I was trying to think of what to say and a song came into my head that I heard earlier entitled: I Refuse.
Part of the lyrics go something like this:
Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone elseTo do what God has called me to do myself
I could choose not to move
But I refuse
A couple other songs came to mind that shared this same thought (Dare You to Move and One Day Too Late) So today, don't wait to be a Christian. God has called you to be a Christian. Move and DO something about it today before its too late. Make a point to share about what it means to you to be a Christian. And share it today.
grace & peace
kevin
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Lent Day 2: Reflection
Lent is a time for reflection. In that regard I was thinking about what I should reflect on through the season. Today I reflected on sermons, messages, or talks (whatever you want to call them) As part of that reflection I watched a video about delivering sermons and the speaker talked about two sides of the spectrum.
1. One side of the spectrum: You have this sermon that you just know you are going to hit out of the park. The topic is right, the timing is right, you have a total understanding of the text, and you love it (then you deliever the sermon and it totally bombs)
2. The other side of the spectrum: You have this sermon that you have struggled with all week, you know its not your best work, and something just feels off and you know it's going to be awful (then something happens and somehow it is awe-inspiring to those who hear it, and you are stunned)
Has anyone ever experienced this? I know I have been in this situation and two talks jump right to the front of my mind:
November 2008: I had what I thought was a great talk prepared about music and making a joyful noise to the lord. The timing seemed perfect, it was a great chance to open up to the youth after having only been here a short time and I just knew it would be awesome. And it totally bombed, it was like the room was totally deflated when I finished. I thought to myself: "what just happened, I have no answer for that."
June 2010: It was last year on our Mission Trip in Oklahoma and I had been struggling with what I was going to say at the client night at Tohwali Church after we had eaten dinner there. I had talked to Jennifer (the greatest center director ever), some of our AUMC youth, and some adults about what I was going to say. The common response was: you'll do great or you'll figure out what to say. (which incidentally didn't help my angst much) Even right before I was to speak I wasn't happy with what I had. I got up to speak and just left my notes in the pew. I didn't even want them. Then something happened: I looked at our youth and at the people we helped and I somehow knew exactly what I was going to say, and not just what I was going to say but what I was supposed to say. It was emotional and everyone seemed to "get it." I left with a great feeling of hope and accomplishment for something that 20 minutes before seemed jumbled and totally wrong.
I think most pastors, church leaders, youth directors and so on have probably felt both sides of this spectrum. So what keeps us going? Why would anyone want to give a sermon? Well when you deliver that sermon like I delivered in Oklahoma last year for God, for those youth, for those we helped-the feeling could not be explained. Speaking those words and leaving others with that feeling of knowing how much God loves them, there not a much better feeling.
grace & peace
kevin
1. One side of the spectrum: You have this sermon that you just know you are going to hit out of the park. The topic is right, the timing is right, you have a total understanding of the text, and you love it (then you deliever the sermon and it totally bombs)
2. The other side of the spectrum: You have this sermon that you have struggled with all week, you know its not your best work, and something just feels off and you know it's going to be awful (then something happens and somehow it is awe-inspiring to those who hear it, and you are stunned)
Has anyone ever experienced this? I know I have been in this situation and two talks jump right to the front of my mind:
November 2008: I had what I thought was a great talk prepared about music and making a joyful noise to the lord. The timing seemed perfect, it was a great chance to open up to the youth after having only been here a short time and I just knew it would be awesome. And it totally bombed, it was like the room was totally deflated when I finished. I thought to myself: "what just happened, I have no answer for that."
June 2010: It was last year on our Mission Trip in Oklahoma and I had been struggling with what I was going to say at the client night at Tohwali Church after we had eaten dinner there. I had talked to Jennifer (the greatest center director ever), some of our AUMC youth, and some adults about what I was going to say. The common response was: you'll do great or you'll figure out what to say. (which incidentally didn't help my angst much) Even right before I was to speak I wasn't happy with what I had. I got up to speak and just left my notes in the pew. I didn't even want them. Then something happened: I looked at our youth and at the people we helped and I somehow knew exactly what I was going to say, and not just what I was going to say but what I was supposed to say. It was emotional and everyone seemed to "get it." I left with a great feeling of hope and accomplishment for something that 20 minutes before seemed jumbled and totally wrong.
I think most pastors, church leaders, youth directors and so on have probably felt both sides of this spectrum. So what keeps us going? Why would anyone want to give a sermon? Well when you deliver that sermon like I delivered in Oklahoma last year for God, for those youth, for those we helped-the feeling could not be explained. Speaking those words and leaving others with that feeling of knowing how much God loves them, there not a much better feeling.
grace & peace
kevin
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Lent Day 1: Noise
So it's the first day without television and here are my observations:
1. Kathy and I spent more time talking after I got home before she fell asleep
2. I got some late night scripture reading in
3. I am sitting here listening and "hearing" the sound of silence (aside from the dog snoring)
The silence right now is kind of different. It's weird to be able to "hear" the silence since the tv is off. It reminds me of the NOOMA video Noise. I think it's fitting that the cover for that DVD is a television remote. It's nice for a change to be able to sit back, relax, and not have to tune out all the outside noise. Now if I could just tune out the voices in my head. (that last line is meant to be both serious and sarcastic at the same time: I'll let you try and figure it out)
grace & peace
kevin
1. Kathy and I spent more time talking after I got home before she fell asleep
2. I got some late night scripture reading in
3. I am sitting here listening and "hearing" the sound of silence (aside from the dog snoring)
The silence right now is kind of different. It's weird to be able to "hear" the silence since the tv is off. It reminds me of the NOOMA video Noise. I think it's fitting that the cover for that DVD is a television remote. It's nice for a change to be able to sit back, relax, and not have to tune out all the outside noise. Now if I could just tune out the voices in my head. (that last line is meant to be both serious and sarcastic at the same time: I'll let you try and figure it out)
grace & peace
kevin
Monday, March 7, 2011
Lenten Discipline
I was taught growing up that when the season of Lent rolls around that we should give up something to show our discipline to Jesus. And to me it made sense and to why we do that. Well it made sense at that time and still does but over the last few years I have come to realize there is more to it. Let me explain.
I now believe Lent should be less about giving up something and more about taking on something. I don't want to discourage someone from giving up something, I think that is great. But more importantly, what do you take on or gain when you give something up. I have made a discipline to give something up at Lent every year for the past 15 years. Sometimes I have succeeded and sometimes I haven't. I have given up things in the past such as cokes, coffee, fast food, and golf (ouch). Over the last couple of years I have focused more on what I am taking on as a discipline. It's kind of funny that if you give something up you at the same time can easily take something on as well.
So this year I am taking on spending more time developing my spiritual life by reading some of the 15 books on my reading list that I and others believe will help me (and others) with my spiritual life. Kathy and I are planning on spending more time talking each day and reading a couple of books together and discussing them. This will be made easier by giving up television. (this may prove difficult as The Masters and March Madness are during Lent) :(
No matter what way you look at it: You can give up something or take on something. The important thing is does what you take on honor God. Or if you are giving something up, does what you do with that extra time honor God.
So you might be asking yourself why have I underlined each occurence of give and take? Simple, we show our discipline for the love and sacrifice Christ gave for us. All we have to do is take it, free of cost.
grace&peace
kevin
I now believe Lent should be less about giving up something and more about taking on something. I don't want to discourage someone from giving up something, I think that is great. But more importantly, what do you take on or gain when you give something up. I have made a discipline to give something up at Lent every year for the past 15 years. Sometimes I have succeeded and sometimes I haven't. I have given up things in the past such as cokes, coffee, fast food, and golf (ouch). Over the last couple of years I have focused more on what I am taking on as a discipline. It's kind of funny that if you give something up you at the same time can easily take something on as well.
So this year I am taking on spending more time developing my spiritual life by reading some of the 15 books on my reading list that I and others believe will help me (and others) with my spiritual life. Kathy and I are planning on spending more time talking each day and reading a couple of books together and discussing them. This will be made easier by giving up television. (this may prove difficult as The Masters and March Madness are during Lent) :(
No matter what way you look at it: You can give up something or take on something. The important thing is does what you take on honor God. Or if you are giving something up, does what you do with that extra time honor God.
So you might be asking yourself why have I underlined each occurence of give and take? Simple, we show our discipline for the love and sacrifice Christ gave for us. All we have to do is take it, free of cost.
grace&peace
kevin
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sometimes it Hurts
Last night Carson and I were playing with our foam GI Joe swords for what seemed like a an hour. In the process of all the laughing and swinging of the swords, Carson accidentally hit me pretty hard in the back of the head. The hit was so hard that it knocked me to the ground and Kathy heard it from the other side of the house. Right after it happened Carson jumped on my back and said sorry daddy and gave me a hug. And then we continued playing with Carson laughing nonstop the entire time. And to me there is no better sound than a child laughing, especially when it is your own child. I love it so so much.
I shared this story during our staff devotional time today and Zeke eloquently compared this story to discipleship and following Jesus by saying: "sometimes it hurts and yet it is worth it because of the joy that comes from it." Although getting hit in the head hurt, I wouldn't change it because of the hug and the laughter that followed.
I think that our own discipleship process can be seen in much the same way. Sometimes it's tough to live the way Jesus teaches us to live. Sometimes we become frustrated with how hard it is or how others don't seem to understand how great it is. But even though it is sometimes hard we keep at it. Why? Because no amount of hurt can even compare to the joy that comes with it. (Thank you Zeke for so eloquently summing up what I was trying to say.)
grace & peace
kevin
I shared this story during our staff devotional time today and Zeke eloquently compared this story to discipleship and following Jesus by saying: "sometimes it hurts and yet it is worth it because of the joy that comes from it." Although getting hit in the head hurt, I wouldn't change it because of the hug and the laughter that followed.
I think that our own discipleship process can be seen in much the same way. Sometimes it's tough to live the way Jesus teaches us to live. Sometimes we become frustrated with how hard it is or how others don't seem to understand how great it is. But even though it is sometimes hard we keep at it. Why? Because no amount of hurt can even compare to the joy that comes with it. (Thank you Zeke for so eloquently summing up what I was trying to say.)
grace & peace
kevin
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Spirit
Has anyone ever noticed how often things seem to fit perfectly together? Let me give you a couple of examples that happened on Sunday:
1. Our confirmation topic was the Holy Spirit with Acts 1:8 being the core verse....and guess what one of the verses was that George used in his sermon?
2. We were scheduled to cover Romans 12 during bible study on Sunday night....and guess what one of the passages was that was used at Midwinter this weekend?
So why do you think things like this happen? My answer is simple: someone else knows more about what is going on and where are studies are leading than we do. It was perfect, and helpful, that the topics we were covering in confirmation and bible study had already been discussed before hand. I would say that it is just because we are lucky, but it happens too often for it to be luck.
(bible verse for the week: Acts 1:8)
grace & peace
kevin
1. Our confirmation topic was the Holy Spirit with Acts 1:8 being the core verse....and guess what one of the verses was that George used in his sermon?
2. We were scheduled to cover Romans 12 during bible study on Sunday night....and guess what one of the passages was that was used at Midwinter this weekend?
So why do you think things like this happen? My answer is simple: someone else knows more about what is going on and where are studies are leading than we do. It was perfect, and helpful, that the topics we were covering in confirmation and bible study had already been discussed before hand. I would say that it is just because we are lucky, but it happens too often for it to be luck.
(bible verse for the week: Acts 1:8)
grace & peace
kevin
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A True Blessing
So I woke up this morning feeling like I had been hit by a Mack Truck and barely able to talk. I did not think it was going to beand good day. Then school got cancelled.... Which brings me to my story.
Then Carson wanted to "play swords with daddy" so we played swords for what seemed like an hour since he was laughing the whole time. And Kathy continually asked me how I felt and if she could do anything for me, which was nice. Then Some of the youth came to hang out at the youth building and play games such as uno, wii bowling...and human bowling. It was so much fun.
It's amazing how when you don't feel well and you don't think it's going to be a good day how others who care about you can turn your day around and make it a great day.
Thanks everyone
Kevin
Then Carson wanted to "play swords with daddy" so we played swords for what seemed like an hour since he was laughing the whole time. And Kathy continually asked me how I felt and if she could do anything for me, which was nice. Then Some of the youth came to hang out at the youth building and play games such as uno, wii bowling...and human bowling. It was so much fun.
It's amazing how when you don't feel well and you don't think it's going to be a good day how others who care about you can turn your day around and make it a great day.
Thanks everyone
Kevin
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