Lured by money and a pretty girl!

Lured by money and a pretty girl!

A Testimony by Michael White

In July of 1999, I was on the fast track to earn my first million dollars. Yes, you read
that right! I come from a family of six and seven figure entrepreneurs and I was
next in line. I too craved the high pressure, high dollar opportunities that made my
family what it is today. And like those who came before me, I have the drive to do it!

Unbeknownst to me, God had other plans. Again, in July of 1999, while attending
Primerica’s national convention in Atlanta, I heard the words that would rock my
world. In the midst of my relentless pursuit of money, at a convention to learn how
to get it, I heard our CEO say, “unless you’re living your life God first, family second,
and business third, you’ll fail or at least be miserable at everything you do.” Well, I
came home and began asking the Christian men in the office about Jesus. Imagine
that! In my search for money, I met the Lord!

A few weeks later, while out at a local bar…yes a bar (story for another day)…I
happened to be wearing a shiny, new WWJD bracelet that a young lady took interest
in. It happened to be a young lady that I had been crushing on for some time. Wow!
This God thing is working, so I thought! She even invited me to church at Calvary
Baptist (as NorthPoint used to be called). She and I went to church that Sunday (one
week before the sanctuary was set afire). To this day, I have never seen her again.
Unbelievable! In my pursuit of a pretty girl, God introduced me to my church family
of the past 12 years!

While that only scratches the surface of what God’s been doing to, for, and through
me, it’s one of the more amusing chapters of the story!

Who would have believed that God would reveal Himself to me through my pursuit
of money and pretty girls? He knew exactly where to find me. Brilliant!

Take a few moments to reflect on where and how God reveals Himself to you and
praise Him for how clever He is to choose those areas!

My Journey - Pastor Chris

Thanks for what you shared Linden. I am looking forward to hearing from the rest of our bloggers. Since I am one of the bloggers I will give you a little of my story.

I was born in Southern California to Paul and Karen Reinhard. As a child we lived in Glendale, Sunland Tujunga, Fresno, South New Jersey, and finally ended up in San Bernardino where my dad came to pastor Calvary Baptist Church, now NCF. 

I attended and Graduated from Pacific High School in San Bernardino. In the summer between my Junior and Senior year I acknowledged God's call on my life for ministry. After graduating high school I headed off to APU where I recieved my Bachelors degree in Biblical studies. 

During my sophomore year in college I was offered a Youth Pastor position at Bethany Baptist Church In Montclair, Ca. I Pastored at Bethany through college and after for a total of 7 Years. Bethany is also where I met my wonderful wife Shannon. 

After Bethany I spent some time attending NCF, travelling and doing magic. About 4 years ago NCF offered me a part time position as Associate Pastor, I obviously accepted. I am blessed to be able to minister with my family. 

In order to subsidize my income I worked part time for a glass company driving trucks. About 6 months ago the company closed it's doors, and I purchased all the equipment and started my own company, Premier Glass Products. (www.facebook.com/premierglass)

While at NCF my wife and I have had 2 Kids, Luke and Zoe. It has been wonderful ministering and raising a family at NCF. I love our vision of doing life together and making disciples. Our life group has become much like extended family. 

God Bless

Pastor Chris

How'd I get here?--Linden Malki

My name is Linden Malki, and I came to Calvary/Northpoint after the summer that God picked up my life and totally changed it. I grew up in an American Baptist church in Spokane, Washington; and the year after I graduated from college (Linfield College, near Portland, OR) I had half-baked ideas but no plans. My mom had passed away five years earlier, my dad was retired. His brother, a long-time missionary to China, was retiring from teaching in Taiwan, and coming home via the Holy Land, where his son was a missionary doctor in Jordan. My uncle suggested that Dad and I join them in touring Lebanon and Jordan (which at that time included the West Bank and Jerusalem), and then go on to visit Sweden. Dad and I were on a 10-passenger Dutch freighter between New York and Beirut, when the only other person under 50 struck up a friendship with Dad. This was a Lebanese-American from San Bernardino whose mother was taking him back to Lebanon to find a wife. We found out that his family was originally Orthodox, but he had been raised in Protestant mission churches--and his family knew my missionary cousin. We found that a shared faith was a great basis for a friendship--and more. We were married that summer in Beirut, and spent the summer there in the Middle East. When we came back to San Bernardino, I found that John was already attending Calvary Baptist Church, who at that time had an associate pastor who had been the senior pastor in the church I grew up in, was one of my dad's best friends, and had introduced my parents. God simply took away almost everything in my life (Dad passed away that summer) and gave me a whole new life, and opportunities to serve, teach, write and produce children's plays, sing, accompany children's choirs, raise four kids in this church, and deal with a whole bunch of paperwork. I could never in a zillon years have imagined what God had set up for me and am incredibly grateful for where He put me and what He has enabled me to do.

New Blog Authors

I am very excited to announce that we are beginning the process of adding new blog authors to our blog. we are hoping that we will have a new daily blog to encourage you and challenge you in your life and faith. The first blog they write will be a short testimony of who they are and what God has done in their lives. As always feedback is welcome.

God Bless
Pastor Chris

Do You Know Me?

We live in an interesting culture where we know a lot about a lot of people, but do we really know people. Because of Facebook, I know much of what happens in many peoples lives. The newsstands keep me filled in on what is happening in the lives of the rich and famous and "reality" TV engulfs us in the drama of others. But do we really know people.

Does this surface knowledge and lack of true relationship affect our faith. I think so, take a look at this passage:


John 5:39-40 (ESV)
³⁹ You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

This is not a new problem, we as a people are good at information, it is the relationship that we have difficulty with. Life is not in the knowledge, it is in the relationship. How is your connection with God. Do you just know a lot about God, or have you come to Him and put your faith in him. When did you last spend time connecting to God. Not just learning about Him, but connecting to Him. If you feel you are missing this part of your faith, talk with your mentor, or get a mentor, that can help you not just know about God, but Know God.

Enjoy the Journey,
Pastor Chris

Comments?

Husbands and Wives

Ephesians 5:33 (ESV) 
³³ However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

This is just a morning encouragement to all married couples, and those that desire to be married. Love your spouse and pray for them daily. Marriage can be a wonderful blessing, but sadly in this world many times it becomes a tragedy.

If your spouse is blessing you, pray for them. If your spouse is bugging you, pray for them. If your spouse is struggling in their faith, pray for them. If your spouse is bitter, pray for them. If your spouse is succeeding, pray for them. Our natural desire is to attempt to handle our marriages on our own, but that is the role of the Holy Spirit. Whenever we attempt to step into the Holy Spirit's role, he is a gentleman and steps aside.

Pray for your spouse, your kids and your marriage on a daily basis and watch what God will do with it all.

God Bless,
Pastor Chris

Comments?