Thanksgiving and other Thoughts
-Exhausting, holidays are not relaxing.
-Doing Thanksgiving again tomorrow at Dawn’s Grandparent’s house. I’m gonna be hating turkey after this weekend!
-It was my year to have my girls for Thanksgiving. Yeah!!
-The turkey came out great! Juiciest bird I ever cooked!
-Lots of forward looking to next year. It’s gonna be crazy!!
-Had my interview for a new position at work. Had to do a presentation in front of all the managers in the deptartment as part of my interview. I think it went pretty well! Should hear something in the next week or two.
-My brain is already trying to map out some things that need to happen and how to accomplish them if I get this position. Starting something new requires vision, planning and preparation. Lots to do in a short period of time. If I don’t get the position, I will be paying close attention to how they accomplish what needs to be done so maybe I can learn something.
-As you can tell, the position is on my mind a bit huh?
-I am sharing my vision for our source group for the coming year tonight. Great stuff! Only have one more meeting after this one before the holiday break. Kinda bummed about it but with everything that will be happening at the church, we will see each other just as much. Great folks! Maybe we’ll get invited over to spend some one on one time with some of our families! (Hint, Hint)
-I have a wonderful wife and great kids!
-God is awesome!
That’s all for now,
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Kevin
Who is Pulling the Strings?
Influence: the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command.
Manipulation: to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one’s own advantage.
I believe in spiritual warfare. You won’t find me casting demons out of closets or looking for evil spirits behind bushes. More often than not, the enemy doesn’t come in the form of hideous monsters with sharp fangs and bat-like wings (Although I have seen them before). Many, unfortunately, come in the two-legged fashion. Some even carry bibles and can quote scripture. Yes I am talking about people. You may say “I thought spiritual warfare was fighting against evil spirits and demons?” Yes I know the scriptures that talk about how we wrestle not against flesh and blood (Eph 6:12), but if God works through His children, then it would be absolutely rediculous to deny that evil spirits, demons, or the devil work through people too. Duh!
I’m going somewhere with this. This is just part of the introduction. Stay tuned for the rest.
Kevin
Monday Rolls Around Too Fast
Aint that the truth! Just wanted to share some weekend thoughts.
Had a good time with the kiddies this weekend. One of my daughters learned to ride a bike. That was awesome!
The house looked like a halfway house there were so many kids sleeping at the house and playing. Better to keep an eye on them right?
My brother-in-law is really good with kids. Of course he is a kid at heart anyway. He was out playing with the kids for hours and hours playing hide and seek and riding bikes.
I’m not a huge gamer but they offered a free week to play World of Warcraft and It’s a blast!
I thought the Bucs were in soo much trouble and then they came back with a vengence! Go Bucs!
My wife works really long and hard as creative director to make sure the creative elements are in place for Sunday. She worked on one element most of the weekend to make it just right. Proud of her dedication and passion for what she does.
Small Illuminate group turnout Sunday morning. Gotta be on time.
I was so honored to get to lead the church in taking communion. The meaning of communion has been lost in tradition so much. Journey works hard to make sure folks understand how important and special it is to take the bread and the cup.
Pastor Michael brought the heat! How many of you serve God out of moral obligation? Got wants you to serve Him out of a spiritual transformation of your heart! Jesus wants your heart!
God has been downloading some vision into my brain. Just need to pray about the details and how and when to implement some things.
Getting near the end of the year. Lots of stuff to do and concepts to hit on before year end with source group and church events. Gonna be a busy time.
Pray for our leaders and the January meeting with the Hillsborough County commissioners
More thoughts later. Peace
Kevin
Study Thought
I was reading Matt 9:10-13 and the religious leaders were busting Jesus’ chops over the fact that He was eating with people they never would’ve ate with ever. Jesus has a great comeback. He tells them in verse 13 that those leaders need to go and read their scriptures in Hosea 6:6 and learn what those scriptures meant.
I know lots of Christians that have this same mentality. It’s about fellowship with believers only. They don’t want to be ‘corrupted’ by the sinful lifestyles of those who don’t believe. Give me a break! I’m not recommending a recovering alcoholic go to a bar to witness. I am talking about displaying the mercy and love of God even in an enviornment that we may not be totally comfortable or relate to. One Christ-Follower went to a gay bar with a friend that he found out came out of the closet to show that he could accept him as a person even if his lifestyle was against own beliefs.( He hoped nobody noticed who he was, but he went) Even if the man didn’t become straight, this Christ- Follower was able to show the love of Christ despite the decision his friend made.
It’s time to read the bible and find out how and where and why God wants us to share His love. So to repeat what Jesus said, go read your bible and let God speak to you.
Kevin
Being Deliberate
I have to say for myself that it can be so easy to go into cruise mode with life and even my relationship with God. (Boo!) God has been trying to raise my awareness of this. How many of you have said something like this: ” I read my bible yesterday, I’m good for today.” ” One day without praying is ok. “
I’m not talking about a religious ritual for the sake of not making God mad. I am talking about making God a priority in your life. You know you can’t put your marriage on cruise control why would you do that with your relationship with God?
We have to be deliberate in our relationship with God. Leaders, you need to be deliberate in your ministry decisions. Just because you have people going to your church on a regular basis doesn’t mean you can go into cruise mode. There is a world that needs to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have to evaluate what we are doing on a regular basis and be deliberate about what we are doing, even if it is something that we do on a regular basis. It should be done deliberately cause you may come to realize one day that something you are doing is lame and needs to be scrapped. We can’t assume what we have always done is always going to be effective or something we should do all the time. I will give an example:
A few weeks ago, in our source group, we had a prayer time and most of the people felt a very strong, very tangible, sense of God’s presence. There are some church folk that would say that we need to do things just like we did that night every time we get together. This couldn’t be more wrong. His presence was felt that night because I was being obedient to what God told me to do. This is not something we will do or happen every single meeting. It was a special moment and I would never try to manufacture something like that. I have seen people try to do that before and it never turns out good. ( I could tell some stories but maybe another post one day)
In conclusion, I have two questions to ask:
1) Is your relationship being motivated out of your love for Him or is it just in cruise mode?
2) Are you leading on cruise control or are you taking deliberate steps and seeking God’s direction in what and how you are ministering?
Thanks For Reading,
Kevin
Brain Download
Lots of thoughts.
Connor crashed and burned on his bike Friday on the way to school. Dawn had to pick him up and take him to the doctor to get an X-ray. No broken bones! Thank God!
We had a packed house Friday night for source group. Had a great time of fellowship and food. God laid it on my heart to talk about the importance of being led by and obeying the Spirit of God. We had some testimonies of what God is doing in people’s lives. Good times!
Saw the movie ”Eagle Eye” Saturday with Connor. It was exciting from start to finish. Good movie!
Ticked off that I can’t get the new Myspace App for Blackberry to work on my 8830.
Things are going to get more challenging in our Illuminate group on Sunday morning!
So many exciting things happening at Journey Church!
Guest services did a great job Sunday, but don’t think that it’s just their job to make people feel welcome. It takes the whole church to create a warm, loving and caring enviornment. Don’t be afraid to make new comers feel welcome.
Always pray for our church leaders. We need your prayers just as much as you need ours.
So excited about the water giveaway from last week! We actually had someone come to the church because of it. You never know when your acts of kindness will be noticed by folks.
READ YOUR BIBLE!! It will help you guard your heart and mind in these tough times we live in. You want to hear God speak? Open your Bible and read it.
All I got for now,
Peace,
Kevin
Holy Anticipation
I just wanted to share an exerpt of something that hit me that I read from Mark Batterson. Here is a link to the whole post. I want to share posts that I read that help inspire me. So check it:
Moses has been tending sheep for 40 years. That’s 480 months, 2,080 weeks, or 14,560 days. He has had the same daily routine for 40 years, day in, day out, and I think that Moses must feel like he has been put out to pasture, and part of me wonders if Moses at this point is a little bit disappointed with his life. He has so much potential. For instance, Egypt, and I’ve got to think at this point, he’s gotten feel a little bit like an underachiever. Every day, he stares at the backsides of sheep. Not real exciting. I would suggest that 40 years later, Moses is caught in this cage of routine, but I love the first two words of this chapter, they are such hopeful words to me. One day. One day. I think, to me, it epitomizes what a relationship with Christ is about. When you are in relationship with Christ, all bets are off. You never know what you’re doing to do, where you’re going to go, who you are going to meet. You never know when or where or how God could invade the reality of your life and turn your life inside out and upside down in a single day. He can show up anyplace, anytime, and turn your life into a wild goose chase. For me, that fills me with holy anticipation. How I live my life. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do next. Now, I don’t want to paint a prettier picture than it is, cause I live in that daily routine too and I get caught in that cage, and sometimes life seems pretty monotonous. My days don’t start real glamorous, I get up, I walk Mickey, and I pick up his poop. That’s how my day starts. But I do live with this deep-seeded holy anticipation of what God is going to do because you never know how He can invade the reality of your life.
Thats some truth right there.
Kevin
Who Will Go?
I remember when I was a younger being in church. I remember when you would offer leadership training and you would have people pour in by the droves wanting to lead. As an adult I have found this less and less. There are those who would outright reject the call of God on their lives! I have seen it and it blows my mind!
There are more “underground” Christians in the United States than in all of China where they hide for their lives. Christians cowering in corners, almost, no, I would say ashamed of their faith in Christ! I’m not talking about the hyper-faith of standing on a street corner holding a John 3:16 sign. I’m talking about those who wouldn’t share their faith if you held a gun up to thier head! I’m talking about those that are sitting in the pews that feel like God wants to do more in their lives but refuse. They sit in silent shame as they almost feel bound to their seat, bound by fear of failure, both past and present. They tell themselves that people are better off that they are not a leader cause they don’t think they are good enough.
God is raising up a generation of new leaders who aren’t afraid to tell you about their imperfections, failures, and fears. Many times these leaders have been rejected because they didn’t portray the model of what people thought a Christian leader should look, talk, and dress like. I think we are heading back to roots of our faith. Back to the beaches of the Sea of Galilee where a few fisherman were going about their business and one day a man named Jesus came and said “Follow Me!” Were these holy fisherman? No. These were ordinary, smelly, blue collar kind of guys. They were timid, hot-tempered, unreliable, selfish men. Certainly not the model of what we would say a church leader should be. What is the difference between them and us today? Not a whole lot. The difference is the choice!
God is calling you like He did Joshua :
“Just(F) as I was with Moses, so(G) I will be with you.(H) I will not leave you or forsake you. 6)(I) Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.”
It’s your time today! It is time to let God help you become the leader He has called you to be! Don’t waste another day in fear or excuses that have held you fast to your pew. There is someone you are supposed to share Jesus with. There are people that are looking for the hope that is within you. There are those who need to know the love that He showed you. Will you go?
Kevin
Friday Night Source Group 11-14-08
Wassup everybody! I just wanted to let those of you who are involved in our source group, that we are going to have a great night Friday at 7pm. We will be talking about being led by the Spirit of God. This is a powerful key to becoming effective in ministering the gospel. I’m stoked about it! Don’t miss it!
Kevin
Study Thoughts
It is amazing how much drama Jesus had to deal with in such a short amount of time after preaching the sermon on the mount. He comes down the mountain and heals a leper and I’m sure freaks out a ton of His followers in the process. He then goes to one of His disciple Peter’s mother’s house and heals Peter’s mother of a fever. Stays there for a little while and people bring their sick to Him and he heals them. That evening, He leaves the house and has to deal with one of disciples that wants to leave to bury his dead father. Jesus then gets in a boat with the disciples and just falls flat out asleep. (Imagine a day of ministry like that!) It’s not over yet. All of a sudden a storm threatens to sink the boat Jesus was on. All the while He is sleeping. His disciples finally get Jesus up and He tells the wind and waves to be still and they do and Jesus has to get on His disciples again for their lack of faith to deal with the situation. What a day! Makes me tired just thinking of doing all that in one day!
Yet, we have people who think they are doing a favor to God by getting up and going to church! It blows my mind! I have learned that there are people are at different places with God but it’s really no excuse. Ephesians 4:7 says: But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. So the point is you may not be a biblical scholar but He has placed gifts and abilities in you. Some things have to be developed over time, but everyone has been given gifts and abilities.
I think of the signs that used to say “Uncle Sam needs You!” If you believe in Christ as your Savior and Lord, the body of Christ needs YOU! It has need of your gifts and abilities to reach a world that doesn’t know Him. The gifts God gave you were not meant for your benefit alone. You were chosen by God before you a twinkle in your father’s father’s father’s eye. Will you continue to waste your life and talents on things that will have no eternal consequence? Your life was meant for so much more!
Kevin
I’m Still Alive!!
Today was one of the most stressful days of my life!! I had an issue that I had to go to court for. Not fun at all!! There were some tolls that I thought were paid that were not. The fear of the unknown was terrifying. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I talked to some folks about what happened. It’s amazing how much of a fine they will hit you with for not paying one. Believe me, that will never ever happen again! I haven’t had a ticket in like 10 years so this experience was terrifying!
I had some great brothers in my source group praying for God to move on my behalf and I believe that He did! They may not have thrown out everything and I didn’t have to pay nothing, and I have no idea where I am going to get the money to pay what I have to pay, but it could have been a lot worse. So what I have I learned from this experience? I have learned that I would rather pay at a toll booth than use some high tech gadget, but more importantly I have learned to see the blessings in the midst of our tribulations. We all make mistakes but I would suggest that we don’t always get the full consequences of what we deserve. We need to be thankful for the countless messes that God gets us out of that we don’t even realize!
We didn’t deserve His mercy but He gave it and continues to give it. Even when it looks like He wasn’t so gracious. It could always be worse if not for His grace. I need Him to provide more than ever, and I know He will. I’m still alive and kicking! I’m still just as excited with what He is doing in my life! He has a great purpose plan for my life. Just like you!
Kevin
Please Pray for Me
I have something pretty stressful I have to do tommorrow, and I would appreciate your prayers. I don’t want to get into specifics here but I am doing pretty good at the moment, but I would ask you to pray for His peace to rest upon me and in Me. I am glad it will be over (hopefully). God is in control. Just need to get my body brain to believe it.
It’s funny how you can know that God has our lives in our hands, yet we still fret about things. I trust God but my body still has that nervous feeling and my brain wants to think of every possible scenerio that could happen. It’s quite irritating. Many would say “You think you trust Him but you don’t”. I would tell you that you don’t know what you are talking about. You can’t tell me that Stephen had no fear as the people took him out to be stoned. Jesus suffered from so much stress in Gethsamane that his sweat became great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Our spirit rests in the hands of our Heavenly Father, but our bodies are corrupted and self-preservation is its top priority. Anything perceived as a threat to it’s well being will bring on the fight-flight reaction. I believe that is why we can be stressed and still know our lives rest in His hands. I have heard of many accounts of people who faced life threatening situations and stood in perfect peace. I believe that this is a supernatural event cause this does not happen normally. It is not natural for people to respond this way. This is an expception, not a rule and I think it has led to an undue amount of condemnation for believers.
Got on a tangent. Oh well.
God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7)
And let the God of peace rule in your hearts, to indeed you were called in one body (Colossians 3:15)
Peace out
Kevin
If You Want Some Real Election Perspective…
This will mess you up. Some powerful truth in this post. Needed to be said. Thanks Mark.
Kevin
How To Get More Hits For Your Blog
I’ve been searching high and low looking at ways to expose my blog to more readers and I have come to this one conclusion: Put “How To Get More Hits For Your Blog” in the title and watch them come in! Lol! Do I think this is a stupid way? Yes. Who knows? Maybe it might expose your blog to some people who wouldn’t normally look. I thought I would post at least one link that had some helpful hints:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2100932_hits-clicks-traffic-articles-ehow.html
Peace
Kevin
Matt 8:21-22
Matthew 8:21) Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22) And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
The Lord made these scriptures just jump off the page at me. I shared with my Source Group and I want to share with you what God revealed to me as I read these scriptures.
There are those of you who are struggling and continue to struggle in your relationship with God. There are people, hurts and situations that have been allowed to come between you and God. These things are sapping the life out of you. They are draining and discouraging you from passionately pursuing your relationship with God and His destiny and call on your life. Maybe it’s a religious mindset you have held onto because it’s what you were told when you were a child. These are the dead things that you have to let go.
You might say that Jesus was being insensitive in His statement to His disciple, but maybe this disciple’s heart was not really with Him. Jesus confronted the intentions of people’s heart, not their status in life or what they did in the past. Maybe the disciple really didn’t want to follow Him anymore. Maybe He was looking for an excuse to get out. Maybe he was being pressured by his family to not follow Jesus. Whatever the reasons, Jesus knew the disciple’s heart and intentions. There are many instances in the gospels where Jesus had compassion on the hurting and afflicted. The scriptures state that Jesus wept when He came to Lazarus’ grave. (Although there is much debate about what He was crying about) So I hardly think He was being insensitive.
It is time to let the dead bury the dead. It is time to focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. It’s time to put those things that we have tried to handle in our own strength and allow God to be God. We have a race to run, we have a destiny to fulfill. We cannot carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and run the race He has for us. What are the “dead things” that God is calling you to lay down? God wants to give you a Spirit of Love, Power, and a sound mind. Will you surrender to His will for your life?
Kevin
