The Gospel According to.....

I have noticed that there are a lot of books entitled "The Gospel According to....."  I've seen the gospel according to Harry Potter, Disney, The Big Lebowski, The Simpsons, The Beverley Hillbillies, among others.  I even have the Gospel According to Star Wars, Superman, and LOST.

Why why are there so many books about how pop culture can be seen in the bible?  Well I think there are many reasons.  First, the bible has sold more copies than any other book.  Second, the bible is still relevant after all these years, few books have been relevant for that long.  Third, we should look for the bible in as many things as we possibly can because is it relevant and because it is so important.  The bible can teach us so much that we look for it in anything and everything.  Not only do we do that, but we should do that.  That keeps the bible relevant in today's world and in our individual lives.

kevin

Jonah, Jonah

     The last couple of weeks we have talked about the story of Jonah.  Thomas Q. Robbins is also conducting a sermon series on Jonah.  Growing up as a kid the only thing I really knew about Jonah was that he was swallowed by a whale and spit up (or as veggie tales puts it barfed up) on shore three days later.  I suppose that everyone knows that part of the story because we have seen plays or musicals about it or because it makes for interesting coloring pages for children.  But really that is only a small part of the story.  In fact the whale is only mentioned in these three ways:
     1. the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah (1:17)
     2. from inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord (2:1)
     3. the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land (2:10)
     The big fish is a very important part of the story.  God sends the fish as a means of salvation not punishment. (thanks to the Wesley Study Bible for making me sound so eloquent.)
     There is much more to the story.  Jonah first responds to God's call by running away and then when given a second chance (after being swallowed by a big fish) he does what God asks.  How many times have we ran the other way when we are asked to do something?  How many times have we not responded to God's call when asked?
     And yet God does for us what he did for Jonah.  Time and time again we are given a second chance to do what is asked of us by God.  Not because we deserve it but simply because that is who God is and what he willingly does for us.

grace&peace
kevin

Leaders

     As we get ready to start youth back up again this school year I can't help but think about the great group of seniors we had graduate in May.  They were leaders in the youth group and in the church.  As I reflect I see that the last three years we have had a great group of leaders step up.
     I think the reason we always have a great group of leaders graduate is because of the graduates and because of the younger ones still here.  The graduates set such an example that once they leave the younger ones can't help but step up and fill that leadership void.  I can't wait to see how our current youth step up and fill that void in their own way.  There are many different leadership examples that our youth can model from other youth and adults.
      I can't wait to see how the youth grow as leaders at their various colleges and to see how our youth grow into bigger leadership roles here.

see everyone real soon
kevin

H.O.F.

I was trying to think of something to blog about and I was (maybe still am) experiencing writers block. Then something struck me as I was watching the Hall of Fame Induction of Shannon Sharpe. The most telling part of his speech was about his relationship with his brother. And something he said struck me: "no one but me and my brother will know how it was."

As brothers growing up one constant was that we always knew how the other one felt. And I could never fully explain what it is like having a twin who pretty much knew me as well as I knew myself. And I knew him just as well. I still know how to get Jason from calm to irate in 2.4 seconds flat. No one else knows how and I know at least five of them. Not surprisingly they all have to do with sports. I'm sure he can do the same to me. When I ever get to give a meaningful toast in his honor maybe I will just share all those "key words" with everyone we know.

It's cool trying to explain that to others but only he and I know the full extent of how well we knew each other. Hopefully everyone is able to have a similar friend like that growing up.

Grace&peace
Kevin

Want to Hear God Laugh.....Tell Him You Have Plans

     I've been thinking about plans a lot lately.  Plans for youth in the fall, plans for what direction the youth should go in, weekly chore schedules, plans (or timetable) for having another kid, etc.  (And before anyone starts texting me or Kathy.....no we are not pregnant.  We have just talked about it.  So relax, that's how rumors get started.)
     In regards to plans: sometimes unexpected things happen.  That's life.  When those things do happen how we handle them is very important.  How we as individuals handle them is important.  How we as a church community handle them is important.
     I, and a lot of other people I assume, like to be in control of things.  But I once heard someone say that control is an illusion.  We are not in control, God is in control.  One of the lessons I am still learning is that I cannot and never will be able to completely be in control of every situation.  What I can control is how I react to a given situation.  Do I react in anger or confusion or do I react with optimism and grace?
     I am not in control, God is in control.  I trust that he knows what is best and he has a plan.  And whatever that plan is, it is far and away the best plan.  I have to be able to wrap my mind around that concept and hopefully those of you who read this can wrap your mind around that concept too.

grace&peace
Kevin

Senior Week

     How do I express the way I felt as the seniors graduated last week? Is there a fitting tribute to seniors each year as they graduated?
     Last week at church we honored the seniors as we have in the past by honoring them with a breakfast. We, as a church, wanted to do more. So we had the graduates come down during prayer time in the service so family, friends, and church members could pray with them and pray for them. I had a great viewpoint. I was able to pray for all of them and was able to see the looks on their faces. I even felt a couple of their tears fall on my hands.
     On Wednesday we allowed the seniors to speak to the rest of the youth and share what youth has meant to them. That was great....what happened next is what really stuck with me. There were a lot of tears. From the seniors, from the other youth, and even from me. All the youth hung out and just talked and there were a lot of hugs and talking with the graduates. I hope is was a meaningful time for everyone involved.
     Then at graduation to see five of our youth sitting on stage and speaking (or singing) during commencement.  How cool was that?  Then to see all the youth go across the stage as their names well called.
     I know we honored the seniors throughout the week but I feel like the one who has been honored over the last three and a half years to see this group grow in their faith and in their leadership of our youth. I have learned so much from then and hope they have learned just as much from me and from each other.

Good luck on this next chapter
Kevin

The Hours Are Long.....

     I was asked on Sunday if I would do the devotional for United Methodist Men this week.  I knew how much "busy" work I had to do today.  Being that I don't like saying no I decided to share the lesson I shared with the confirmation class this week about how I got into ministry.
     One phrase about ministry during that discussion stuck out.  We refer to them as Boydisms.  It is one of Boyd's best quotes, maybe the ultimate quote of wisdom: "The hours are long, but at least the pay sucks."  I knew then ministry was not about the money, and I still know that today.  We don't do it for the money, if we did we would be seriously misguided in more ways than one.  First, in most cases the "big time" money isn't there and second (and more importantly) that should not be a determining factor on why we do ministry.  Every year our youth or our church pay money for our youth to go on a mission trip and work.  We actually pay to work.  This is because we are in ministry and ministry is not about going on vacation, it is about serving wherever we are.  Which makes the price for us well worth it.  Yes, a lot of times the hours are long, and yes most of the time the pay "sucks."  And you know what, I wouldn't change it for anything.
     The experience for me, for us, and for others far outways the cost.  Mission trip is always the best part of the year for me at our church.  There is always something awesome that happens for me and for our youth on that trip.  And every year, I can't wait to go back again.

grace&peace
kevin

PS-and for those youth reading this, I will gladly do 20 pushups for using the word sucks twice...make that 30 pushups.