In This Month's Report:
* Editorial - "Heads You Win, Tails You Lose!"
* June Events - Tri-State Leader's Retreat
* June Ministry - Impacting the Northeast
* Tips and Resources - Jesus Plus Nothing
* Products - Two Great Resources (see link below)
* Partnership - Invest in God's Program for the Northeast of America

We would love to hear from you; please send us your feedback today. Don’t forget the ever-popular 'GOD THOUGHTS' at the end of this report. Enjoy! JB

INTRODUCTION

At a recent retreat for leaders and members for our tri-state network, City Covenant Coalition (see report below), I was impressed with the down-to-earth wisdom of one of our leaders, Pastor Victor Nazario, who said, "You have two ends, your head and your tail. You will be successful depending on which end you use. Heads you win, tails you lose!" Sometimes the complexity of life can be broken down to just a few simple words. However, Victor was obviously not referring to the outcome of life being determined by a toss of the dice or the flip of a coin! Although fate and fortune may play a hand, we can proactively influence life's outcome according to our efforts.

STACKING THE DICE

For workaholics, hard work is its own reward, but surely a balanced life should have equal amounts of work and play. Successful people, over the long haul and in every field, are not driven so hard that they burn out after a couple of years. They know how to 'stack the dice' in their favor by progressively advancing their cause and pacing themselves for the long run.

THE CRUCIBLE OF DISCOMFORT

We've all heard the saying "it's not how you start, but how you finish" that counts! In ministry, there is no shortage of sprinters, but few long distance runners. Ecclesiastes 9:11 puts it this way, "...the race is not to the swift...." A shooting star persists for an instant, but longevity demands another quality of persistence that can only be forged in the crucible of discomfort! Growth can only happen when we are stretched, which is never comfortable. If we are going to complete our race, then we ourselves must be complete. As it says in James 1:2-4, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." In other words, completeness means maturity!
 

A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES

Maturity and character go together like keyboard and computer - you can't have one without the other! Only strength of character can give us the perseverance and persistence we need for the long haul! Character is the difference between resisting or falling for the things that would make us fall short of the mark of God's destination for our lives. And although life is not a game, our progress is observed by a great cloud of witnesses, as it says in Hebrews 1:1-2, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Leaders must lead by example, and by nature they are defined by being out in front, seeking an eternal 'gold medal'! "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:24-27).

FINISHING THE RACE

Sometimes, the church on earth lifts up as heroes those whose lives have ended in disrepute or obscurity. Evan Roberts was used by God for a short time to spark off the Welsh Revival, which touched the world in the early 20th century, but he lived as a recluse for most of the rest of his life. A. A. Allen was used mightily by God in the great healing revivals in the mid 20th century but ended up an alcoholic.

The real heroes are those who go the distance, demonstrate longevity, stay faithful to the cause, and who can testify like Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). #

City Covenant Coalition Hosts Tri-State Leader's Retreat - Moving from annual to twice annual retreats proved to be a very positive move, according to CCC Founder and director, Bishop Joseph Mattera. "The Bible is a covenant document and can only be understood by covenant language," he said. "Relationship always precedes ministry." These retreats have been highly effective in building strong relationships between leaders in the metro New York region, a traditionally independent and competitive area.

Walter Fox of Love Savers Ministry (sixth from left at rear of photo on right), shared with the ministers about some essentials for minister's marriages. These were to live as a priest before God, a life of prayer, and to bring your wife into it, so that she is involved with your ministry to Him. We have to constantly repent and work on our inner life (character) and practice covenant with those who He has put us with.

The group was strengthened and encouraged by a well seasoned 'prophetic presbytery' who ministered to individuals at length.

To learn more about City Covenant Coalition, go to: www.citycovenant.com.