The Five Points Of Life

Introduction

1. Email Funny

2. A couple weeks ago, my family had a wonderful time at the YMCA...

Lora and Jason played soccer...

and then afterwards, there was a special event planned on the Y grounds...

Lunch was provided free of charge by Sonny’s BBQ...

There was a Christian band playing music...

Cotton candy and snow cones...

A moon bounce for the kids...

everything was free

And we really enjoyed several hours there...

They were doing this event to raise awareness about the 5 points of life...

There were a group of bike riders who were riding their bikes from Ottawa Canada...

all the way to South Beach Miami...

And all along the way, they shared their story about how different aspects of the 5 points of life had affected them personally...

It was very meaningful and moving...

3. What are the Five Points of Life?1

The Five Points of Life program represents the five ways that you can share life with others...

1. is donating blood...

when people donate blood...

Each donation is separated into red cells, platelets and plasma

and each donation can help three different people.

Red cells carry vital oxygen and are used for surgery patients and accident victims;

they can be stored for 42 days.

Plasma provides fluid often needed by trauma and burn patients,

it can be frozen and stored for one year.

Platelets only last five days;

they help the blood clot and are needed by many cancer patients, especially those in chemotherapy.

that blood has the power to save or extend the life of someone who is sick...

Perhaps some of your or someone in your family has received donated blood...

Maybe you yourself have donated blood to help others.

2. is apheresis,

I’m not real familiar with apheresis...

but it involves donating blood...

and the blood being separated into it various components...

and donating only the specific component of the blood that the patient needs...(such as plasma, platelets, or white blood cells)

and returning the rest of components to the person who donated it.

3. is bone marrow...

bone marrow donors provide stem cells needed for patients having transplants.

These cells build a new blood supply for the patient.

Bone marrow transplants are for people with leukemia, serious blood diseases and other disorders.

Bone marrow is not collected from a donor unless it is needed for a specific patient

4. is Organ and tissue donation...

Organ & tissue donations can help a wide variety of patients.

Kidneys, hearts, livers, lungs, corneas and more can be transplanted to replace damaged or diseased organs and tissues.

One donor often helps several patients regain normal lives.

People who wish to donate their organs and tissues should tell their families and sign Organ Donor Cards.

As Christians, we know that we don’t take it with us...

And even after we die, we are able to really help other people.

5. is Cord blood from the umbilical cord.

this is collected immediately after the birth of a baby from his or her umbilical cord,

it contains a high concentration of blood-forming stem cells.

The cells can be frozen and stored for more than 10 years...

Cord blood is used as an alternative to bone marrow for patients needing stem cell transplants.

Most cord blood transplant recipients have been children

4. As I began to think about the 5 points of life...

I began to realize that there is a spiritual application here as well...

Let me share with you the SPIRITUAL 5 points of Life

Body

1. First of all The Blood of Jesus (Hebrews 9:22)

A. Jesus is the ultimate blood donor...

without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin...

During Jesus’ life...He impacted many people...

but with His death on the cross...

and by the shedding of His blood...

He is able to bring life to every person who has ever existed!!

All we have to do is believe in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us...(John 3:16)

Repent of our sins...(1 John 1:9)

And live for Him!!

B. The songwriter wrote:

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!!

O precious is the flow

that makes me white as snow.

No other fount I know

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.2

2. Stewardship (apheresis) Matthew 10:8

A. In Matthew 10...

Jesus sends out His 12 disciples so that they can serve and minister to others...

And Jesus says, “Freely you have received, freely give.”

We have been given so much...

God blesses us in so many ways...

He blesses us spiritually...

He blesses us with material blessings...

He blesses us physically...

Just every way imaginable...God blesses us...

Since we have received so much from the Lord...