I felt led to share what has been on my heart recently.  I find a strong sensation in my heart every time I see a policeman, fireman, councilman, mayor, state legislator, governor, judge, or any other type of community leaders.  I find respect and honor welling up within me when I pray about these local community leaders.

Romans 13:7 says, “fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, and respect your leaders.”

I feel we as citizens have an obligation to honor our local government and community leaders. I have taken a personal challenge on myself to make sure I am continually praying for our local leaders and businesses in Henry County, GA and the surrounding areas.  I truly believe that through the actions of our local leaders and through prayer that we can make a difference in a huge way.  We are filled with many amazing people in our area and I am sure if you are reading this you can think of some of the leaders in your area.

I want to challenge you to find out who some of those local leaders are in your community and pray for them and honor them.  If you take them out to lunch bless them by paying for it.  Honor them in any way you can.  Maybe you just need to send them a gift card or a thank you card, or an encouraging email.  But take a step to honor our local leaders.

We had a group from Turning Point go up to Atlanta this past Saturday to help with an group that needs your help.  Shaun King and his team at Courageous Church are heading up an outreach to help the flood victims in Atlanta.  Hope Atlanta was formed to bring hope by helping Atlanta’s Flood victims.  Early estimates showed at least 5,000 families have lost everything due to the flood.  Damages are in the 250+millions and only maybe 10% of those people had flood insurance.

I want to encourage you that there are four ways you can help.  Check out  http://www.hopeatl.com to find out more about this effort.

You can help by 1. Volunteering your time, 2. Donations, 3. Cash and gift cards, 4. Spreading the word.

I want to challenge you to check it out and get involved.

This past Saturday we had an awesome opportunity to help serve in our community with a group called The Fuller Center on Project McDonough. We had a team from Turning Point and other teams out at Mrs. Miller’s house on 185 Old Griffin Rd in McDonough where we were helping fix up a house.  I consider The Fuller Center kind of a Habitat For Humanity meets Extreme Makeover.  They are such an amazing group of people to work with.  We worked closely with Mark Galey and Shane Persaud the two men who have been heading up this project.  They are completely remodeling this house and by only volunteer work and work highly off donations to fund this entire project.

The entire experience itself was very well organized, with specific instructions coming from Mark and Shane so everyone knew exactly what needed to be done.  And again the awesome thing is it was all volunteers doing the work.  What is so amazing is that when someone gets a vision in their mind to help someone they have to cast that vision to others and get their buy in to participate.  That is exactly what Mark and Shane have done in this project.  They have been in the local news, the local newspapers and local magazines here in Henry County.

Upcoming for Project McDonough:

September 5^th is the big day when they are dedicating the house back to Mrs. Miller and we only have one more Saturday to get this done.  So I want to ask all folks in the Henry County area if you want to make a difference and participate in something completely awesome.  Come out this Saturday at 8am or when you can make it and do what you can.  I know I will be there again and will have another group from Turning Point participating in this event.

This was inspired by a note I received earlier this week that said:

A woman with a hemorrhage struggled through the press of the crowd in order to touch His garment; four men opened a hole in the ceiling of a crowded house and let their paralyzed friend down in front of Jesus; a centurion soldier asked that Jesus only speak a word so his servant would be healed. A blind man went and washed the clay and the darkness from his eyes; a little boy offered his lunch to feed a multitude.

Even the miracles of Jesus involved Human Participation

My prayers go out to this family. Lets show them some support. Please read below:

As many of you are already aware from news accounts, Sgt. John Beale was killed last week in Afghanistan. Sgt Beale and his family are residents of Henry County, live in McDonough, and are members of Eagles Landing First Baptist Church. Sgt Beale is the first soldier from Henry County to be killed in action during this conflict.

Sgt Beale’s body will be flown to Tara Field in Hampton this week (the day has not been confirmed) and will be escorted by Henry County PD, Henry County Sheriffs Department, Hampton PD and McDonough PD to Cannon and Cleveland Funeral Home on Hwy 42 in Stockbridge. The funeral will be held at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church on Hwy 42 at 1:00PM Saturday, following the service he will be laid to rest in Fayetteville.

As soon as I know the time of arrival I will send you a follow up email. It will also include the route the escort will take.

THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP! I am asking you to please forward the information to as many people as possible and ask them to pass it on. We need to line the roadways of the route from the airport to the funeral home to show the utmost respect to one of Henry County’s Heroes, a Hero who gave it ALL for this Country and our freedom.

Please lift this family up in prayer!!! The Lord can and will give them the strength they need for the difficult days ahead.

Henry Countians have always been there for one another, I know this time won’t be any different.

Here is the schedule:
The body of Sergeant First Class John C. Beale will arrive at Falcon Field in Fayette County tomorrow, June 11, 2009, at 6 p.m. to be escorted to Cannon-Cleveland Funeral Home by the Henry County Police Department. As the family would like some time to themselves at the airport, Police do not expect to begin the procession until 6:15 at the earliest.

We are asking all those who are able to line the streets along the route to help honor this fallen hero and give him the welcome he deserves. Please share this information with your friends and family.

The following is the route (note minor change to beginning of route):

From Falcon Field in Fayette County:
Dividend Drive to 74
HWY 74 to HWY 85
Hwy 85 to Hwy 54
Hwy 54 to McDonough Rd.
McDonough Rd. to Jonesboro Rd.
Jonesboro Rd to McDonough Square
McDonough Square to Hwy 42
Hwy 42 to Brannon Rd. to Cannon Cleveland