Thanks for the Memories...Charlotte Center City Partners staff

Steve Martin, CCCP Accountant 2013-2017

Thanks for the Memories
- Charlotte Center City Partners staff

On this, my next to last day, the time has now come;

I say goodbye to thee and thou, and then a good some.

Memories are good. They often stay with us quite long.

I say adieu to you and finish with my poetic song.

"In this journey of life, while walking on our way,

We often meet ones who share many days.

On the road from home, near, or distance quite far

They touch our lives - like sweet honey in a jar.

Thanks to all, for the memories we often shared;

A joy I will cherish, with those who cared.

With BBQ, and Vision, First Night and Parade;

May the good Lord be known, with this farewell bade."

Steve Martin

Oct. 30, 2017

Monday, 3:00 am 

And now a few photos, chosen from among my 40,000 posted on Facebook over these years.
Yeah God!

Eleni Saunders -my Greek boss lady. 
VP of Finance (and HR!)
I hope the flowers keep a long time.

My good friend Meir (Douglas) Jones. 

Glad you were on staff for my last few months,

and sharing your Jewish heritage!

 Thanks for the retirement clock Eleni! 
(Which I will get tomorrow. I enjoyed picking it out.)

 Cherie Grant. One of the best - at the front desk.

 Chris Hemans - my Chicago son. You can always call me "Dad".

 Eleni, Moira Quinn and Jessica Jones.
One of the few lunches we shared.

 Eleni, Jovanna Mozeak and I. Jo's last day (I think. Or thereabouts.)

 If only Eleni was in the photo! 
She is the REAL Panther Queen!

 At one time I really did have an office with a door. But that was then...
And so I wore headphones most of the time thereafter.

 Sam Bethea - the Jesus Man on our office streets - Tryon, Trade....
Keep crying out the love of Jesus, Sam !
He loves us. Jesus really does!!!

I worked with all but one...
(L-R) ???, Ted Boyd, Cheryl Myers, Michael J. Smith, Moira Quinn Klein, 
Robert Krumbine (aka Grandpa K), Allison Billings, Darlene Heater

Board members at December meeting 2015
Thanks ladies for the photo op! Now I am famous too!

My accountant's desk at Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP)

Charlotte, NC   September 2015 - October 2017
(Notice the headphones. It was a good corner though. Thanks, Moira.)

My original retirement letter to management - May 30, 2017

May 30, 2017

Tuesday, 8:24 am

Charlotte, NC

Greetings fellow crew members,

I have good news to share!

Effective Dec. 31, 2017, my "Retirement of Employment" here at Charlotte Center City Partners will occur. As my becoming “even more senior” happens on November 23, with 63 candles inflaming the double chocolate, extra frosting cake I will have, there are a few other things yet assigned for me to do before I am heaven bound.

What a blessing those days to come will be! Think of this - all of Charlotte and TV land will be celebrating my birthday and retirement too, as I drive another dignitary up Tryon during the Thanksgiving Day Parade (unless Grandpa K has Steve Martin as the Grand Marshall and I ride along as his mini-Grand!) 

Leaving this ever-changing 501 ©4 after four years, eight months on staff (and eight months as a contractor prior to April 29, 2013) as the accountant for all three organizations Eleni and I account for, will give Megan a new neighbor at some point, while Klint will be seeing a different hair color other than silver across the cubicle from him. (Maybe he likes blonde, brunette or red better?) I am sure Eleni and her HR department will find a good replacement to fill my numbers chair.

My heart's desire has always been to be back once again in Christian ministry most hours of my day. After serving 24 years, from 1987 - 2010, with three international ministries (Derek Prince Ministries, Mahesh Chavda Ministries /All Nations Church with Bonnie Chavda) and Vision for Israel and The Joseph Storehouse (Barry & Batya Segal) in Fort Lauderdale and Charlotte, as the USA Director or the Director of Administration and Finance, I have prayed for it to happen. It has always been my passion to reach the nations with His Good News. (I like Sam, the “Jesus Shouter” on the Charlotte Center City streets! He certainly has Good News!)

When Laurie, my good wife of 40 years (Oct. 7, 2017) and I founded our ministry, Love For His People, Inc. in April of 2010, I was believing that that would be my life’s work from that point on. But for the last seven years, the good Lord took me on a side journey, which is why I am grateful to Moira, Eleni and Jovonna for allowing me to serve with you at CCCP, CCCP-Community Trust and the 7th Street Public Market. But now the time has come to complete the plans set before me. 

After my 14th journey to Israel this month of May, with previous adventures to China, England, France, Germany, India, Canada, Spain and Trinidad and Tobago...I will once again be adding frequently to my frequent flyer miles’ travel log. Good thing I have a valid new 10-year passport with plenty of visa pages to again be imprinted!

Before I finish this “book”, I want to give you each a special gift. If you like to read good books, I will leave behind a copy of each of my 14 books in Eleni’s personal library of mine, sitting atop her cabinet in her office. (I would give her more but I know space is a premium in there and I don’t want her to be crowded out.) But check in and see the choices. Or you can get them all on Amazon and Kindle. (All purchased book proceeds go to Love For His People, Inc., but you could get a free copy from me.)

It has been a joy in serving my Lord Jesus Christ while I have been with all of you, and at the same time being a blessing to the good people of Israel and the nations. Maybe on the way to the airport sometime I’ll stop back in and greet you.

Until then, you still have me here for another seven months. (Note: Later changed to five months.)

Be blessed in your calling,

Steve

My contact info:

Love For His People, Inc.   
P.O. Box 414  Pineville, NC 28134

USA Non-profit 501(c)3   
Fed. ID #27-1633858

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com 

             martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin, Love For His People, Now Think On This       

Twitter: martinlighthous,  LovingHisPeople, LoveHisPeople

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com
WordPress: loveforhispeople.blog        

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Website: www.loveforhispeople.org

Steve Martin, Author and Publisher - my first 1, from 2010 to 2016

 Published May 2017

 Published July 2017

Published October 2017

Founded by Steve & Laurie Martin - April 2010

501(c)3 ministry

And now I am off into the wind!

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Love For His People, Inc.   
P.O. Box 414  Pineville, NC 28134

USA Non-profit 501(c)3. April 2010   
Fed. ID #27-1633858

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com 

             martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin, Love For His People, Now Think On This       

Twitter: martinlighthous,  LovingHisPeople, LoveHisPeople

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com
WordPress: loveforhispeople.blog        

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Website: www.loveforhispeople.org

Sam the Jesus Shouter - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Sam the Jesus Shouter

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. (Matthew 16:24-27, NASU)

Often during my 40-hour a week accounting job on the 16^th floor in uptown Charlotte, NC, I will walk to Romare Bearden Park, located just two blocks from the office. If you have seen my Facebook pages (Steve Martin and/or Love For His People), or just know me through my writings, you have seen that I like to observe people, buildings, and especially flowers on my way there. And usually a photo (or more) will appear on my social media outlets an hour or less later.

With the prophetic gifting I believe that the Lord has given me with some perspectives I have, I can sometimes see beyond the outward shell people have encased themselves with, while putting forth something else in their public presentation. We all have done it – wanting to please men rather than please God, or even know Him in many cases.

Uptown Charlotte has really been booming with new office space, new city parks, new apartment buildings, and thus, new people. Many of the private companies, commercial banks and real estate profit-makers rise up far above the Trade and Tryon Street level below. Most of the days these past few years, an abundance of cranes have lifted heavy steel girders, massive loads of concrete, and men (along with women) construction workers to the 10, 20 and 30 floors sky bound.

At lunchtime the building builders fill the park, eating Mexican, Vietnamese, or assorted pizza pies, often from the food trucks that are close by. As for me, I hustle over to the 7-Eleven on Martin Luther King Blvd. to get a Big Bite and Big Gulp (for $2.00) before the construction workers clean out the condiments!  

That I do most Fridays. Monday-Thursday I always enjoy the leftovers from the supper before that my good wife Laurie always prepares, and carry it to the park bench in a blue plastic grocery bag. Works for me.

Watching the young people, which now make up a large percentage of the task force, make their way to the sit-down restaurants, is an altogether different sight. Dressed up in suits, ties, and fine dresses or slacks, or as the ones do on 3^rd and 4^th in our building, using Microsoft Surface or laptop computers primarily at an online marketing firm - torn jeans and a t-shirt are the preferred choice of attire.

Though many seem to have a great time, as they laugh and walk in confidence at their quickly achieved success, I tend to wonder what lies beneath the proper hair, smile and exterior given to the world around them? Is there meaningful life beneath? Do they have the character and strength to resist the temptations to get drunk, party on the latest drug, or have sex with the other gender, or same gender, in the cubicle next to theirs?

They need Jesus.

Sam Bethea, the “Jesus Shouter”
(Photo by Steve Martin May 19, 2017 in uptown Charlotte, NC)

I agree with Sam Bethea, the “Jesus Shouter” as some call him, laugh about him, and resist the Holy Spirit trying to change their heart for eternity through him. He has been calling out, like John the Baptist, loudly and clearly on the city sidewalks for many months now.

“I have Good News. Jesus loves you. He really does!”

Yesterday when I asked him his name, at Trade and Tryon, he told me he was arrested 29 times before he came to repentance, and now loves Jesus with all his heart.

Save them Lord. Save the people in our city, in our nation, in our world.

Let us be Your instruments of peace and salvation, as you have called and anointed us to be, on the jobs where we toil so many hours a week. This is where us church people should be Monday through Saturday. Touching the lost found among the glamorous city concrete towers.

They need Jesus too.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

Sam Bethea's tracks he hands out 

on the corner of Trade & Tryon in Charlotte, NC. 

(Photo: May 19, 2017 by Steve Martin)

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in Israel, Hungary, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople 

Blogs: Love For His People,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 05.20.17 - #284 – “Sam the Jesus Shouter” – Saturday, 8:30 am

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve