisfy our flesh, but not our spirit. It is dangerously easy to let ourselves worship our phones, our possessions, or our habits. However, these things will only fill us up with darkness. There is only one thing that will fill us up with pure light: God.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 NIV

Although Jesus is speaking about the love of money in this verse, it also applies to any other worldly thing that we might have love for. If we are fully committed to God, our hearts will not crave the things of this world as strongly anymore, being drawn to holiness and purity instead. This is why we should only worship Him and ascribe importance to things that glorify Him.

If you have ever been stuck in a cycle of sin, you know that it is frustrating beyond belief. You can find yourself questioning if there is any escape, or if there is any possible way that God could forgive you or save you from it. But one thing that we don’t often realize is that our sin issues are tied to idolatry. You feel poisoned and dirty, but you’ve been on social media for 8 hours while your Bible has been collecting dust. You fall back into comforting sin habits because you have no motivation or self-respect, but you haven’t stopped to thank God or pray in weeks.

Take a look at this passage in Romans:

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Romans 1:21-25 NIV

Because these people did not acknowledge or turn to God, they fell deeper and deeper into degrading sin, and God gave them over to their desires. The things that they worshipped filled them up to the brim with darkness, and they made no space for light.

GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR WORSHIP

Read through these two passages:

“In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:12-13 NIV

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

Because He loves us, God sent Jesus as the perfect living sacrifice for all of our sin, to redeem us for all of eternity and be the bridge connecting humanity to God. Without Him, we would all be doomed to suffer forever. He is infinitely more worthy than any other thing we could possibly imagine! The more time you spend reflecting on what He has truly done for us, the more gratitude and joy will spark within you and begin to fill you up, empowering you to boldly worship Him with awe and reverence!

REDIRECTING OUR WORSHIP

So, are you stuck in your sin and ready to redirect your worship? The best first step you can take is to invite the Holy Spirit in to examine your heart.

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV reads:

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

God is gracious, so if we ask Him to, He will point out the things in our life that we must remove. All it takes is intentional prayer time with Him and the patience to listen.

“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” Romans 2:7-8 NIV

On top of listening to God’s voice, we must also turn away from things that encourage sin and replace them with holy habits.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV

Just like how we read that the eye is the lamp of the body, replacing worldly things with holy ones will flood your body with light—creating a welcoming atmosphere for God to dwell in.

Here are some practical examples of habits that you can change:

Instead of spending all day scrolling & consuming anything your algorithm feeds you, try:
- Deleting your socials for a time to focus in on prayer and reading your Bible every day
- Setting a time limit on your socials so they don’t take up more of your attention than God does
- Resetting your suggested content to build a healthier for you page
Instead of constantly worrying about how other people perceive you, try:
- Committing to a Bible reading plan that uses Scripture to teach you more about your identity & value in Christ
- Being intentional with who you spend time with—mature believers in your life can speak life and encouragement into you as a person
- Asking God about any self-deprecating habits you may need to stop and cutting them off
Instead of impulsively doing whatever your flesh desires, try:
- Engaging in a physical activity that takes all of your effort (e.g. working out, dancing)
- Practicing being still before God in contemplative prayer when you feel tempted
- Finding an accountability partner to confide in and spend time with

Lastly, remember to have grace for yourself as you learn and grow. It is impossible to get everything right in one try, and it takes time to cultivate a healthy lifestyle that gives glory to God. Rest assured that you can lean on His strength, wisdom, and presence to guide you through as you redirect your worship towards Him!

How to Win as a Father

First off—thank you. Thank you for showing up, for doing your best, and for carrying more weight than most people will ever see. Fatherhood is no small assignment. It’s not just a role you play—it’s a legacy you’re writing.

On this Father’s Day, I want to speak straight to your heart—not just to the provider for the family, but to the warrior, the worshipper, and the Kingdom man inside of you. The world may measure your success by how much you make, but heaven measures it by your impact—what you give of your heart, your presence, your leadership, your love. The things that last generations.

You’re not just here to bring home the bacon (although hey, we’ve got that covered on the grill Sunday). You were made to bring heaven into your home. Your family needs more than your wallet—they need your wisdom, your worship, and your willingness to walk closely with God.

As one of the foremost experts on restoring fatherhood wrote: “The greatest battle a man will ever fight is the one to reclaim his identity and purpose as a son of God.”

So let me remind you how you win as a father:

We win by walking in our true identity as Sons of God.

Romans 8:15 declares “You have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”

You’re not striving to become a man of God—you already are a son of God. And out of that sonship flows everything else. When you know who you are, your kids will know who they are. Just as you would be appalled by your children trying to approach you as slaves, so too do slaves of fear have no way to connect with a Father’s heart. We must leave the old behind and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Embrace the sonship that gives us access to a perfect Father that leads and models fatherhood perfectly in everything He does.

In the book, The Uprising, author Kris Vallotton shares “The absence of identity leads to the abuse of authority. Know who you are before you try to lead others.” When our children grow up with just RULES from a workaholic father that barely has time to invest in parenting them well, it goes off the rails so easy. But when our children are led into all truth and the paths of righteousness by a Son of God who invests in them because we LOVE them and are FOR them…that’s a whole other thing.

Your family doesn’t need a perfect dad. They need a dad who knows he’s loved and leads from that place.

We win by living courageously in the face of culture.

One of father’s greatest roles is to model and teach their family in how to overcome fear, not just avoid it.

Joshua 1:9 says it best, “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

We live in a time when masculinity is under pressure, and biblical fatherhood is misunderstood or minimized. But you don’t have to conform. You’re called to confront culture—not with anger, but with truth and love. Your courage becomes a covering. Your faithfulness becomes a framework for your children to build their lives upon. Where so many rely on external rules and moral codes and political frameworks, the Lord builds strength and resiliency into our very DNA as His Sons.

A quote that has impacted me greatly in this mindset is “You don’t reproduce what you teach. You reproduce who you are.” It’s hard to be courageous in ideologies and political views in the face of so much intolerance these days, but it’s amazing how resilient we can be when we walk in the truth of who God created us to be, when we stand firm on the foundation of our God. The one who goes before us and prepares a way for us, the one who makes a way where there seems like there is none, the one who is SO FOR US – who can be against us?

We win by fighting for the spiritual health of our family.

Nehemiah 4:14 – “Fight for your families, your sons and your daughters…”

We aren’t designed and called to fight WITH our families, we are called to fight FOR our families. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers and principalities. You are the spiritual gatekeeper of your home. That doesn’t mean being controlling—it means being present, prayerful, and protective. It means providing coverage for your wife and children. Fight for your family in the Spirit. Declare the promises of God over them. Break off generational curses. Speak life when the world speaks confusion. Generational curses can last for a few generations, but when we partner with the Lord to turn them into generational blessings they can last for 1,000 generations!

You’re not just raising sons—you’re raising priests and kings. When we speak life over our children, it’s not just “you’re beautiful” or “your great at sports”. We have the opportunity to speak the blessings of the Lord into their lives, calling them up into the divine purpose that the Lord has for them.

We win by leading with love, not just rules.

1 Corinthians 13:1 – “If I have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

Have you ever felt like when you talk to your children, you’re just making noise and nobody is paying attention? Rules without relationship breeds rebellion and indifference. Your kids may forget your lectures—but they’ll remember your laughter, your hugs, your quiet presence when they needed you most. I’ve talked to a number of fathers with grown children that don’t come to them for anything anymore, only now realizing that when their children were young and came to them with what seemed important got brushed off as unimportant to their busy fathers. What are the opportunities for you to love your children that you can take advantage of now, that will invest in the future of your family? What are things that your father instilled over the course of years in you that you have simplified into a rule for your children to follow without ever understanding why?

You don’t have to be perfect. Just be present. Just be real. Invest love into your family.

We win by dreaming generationally.

Proverbs 13:22 – “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…”

You’re not just raising kids—you’re building a Kingdom legacy. Financial provision is important—but far more powerful is the spiritual inheritance you leave. Speak identity over your children. Speak purpose. Call out the gold in them. Build a home where faith is normal, forgiveness is frequent, and love is never in question.

What would it look like for us to model “it stops with us”? How can we train our children to walk with the Lord in the family business of restoration? When transformation and refreshing are the standard not the miraculous. When the legacy you leave is building up and empowering those around you to experience the Lord and step into the fullness of their calling, and giftings, and purpose. What a legacy! What is your legacy?

“Legacy is not what you leave to your children—it’s what you leave in them.” – Uprising

Dad, your worth isn’t found in your performance—it’s found in your presence. Your family doesn’t need a superhero—they need a man who knows who he is in Christ. Someone who is fully loved, and can fully love.

This Father’s Day, don’t simply measure success by how perfect your parenting is—measure it by how present, purposeful, and passionate you are in pursuing your God-given identity as a father. You’re not just raising kids—you’re raising kingdom leaders. Stand strong in what God has designed you to do. Not because you’ve done it all right, but because you’re choosing to follow His example, show up, fight well, and speak life over your family and your circumstances.

We honor and believe in YOU!

Pray. Vote. Love.

While I love this time of year, I know it can be hectic and stressful. The never-ending political ads that you just can’t seem to get away from are beyond annoying. A new friend I met recently is running for Lt. Governor of Indiana. He told me that politics comes from two words: poly, meaning many, and ticks, meaning blood-sucking parasites. When I got done laughing, I looked at my new friend and said, “Thank you for running for office! We need good, godly leaders in places of authority and influence.”

I want to encourage you to VOTE. I was shocked to discover that there are nearly 30 million Christians that do not vote! Why would that be? I know there are some who are convinced that as a citizen of Heaven, they have no business in elections. Listen, I know that our options sometimes make voting challenging. But as Christians, we are to be a light in this dark world. What does light do? It influences its surroundings. Let me address a very simple question: Why should Christians vote? What, if anything, do the Scriptures tell us about this practice of voting for our leaders?

“Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare” (Jer. 29:7).

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior (Phil. 3:20).

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Cor. 5:20).

Israel would be living in a foreign land, Babylon, for 70 years. For years, they would be surrounded by ungodliness, idol worship, and immorality. But just because they were citizens of Israel did not mean they were not to care about Babylon. While there would be no voting in Babylon, they were to work for the peace and prosperity of that place. They were supposed to pray for it. They were supposed to work for the city’s welfare, which would significantly impact their lives.

So it is with Christians in America. I know our citizenship is in Heaven. But as long as we are on this earth, we are responsible for this world’s welfare, peace, and prosperity. I’m not obsessed with this world, but I care about it! How this world goes, the laws passed, and the policies pursued, will impact my life and yours.

What are Christians to do during an election cycle?

Pray.

We must PRAY for our city, state, and nation. As it is in Heaven, let it be on the earth! We should pray that God will give us leaders who will make decisions based on His plans. We should pray that God will bless our leaders and give them a heart to know Him! We should ask God to help our leaders.

Vote.

We must VOTE as ambassadors of the heavenly kingdom of which we are citizens. We certainly can’t sit around and gripe about the moral decline in our nation when we are not willing to stand up for Biblical values through our votes. Allow the values of Heaven to direct you as you vote. An ambassador lives in a foreign land and experiences the tensions that come with that. Have you felt some of that tension lately? The primary responsibility of an ambassador is to accurately represent and advocate for their home country’s values and goals while abroad. We should ask, what values represent the King of Kings? What goals is He working toward? And how am I representing those values and goals in all that I do, including how I vote?

Love.

We must LOVE like Jesus. If we will represent Jesus well, we will love well. You don’t have to look farther than the next person in front of you to find someone who needs love and compassion. Election seasons are all too often known for high emotions and divisiveness. Let’s go out of our way to bring the love of Jesus into this season with every person we come in contact with.

Love and Prayers,

Pastor Kevin

Stop At The Crossroads

Dear friend, I want you to know that Renee and I love you and are praying for you! We are thrilled that God added you to the Mount Hope Church family. It is our delight to pray for, love, and serve you.

I was reading the Bible the other morning when I ran across a passage that leaped off the page. It’s the answer for the person who feels stuck in life. It’s the answer to a nation that has gone astray. It was a specific word for Judah and a relevant word for America today. Here it is:

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’” – Jeremiah 6:16.

Maybe you have looked around at what is happening in our country and around the world, and it has grieved you. What are we to do? The Lord tells us precisely the critical steps we must take.

The first thing we need to do is STOP.

I want to encourage you, my brother and sister, to stop business as usual, stop going through the motions, stop being obsessed with the negativity around you, and stop and listen to the voice of the Lord. Ask the Lord for His perspective on the circumstances you are currently facing. What does the Lord have to say about your family, our community, and America? Just hearing one word from God can change everything for you.

Next, LOOK AROUND.

What do you see happening around you? What has the Lord called you to do about it? I look around and see confusion, division, and intense hatred for Israel like I’ve never seen before in my lifetime. But I also see that God is raising up a remnant of prayer warriors in these last days. As you look around, I want you to take note of what is possible. Take note of not just what is but what could be. When you do this, faith will well up in you! That faith will prompt you to action.

Now it’s time to ASK for the old godly way!

I love this. Ask for the old, godly way of humility to be evident in your life. Ask for the old, godly way of reverence. Ask for the old, godly way of prayer to be active in your life. Ask for the old, godly way of honoring the Lord’s Words. Ask for the old godly way known for a deep, intimate relationship with God, what the Bible calls close fellowship or walking with God.

We must ask for the old, godly way and walk in it! Asking must be followed by action.
When it comes to our state and country, please pray and please take action. One of the actions you can take is to vote. The truth is a large percentage of Christians don’t vote every election year. I don’t know why that is, but it should not be. Elections have consequences. Be sure to make your voice heard.

As long as people are running for office, there will never be a perfect person to vote for. But you can vote with biblical values as your guide. Let’s do our part and ask for that old, godly way and then walk in it. The promise is that then there will be rest for your soul. I pray that for you and your family.

Would you join me in a prayer for the United States of America?

Father, I come to you in Jesus’ name to pray for Michigan and America. I’m asking for the old godly way! As your people who are called by your name, we humble ourselves before you, great King. We turn from our wicked ways. Forgive us for the injustice, murder, pride, arrogance, and perversion that has polluted this nation. May our hearts be right before you so that you will hear our cry, forgive us, and heal our land.

We are a nation in need of your healing touch! We are utterly broken and bankrupt apart from you. I ask that the fear of the Lord will fall on this land called America. May there be a holy respect for you, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. According to your word, give us hearts that long to know you more than anybody or anything—that you will be our God, and we will be your people! May there be a genuine spirit of humility and repentance across this land that will cause thousands to be swept into your Kingdom in these last days.

As it is in Heaven, let it be on the earth! As it is in Heaven, let it be in America! I ask for an invasion of your Kingdom—the King’s Domain—to come to this land. I declare the state of Michigan to be a healing zone, a divorce-free zone, a cancer-free zone for your honor and glory! I ask that you stretch out your hand with healing power over this nation and heal those who are hurt.

Father, you have a long history of waking kings in the middle of the night and putting in a leader’s heart what they should do. I ask that you wake up our leaders in the night season. I ask that you give them dreams and visions and put what they should do in their hearts. Cause our leaders to be delivered from wicked men. Heal our leaders where they hurt and give them peace. I pray that our leaders will have ears to hear you and a heart to obey so that our land may be healed.

Grant our leaders wisdom in all their decisions, specifically concerning our interaction with Israel. We know that those who bless Israel will be blessed! So, help us as a nation to always bless Israel. May we walk in the blessing that comes from blessing your people, Israel.

Father, surround this nation with a fiery wall of protection, and no weapon formed against this nation will prosper in the name of Jesus. You, Lord, be the glory inside this nation. Thank you for bringing healing to America for your honor and glory. Amen.

The Little Foxes

One time we had a complaint about a project we were doing, so I confronted the person responsible. His response? “A couple of spots, nothing at all.” I could’ve responded by saying, “Oh, if it’s just a couple of spots, then no big deal,” but I didn’t; I said I did not want to give the customer any cause for dissatisfaction. None.

Over 40 years ago, I learned that the little things in life are really the big things. If a person is responsible for something very small, you’ll be able to trust him with something larger. If he’s faithful with that, then yet a larger thing. If a person considers a little thing important, then the bigger things will be even more important to him.

This plays out in many ways.

Over time, a small amount saved every month becomes a large sum. If you’re overweight and you lose a pound a month, you’ll be much slimmer at the end of the year. If every day you tell your spouse, “I love you,” your love will grow stronger and stronger.

On a negative note, if you’re making scrambled eggs and you put in eleven good eggs and one bad egg, you’ll find your breakfast spoiled.

The little things really are the big things.

From a consumer standpoint, I once took a short trip to Florida and reserved a hotel online from a trusted source—and for an exceptional rate. When I got there, it was simply beautiful, exceeding my expectations. But I was ticked off! Why? Because instead of the advertised cleaning rate of $55, they charged me $65, and on top of that they charged me a tax for the cleaning! And when I finally settled in I found there was no internet! A great place, but the little things messed it up.

I have seen it time and again–my company can do a project and everything goes superbly well, except that the job site didn’t get cleaned up well enough. Or the painter made a mess of the sink. Or the edge of a door got missed. Or the glass got scratched. All of a sudden, the customer’s perspective changes and we’re not so good after all. Instead of a 10, we score a 5 or a 6, or a 7. And it’s, “We’re satisfied, but we had some problems that had to be resolved first.”

Imagine your surgeon saying that, or your dentist!

“Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards,” Solomon writes. ‘It’s those darn little foxes that ruin everything.’ It’s true, small things matter; you can build something beautiful, and you can score a 99% in customer satisfaction, but if a ‘fox’ is loose and that 1% isn’t attended to, you may well find your ‘vineyard’ ruined.

– T.L. Hart

The Big ‘Mo’

I’ll not forget the Spring of 2002, when the effects of 9/11 finally hit T. L. Hart, Inc. Like most other companies, the world had been a good place to do business in. Michigan had been booming during the 1990’s along with the rest of the country, and T. L. Hart, Inc. had grown exponentially during this time. Many companies, including mine, had built their business models on what had become the norm.

That all changed that first and second quarter. Here we were, an organization with 30-40 people, a lot of overhead, and no work. It was during an advisory board meeting where I presented out predicament, when one of the members said, “Just do something! Start something! Just get moving!”

His advice proved to be wisdom from God. In May of that year, closing the company’s doors was a serious consideration. By the end of December however, T. L. Hart,Inc. had realized its second highest sales year ever, ending the period with a profit.

Years later I was studying John Maxwell’s The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Maxwell is arguably America’s leading authority on the topic of leadership, with multiple books, DVD’s and audio versions of his various seminar presentations. In this book Maxwell presents what he believes—and others agree—are twenty-one laws that apply to all leaders at all times, without exception. One of them is “The Law of Momentum.”

The Law of Momentum (or, The ‘Big Mo’) says this: There always has to be forward progress—there has to be some movement, any movement. That is the leader’s responsibility. In some way, shape, or form things have to get and keep moving. That is why small victories are so important, because with each success you build momentum that helps move the organization further along on its mission.

It is hard to steer a parked car. “But,” Maxwell says, “when you have momentum on your side, the future looks bright, obstacles appear small, and trouble seems temporary.”

It reminds me of what Jim Collins writes about in his book, Good to Great. He talks about a flywheel, which at first is hard to get going. It takes a lot of effort initially. But then, once you get moving you gain momentum, and eventually it’s as if it has a life of its own—it is literally flying, round and round, at high speeds.

There is so much truth in all this, both for small companies like T. L. Hart, Inc., large organizations, governmental entities, and ministries. Just get something going. Get pointed in the right direction. Put forth all the effort you can muster, and get the ball rolling. You will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

That’s the ‘Big Mo’, the Law of Momentum.

– T.L. Hart

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