A Ministry Making a Positive Impact – The KINGDOM Group!

A Ministry Making a Positive Impact -
The KINGDOM Group!

I want to bring to your attention to a ministry that is making a positive impact in locally and nationally. The KINGDOM Group International, Inc. is a Baton Rouge based organization that is successfully addressing racial and cultural divisiveness. For the past 3 years this ministry has held meetings and special events that have resulted in very positive changes in the area of unity and reconciliation.

Giving a SINGLE GIFTin any amount; or
Becoming a MONTHLY DONORof $10, $25, $50, $100 or any amount; or
By giving an “IN-KIND GIFT”(office space, equipment or supplies, volunteering, other donations, etc.)

Always remember to give to your local church first. Then, prayerfully consider how God would like you to partner with the KINGDOM Group.

Giving to the KINGDOM GROUP is easy. You can visit Kingdom Group website and click the GIVE NOW button. Or, you can mail your donation to KINGDOM Group, 8733 Siegen Lane, Ste. 141, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. You may also call Rev. Elmo Winters at (225) 305-3006 for additional information. The KINGDOM Group is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Happy Memories from Bad Experiences

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (Philippians 1:3 NLT).

I love the encouragement found in the book of Philippians. One of the reasons Paul wrote this book was to thank the church at Philippi for their help. He writes, “I thank God for the help you gave me” (Philippians 1:5). He also wrote, “no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only” (Philippians 4:15); “Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again” (Philippians 4:16). The generosity of the Philippians to Paul compelled him to assure them “my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). This is quite a thank you letter.

It should be noted that Paul did not have a pleasant experience in Philippi. He was beaten, whipped, humiliated, falsely arrested, thrown into prison, and survived an earthquake. Then, he

was asked by the city leaders to leave town. In spite of all of this, Paul writes, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (Philippians 1:3).

How can he survive such a difficult experience but express such deep gratitude? Paul is consciously choosing where to focus his attention. He has selected not to dwell on the painful memories but to express gratitude for the good things that had been done for him and through him.

I have a friend that lost his house and all of his possessions in a flood a few years ago. We were recently talking about the flood and he said, “I do not really remember the flood itself, damages, or losses, but I vividly remember the angels that God sent to help rebuild and refurnish my house.” What a testimony! He saw the Hand of Christ throughout the flood and the subsequent recovery.

Our mental, physical, and spiritual health is connected. Too often we allow painful memories to linger in our minds and then suffer the adverse consequences to our physical and spiritual health. Scripture teaches us to “…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This process allows us to “weed out” negative thoughts and live a life of gratitude. Paul was likely following his own advice that he gave the Philippians. “… Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” (Philippians 4:8).

Paul had a lot of reasons to focus on painful memories of Philippi. Instead, he chose to be grateful for the people that helped him, and the work God was doing in and through them to build His church. When we forgive others for their wrongs against us, then we can have happy memories even though we had difficult circumstances. This attitude honors God, and He bless our relationships far beyond our expectations when we focus on His blessings.

Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for helping us to forget painful memories and focus our thoughts on you. Please continue to lead, guide, and direct us in all that we do. May others know that we are Christians by our love. Amen.

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Looking for Something Good to Taste?

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him” (Psalm 34:8 NIV).

The only thing I like better than eating food is eating food that is tasty. We all love a tasty meal and many of us have our own unique spice combination to make a dish more appealing. I think about all the elaborate cooking shows that are popular on television. I too enjoy watching many of them. Then, I consider the most significant meal that we consume is the Lord’s supper, Holy communion, Holy Eucharist, or the Blessed Sacrament.

The consecrated body of Christ becomes for us the “bread of life” (John 6:22-59), and the blood of Christ becomes the “cup of our salvation” (Psalm 116:13) through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus

instructed His followers to use bread and wine to remember the sacrifice He was going to make when He died for our sins on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). This simple meal is an invitation to “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him (Psalm 34:8). The invitation is to experience His living presence, and it comes with a promise which is always true. The more you experience Him, the more aware you will become of His goodness.

Knowledge of God is essential to our faith.

In times of adversity, it is natural to doubt the goodness of God. The ways of God are always good but are often mysterious, even to those who know Him intimately. The Bible teaches us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). I have wasted many hours trying to understand His ways. This is particularly true in times of adversity and worry. God uses adversity to draw us nearer and the enemy seizes the opportunity to damage our emotional health.

Imagine how much more complete our lives would be if we turned our worry into worship. Instead of trying to understand God, we should spend time enjoying His presence and experiencing His goodness. I have tasted and know that the Lord is good. My refuge, rock, and redeemer is my Lord. Come and taste and you will see that the Lord is good.

Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for Jesus. We remember Him each time we consume His body and blood. We vow to never forget His sacrifice for our sins. Amen.

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Making a Difference in the Lives of Men

I encourage you to prayerfully consider joining me in donating to Rev. Mark Lubbock’s ministry – Gulf South Men. Please visit Gulf South Men’s website and GSMen.org to get a glimpse of the scope and impact of this ministry or give Mark a call at (225)252-3331. Mark’s ministry helps men become Disciples that are servant leaders as modeled by Jesus. His work cuts across boundaries of denomination, race, age, etc. His goal is to raise up Godly men that bring Christ into their homes and families and then out into the world. There have been dramatic impacts on men, but the ultimate beneficiaries are wives and families.

I have been blessed to have worked alongside Mark in ministry for several years and have seen the Holy Spirit work through him. If you have any questions or suggestions about the ministry, financial plans, etc. please give Mark a call (225)252-3331. I know he will be happy to chat with you.

To donate please go to — Donate.. Most importantly, I ask that you pray for God’s provision and protection for Mark and his wife, Vickie, and his ministry. Please ask God what amount He would have you contribute and whatever amount He puts on your heart is certainly the right amount, even if its zero. God bless!

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Give to Receive?

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV).

Most Christians understand the need for giving. For early Jews and Christians, almsgiving was the act of filling a material need for someone less fortunate, usually by giving money. God incorporated the concept of alms into the Mosaic Law when He ordered land-owners to leave to the poor the corners of the fields (Leviticus 19:9-10), and every seventh year, leave the entire field (Exodus 23:10-11). In churches today, “alms” often go by the name love offering or benevolence fund.

I have written earlier about the benefits of giving back to the church. This includes not only tithing but also our presence, talents, witness, and prayers. Our giving is a means of grace and draws us closer to God. We should only give out of joy and not with the expectation that God is now in debt to us for our gift. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Our gifts to the church reveal a lot about our priorities and our heart. God examines our hearts and knows our true desires. Jeremiah 17:10 teaches, “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” So, what is your most prized possession? Maybe it has economic value such as your house or sentimental value such as a picture. Any items that is highly valued is our “treasure.” It may not be gold coins, but it is still our treasure and this is important and revealing. The Word teaches us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” So, our treasure and our emotions are intimately related.

There is nothing wrong with having things of economic or sentimental value. The problem comes when our things “have us.” God modeled true generosity when He sacrificed his greatest treasure for us. When we give like He does, and we honor Him with that giving, it makes us more like Him.

So, what are we to do with our treasure? Many of my material treasures were lost in a flood a few years ago. You may have had your treasure stolen or lost in a fire. I have come to realize that my true treasure can never be lost or stolen. One of my favorite Scriptures is Matthew 6:19-21 which reads as follows. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Now, go back and re-read the previous sentence. It will help you to better understand your heart and yourself. Matthew 25:40 tells us how to go about storing up our treasure in heaven. “The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Prayer: Dear God: Help us to keep you first in our lives. Thank you for modeling for us how to store up treasure in heaven. Be with us as we seek out opportunities to be your hands and feet. Amen.

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Finding a Way Out from Temptation

Evangelism Begins With Discernment

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

I recently ate lunch with friends at a local cafeteria. As I walked with my tray to the cash register, I passed the desserts. They looked really good, and I was very tempted to get one but did not. In the overall scheme of things, this was a pretty mild form of temptation.

Temptation comes at us each day in a variety of forms. It has been around since the very beginning when the serpent tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and gave in to the desires of the flesh and ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The enemy later tempted Jesus immediately following His baptism. You may recall that Jesus used Scripture to “rebuke” (2 Timothy 3:16) satan as Jesus was tested and tempted by satan

(Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus modelled for us the power of Scripture. Also, Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her. Joseph modelled for us that we should remove ourselves from temptation. As Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph’s cloak, he ran out of the house (Genesis 39:12).

The enemy knows that we each have a weakness and will use these as temptations to move us away from God and toward sin. Temptation should be dealt with consistently, ruthlessly, and immediately because sin is “crouching at the door” (Genesis 4:7).

It is important that we realize the pathway and source of temptation. James 1:13-15 teaches, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” Adam and Eve did not die in their physical bodies, but their sin separated them from God. A life separated from God is no life at all.

Yes, “the wages of sin are death” (Romans 6:23). However, we have eternal life through the blood of Jesus because the complete verse of Romans 6:23 is: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “As the Scripture says, “The person who is put right with God through faith shall live” (Romans 1:17).

Temptation is clearly not from God, but we can use temptation to deepen our relationship with God. John Quincy Adams, our sixth President, said, “Every temptation is an opportunity of our getting nearer to God.” God will provide a way out from temptation, and He is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Prayer: Dear God: Please protect us as we face temptations that would serve to draw us away from you. Grant us a keen sense of discernment as we seek comfort from you and not from this world. Amen.

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How To Be An AAA-Rated Father (Part 1)

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates (Psalm 127:3-5 NLT).

Each year parents with good intentions will search for books to improve their parenting skills. As parents we love our children and want them to have a good life and be happy. We purchase material things to make them happy. We take them on vacations, baseball practice, etc. to make them happy. All of these are good things, but they don’t really provide the child with what he or she really craves.

The Bible is the best book for raising children because, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

The greatest need for our children is our unconditional love. The home must be a place where they are always accepted and appreciated. Go back and read The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. The

unconditional love that our Heavenly Father has for us is the same love we must have for our children. When we show our children love, we are showing them God. As fathers we need to model love at home. They need to see how we love them, the rest of the family, and all guests that enter our house. Our actions must reinforce our words.

Our children will soon be adults and their parenting skills will largely be based on what they observed from us. The gifts and trips will fade from memory. Our words will also fade. What remains is feelings. Hopefully, the feelings are of unconditional love, which will be passed on to the next generation.

Some fathers are the life of the party when out in public. They are considered a fun guy, always quick with a joke, but at home they are the opposite. I think it’s easy to love people at a distance, but when you’re with them all the time, little things can become annoying. If we are intentional to ensure that our words are words of life, wherever we are, then we are showing and teaching love to our family and our entire life is a powerful witness.

Back in school, if you received a grade of an A you knew that you did good. A lot of times we love our kids, but we don’t express it in a way they can understand it. Children understand love in three ways: affection, affirmation, and attention. These provide the basis for a AAA-rated father. Please check our more thoughts in Part 2.

Affection. Children need our hugs and kisses. They need to feel our love.

Affirmation. Children need to be affirmed. Build them up with words of love.

Attention. Children need our attention. Our time is precious and when we give our time to our children, we are creating valuable memories for us and them. Be present when you are present – put down the smart phone.

Prayer: Thank you for the blessing of children. Be with us as we try to raise our children to love and honor you. Amen.

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A Ministry Making a Positive Impact - The KINGDOM Group!

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Happy Memories from Bad Experiences

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Looking for Something Good to Taste?

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Making a Difference in the Lives of Men

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Give to Receive?

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Evangelism Begins With Discernment

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How To Be An AAA-Rated Father (Part 1)

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A Ministry Making a Positive Impact -
The KINGDOM Group!