Dwight Mason | Pointe Blank

Only GOD (the book) - People’s Biggest Regret

2013-04-17T07:13:00.001-05:00

Sociologist Anthony Campolo tells about a study in which 50 people over the age of 95 were asked one question: “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” Three things consistently emerged. They would:

reflect more
risk more
do more things that would live on after I am dead

I am no expert on the book of Revelation, but I wonder what it means in Revelation 21:4 when it says that after we concluded our life here on earth and time is no more, God will wipe away the tears from our eyes. I wonder if we will shed those tears when we realize how much more we could have done, how much bigger our story could have been, and how much more positive change we could have worked in the world -- had we trusted more deeply and obeyed more completely.

God’s story is big, magnificent, noble, and heroic. It is beyond imagination. Isn’t it mind boggling that He invites you to write with Him, to obey Him and allow Him to write a story He can use to amaze the world. . .

. . . no matter what has happened to you,

. . . no matter how old or young you are,

. . . no matter how miserably you have failed,

. . . no matter how broken you feel,

. . . no matter how hard you have already tried?

God can accomplish in five minutes with your willing, cooperative heart what you can’t accomplish without Him in five years. All He asks is that you trust Him and write with Him.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19).

Begin a new chapter today. Only GOD (the book)

Dwight's Monthly Letter - APRIL 2013

2013-04-05T14:53:00.001-05:00

What unbelievable Easter services! Remember there is nothing you can do to cause God to love you more, and there is nothing that you can do to cause God to love you less. Easter proves that.

I want to encourage you to remind yourself of this powerful and life changing truth every day. It will impact every single relationship you have. I want to thank everyone who made this past weekend such a huge success. It takes every single one of us who call NewPointe their home to pull off 13 services at 4 different campuses with a total attendance of over 6800 people.

Here are some things I want to make you aware of that are coming:

Weeds: That's the title of our next message series at NewPointe, and I'm jacked about it. It’s a huge opportunity to invite friends and family in whom you’ve been investing. We’ll be talking about things that choke the life out of people and keep them from living a productive and fulfilling life -- Anger, Envy, Greed, Grief, and Anxiety. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

NewPointe Institute: The Institute offers college-level classroom training designed to equip leaders for the local church via a flexible program and reasonable tuition fees. The Institute seeks to discipline and equip individuals in biblical literacy, understanding and application of their faith, and church leadership skills. Courses are open to anyone and seek to leverage the vision, mission focus, and resources of NewPointe Community Church to provide programs of excellence for spiritual growth (facilitate significant, measurable, emotionally healthy spiritual growth in individuals at NewPointe campuses) and leadership training (encourage and equip volunteers and ministry candidates at NewPointe and other churches to reach and influence their communities for Christ).

Kingdom Builders: Kingdom Builders is an ongoing opportunity to contribute to the larger vision of NewPointe. NewPointe has been entrusted with a heavenly purpose, far beyond anything we could dream. Our vision to influence I-77 by fulfilling our 10 by 20 goal of having 10 multi-sites throughout Northeast Ohio is an enormous vision. If God has blessed you with resources or unexpected resources that you would like to invest in a work that brings about hope and healing to all, pray and seek God about your interest in Kingdom Builders. A Kingdom Builder is one who gives above and beyond their normal tithe and can be an individual or a family. Contributions can be made as a one-time gift, weekly, or monthly commitment, and can be increased or decreased at any time. Click here if you'd like to talk with someone about Kingdom Builders.

Only GOD (the book) - A God Story Isn't Easy, Part 2

2013-04-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

(To ready Part 1, click here.) Joseph is one of God’s most noble and recognizable characters (his story appears in the book of Genesis). His plot twists and turns. His story line includes so much intrigue that if God weren’t telling it, it would be hard to believe. As we read Joseph’s story, we wonder, how could one man experience so many highs and lows? Here’s what I’m talking about:

High: Joseph is his wealthy father’s favorite son.

Low: His brothers hate him for it.

High: Joseph’s dad gives him a beautiful robe.

Low: In a fit of jealous rage, his brothers sell him into slavery, which is a slightly better choice than they had originally planned—they had intended to kill him.

High: Joseph becomes lead slave in a wealthy household, and the master loves him.

Low: The master’s wife “loves him” too much and has him falsely imprisoned for attempted rape when he refuses her lustful advances.

High: As a prisoner, Joseph distinguishes himself in multiple ways. He helps a fellow prisoner, who gratefully promises to remember Joseph and tell Pharaoh about him if he is ever released.

Low: The man is released and completely forgets Joseph for years.

High: When a troubled Pharaoh needs his dreams interpreted, the forgetful man finally remembers Joseph. Joseph had been right about the dreams that were shared in the prison. When Joseph is finally summoned, he correctly interprets Pharaoh’s dream. He is subsequently released from prison and promoted to the second-highest position in the land.

Low: Joseph’s plan to save Egypt from famine actually works, but it brings his cheating, murderous brothers to him.

High: Joseph chooses to forgive his brothers for their evildoing and ends up saving his own family. He also gets to see his elderly father again. Joseph provides a home for all of them, and the family is reunited.

Editing out a single one of those difficult chapters would have irreversibly altered the story. Joseph’s cooperation, even when he didn’t understand why all these things were happening to him, enabled him to write a story that has been retold for centuries and has inspired countless other heroic chapters in God’s epic story of redemption. Joseph cooperated with God, and God did what only He could do. That cooperation changed Joseph’s story, and his story changed the world. You and I need to make a simple decision. No matter what, we will keep writing with God and let Him choose where the story goes. When we try to edit out or revise story lines because they require surrender or sacrifice—or because they bring pain—we risk missing the very thread that connects us to a grand adventure. And the pain of regret is far greater and lasts longer than the pain of sacrifice.

Only GOD (the book) - A God Story Isn’t Easy, Part 1

2013-04-02T13:29:00.000-05:00

As we begin to change our story, God’s goal is beyond our human comprehension. He wants our story to be full of those “greater things” of which He spoke so that we can bless and change the world around us. This is still God’s story.

The only factor that can keep us from being blessed and passing the blessing onto the world around us is our own low level of faith. Jesus challenged, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matt. 9:29 NIV). There it is again - that critical trust issue. As we further God’s story, our contribution depends on our trust.

God’s story doesn’t edit out the difficult parts. It doesn’t delete the seemingly tragic events. Prior characters in His story faced formidable giants, wept through long nights, and suffered the wrenching pain of loss.

In God’s story, trusting heroes always forge through tragedy, emerging stronger when the battle subsides. Generally, the greater the destiny, the greater the process is in getting there. When God allows your story to take a difficult twist, don’t try to edit out the struggle or delete the conflict. Your character will grow stronger, your story more heroic, through difficulty as He fills in details you cannot yet see.

Check back for Part 2 where I share a retro story showing how A God’s Story Isn’t Easy. Only GOD (the book)

God’s Story

2013-03-27T15:27:00.003-05:00

Ever since God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He has been writing the greatest story line of all time. The story of humankind was born in God’s heart, and it has every element of a blockbuster tale. The story is simple, but stunning. Recorded in the pages of the Bible and imprinted on the hearts of mankind through the centuries, it is the story of magnificent love given, spurned, and rejected. The story astonishes with an incredible turnaround made possible only through its hero’s unimaginable sacrifice. It’s the true account of how almighty God was willing to change His story so you and I could change ours.

God created mankind and put them in an incredible place called Eden. Everything was declared good and all of their needs were met. But Adam and Eve choose to disobey Him and to look out for themselves. When they do, the story line shatters. Sin mars and scars the marvelous perfection of the creatures and the creation. Rising out of the conflict is the element of theme, which is the central idea or belief of the story. In this story God is writing, His perspective is clear. He believes -- no, He knows -- that sin has broken the relationship between Himself and humankind. He also knows that humankind is broken, but not worthless. At the moment of the first fatal sin, God does not allow the death of the perfection He created to be the final moment. He announces the theme of the rest of His story: He will send a Savior, a Redeemer, who will re-create broken people who place their trust in Him. Since that moment in the garden, every son of Adam and every daughter of Eve has suffered brokenness; that theme is unwavering. But God kept His promise. Into our brokenness came Jesus, the perfect Son of God. John 1:10–12 (NIV) summarizes this transforming theme:

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Can you imagine that? God rewrites His story so we can rewrite ours. From brokenness to a re-created child of God. Now that’s a story! The entire Bible records God’s redemptive story -- God’s immeasurable love, His intimate relationship with His creatures, the brokenness of sin, and the promised salvation fulfilled through Jesus. And then God’s story developed and expanded through the obedient lives of trusting followers in every generation. Now is the time for you to add your chapter.

God is Good, Great, and Generous

2013-03-19T09:23:00.002-05:00

The Bible is the true account of how almighty God was willing to change Hisstory so you and I could change ours. God created a perfect world, with humans created to love and trust Him in a perfect relationship. But Adam and Eve chose to trust their own wisdom instead of God’s. They doubted that God had their best interests in mind and chose to disobey Him. Since that moment, the entire human race has suffered brokenness.

Yet God, because He is good, great, and generous, sent His Son into this broken world to redeem us and transform us (John 1:10-12). We can now be transformed from brokenness into a recreated child of God. This recreation happens when wetrust, and it grows and thrives as our trust grows.

A time is coming when all will be restored to the dominion and rule of Christ (Rev. 11:15). Until then, God wants to empower us to change our story, with the goal truly beyond our comprehension. The only factor that can keep us from being blessed and passing on that blessing to the world is our own low level of faith and trust in a God who is good, great, and generous. Jesus said, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matt. 9:29).

You and I need to make a simple decision that no matter what, we will keep writing with God and let Him choose where our story goes. Sometimes God will use tragedy to help forge our stories, but we must not hold back! The pain of regret is far greater and lasts much longer than the pain of sacrifice.

My View of God

2013-03-14T09:21:00.002-05:00

My view of God is that He is a loving and wise Father. When Jesus was asked by the disciples how to prayer, he showed them by praying, “Our Father who is in heaven…“ I believe Jesus gave us the best picture of what our view of God needs to be – and that is as a Father.

If I were to call my earthly father by his first name, it would convey I do not have a close relationship with him. So it is with our heavenly Father. For me to just refer to Him as God would convey that my relationship, no doubt, is a distant one at best. Jesus came and died; He is not just Creator or God to me; He is my Father.

I am very blessed to have an earthly father who is loving and wise. I know not everyone has been as fortunate as I have been. But, I know my heavenly Father is infinitely wiser than my earthly father, and He wants men and women to live in His love and wisdom. The key to living in that love and wisdom is knowing some vital truths about the one I comfortably and confidently call “Father”.

There are 3 wonderful truths about God that can transform our relationships with Him when we choose to accept and embrace them. Not based on how our day, week, or even life is going -- but based on the fact that when God had everything the way He wanted it He declared it good, and he met all the needs mankind would have. It was sin that sent our world and mankind into the brokenness we are all affected by to this day. Yet out of God’s goodness, greatness, and generosity, we see our heavenly Father’s heart by what happen at and through the cross.

God is great - He has all the power and wisdom needed to do the miraculous in my life.
God is good - All His desires for me are for my benefit.
God is generous - His plan is to use His greatness and goodness to bless me.

If you deeply believe in a great, good, and generous Father who wants to use all He has to bless you based on who He is (not what happens to me), you set yourself up to believe you are always on the verge of a move of God in your life as you trust Him. That’s the key to an “Only God” life.

What’s Your View of God?

2013-03-08T11:41:00.000-05:00

Your view of God is the most important thing about you. Do you believe that?

The Bible says we are created in the image of God, yet I sense more times than not we are creating God in the image we want. This leaves us frustrated, disappointed, confused, perplexed, and flat out angry – because He didn’t perform, please, or provide in the way that we had created Him.

This is really the most important part of “Change Your Story,” so that you can “Change the World.” One of the things I like to do from time to time is sing to my wife Patty. I know it sounds romantic, but I am sure it is more humorous than romantic for Patty. I was singing the national anthem and got about halfway through, and she said, “You don’t know the national anthem.” Guess what – she was right. I knew enough to get it started, to sing in a crowd, but I couldn’t do it stand alone. Do you know why? Because I never intentionally sat down and learned it. I would pick up a little here and a little there from ball games and other events. I believe for too many of us this is how we have gained our knowledge of who God is. We know Him well enough to get by in a crowd, church, Sunday school class, or small group – but not well enough to stand alone.

You will never trust Him enough to change your story, so that you can change the world this way. We must be like Paul who said, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” You will never let the ultimate author write His story for you unless you completely trust Him. And you won’t trust Him unless you truly know Him. Change your Story, Change the World.

Dwight’s Monthly Letter - MARCH 2013

2013-03-01T12:16:00.004-05:00

I want to say thank you again for your incredible support of me and the release of my new book, Only God. The book-launch party was amazing, and I truly felt loved and honored that night.

I want to remind us all that an “Only God” story is not for the select few. It is God’s desire that we all walk in the days He has ordained for us and live out His Story. God’s story is big, magnificent, noble, heroic, and beyond your imagination . . . yet He invites you to write with Him, to trust and obey Him, and create a story He can use to transform the world. No matter what has happened to you. No matter how old you are. No matter how young you are. No matter how you have failed. No matter how broken you feel. No matter how hard you have already tried. You have a colossal chronicle within you, just waiting to be written.

The key to all this is based on how much you trust God – not whether or not you know about Him. Most of us know about God, many of us would even claim to know Him, yet not well enough to trust Him with writing our story. A. W. Tozer says, “Your view of God is the most important thing about you.” I believe that. It is more important than your finances, education, race, gender, or age. It is the most important element in any “Only God” story being written.

A good test of whether or not you are living an “Only God” life is found in Daniel 11:32b: “. . . the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Did you catch the two things? You are strong (not physically, but spiritually and emotionally), and you carry out great exploits (doing things that can only be explained by “Only God”). God wants you to live a life that can only be explained by “only God.” I know that because God has created you for greatness. Why don’t you allow Him to start writing the story He has for you, today.

If you haven't already started, it's not too late to begin following along in the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting guide as you turn your attention to Jesus Christ and deepen your relationship with God.

Lastly, I want to mention something that you will be hearing more and more about. It's the NewPointe Institute. The institute offers college-level classroom training designed to equip leaders for the local church via a flexible program and reasonable tuition fees. Core courses and course electives seek to discipline and equip individuals in biblical literacy, understanding and application of their faith, and church leadership skills. Courses are open to anyone.

Dwight's Monthly Letter - FEBRUARY 2013

2013-02-05T23:02:00.000-05:00

Moses asked God in Psalms 90:12, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” I have asked God to help me focus on what is most important. I don’t want to be giving my life to things that really don’t have much value.

We just finished the 10 by 20 series, where I shared what we believe God has called us to - to influence Northeast Ohio along the I-77 corridor by influencing the market place, the education place, and by launching a total of 10 biblically healthy NewPointe campuses. Some people think that’s impossible, but I believe it becomes possible when we know and cooperate with God. The challenge is for all of us to be in the best spiritual shape we can be. A tool we have introduced to help with that is Adrenaline.

Adrenaline is a complete 90-day regimen designed to get you in the best spiritual shape of your life. The program includes 90 days of devotional reading plans, financial challenges, family-time challenges, a few books, personal growth assessments, and more! It’s divided into 3 categories: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. If you are new to your spiritual walk, start slow . . . but if you are ready for a challenge, go for it with the advanced regimen.

I want to encourage you to take a bias towards action when it comes to your spiritual growth. It will take more than just attending a weekend service or watching online every now and then. It will take an act of your will with intentionally. Here is the great news - it will do more than help NewPointe fulfill the 10 by 20 goal. Your relationships, marriage, family, and workplace will be different; not to mention you as a person. It’s not too late to get an Adrenaline Kit and begin, and I promise you - you will you experience changes and results within the first week.

You’re aware of one of my sayings is, “I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone’s!” I truly mean that, though some might find that hard to believe. God has given me an unbelievable opportunity to write a book to share what that looks like. If you haven’t heard about it, it’ called Only God. It not only includes parts of NewPointe’s story over that past 25+ years, with some personal stories from people who call NewPointe their church home, it includes some of my own journey with God.

It is dedicated to the three most important groups of people in my life: my immediate family (Patty, Caleb, Sarah, Jonathan and Benjamin), my family I grew up in (Dad, Mom, sisters Jean & Brenda, and brother J, and their families), and also my NewPointe family I am honored to serve with and who has allowed me to dream God-size dreams.

Here is the jist of the book - God’s story is big, magnificent, noble, heroic, and beyond your imagination! Yet He invites you to write with Him, to obey Him and create a story He can use to transform the world.

No matter what has happened to you.
No matter how old you are.
No matter how young you are.
No matter how you have failed.
No matter how broken you feel.
No matter how hard you have already tried.

You have a colossal chronicle within you, just waiting to be written. It all begins with your view of God, because nothing in your life is more important than that!

Join us at the Dover Campus where we are throwing a Book Launch Party on Thursday, February 7 from 6 to 8 pm. Here is the schedule for the evening: 6 pm book signing, 7 pm program, followed by more book signing. I would love for you to stop by and say hello.

Dwight's Monthly Letter - JANUARY 2013

2013-01-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! We serve a God of fresh starts and new beginnings. I guess that’s why we say, Happy New Year! It is a brand new year; one that we have never lived before. This stirs up different emotions, doesn’t it? For some, we may be wishing that 2012 would never end. It has been great, fun, rewarding, and prosperous. For others, it has been sad, hard, and filled with loss. God has a word for you no matter what describes you. Look at what the Lord says to us through Isaiah:

This is what the LORD says – he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:16-19 NIV

How can we live this out?

Forgive those who have hurt us. List the people who have disappointed you or let you down. Identify the specific issue then release them to God.
Grieve what we have lost. Share with God what you have lost or what was taken from you. Grieve over it, and then release it to God.
Give thanks for the blessings. Develop a list of things that you are thankful for. Don’t dwell on the past; God wants to do a new thing in your life.

Here are some new things coming up at NewPointe:

New Series: 10 by 20 kicks off this Sunday. You won’t want to miss it. You’ll get a picture of where we are headed in the next few years, and we’ll equip you to know just exactly where you fit in the picture. Join us January 6, 13, and 20.

Adrenaline: A 90-day spiritual growth kick-starter available in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels designed to get you in the best spiritual shape of your life. Available beginning January 27.

NewPointe Institute: College-level classroom training designed to equip leaders for the local church via a flexible program and reasonable tuition fees. Core courses seek to discipline and equip individuals in biblical literacy, understanding and application of their faith, and church leadership skills. Click here for more information.

Campus Groups: Help for making forward progress in your spiritual journey, whether just exploring Christianity or having been a Christ-follower for years. Format is large-group teaching and small-group discussion designed to help you grow spiritually and connect relationally. This year’s campus groups include Effectively Communicate Your Faith (February), Discover NewPointe's Core Beliefs (March), groups on finances, and topics specific to men and women.

Book Launch Party: My book, titled Only GOD, comes out in February, and there will be a book launch party and book signing at the Dover Campus on February 7.

I am so excited about 2013. I believe that God has great things in store for NewPointe. Someone has said that the world at its worst needs a church at its best. It is my prayer that we will be just that.

Dwight's Monthly Letter - December 2012

2012-12-04T19:21:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas. Can you believe those words are already starting to be uttered by people? Yet Christmas is right around the corner. It is one, if not my favorite time of the year. It isn’t my favorite because of what you might think.

Have you ever wondered how much you are loved and valued, really? How significant you are? I think that’s actually the explanation for the Facebook phenomenon, where we post something trivial about our lives, and then obsessively check back all day long to see if we have any new “friends,” or if someone has noticed and “liked” us.

Actually, you can rest easy. You ARE loved and valued beyond your imagination. You are so significant that the God of the Universe knows your name. He notices you, He likes you, and yes – He even loves you. Jesus Christ, His Son, left the perfection of heaven that first Christmas because you matter that much. He came into the world of hurt, need, and struggle that we all experience. He changed His story so we could change ours. Only God could do that. Only God could, and He did. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that anyone who believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

This truth is why Christmas is one of my favorite times. I believe that is the reason everybody loves Christmas, even though they may not fully understand it in this way. But they love it because of the spirit of giving that seems to go to a whole new level in people.

Maybe you know this, but there are family members, friends, and co-workers who either don’t know this truth or have yet to experience this truth. Well – this story is going to be told over and over again in the next 21 days. Through, songs, cards, symbols, etc.

It is also going to be told at our Christmas Eve service December 24. It is going to be a service that I promise you won’t want to miss. It is also a great opportunity to invite those family members, friends, and co-workers who have yet to understand and embrace this incredible truth.

Dwight's Monthly Letter - November 2012

2012-11-02T13:12:00.000-05:00

I want to thank all of you who call NewPointe your home. NewPointe is amazing place where we have the freedom to be able to talk about things from a biblical view that most people are scared to talk about or don’t feel safe enough to approach.

This past month we tackled some of those issues: Abuse, Poverty, Homosexuality, and Pornography. Thanks for helping me create a safe place where you and your friends can hear a dangerous message, a place where grace and truth flow freely. It’s what our world is yearning for.

This Sunday we are kicking off a new series called The Cure for the Common Life. Think about this with me . . . the living God lives inside every person who has trusted Jesus Christ as their personal savior, and there is nothing common about Him. I Corinthians 12:7 (The Message) tells us that “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is”. WOW! That doesn’t sound like a common life.

A survey done years ago by Dr. Anthony Campolo asked fifty people over the age of 95, “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” These are the top three answers he received: 1) I would reflect more 2) I would risk more 3) I would do more things that would live on after I am dead.

I encourage all of us to focus on these three answers. REFLECT - Socrates said that a life not examined is a life not worth living. RISK - what are you doing that if God would die, though I know that is impossible, you would have to stop doing? LIVE ON - Are you leaving an inheritance or a legacy? What is it about your life that will live on long after you’ve died? What are you doing that is of eternal value?

In conjunction with this series, I’m asking you to commit the next 40 days to growing your faith by getting the Word of God into your life. We are making a 40-Day Devotional available, and I’m asking you to read this devotional on a daily basis.

Two final things: Be sure to vote. We live in the greatest country in the world, and we all have a responsibility to help place the best leader in position; do this with prayer and a sober mind. Second, we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving in a few weeks. Take time to pause and make a list of all the things you’re thankful for. It’s a great way to honor God, those around you, and eliminate a sense of entitlement that we each battle.

Dwight's Monthly Letter - October 2012

2012-10-02T08:13:00.000-05:00

What an incredible month we had in September!

We hit the highest attendance ever, for a non-holiday service.
We launched the opening of our Millersburg Campus.
We have launched Campus Groups.
We have had over 100 people pray either to accept Christ or recommit themselves to Him.

I want to echo that we are committed to helping you reach your family and friends for Christ. That is not just so that when they leave this world they go to heaven, though that is important, but so they can experience all that God has for them right here and now.

Three ways in which you can leverage things here at NewPointe in the month of October:

We are kicking off a brand-new series called Elephants. We are calling it Elephants because we are dealing with issues that are elephants in our lives that no one is willing to talk about. They are controversial but are things you want to know what God has to say about: Abuse, Pornography, Poverty, and Homosexuality. I promise you won’t want to miss a week. We are also having a forum each Sunday night on each one of these issues, to help people process and be pro-active in these areas of life.
KidStuf is back. Patty and I leveraged this in raising our kids. KidStuf helped us to train and develop our kids spiritually. We used the materials provided to train our kids on how to have daily devotions with God. Two of our kids are now in college. We couldn’t go to college with them, but with the help of NewPointe we taught them how to take God along with them to deal with the challenges and changes of life.
1st Steps. I can’t tell you how important it is for you to understand what it means to have a relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ and how to develop it, and what that looks like and what it takes.

It is our vision here at NewPointe that you realize and reach your full potential in Jesus Christ.

Dwight's Monthly Letter - September 2012

2012-08-31T10:11:00.000-05:00

School has kicked off. At the Mason household, we always throw some kind of back-to-school party. It includes one of our favorite meals, and Patty bakes a cake in the shape of a school bus with yellow icing and Oreos for wheels. While eating the cake, we talk about the first day of school – who their teachers are, some funny things that happened, etc. At NewPointe we are having a Kickoff too, on September 9, and I want to strongly encourage you to take advantage of it.

Our mission at NewPointe is to lead people to realize and reach their full potential in Jesus Christ. I believe this is the most important mission on planet earth. Our desire is to help you fulfill this too. Why? Because we truly believe everybody spends forever somewhere.

But it’s even more than that. It’s not just because someone is going to die, that they need to know Christ – but that they’re living. We believe that we not only need Christ because one day we’re going to die, but we need Him just as much to be a part of the lives we are living.

All of us have neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family who are not sure where they will spend eternity when they die. I believe that God has placed specific people in all our lives for us to help, encourage, and lead to Christ. Yet many of us feel inadequate and unskilled to do so, which is why we are having The Kickoff on 9/9. We believe that when we work together, it makes it more doable for everyone. Check out the step-by-step Family Meeting Guide.

We have a Party Box for everyone who is inviting a friend or family, but you need to register for a Party Box. It includes some hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, and more. It also includes a Party Guide that has games, fun activities, and simple conversation starters. We want to help you invest in the family or individual you invited. Don’t hesitate. If you are waiting on a reply from your friend, go ahead and register for a Party Box now – deadline is September 2.

On September 9 we are starting a series called Why, God? Life throws us curve balls, and sometimes our initial response is to ask “why?” No matter who we are or where we’re from, we are naturally curious creatures afraid of the unknown. During this series we’ll tackle a few of these “why” questions that most churches are afraid to answer.

The Kickoff. Invite a friend. Throw a party. September 9. See you then!

Dwight's Monthly Letter - August 2012

2012-08-02T15:13:00.000-05:00

WOW! We serve an amazing God. I was able to go on vacation with our family this past month. It was an incredible time where we were able to focus on one another and deepen our relationships. We felt so grateful to be able to do this, as time keeps moving right along with our second child leaving for college in just a few weeks. In addition to deepening my relationships with the most important people in my life, another benefit was physical rest, emotional rest, and spiritual renewal, not to mention the reflection time I had on what is really important to me – teaching and leading.

Do you know that God has established a rhythm for us? He knows what you and I need because He created us. He knows that life is a lot more satisfying when we take time to deepen our relationships and experience physical and emotional rest, along with spiritual renewal. And He has built that in as His gift to mankind. It is called a Sabbath. That is why Scripture tells us that man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man. I would to encourage you to make sure that you make it a part of your rhythm this fall. It is God’s mini vacation, to help you between your family vacations.

We have an exciting fall planned for you here at NewPointe.

Last Sunday, Millersburg Campus held their first service in their new facility and celebrated an Only Godmoment; this is something that all of us who call NewPointe our home have helped make possible.
August 5 (this Sunday), we will celebrate communion at each campus. I’ll be teaching on the thought “Beyond Forgiveness.” You won’t want to miss this special and powerful time.
August 6 through August 15 take advantage of a 10-Day Pray Guide to help you experience the power of prayer and recharge your spiritual life. Find it on our website or on Twitter @newpointechurch.
August 12 is #CID12, which is Community Impact Day 2012. Our goal is that everyone who calls NewPointe their home will be out and about serving their community and spreading the love of Jesus Christ. This is a great opportunity for families and small groups to grow together. The last day to register is this Sunday.
August 19, we will kick off a new series called Making Sense of Church. There are a lot of people today who are confused about church.
August 28 at Dover Campus and August 29 at Canton Campus are identical 1-day conferences on the 7 Streams of Influence starting at 7pm; registration information available soon.
September 9, we are kicking off a new series called Why God? On that day, we are asking everyone to “throw a party and invite a friend” – literally! Mark your calendar now and watch for more information about that and how you can register for a FREE party kit. Our goal is to have over 5,000 people experience NewPointe that weekend. Party kits will be limited, so it’s important to register. Begin praying for that neighbor or coworker, and intentionally invest in them and that relationship; then ask them to come with you on September 9.

All of this is geared to give you a jump start to your week as well as remind you of the need to take full advantage of the gift God has given you in the Sabbath. Enjoy!

Dwight's Monthly Letter - July 2012

2012-07-04T06:49:00.001-05:00

Each NewPointe campus is just pulsating with the Spirit's energizing power! I hear over and over how people love NewPointe and how God is using NewPointe to lead people into a growing relationship with Him. I love our church, too! Patty and I are so thankful for the role you play in helping our church reach its full redemptive potential. It is directly impacting our family. NewPointe would not be the same without you and your family.

As I look ahead, we have exciting yet challenging months ahead of us, but they have the potential to be very rewarding. After reading this, would you please take a moment to pray that God's favor will stay strong on our church? Pray for the Holy Spirit to energize every weekend service and event. Pray for protection from the forces of evil. As we all pray, I believe we will experience moments, where we’ll all collectively say Only God.

I hope you were able to attend the Partners’ Meeting we had last month. It’s a great way to get the latest news and updates on NewPointe. If you’re not a partner, let me encourage you to become one. Refuse to sit on the sidelines and get involved - you’ll find significance and experience Only God stories of your own.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Our Action! series continues this weekend as we look at more parables of Jesus. Jesus instructed His disciples and answered His critics by illustrating profound truths with simple stories (parables). They served to illumine the mysteries of God’s kingdom to His followers, but they also concealed the same mysteries from those who rejected Him.
Jul 24 our Millersburg Campus will be moving into their new facility; be praying for them as they reach out to people to help them connected to our Heavenly Father.
Aug 5 we are going to be celebrating communion at all campuses; you won’t want to miss this special and powerful time.
Aug 12 is #CID12 which is Community Impact Day 2012. It’s our goal that everyone who calls NewPointe their home will be out and about serving their community and spreading the love of Jesus Christ; this is a great opportunity for families and small groups to grow together; be watching for more information.
Sep 9 we are kicking off a new series called “Why God” and asking everyone to throw a “Matthew Party“; mark the date and be watching for more information about what that it. Our goal is to have over 5,000 people attend NewPointe that weekend. Begin to pray for a neighbor or coworker and intentionally invest in that relationship. Then ask them to come with you on Sep 9!
In October we plan to launch our fourth campus in Coshocton. This is an Only God moment!

As you can see, the next few months are loaded with great stuff, and the best part is that they will make an eternal impact. "With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (I Corinthians 15:58 TM).

Dwight's Montly Letter - June 2012

2012-06-01T13:31:00.001-05:00

It’s hard to believe we’ve hit the halfway point of 2012. Time moves on. We’ve also hit the halfway point of our Only God Campaign.

Summer is usually a time where fatigue sets in, and we’re ready for vacation. It’s that time when we break away from routines and just kickback. We all need that; God wired us that way (that’s why we have a Sabbath every 7th day).

Halfway . . . they say that’s one of the most critical points in mountain climbing – where it’s just as far to the finish line as it is to go back to the starting line. When you get halfway, there are challenges. Is it worth it? Why did I decide to do this? Should I quit? Fatigue sets in. Sometimes even a willingness to go on is in question. That can happen and does happen with campaigns.

In the past 18 months, we’ve all faced many different challenges, some so great they’ve tempted us to not continue with Only God. I want to tell you, it’s worth it to press on. Some have finished their commitments earlier than they thought they would. Others need encouraged to jump back in for the last half; God just might show up in a more powerful way than before. And still others are asking, “What is Only God?”

Only God is a 3-year giving campaign. We believe that God is challenging us to the vision of reaching more people in Northeast Ohio, equipping and training pastors, and planting more churches in the Middle East. Our desire for our whole church is to increase our faith by giving, which would be an amazing spiritual journey for each of us.

We are making a huge difference. I want to thank you for what you’ve done to ensure the Only God Campaign succeeds in its mission. I want to encourage everyone to continue to fulfill your Only God Campaign commitment. Let’s finish strong! We have been able to do a lot of great things:

Reaching Northeast Ohio - Canton Campus has a full staff; Dover Campus will be able to add staff; Millersburg Campus has added staff and will soon move into a new, beautiful facility; Coshocton Campus is getting into position to launch.
Planting More Churches in the Middle East - A team left for the Middle East today to encourage and love on our house churches and encourage our national leaders there as we continue to grow and develop church plants.
Equipping and Training Pastors/Leaders - How to Leverage Your Platform Seminar; All Access Conference.

I’ve said and continue to say, if I knew of a greater opportunity for investment that reaps rewards, not only in this life, but in the next life as well – that’s what I’d do. That’s where I’d give my time, talent, and treasure – but I don’t. Galatians 6:9 reminds us: So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (NLT).

We will meet with our partners, our core, to keep them informed of all that is going on at NewPointe and plans for the fall. If you are not already a partner, I invite you to come and consider completing a Partnership Agreement. All meetings are on Sundays from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. (between our morning service times). The dates for the Partners' Meetings are as follows:

Sunday, June 17 @ Canton Campus
Sunday, June 24 @ Dover Campus
Sunday, June 24 @ Millersburg Campus

Dwight's Monthly Letter - May 2012

2012-05-04T10:48:00.001-05:00

We are entering into a busy time with ball games, graduations, Mother’s Day, etc. It’s a busy time at NewPointe, too. We’re in the midst of our current Think Orangesermon series; looking forward to the Think Orange Conference this Saturday; excited about the FREE 1-day seminar How to Leverage Your Platform; and the FREE Refocus: Your Parenting classes to be held at all campuses. All that, and more, not to mention life in general . . .

Someone has said that a busy life can easily become a barren life. We’d all agree that we can’t do everything. Sometimes, our tendency is to get overwhelmed – and either do nothing or react poorly.

It’s better for all of us to be intentional and to determine what’s important. Doing this allows us to be proactive instead of reactive. Jesus talks about this principle in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

I want to encourage you to be intentional with all the activities that are in front of you. Don’t be overwhelmed. Instead, be intentional – with life, family, church, and work.

Dwight's Monthly Letter - Mar 2012

2012-03-01T16:05:00.000-05:00

Scripture does not command Christians to fast. God does not require or demand it of Christians. At the same time, the Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable, and beneficial. The book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:2; 14:23). Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus completely on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to ourselves, that we are serious about our relationship with Him. Fasting helps us gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.

Although fasting in Scripture is almost always a fasting from food, there are other ways to fast. Anything given up temporarily in order to focus all our attention on God can be considered a fast (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Fasting should be limited to a set time, especially when fasting from food. Extended periods of time without eating can be harmful to the body. Fasting is not intended to punish the flesh, but to redirect attention to God. Fasting should not be considered a “dieting method” either. The purpose of a biblical fast is not to lose weight, but rather to gain deeper fellowship with God. Anyone can fast, but some may not be able to fast from food (diabetics, for example). Everyone can temporarily give up something in order to draw closer to God.

By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can more successfully turn our attention to Christ. Fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want. Fasting changes us, not God. Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others. Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and a joyful attitude. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Click here for the GUIDE to 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Dwight's Monthly Letter - Feb 2012

2012-02-04T10:39:00.000-05:00

I want to thank all of you who committed to becoming a NewPointe Partner in 2012. The vision and mission to which God is calling will take all of us uniting and working together.

As I watch CNN and FOX News, I believe too many people are putting all their eggs in the basket of the political arena for the hope of America. I am sorry, but I believe that’s placing your hope in the wrong thing. I believe the local church is the hope of the world living and teaching the truth of Jesus Christ.

I have been told that in the next 2-3 years our community and Northeast Ohio is going to look completely different than what it does today. This will be due to the effects of the oil and gas industry. We can’t just focus on the money that this will generate. It will generate many other things. That can be good or bad - we can to decide. People are pouring into our communities. Are they going to influence us, or are we going to influence them? This is why we must fight the drift.

Here is a prayer that we must not only pray but live out:

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

- Attributed, Sir Francis Drake -1577

Dwight’s Monthly Letter – Jan 2012

2012-01-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! Can you believe it is 2012? It seems like just a couple years ago we were dealing with Y2K. Time flies by so fast. As Scripture says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 92:12). When you realize that you have a limited amount of days, it makes you wiser, because you know they are precious – you will either waste them, spend them, or invest them.

Speaking of Y2K, do you remember the panic that it brought to our world? Fear ran wild. It crippled and paralyzed people. People did crazy things. Scripture tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real, and it is one of the enemy’s greatest weapons, because it keeps us from taking risks.

That is why God tells us 365 times in Scripture, “Do not be afraid” or “Fear not.” And here’s the good news: It’s not just a command, it’s followed with a promise – “Fear not, for I AM with you.” I AM? Yeah, THE GREAT I AM . . . I AM whatever you will need, to face and do My will.

I was with a group of pastors a few months ago, and one of the questions they asked me was this: “How do you nurture and develop your growing and vibrate faith?” I said I wish I could tell you it is because I spend 4 to 5 hours a day in God’s Word. I wish I could tell you it is because I pray 3 to 4 hours a day. Instead, I told them that I practice two very important spiritual disciplines: 1) I ask God what He would have me to do this year; 2) If God doesn’t provide and move, I will fail for sure. This causes me to live with a sense of God’s presence in my life every day. It drives me to hear from Him (Bible) and talk to Him (Prayer). It leads me to live a life of the miraculous.

This is the life that Jesus Christ calls us to live. Jesus tells a story in Luke 19:11-27 (be sure to read it) where a Master gives money to three of his servants and tells them to "invest this for me while I am gone.” He comes back and finds that two risked and one played it safe. He rebuked the one who played it safe and said, “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag" (v. 26, MSG).

So let me ask you a question: Are you going to play it safe in 2012 and end up holding the bag? Or are you going to risk and get more than you ever dreamed? The choice is yours; the consequences are not. Take a moment and ask God what He would have you risk for His kingdom. You don’t want to stand before a Savior who has nail-pierced hands and feet and a pierced side and say that you played it safe.

Welcome him (Epaphroditus) with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ . . . (Phil. 2:29-30).

Dwight's Monthly Letter - Dec 2011

2011-12-02T16:50:00.001-05:00

It seems like Christmas puts most people in a pretty good mood. Why is that? It just might be that when we focus on others, it gives us joy. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.

You no doubt have heard the story of Alex Corona. He is an 8-year old boy who attends our Canton Campus. He was saving his money so that the Canton Campus could get a play land. Well, God interrupted his plans with a campaign that was happening in our kids department at NewPointe called 2 Coats. It is an effort to make sure that boys, girls, and adults of Northeast Ohio have warm coats for this winter. When Alex heard this, he felt a little nudge in his heart to give his money he was saving, and that is just what he did.

Alex has been on an adventure ever since, and his willingness to give has impacted people all over Northeast Ohio. It ignited a spirit of generosity in a cashier at Old Navy, the manager of Old Navy, all the way to the CEO of Old Navy, and also to a Fox 8 News anchor person who has covered the story, and to people who call NewPointe their church home. The count of coats is well over 1,100 and still counting - not to mention the hats, gloves, and scarves.

What would have happen had Alex not acted on the nudge he got from God? We will never know. But, we do know what is happening because he did. All throughout this Christmas season God is going to be nudging you and me. Let’s not ignore His nudge, but let’s say ‘yes’. You never know what God will do on the other side of a ‘yes’ to Him. I can assure you that you will experience what Alex is learning - that it not only changes you personally, but it changes everybody around you.

Check it Alex's story http://www.fox8.com/news/morningshow/

I am personally inviting you, your family, friends, and co-workers to come to one of our Christmas Eve services:

Dover Campus
12, 2, 4 & 6 p......activities for children birth to age 5 available at 2pm & 4pm only.

Canton Campus
2 & 4 pm..............activities for children birth to age 5 available at 2pm only.

Millersburg Campus
2 & 4 pm.............activities for children birth to age 5 available at 2pm only.

Merry Christmas!

Dwight’s Monthly Letter – Nov 2011

2011-11-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

We are starting a Wellness Program here on staff at NewPointe. It was kind of funny at the initial meeting. We all had to get our blood taken, be weighed, check our blood pressure and body fat, and fill out a questionnaire about our habits and lifestyles. You could sense that most of us were nervous and anxious. One of the reasons is because we all have the intuition that lets us know we are probably not going to get a report back saying we absolutely have nothing to work on. So, there was small chatter and nervous laugher that you could hear as we moved through each station.

It reminded me of what Paul said to Timothy in I Timothy 4:8, “For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.”

First, we do need to take care of our body. It is the temple of God. It is his instrument or tool. And physical training does have value. But, ultimately, my body is going to be destroyed. Paul goes on to say, "That which has the most value is spiritual training, because it holds promise for the present life and the life to come."

We get nervous when we evaluate the health of our physical body - which we all need to do because it does have value. When was the last time you had a physical examination? I want to encourage you, because life is precious. And, if you don’t want to do for yourself, then do it for your family. Push past the nervousness and fear. You’ll be glad you did. You will be able to address things that you were not aware of, and many times, catch things before they become a problem.

As I was standing in line, I thought to myself how nervous it would make most of us to do a spiritual evaluation. And probably for the same reasons a physical one does. Yet this examination is of even more importance, because it not only benefits us in this life but the next life too.

In the medical world, they check about 3 things to know right away if you have concerns physically. Here’s a way you can do that spiritually. It will give you a quick, accurate evaluation of your spiritual condition:

Time – Are you giving God time? Here’s how - by making NewPointe’s Sunday morning service a priority, and by taking a minimum of 15 minutes to talk and listen to Him thru Bible reading and prayer.
Talent – Are you using your gifts and talents to serve God? Or are you just using your abilities to fulfill your own dreams and desires? Here’s how - by serving in a significant way through NewPointe so that God’s purposes may be fulfilled.
Treasure – Are you generous towards God and His work? Do you tithe? Here’s how - give sacrificially by saying no to something you want so that you can give more to God’s work.

I want to be in good shape physically because I have a beautiful wife and four great kids. They need me to be around, and I want to be around.

I want to be in good shape spiritually because I have a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed me, and I have family and friends who desperately need to know Him.

Blogs Can Be Confusing

2011-11-01T15:57:00.000-05:00

I want to clarify what I said on an earlier blog post. I wrote that when someone asked me if my heart had left Dover, I said no because my heart had never been in Dover. And I referred to someone who asked if my heart left Sugarcreek when we relocated to State Route 39, and again I said no because my heart was not in Sugarcreek. I said my heart has always been for people in general.

Here is perhaps better wording: My heart will always be in Sugarcreek, Dover, New Philadelphia, Millersburg, etc. My heart is for people, no matter where they live. I want you to understand me on this. Lost people matter to God, so they better matter to us. It is not a matter of choosing one over another, but like your children, if you are blessed with them, you love them all the same.