"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
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
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
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
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
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
Monday, August 8, 2011
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
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
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