Run One Eleven

This is the official "I have nothing worth writing about" vanity card.  It will run whenever I have nothing worth writing about.  Don't be surprised to see it quite a bit.  From now on, when our schedule requires me to deliver a new card and I'm empty, I'll simply say, "Run one elven."  A check of the one hundred and ten cards I've already written will quickly demonstrate that I should have written this card a long time ago.  Why didn't I?  Vanity.  I had become vain about my vanity cards.  i was determined to write a new one each week because. well...I'm just that kind of guy.  But I'm older and wiser now.  I know when I have nothing to say.  And that knowledge is freedom.  Freedom from the constant need to win your approval.  And more importantly, freedom from the obsessive and relentless need to end each vanity card on a joke.  Governor Schwarzenegger.

A Battle of Wills

Carson had a high fever tonight which led to us having to miss the Christmas Eve service and spend most of the night on the couch watching movies. At one point I assume Carson started feeling better because he got off the couch, started talking, and went to get his books to read. Which brings me to my story.
He got his Star Wars alphabet book and got to the letter D which of course has a picture of Darth Vader. Carson proudly yelled:"that's Darth Vader." I preceded to go through the book and help him with other pictures. Then we watched Darth Vader on tv. When we came back to the book Carson looks at Darth Vader and says:"that's not Darth Vader." And me in my infinite wisdom inform him he is wrong and that it is indeed Darth Vader. Carson persists that it is not Darth Vader and that it is a Stormtrooper. And I continue to reason with my two year old son by saying and I quote:"Dude, Darth Vader is black and Stormtroopers are white."
It is at this point that I realize Carson is just contradicting me for the fun of it. So as I am reasoning with my two year old, he is just playing around. So I ask you, who is training who?

Happy Holidays
Kevin

Being Lukewarm

We talked a few weeks ago at youth about being a Lukewarm Christian and what that means.  I heard something today that made me reflect on that message.  I was at the store and heard a lady say to her friend: "I was going to buy my son that shirt but decided not to because I was worried he would sneak out of the house and wear it to school."  Two questions:  First: If you, as a parent, deemed the shirt inappropriate (and it was) to wear to school why would you even think about buying it so your son could wear it other places?  And second: what kind of message does that send to your son?  Well you can wear the shirt, but not in places where it is socially unacceptable to do so. (And yes there is a hint of sarcasm there) If you are keeping score, I don't know if the lady ending up buying the shirt but she did put it in her shopping cart.   :(

So that story reminding me of not being a lukewarm Christian.  We are called to be Christ like all the time, not just when it is convenient for us.  This lady was going to make her son be appropriate at school but not in all situations and circumstances.

My prayer today is that we can all be Christians all the time, in ALL situations, and in ALL circumstances.  That is what we are called to do in this life.

grace & peace
kevin

Everything

We watched the Skit set to the Lifehouse song Everything last night at youth.  Everytime I watch the video it gives me chills.  There is just something about the lyrics, the music, and especially the skit.  I love the lyrics: How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Here is the link so you may watch it again...or for the first time.  It's worth it.

grace & peace
kevin

Lifehouse Everything Skit

Cars

Carson was playing with his cars last night and was repeatedly hitting them against one another.  Then he said the funniest thing.  He took one of the cars and said: "car-you go to time out because we don't hit."  Oh the mind of a child.  I think he picks up on things more than we realize sometimes.

grace&peace
kevin

An Attitude of Gratitude

Some of you have probably done the Thanksgiving activity where you trace on outline of your hand (to where it looks kind of like a turkey) and then write what you are thankful for in each "wing."  We did that at youth last night and asked the youth to write, in each finger, not what they are thankful for but how they can show or what they can do this thanksgiving week to show an "attitude of gratitude."  There were many great ideas such as: help mom with thanksgiving dinner, watch my siblings, be mature, be understanding of family, and many more.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says we should give thanks in all circumstances.  So no matter if you are staying home this week, having family come in to visit, heading out of town to visit family or just hanging out I encourage you to be grateful for all God has given you this year and have an attitude of gratitude.  Have a happy thanksgiving.

grace & peace
kevin

*thanks to Tiffany for "letting" me borrow the title of this post from her sermon*

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith.

Pretty simple huh.  Or is it?  What does it mean to not be ashamed of the gospel?  There's a lot of meaning in that one verse.  The power of the gospel is in our hands and not only should we believe in it but we should share it's power with others.  It is such a great gift that we are given.  My question to you is-how can we not share it with others?  I shared at bible study last night about the feeling you have when you share the gospel with someone who hasn't heard it before and what an awesome feeling that is.  Wouldn't it be great if we could have that feeling everytime we picked up a bible ourselves.  I think it would be kind of like being a kid on Christmas morning....just something to think about.

grace & peace
kevin