I was reading a book recently and it referenced Darryl Kile who pitched in the major leagues for the Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Cardinals. He passed away at age 33 of a heart attack. Shortly after his death the Astros and Cardinals created an award in his honor. It is simply called the Darryl Kile Good Guy Award. Simply put the award goes to a player who exemplifies his characteristics as: "a good teammate, a great friend, a fine father, and a humble man."
Sometimes it may be hard but I myself strive to be those things to people. I can be a good teammate by simply being e a team player at church and at youth. I can be a great friend by simply listening and helping my friends who they need it, or even when they don't. I can be a fine father by learning from those fathers I know and respect (like Rick Knox). And I can be a humble man by emulating Joseph. (I'm talking about Jesus' earthly father in this instance)
Once I think about it, it really isn't that hard to do. Sometimes its challenging but we have others who have come before us that we can look up to for help and guidance. We can model our behavior after those role models. So today strive to be good, great, fine, and humble.
grace&peace
kevin
Monday, December 5, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Be Still.....
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
This has been one of my favorite verses for a long time. I seem to hear it all the time, probably because God wants me to hear it so much. I think of it when I watch the NOOMA video entitled noise, which I watch occasionally when I need to slow down my brain. I remember hearing it when Joseph Nader talked to the youth shortly after I arrived in Granbury. It was used as a favorite verse for a small group skit at discovery a couple years ago. (incidentally I think Joseph was the adult in that group, but I might be misremembering) I heard it last night at a complemtative worship service led by Kennon Pickett. (Awesome job by the way bro)
It has been a favorite verse of mine, but it has also been one of the most difficult to adhere to sometimes. I mean how hard is it: be still and know. Yet, for anyone who knows me at all, it is probably not surprising to know that I have a very hard time sitting still. I was fidgeting in the pew after an ad council meeting a couple weeks ago and Michael Horn used something out of Paul Gravley's sermon by saying to me in reference to my fidgeting: "God loves you just the way you are, but loves you too much to keep you that way." It was funny, well placed, and absolutely true. So I have been working for quite a while on being able to simply be still and listen.
I thought about Psalm 46:10 again last night and remembering how hard it used to be for me to be still. It is still difficult, but I am getting better at it. I have kind of taught myself to be still for a few minutes twice a day (with the help of a reminder on my phone of course) to just find a quiet spot and listen to what God has to say to me without me talking. It really helps me personally to have that time, I know it can help anyone to have that "quiet" time to just listen to what God has to say to you.
peace&quiet
kevin
Thought for the day:
"God loves you just the way you are, but loves you too much to keep you that way."
This has been one of my favorite verses for a long time. I seem to hear it all the time, probably because God wants me to hear it so much. I think of it when I watch the NOOMA video entitled noise, which I watch occasionally when I need to slow down my brain. I remember hearing it when Joseph Nader talked to the youth shortly after I arrived in Granbury. It was used as a favorite verse for a small group skit at discovery a couple years ago. (incidentally I think Joseph was the adult in that group, but I might be misremembering) I heard it last night at a complemtative worship service led by Kennon Pickett. (Awesome job by the way bro)
It has been a favorite verse of mine, but it has also been one of the most difficult to adhere to sometimes. I mean how hard is it: be still and know. Yet, for anyone who knows me at all, it is probably not surprising to know that I have a very hard time sitting still. I was fidgeting in the pew after an ad council meeting a couple weeks ago and Michael Horn used something out of Paul Gravley's sermon by saying to me in reference to my fidgeting: "God loves you just the way you are, but loves you too much to keep you that way." It was funny, well placed, and absolutely true. So I have been working for quite a while on being able to simply be still and listen.
I thought about Psalm 46:10 again last night and remembering how hard it used to be for me to be still. It is still difficult, but I am getting better at it. I have kind of taught myself to be still for a few minutes twice a day (with the help of a reminder on my phone of course) to just find a quiet spot and listen to what God has to say to me without me talking. It really helps me personally to have that time, I know it can help anyone to have that "quiet" time to just listen to what God has to say to you.
peace&quiet
kevin
Thought for the day:
"God loves you just the way you are, but loves you too much to keep you that way."
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Isaiah 42:9
"Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."
This verse stuck out to me a couple weeks ago when it was read in our first staff meeting with our new senior pastor, Paul Gravley. I remember this verse and was reminded of the time before when I heard this verse. I remember hearing a sermon on it a few years back, I'm assuming I heard it in Gainesville but I'm not sure. Interesting how perspective can change over just a few years. To me this verse reminds me of how God is in control of past, present, and future. We must use the past (our mistakes and successes), in the present, for a better future. And out of that knowledge new things will "spring forth" and take us to where God wants us to go. We must put our trust and our plans and our life in His hands. Here's to new things.
grace&peace
kevin
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."
This verse stuck out to me a couple weeks ago when it was read in our first staff meeting with our new senior pastor, Paul Gravley. I remember this verse and was reminded of the time before when I heard this verse. I remember hearing a sermon on it a few years back, I'm assuming I heard it in Gainesville but I'm not sure. Interesting how perspective can change over just a few years. To me this verse reminds me of how God is in control of past, present, and future. We must use the past (our mistakes and successes), in the present, for a better future. And out of that knowledge new things will "spring forth" and take us to where God wants us to go. We must put our trust and our plans and our life in His hands. Here's to new things.
grace&peace
kevin
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Lion King (to Carson)
To Carson:
Carson and I were watching one of his favorite (and my favorite) movies The Lion King last night. We stopped it at the point where Simba and Mufasa are talking after Simba has just got in trouble. After a heart to heart Simba asks his dad: "We're pals right?"
It got me to thinking about fathers and sons and the word pals. I love my relationship with my boy and hope we will always be pals. I strive for that everyday with him. Even after he gets in trouble, we are still pals. I treasure the opportunity to run around the yard with him. I treasure being able to run around and "tackle" each other. I treasure being able to "box with the tickle monster" with him. (And those are his words not mine)
We are pals and I will keep that relationship with him for as long as I can. I know there will be struggles and I know eventually at least one of us will grow up, but deep down I know we will always be pals. I wouldn't have it any other way
love you kiddo
dadda
Carson and I were watching one of his favorite (and my favorite) movies The Lion King last night. We stopped it at the point where Simba and Mufasa are talking after Simba has just got in trouble. After a heart to heart Simba asks his dad: "We're pals right?"
It got me to thinking about fathers and sons and the word pals. I love my relationship with my boy and hope we will always be pals. I strive for that everyday with him. Even after he gets in trouble, we are still pals. I treasure the opportunity to run around the yard with him. I treasure being able to run around and "tackle" each other. I treasure being able to "box with the tickle monster" with him. (And those are his words not mine)
We are pals and I will keep that relationship with him for as long as I can. I know there will be struggles and I know eventually at least one of us will grow up, but deep down I know we will always be pals. I wouldn't have it any other way
love you kiddo
dadda
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Perspective
I went to see the movie Courageous this weekend, and by the way it is a very good movie. (Although the twist of the alien space ship with Winnie the Pooh in the middle of the movie was kind of weird.) That's an inside joke, you would of had to have been there.
I was talking to a couple of our youth afterward and their perspective about the end of the movie struck me. They brought about ideas that I hadn't even thought about and we discussed the film and each viewpoint. Maybe this is why community is so important to our faith. Without their perspective I wouldn't have even thought about a different viewpoint on the movie and the main theme of the movie. I am thankful for their perspective, it allows me to think about other ideas.
So community is important. I can read scripture all I want, but to be a christian to the fullest I need community. I believe we all do.
grace&peace
Kevin
I was talking to a couple of our youth afterward and their perspective about the end of the movie struck me. They brought about ideas that I hadn't even thought about and we discussed the film and each viewpoint. Maybe this is why community is so important to our faith. Without their perspective I wouldn't have even thought about a different viewpoint on the movie and the main theme of the movie. I am thankful for their perspective, it allows me to think about other ideas.
So community is important. I can read scripture all I want, but to be a christian to the fullest I need community. I believe we all do.
grace&peace
Kevin
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
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
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
Thursday, September 8, 2011
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
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
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