Reflection

     So I had grand plans for Lent and not watching television, blogging....etc.  I did very, very well for the first three and a half weeks with those disciplines.  And then....life happened.  Things got busy, stressful situations happened and I was not as faithful to those disciplines as I would have liked to have been.  I thought of the verse by Paul that says: "we all fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
     Even though I was not as faithful to these disciplines as I would have liked to have been, a lot of good did come out of it.  I got a lot of reading done which I will continue to do in the evenings before bed.  I know reading would be a lot better use of my time than surfing the internet or watching espn.  I suppose if my brother can go completely without ESPN and can at least cut down on watching it every night.  And although I do not plan on blogging everyday at least once or twice a week would be good.
     It all comes down to our attitude and recognizing what is important to us and what should be important to us.  I want to continue to grow spiritually.  To do that I need to devote more time and energy into what really matters for my growth.

grace & peace
kevin

Lent Day 44: Holy Week

     I am pretty excited about the holy week services that start tonight.  We will be going to the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services this year.  I am excited to be able to go to all the services and experience the different aspects of each service as we "countdown" to Easter.  I really enjoyed last night at youth going to the prayer garden and reflecting on Jesus time in the garden of Gethsemane.  I really enjoyed being able to look at that part of the story as I lead in to the rest of the week.  I expressed to the youth that sometimes I feel like me overlook that part of the story where Jesus is struggling with what he knows is about to happen and how the disciples are not even able to stay awake for an hour to pray with Jesus.  Is shows their humanity that at such an important time that were willing but nevertheless unable to stay awake and pray with Jesus.  In an odd way, I take comfort in that.  Sometimes we turn our back on Jesus.  He knows we will.  And He takes us back...everytime.

Here's hoping we continue to progress and continue to learn
kevin

Lent Day 41: Your Plans?

Evan: "This whole building an ark thing doesn't really fit into my plans here."
God: "Your plans." (laughing)

     That exchange from Evan Almighty reminds me of a magnet on Doris' fridge that says: wanna make god laugh just tell him you have plans.  What exactly does this mean to us sometimes?  Jeremiah 29:11 says in a nutshell: For I (God) know the plans I have for you....."  I think we all wonder sometimes what that plan is, agreed?  We as a culture are very visual.  I big part of being a youth director and working with youth is having faith.  Let me explain. 
     Working in ministry you don't always get to SEE with your eyes the fruits of your labor.  You talk, discuss, ask questions, learn, debate, and struggle.. and then the youth graduate.  I have to hope and have faith that something I have said or something the youth have experienced has made an impact on their life.  When any of us graduate high school, or college for that matter we may still be searching for that plan, and that is okay. 
     A few times in my life I have seen Jeremiah 29:11 used as a senior recognition verse.  It speaks of God's plan for us, and that it is a good plan.  At that point in their lives, I just hope and have faith that the youth know that they haven't reached the pinnacle, and there is still much growing and learning to do.

enjoy The Journey
kevin

Lent Day 39: Proud

I really liked seeing all the posts and pictures about prom today. Especially when it was the parents who were posting the pictures. They were so proud of their girls and how they looked in their dresses. So I suppose this is one of those moments that parents will remember for forever such as early birthdays, graduation, weddings, and the like.
I know those important days will be here sooner than I think for Carson. It seems like about every other day is like that for Carson. All the funny things he does seem so important. I can't imagine what it will be like when he is a senior and goes to prom and graduation. Yikes.

Hope everyone had fun at prom
Kevin

Lent Day 38: What's Really Important

I was listening to an audiobook today that talked about village elders and the reason people went to them for advice was because they had been around a while. Since they had been around so long they knew what was lasting and what was a "fad."
For instance: faith in Jesus and the Church is lasting, whereas faith in money or possessions isn't. We may struggle with it sometimes but we need to put our faith in something that lasts. Something that our children can have faith in. Something that our grandchildren can have faith in. Fads come and go but Jesus is lasting. So we should focus on the important things, the big things, the things that matter.

grace & peace
kevin

Lent Day 36: Mentor

     So I was thinking about what to write today and a youth asked me where I got the cross around my neck.  I answered by saying it was a gift from a friend, a mentor, and someone I truly love and respect more than I could explain.  In typical youth fashion she responded by asking: "I meant what store did it come from."  I just laughed.
     I have had this cross for almost 11 years now.  I don't think I have kept up with any material possesion for a longer period of time.  Incidentally it did get me to thinking about who gave it to me and what a mentor is and what they mean to us.  I have had a few mentors now but Boyd sticks out more than the rest.  I guess living with someone and their family for three summers kind of sticks with you.  All those nights where Julie would just leave Boyd and I in the living room asleep on the couches with dr peppers in hand not knowing when either one of us would get up and actually go to sleep in a bed like a normal person.  Sorry, I'm rambling.
     Boyd is responsible for me being in youth ministry today...with a help from Julie who first invited me to help with small groups with her even though I was not so reliable at the time.  Boyd saw something in me that I did not see in myself.  He believed in me.  He asked me to come work for him in Houston as a summer intern in 2000 and I was hooked.  He asked me to come work for him again in 2001 (I declined and went to summer school) then I worked for him again in 2002 and 2005.  (I'm glad I skipped summer school that year and took him up on his offer otherwise I wouldn't have met Kathy) 
     We had our differences, mainly because he think alike and always want to be in control.  We have our similarities, such as our penchant for having to have a very specific type of pen.  Of which his original and my original have been discontinued so we have had to move on to a backup plan.  But most importantly I had him and his family in my life when I needed them most.  I do not know where I would be without them and I cannot thank them enough.  But thank you for believing in me, Boyd.

Happy birthday dude
kevin

Lent Day 35: Distraction

     Okay, so I haven't posted in the last three days.  It's been kind of hectic with a lot of "stuff" going on.  Other things took precedent so hopefully this post will be worth the wait.
     Distraction.  So today, and probably for the rest of the week, they are replacing parts of the roof here at church.  It is pretty noisy and pretty distracting.  And it is driving me nuts.  However, Tiffany brought up something interesting about the noise this morning.  She was praying and amid the constant banging and noise she felt like she got it, that God was speaking to her through the distraction.  That we needed to work through the distractions.  (or something like that)  At the beginning of Lent I brought up that we can seek God in the silence.  I believe we can hear God in the distraction as well.  We have all these distractions and noise around us, and God can and does speak to us through those.  A lot of times those distractions are difficult.  We struggle, maybe we don't understand at the time.  But we learn from those struggles.  We learn from them and in turn they help shape who we are.  We learn more about ourselves from those distractions than maybe we could possibly understand at the time.  Just sayin :)

grace&peace
kevin

Lent Day 31: Where We Are

     Okay so I skipped day 30.  I've had a lot going on in the last few days and I went to the dentist yesterday and then went to Fort Worth and when we got home I just decided it would be fun to play outside with Carson and the neighbors...hence no blog yesterday.
     I have been thinking a lot about how sometimes we think we have to have it all together.  I know that I sometimes think I have it all together or act like I have it all together but really when I think about it that isn't true all the time.  The great thing about people who love us is they meet us where we are.  If we are struggling, if we are hurting, if we are frustrated, if we are broken our loved ones will meet us where we are to help us overcome those obstacles and those hurts.  I believe we get that model from Jesus.  He loved everyone unconditionally and we are called to do the same.  Our loved ones (whoever they may be) will meet us where we are at and accept us for who we are with all our flaws and all our struggles and help us be better people.

grace&peace
kevin
   

Lent Day 29: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

     This is a follow up to the post from yesterday...which incidentally was written about ten minutes before this one.  We were talking about psalm 92 today in staff meeting and I thought about this verse afterwards and then I was reminded of it again when George was praying and mentioned it.  I think God was trying to reinforce the importance of the verse to me today.  The verse states that we should give thanks to God in all circumstances.  ALL circumstances.  I often find, and others may as well, that it seems easier to pray when things are not going well for us and easier to give thanks when things are going well.  I bring up prayer because "pray continually" is the verse right before this one.  If we are to give thanks in all circumstances shouldn't we be praying and giving thanks both when things are going well and when they are not.  I hope that makes sense.  A lot of times it is easier for me to pray when something is bothering me than to pray when things are going great.  I know I need to be better about that with my family and with the youth.  So I'm asking anyone who reads this to hold me accountable.....to share prayers of thanksgiving.

grace & peace
kevin

Lent Day 28: 1 Thessalonians 5:17

     I have been thinking a lot about prayer lately.  I have been reading a book on prayer and we have been watching the movie Letter to God which focuses quite a bit on prayer.  One of the shortest if not the shortest verses in the bible is 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  It simply states: pray continually or pray without ceasing. (depending on which bible you have) So how do we do that?  We should approach everything as if it is a prayer.  Everything we do should be prayerful.  From the way we talk to our family in the morning, to the way with interact with our friends and co-workers, to the way we talk to our neighbors, and to the way we approach our interaction with an opposing softball team.  (In case you are wondering that is who I came in contact with today)  Our actions and words should reflect our faith.  The best way to "pray continually" is to make prayer a big part of your daily life.  After all, it was a pretty big part of the life of you know who.....

prayerfully
kevin

Lent Day 27: Looking in the Mirror

     Yesterday after Sunday School one of our youth (Kyle Cantrell) said and I quote: "Tyler, you should get a dog and you should name him DOG, so that way when he looks in the mirror he sees GOD."
     A couple thoughts on this statement:
      1.  I'm pretty sure he meant it as a joke
      2.  it has double meaning
      3.  wether intended or not, it does have some meaning beyond the humor for which it was intended.

     Funny how something intended to be funny can have so much meaning to me even though it was probably not intended to make me think, it did.  If we look in the mirror who do we see?  Well of course we see ourselves.  But it says in Genesis 1:27 that we are made in God's image.  So when we look in the mirror are we looking at an image of God?  Yes.  We were made in God's image so when we look in the mirror we see at least a glimpse of God.  So remember that today, that you were created in God's image.

have a great week
kevin

Lent Day 26: I'M BATMAN

     So admit it, your surprised it's been so long since I made a batman reference.  I just couldn't think of a post that was meaningful that had something to do with Batman until today.  So there are many "pearls of wisdom" I impart to Carson.  Let's just say that some are more meaningful than others and leave it at that. Well one of those is when he sees Batman (of which there are many around the house) or he sees a Batman t-shirt he says: I'm Batman.  And I have taught him to say it in a low, gruff sounding voice like in the last couple of movies.  Generally Carson only uses that "special" voice when he says I'm Batman....that is until today.
     We were at the neighbors house when Carson says to Kynlee in his low "special" voice: "give me some goldfish."  Kathy and Robyn seemed a bit confused. I, on the other hand, thought it was hilarious and knew where the voice came from.  It was just so funny that he asked for goldfish in that way.  It sounded so demanding because of the way he said it.  I guess he did pick up the voice correctly just maybe not when and why he is supposed to use it.  I suppose we will have to work on that.

grace & peace
kevin

Lent Day 25: Wednesday....

     You might notice that today is Saturday and yet the title of my post is Wednesday.  If you are confused let me explain.  Most people refer to Wednesday as hump day because its the middle of the week and they might hit kind of a lull at some point during the day.  And they simply have to get over the hump so they are productive the rest of the week.  Well we are in day 25 of the 46 days (including sundays) of Lent.  So I did great for the first two and a half weeks.  For one I was posting early in the morning most of the time and now my post are quite a bit later in the day.  (or so I have been told by two people in particular)  Also I read 3 and 1/2 books in the first two and a half weeks of lent and have only read a little over half a book in the during the last week.  I don't know what it is, I guess I have just been "slackin" a little.  (thanks for use of that word Chance.)
     I guess what I need to do is get over that hump and focus on the rest of  Lent and do what I set out to do better so I don't feel rushed to finish those books.  On the bright side, I haven't slacked by watching tv, but I guess playing video games a little and reading stuff online isn't real useful sometimes either.  So its time to buckle down and have an attitude like I had the first couple of weeks of Lent.
     But first: its a nice day, I think I'll go play outside.  It is family time afterall.

enjoy the nice weather, check in with you first thing tomorrow morning
kevin

Lent Day 24: Little Helper

     Carson seems to like helping put away his toys.  He does it at home and he especially loves doing it at school.  I think it is because he wants to show his friends and teachers how much of a big boy he is and how much he can help.  Well today he was helping put up a magnet doodle up above his cubby and it fell on his face and he ended up with a black eye.  It's okay and his teachers said he recovered pretty quickly.
     I'm sure it won't be the last time he has a little bump, scratch, or black eye.  I guess the positive is that he was helping his friends and teachers clean up and that is why he has a black eye.  Hopefully he continues to help.

grace&peace
kevin