Dear Friend,                                                                             April, 2012

           

            Kyleigh is here and without question this is one of the most special months in our family’s history.  Most of you who have been following our journey remember that just about two years ago our daughter Kristen was pregnant with baby Elle.  Because of all of the struggles we had just been through with the loss of the ministry’s new business and Cindy’s mom Ada, this little girl was so very special and highly anticipated.

 

            Baby Elle went to be with Jesus exactly one day before her scheduled delivery by c-section.  Of course we were devastated.  Kristen and Mark have two precious little boys and so desired to have a little girl.  You can imagine their thoughts and prayers at this time—do we try again?  What if we experience the same outcome? With all of that in consideration and through much prayer they decided to go for it.  We are so glad they did.

 

Kyleigh Joy McWilliams

April 26, 2012

 

           

          As the Papa I can remember praying every day during those first few months—“Lord, from one Papa to another—you can do this—you can make this a very special little girl.”  While we were all prepared to rejoice no matter what—we were also hoping that Kristen and Mark would have their dreams fulfilled.  The news from that first ultrasound was so special.  Now, it’s the hard part—the waiting—the anticipation—the battle against negative thoughts and ultimately the complete reliance upon our great God.

 

            Not very far into the pregnancy Kristen decided to Google the name Kyleigh to see what would come up.  When she read the results she immediately texted us that Kyleigh is an Australian name meaning boomerang—when you let it go…it comes back.  When I heard this I could not believe it—what an amazing idea and how incredible it is that she would pick that name not even knowing the implications.  Of course we know that God knows—I think He has a sense of humor, don’t you?

 

            Kyleigh was born the morning of April 26^th and weighed in at 7 pounds 6 ounces.  She is a healthy and beautiful little baby and we are so filled with joy over her arrival.  For all of you who have been traveling with us and faithfully praying for this little one—thank you so much!

 

            On a ministry note I am preparing to leave tomorrow for a speaking assignment in Ontario, California at the Inland Empire National Day of Prayer Breakfast on the 3^rd.  Their theme this year is United We Stand and I believe the Lord has given me a powerful and timely message for these days we are living in.  Please see this month’s TargetPoint for more on this important message.

 

            As we head toward our summer season please prayerfully consider a generous gift to help us through this very typical financially challenging time.  Also we have a tentative date for this year’s golf event of July 30th.  Please hold that date and plan to join us if you are able.

 

Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and financial support

 

 

Serving together for the Kingdom,

 

                                                                                   

Vince D’Acchioli

Founder, On Target Ministries

TargetPoint

April, 2012

 

“United We Stand”

Inland Empire National Prayer Breakfast

Vince D’Acchioli

 

2 Cor. 10:4  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds…

 

On May 3^rd I have the privilege of speaking to the Inland Empire’s National Day of Prayer Breakfast in Ontario, California.  Their theme this year is United We Stand.  As I was praying about what to share I had this strong sense that God wants to say… You are standing on a thousand different theological hills with the wrong weapons.  In other words, as followers of Christ we are neither united—nor are we effectively standing.

 

You are standing on a thousand different theological hills with the wrong weapons

 

Luke 6:46 Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 

 

1 John 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

 

Amos 5:21-24 (NLT) I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.  I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings.  Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is.  Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry.

 

I believe the above verses leave little to be misunderstood when it comes to our call.  Jesus himself in John 12:47 said that He did not come to judge the world but to save it.  Could it be that as Christians we need to understand how futile are our attempts to change culture using the world’s methods?

 

My friends I am persuaded that we are not going to have an impact upon our cultrue until we get this.  Until we understand that we do not have any critical mass when it comes to living righteous lives that our world can see and respond to. That it’s the lives people see—not the words we speak—that carry real power.

 

Like the prison guard responding to Paul and Silas, who he had witnessed and heard singing all night, falling at their feet and asking, sirs, what must I do to be saved?  Why?  Because he observed something in those men that confounded him.  As a result the Bible tells us his whole family accepted Jesus.  Like Paul and Silas, you and I are called to live a life that demands an explanation.

 

As followers of Christ what if:

·        We all took a good look in the mirror?

·        We allowed our lives to be shaped more by God’s Word than our political perspective?

·        We stopped judging others and looked at what Jesus is calling us to do?

·        We stopped complaining about prayer being taken out of our public life—and just prayed?

·        We were to hang a copy of the Ten Commandments in our own homes and lived by them?

·        We actually prayed for the people in leadership we are unhappy with?

·        We asked God to help us see people through His eyes and love them like Jesus does?

·        We were more taken up with being a disciple and actively discipling others than our political posturing and maneuvering?

 

I am ashamed to admit how many of these I fall short on.  It’s not the time to start beating ourselves up on past failures in these areas—it’s time to change.  It’s time to get God’s perspective on how to approach our world and make a difference for Him. 

 

Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned after, the form set by this religious age in which we now live. Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb 13:13). In Lk 10:20, Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have a commercialized view — we count how many souls have been saved and sanctified, we thank God, and then we think everything is all right. Yet our work only begins where God's grace has laid the foundation. Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others’ lives until they are totally yielded to God. One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God, we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and those lives will be God's testimony to us as His workers.   –Oswald Chambers April 23rd

 

2 Chr 7:14   If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

 

TargetPoint
March, 2012

“Presence &Perspective vol. 3”
Vince D’Acchioli

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints
--Ephesians 1:18

Last month I shared the second message in this series talking about obedience.  This month I want to unpack ways in which we can be made more aware of God’s perspective for our life.  I know I may sound like a broken record here—but another reminder that you will never truly gain God’s perspective until you first experience His presence.    

In my book Wired to Work, answering the two most important questions in life, I deal specifically with how to discover God’s unique purpose for our life.  It begins of course with an understanding that God is real, we have an intimate relationship with Him and we believe He wants us to discover His purpose.  When all that is in place than I believe we can start looking for how He may be speaking to us.

Our ministry’s three un-alterable facts:
1. God knows you and has created you for a special purpose
2. God gave you special gifts toward satisfying His purpose
3. God wants you to discover His purpose for your life

So, how can I truly know the hope to which He has called me?  Through personal life experience combined with all I believe God’s Word teaches on this subject I have come up with four things that I believe need to line up before you can be sure God is leading.  First, is God speaking to you through His written Word?  Next, are you hearing it by His Spirit?  Then, is it being affirmed through wise, Godly counsel?  And finally, is it consistent with current circumstances?

Let’s unpack these important ideas.

Is God speaking to you through His written Word?
Ps 119:105 says Your Word is a lamp on my feet and light unto my path.  There are two powerful promises here.  First, as we read His Word it will illuminate my daily steps.  But the greater promise in my view is the second part—a light unto my path.  In other words, God will shine a bright light on the path He wants me to walk as I am in His Word. 
Recommendation—as you prepare to read the Word every day pray for God to reveal something special about His direction to you.  Make notes regarding passages that may speak to you and review them often.

 

Are you hearing it by His Spirit?
1 Corinthians 2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit…
Sometimes I question the voices people claim to hear.  For me a good way to know that I am actually hearing God is to test what He may be saying against the other three areas we are discussing here.  If it seems what I am hearing is inconsistent than I need more evidence He is speaking.  For me this is the most difficult area.  My mind is usually so active that it is hard for me to be quite enough to really hear Him.
Recommendation—spend some quiet time just praising Him and giving thanks.  Perhaps put on some soft worship music in the background.  Then, just quiet your mind and listen.  Remember the definition of listening is wanting to hear.

Is it being affirmed through wise, Godly counsel? 
Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed…
I cannot stress enough the importance of wise, Godly counsel.  Oftentimes the mistake we make is in looking for people, anyone really, who might have a tendency to agree with our pre-conceived ideas about something.  I have made this mistake all to often.
Recommendation—seek out Godly men, women or couples who you know to be mature and who will go to God in prayer on your behalf.  Then, listen to them and weigh it against the other three areas to see if it is consistent.

Is it consistent with current circumstances?
If I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God.   Oswald Chambers
Sometimes we may believe all or most of our criteria for knowing our direction may be lining up but our current circumstance may be difficult to see through.  It could be financial hardship, a physical handicap or even relational issues.  When this happens we especially need God’s help in seeing Him in the midst of our circumstances.
Recommendation—deliberately place God between you and your circumstance and ask Him to show them to you through His eyes.  At the end of the day if your circumstance seem to be standing in the way of God’s direction He will be like that river that ultimately persists and finds a way around.

And finally—BE PATIENT!

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. --Habakkuk 2:3 

 

Dear Friend,                         

One of the highlights of this month was reading a letter from an inmate in a Federal prison in Florida.  It was several pages long and went on for some time explaining how reading my first book Wired to Work had transformed his life.  I had forgotten how many inmates throughout the country have been exposed to that book.  Through Library of Hope it is in hundreds of prisons throughout the country.  Yet another example of how each of our lives can affect people in ways we may sometimes never come to understand.  God is so good.

On the 27th I flew to a little town outside of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada called Chauvin.  Pastor Corey Randell of Chauvin Gospel Center invited me out for a series of meetings.  It started with pastors and leaders from most of the churches in town gathering for our message on The Six Structural Elements of Effective Churches.  God richly blessed our time together as we talked about the challenges facing His Bride in this next season of ministry.

On that Friday night I began our Men on Target seminar for about 75-80 men from the area and we finished up on Saturday afternoon with about 5-6 men asking Jesus into their heart.  I am always amazed at how God has used this powerful resource to bring men to Jesus over the years.  I am guessing somewhere around 10,000 men have answered its powerful call.

I am always amazed at how God has used this strategic
resource to bring men to Jesus over the years.  I am
guessing somewhere around 10,000 men have
answered its powerful call.

On Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at their church service where another 5-6 people accepted the Lord after our message Armed…Ready for Battle.  In all, it was another powerful ministry trip and the folks there are talking to us about coming back with Cindy for a couple’s event soon.

As I write to you Cindy and I are in Temecula California with our daughter Kim’s family.  We are here until April 9th for various meetings and to conduct a wedding for our nephew, Kevin and his lovely Bride, Allison which we did on April 1st.  Our whole family came in for the event except for Kristen and Mark.  As you may know, Kristen is pregnant with a new little girl, Kyliegh Joy, due in about three weeks.  You will be hearing much more about this wonderful new addition in next month’s letter.  We are so excited.

So far our time here has been very productive.  I received a call the other day from Water of Life Church inviting me to be the speaker for this year’s Inland Empire Prayer Breakfast on May 3rd.  This is a big event and such a great honor.  I am looking forward to coming back here for that event and spending some more time with our kids.

As we enter into this beautiful springtime season Cindy and I are sensing God’s hand preparing us for some exciting new ministry opportunities.  As we continue to pray for a heightened awareness of His presence we are beginning to better comprehend His perspective regarding our future.  Please continue to pray with us as we seek His glorious will for our lives and future ministry.

In closing we want to thank you again for your prayers and financial help.  We could not do this work without you.

Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support

      Serving together for the Kingdom,

                                                                                                     
      Vince D’Acchioli
      Founder, On Target Ministries

TargetPoint
February, 2012

“Presence &Perspective vol. 2”
Vince D’Acchioli

Last month I asked Ted Heiden, Cindy’s brother, to begin the process of unpacking how to experience God’s presence by talking about obedience.  Ted did a masterful job of helping us understand what true obedience is and developing why the Bible makes it so clear that obedience is better than sacrifice.  He reminded us that sacrifice assumes this position before God:  That I have something worthy to offer but always accompanied by the distinct possibility that I am blind to the true requirement that would make the sacrifice acceptable.  Obedience on the other hand establishes a position before God: Assuming nothing of my worthiness, only His.  

Everything in my human nature is working against this compelling idea.  From the time I was a little boy it has been ingrained in me that you must work hard and live up to some rigid set of standards in order to gain anything.  When I view obedience to God through that lens it is difficult to escape the performance trap. So here is the big idea, you will never experience God’s presence simply because you obey a set of rules or have been a good person.  1 John 1:7 does not say walk in the light of my mind or some sense of duty, it says walk in the light as He is in the light.

From the time I was a little boy it has been ingrained
in me that you must work hard and live up to some
rigid set of standards in order to gain anything

This begs the question how?  How can I practice this kind of selfless obedience to God in order to better understand and experience His presence?  I believe there are two things we need to consider.  The first, and most important, is total and complete surrender to your own way.  It requires our coming to the end of ourselves and recognizing God’s way is the ONLY way that makes sense and our human nature is always going to be in opposition.

The second thing we need to do is practice going to God every day and all day seeking His counsel.  This means not only seeking him during your quiet times of worshipful prayer but during the ordinary circumstances we face throughout the day.  It means saying a short prayer for God to be present in that phone call you are about to make or that meeting you are going to have.  It means going to God for everything not just when you are in over your head.

This kind of relationship with God not only blesses Him but establishes a much needed habit in our lives that will insure a greater awareness of His presence everywhere we find ourselves.
I want to conclude with some powerful words from a devotional by Oswald Chambers:

 “We were buried with Him ... that just as Christ was raised from the dead ... even so we also should walk in newness of life.”   Ro 6:4
 
No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a “white funeral” — the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a “white funeral,” a death with only one resurrection — a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose — to be a witness for Him.

Have you really come to your last days? You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them? You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement. Death means you stop being. You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death. It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death. It is dying — being “baptized into His death” (Ro 6:3).
 
Have you had your “white funeral,” or are you piously deceiving your own soul? Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, “Yes, it was then, at my ‘white funeral,’ that I made an agreement with God.”

 “This is the will of God, your sanctification ...” (1Th 4:3). Once you truly realize this is God's will, you will enter into the process of sanctification as a natural response. Are you willing to experience that “white funeral” now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you.

For me, I can vividly remember the day of my white funeral.  It was Super Bowl Sunday, 2010.  On that day a doctor at St Anthony’s Hospital in Denver looked me right in the eye and told me my wife was going to die—there was no hope.  It was on that occasion that the kind of obedience Ted was talking about last month began to germinate in my soul.

The kind of obedience not born out of complying to a set of rules but rather resulting from complete and utter brokenness to the point of recognizing you have nothing to bring to God that is Holy and acceptable other than your total surrender.

So, you want to experience more of God?  Then consider obedience not in the ordinary behavioral sense, but more in line with what Ted and I have shared in these two TargetPoints.  I believe you will see tremendous results when you do.