August 2018 – Welcome to MAX

Kyle Smith Agency and MAX Insurance^® Donate Funds to Love Paks Nutrition Back Pack Program

(HOUSTON, MO) – Back to school may mean something more than just class and recess to some students in Licking R-8 school district. It also means the security of knowing they will have meals not only at lunchtime in school, but over the weekend as well. Last year, Love Paks Nutrition was able to provide enough food for 63 children to have over the weekends during the school year. Thanks to a grant from Kyle Smith Agency LLC and their partner, MutualAid eXchange (“MAX”) Insurance, approximately one third of the meals provided to children for the weekend will be taken care of this 2018-19 school year.

Love Paks Nutrition provides meals to children from PreK on up each week in the Licking R-8 school district. “Love Paks Nutrition is doing good by helping families who need it most in my home town of Licking,” Kyle Smith said. “I am pleased to partner with MAX insurance and its community grant program to make this gift possible for the students.”

Kyle Smith Agency is an independent insurance agency representing MAX Insurance® in Houston and surrounding areas. MAX Insurance®, based in Overland Park, KS, is a unique, fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance enterprise. Founded on religious principles, the company’s mission is to restore wholeness to communities and individuals in need. It lives out its mission through a variety of quality, fairly-priced insurance products, outstanding personalized customer service and its non-profit Mutual Aid Ministries (“MAM”) program.

“MAX is more than an insurance company. We truly care beyond the contract,” said David Wine, President and Chief Executive Officer. “That’s why we are excited to partner with Kyle Smith Agency to help such an important organization in their community.”

Photo Credit: Katie Anderson / The Licking News — Kyle Smith of Kyle Smith Agency LLC presenting check to Jo Ann Blackwell of Love Paks Nutrition Back Pack Program.

For more information:

Kyle Smith Agency LLC
729 S. Sam Houston Blvd, Ste. A
Houston, MO 65483
Phone 417-967-0104
kylesmithagency@gmail.com

MAX Insurance® and Mutual Aid Ministries, visit www.MAXInsurance.com.

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Firefly Agency and MAX Insurance^® Donate Funds Towards Out of Darkness Ohio’s Safe House

(DUBLIN, OH) – Out of Darkness Ohio is getting closer to accomplishing its goal of renovating a home for women who need it most – a safe house. Thanks to a grant from Firefly Agency, LLC and their partner, MutualAid eXchange (“MAX”) Insurance, Out of Darkness Ohio will be one-step closer to opening the safe house for adult victims of human trafficking in the Columbus area.

Out of Darkness Columbus describes itself as an anti-trafficking outreach and rescue organization, providing immediate short-term crisis stabilization and hope through God, to transition exploited adult women into long-term programs. “Out of Darkness has been a tremendous help to many women in our community,” Rod Mayhill of Firefly Agency said. “Supporting this organization helps give women a way out of this darkness and we are pleased to partner with MAX insurance and its community grant program to make this gift possible.”

Firefly Agency is an independent insurance agency representing MAX Insurance® in Dublin and surrounding areas. MAX Insurance®, based in Overland Park, KS, is a unique, fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance enterprise. Founded on religious principles, the company’s mission is to restore wholeness to communities and individuals in need. It lives out its mission through a variety of quality, fairly-priced insurance products, outstanding personalized customer service and its non-profit Mutual Aid Ministries (“MAM”) program.

“MAX is more than an insurance company. We truly care beyond the contract,” said David Wine, President and Chief Executive Officer. “That’s why we are excited to partner with Firefly Insurance to help such an important organization in their community.”

For more information:

Firefly Agency LLC
Phone 614-761-2825
website www.fireflyagency.com

MAX Insurance® and Mutual Aid Ministries, visit www.MAXInsurance.com.

Photo: Rod Mayhill and Fritz Griffioen of Firefly Agency with Tiffany Tripp from Out of Darkness Ohio.

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MAX Mindfulness: Our Thoughts Are Not Facts

By Dave Wine

I’ve written on this key area before but it is so important. One of the greatest learnings (and one I have to keep re-learning!) is that our stories about us and others are not facts about life! Another way to say that is our thoughts are not facts! Our brains are wired to create thoughts! Thousands a day! And most of these thoughts are perceptions and feelings, not factual statements about what is really occurring in our life. That is why we can be in a good mood and ten minutes later we notice that we are not joyful any longer – the culprit? Probably something that has entered our thoughts that might even be years and years old! Something we read, something someone said, someone walking by, something that happened that felt like a lot like something else that happened, a certain smell and so on might have triggered a long ago memory, reminded us of something unpleasant, caused us to think differently. That is really why mindfulness is so important – when we take time to notice we can sort through what is real and what is not real – what is factual and what is not.

The key is to put space between our thoughts and our reactions. Thoughts will come – again thousands of them in a day. Our skill in noticing those thoughts and giving space between them and our feelings/reactions are what will allow us to find the ‘truth’ in our thoughts. Especially when we find ourselves struggling with negative thoughts/feelings, ask yourself these questions:

Is it true? It might be but just asking this question provides that space we need before we react.
Is it absolutely true? This question adds additional space. This means, is it 100% true what I’m thinking? Is there another way to look at this?
How does thinking this thought make me feel? We are so good at creating stories and headlines about things. Note what thinking this thought makes you feel like – such as sad, angry, jealous, hurt, fearful, etc.
What would it be like if I let this thought/belief go? Imagine that thought leaving you and your body/mind. How would it change how you feel?

The bottom line is thoughts aren’t facts – a few are, but even they are usually subject to interpretation and perception, but most are not and are made up by our minds thinking in the past or fearing the future. They are not usually related to what is NOW! So giving ourselves some space with the questions above provides that opportunity to investigate our thoughts and feelings and leaves us in much more control of our emotions (and therefore, our lives) than we might have thought possible.

David Wine

David is the President and CEO of the MAX enterprise, having served in that capacity since its formation in 2001. He has forty plus years of leadership experience in the business and faith-based worlds, being an ordained minister, having been elected to the highest position in his denomination, and receiving numerous awards and recognition for his leadership in the insurance industry. He currently serves on numerous boards in the church and insurance sectors. His hobbies include hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing as well as being an avid reader. David and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.