tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74967713150431289232024-03-14T07:27:11.254-07:00Pastor KentLove God! Love People!
connect: pastorkent316@aol.comPastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-51689075650490744662016-12-22T23:50:00.005-08:002016-12-22T23:52:53.638-08:00Birthday month.... "a partridge in a pear tree"Well, at my house Karen, my wife, started a tradition of celebrating "<i>birthday month</i>...." this means that when your birthday falls in that month... we celebrate it the whole month... No, not a party or a gift every day...(that would be nice), but besides just calling it "<i>your birthday month</i>," the celebrant gets to make special choices, get extra privileges and common affirmations and celebrating moments... So, I got to thinking... Jesus' birthday should be a birthday month celebration too..., well it has been for a long time, but as you know, many extra things have been added that may have just taken away the meaning intended... Traditionally, Christians begin four Sundays before Christmas with the Advent. The excitement builds each week, and then on December 25th, Christmas is over, stopping abruptly and people go back to living their normal lives. That just does not sit right with me... there are more days in December. This crazy thought I was having was further expanded and supported when I saw a drama where one of the "Wise men" shared that the manger scenes really should put the Magi on the other side of the room rather than in the manger scene itself..., reminding me that they were not at the stable, but arrived years later after a long journey... .so how can I meaningfully extend Christmas a few weeks at least..?<br />
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So I began thinking about this, doing a little research... I ran across a very familiar song that has historical meaning most may not be aware of. "<i>The Twelve Days of Christmas</i>" is actually a celebration that begins on December 25 and ends January 6 with the feast of the Epiphany (which is the celebration of the revealing of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi). This may be a way to reflect on the incarnation/birth of Christ at Christmas, and then how this should impact our lives.<br />
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Historically, in the fifth century church, in the Catholic tradition, there were three parts of the ministry that were practiced right after Christmas day. December 26 the feast of St. Stephen (the deacon) (a day to give leftovers to the poor), December 27 was the feast of St. John (a day to celebrate the relationship we now have with Christ). and December 28 the Feast of the Holy Innocents (a day to remember all who suffer for their faith, beginning with the children murdered by Herod, victims of abortion, war, martyred for their faith, etc). I discovered a few other traditions woven into these days following Christmas... something to think about.<br />
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Granted, the medieval church frowned on many of these traditional practice's and the reformers finished the job of suppressing them.. as maybe their importance did become overtly systematic... but a devotional, reflective reminder of what they celebrate makes for good contemplation.<br />
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In addition, interestingly, the song itself, at its origin, was to preserve many of the truths of scripture with children during a time of persecution, also has symbolic meaning.... The "<i>True Love</i>" referred to in the song, while singers believe this to be a smitten boy or girl, is really Jesus Christ, because truly love was born on Christmas Day. The <i>partridge in the pear tree</i> also refers to Him, as a partridge by characteristic, often sacrifices itself or feign injury, drawing away a prey to protect its young. Furthermore, <i>two turtle doves </i>were the Old and New Testament, <i>Three French hens</i> stood for faith, hope and love.<i> Four calling birds</i> were the four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The <i>five golden rings</i> represented the first five books of the Old Testament which describes man's fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior. The <i>six geese a laying</i> stood for the six days of creation. <i>Seven swans a swimming </i>represented the seven-fold gifts of ministry: preaching, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership and mercy. The <i>eight maids a-milking</i> were the eight beatitudes. <i>Nine ladies dancing</i> were the nine gifts of the spirit, <i>ten lords a-leaping</i> were the Ten Commandments. The <i>eleven pipers piping</i> stood for the eleven faithful Apostles and <i>the twelve drummers drumming</i> symbolized the twelve points of the Apostles Creed.<br />
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We always say the spirit of Christmas is a year round practice... But I think we can easily declare that December is Jesus' birthday month... and... I am going to try to extend the celebration in my own heart beyond Christmas Day a few weeks.... and yes, more enthusiastically into my every day life beyond that.Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-8429256577696715832016-11-11T06:36:00.001-08:002016-11-11T06:36:07.754-08:00You gotta climb to get the view!<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 30px; line-height: 33px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In my devotion this morning I was encouraged to not be reluctant to be obedient when God calls me to boldly lead. In Genesis 22:2, one of the most challenging assignments came to Abraham, and there was an urgency in the assignment. Assessment is sometimes not the path. Our own assessment of the outcome is often not what God wants from us. God’s command sometimes is, “Take <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">now</em>,” not later. It is incredible how we debate! We know something is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it immediately. If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later— it must be done now. And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“So Abraham rose early in the morning…and went to the place of which God had told him” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+22:3" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Genesis 22:3</a>). Oh, the wonderful simplicity of Abraham! When God spoke, he did not “confer with flesh and blood” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1:16" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Galatians 1:16</a>). Beware when you want to “confer with flesh and blood” or even your own thoughts, insights, or understandings— anything that is not based on your personal relationship with God. These are all things that compete with and hinder obedience to God.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Abraham did not choose what the sacrifice would be. Always guard against self-chosen service for God. Self-sacrifice may be a disease that impairs your service. If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; or even if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him. If the providential will of God means a hard and difficult time for you, go through it. But never decide the place of your own martyrdom, as if to say, “I will only go to there, but no farther.” God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed. If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to blame Him or pass judgment on Him. You must go through the trial before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because by going through the trial you learn to know God better. God is working in us to reach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose become one.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Following His assignment may be difficult, but we must realize that this is where God does His greatest work! I want to sense His pleasure, not approval of others, not my own. The climb to great heights are most often up hill and difficult.... Few find the courage to experience the joy in that journey. Don't want to miss it. Climb on!</span></p><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9xTcWYd637YgD9LSMJTalal9SFXCaG60VMTsBhIPl9kovetqDPFrEtWWWJvrjY4Lo0ozT0OZk9SDq1DBk-CZ_g_82YBxfWygeeAFBR4h0IoiFDDnxRil9dUcZG6BFkyvuaUapbkAcq54/s640/blogger-image-1311053093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9xTcWYd637YgD9LSMJTalal9SFXCaG60VMTsBhIPl9kovetqDPFrEtWWWJvrjY4Lo0ozT0OZk9SDq1DBk-CZ_g_82YBxfWygeeAFBR4h0IoiFDDnxRil9dUcZG6BFkyvuaUapbkAcq54/s640/blogger-image-1311053093.jpg"></a></div>Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-86636501682434016042016-01-08T06:40:00.000-08:002016-01-08T08:12:49.097-08:00Write your own Headline this year...I heard a recent sermon that challenged me to look at the perspective of what I am leading with. How are you doing?... sometimes we respond with "I'm tired," "Fine," "OK....." Do I really want to lead with that? Is that really the "story" of my life?<br />
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Starting 2016 in Genesis again, Joseph's story jumped out at me... He had some back to back bad days.... his jealous brothers plotted to kill him, sold him into slavery, falsely accused of rape, wrongly imprisoned, promised favor and forgotten. In all that, Joseph's head line was... "<i>God sent me here to save lives!</i>" Wow, now that's a headline! Joseph meets his brothers after all these terrible things.... (Genesis 45:4-5 "<i>you sold me</i>" "<i>God Sent me here to save lives</i>"... "<i>God meant this for good</i>" ...these headlines are true, but totally different perspectives.<br />
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In journalism, the headline does not often fairly represent the story. Did you know that the writer does not usually write the head line? The editor does. He goes for the sensational words that will get the reader to buy the paper, read the story, click the link, etc. But the reality is, often, we don't read the story, we only read the headline and assume the story is represented in its entirety by the headline. Therefore, we do not really know the true story. I wonder, is that what
people often see our life to be... by what we lead with... our headline?<br />
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We are often not the author of our story. Things happen to us sometimes that are not in our control. We do however, choose who sits at the editors desk... Satan would love to take that job and represent our story with his plan, or hide the real story of what God is doing in my life for the world to see. He wants to use our limitations to shut us down in all areas. He wants to put big bold letters on our life that will mislead us from our created purpose. As a pastor, I often hear people's full stories, but the editor of their story is not honoring God. ....I don't have friends, "<i>Nobody will ever love me</i>," I don't do well in school, "<i>I am no good,</i>" my parents are divorced, "<i>I will never be a good dad</i>," my kids struggle, "<i>I am a bad parent</i>." These circumstances of life may certainly be true and are often out of our control... but the headline is yours to broadcast.<br />
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Don't write your headline out of your pain and discouragement but out of your purpose.... not out of regret but out of the lessons learned.... not out of the exhaustion of life challenges but out of the fullness of opportunities God gives.... not out of the past struggles but out of the vision, God's assignment for your life. The headline of your dreams is not your present status, but the difference you are going to make. <i>In all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose</i>. Do we believe this?<br />
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What if we showed up each day like we have been sent... deployed for action. "<i>Go to all the world, make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father.... and I will be with you always!</i>" What is your headline... What about... "I have an important assignment," "building friendship bridges," "I am discipling my children," " I am discovering my long range assignment through my present trials," "I had a full slate of opportunities today," "I'm thriving," "I'm in love," "I win," "I'm grateful," "I have been sent here," this year, mine is going to be "I'm on a Victorious journey!"<br />
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Send me your 2016 headline.... I want to know your true story!Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-6138021456070047362015-08-26T11:14:00.003-07:002016-01-08T05:30:18.714-08:00Sabbatical Day / Year / Every 7?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11698622_10153659318357985_5550649705688502826_n.jpg?oh=dee205da6fce98c28ab43bdffed3334c&oe=5680ABBE" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0c6j7tj19B2PHazB82LMY5NdwyQBIm-shJShT2SWeIxJfHtubij3vY76ZaT0jWf9uc1HaXnvF4l3qYGtSaR_RX_JG50AjRlr8D7CdqIRmi0H97oHSUCQ2tUxa04lO8JneCCI0bPMHWjw/s1600/Kent+QT+Indian+ocean+3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0c6j7tj19B2PHazB82LMY5NdwyQBIm-shJShT2SWeIxJfHtubij3vY76ZaT0jWf9uc1HaXnvF4l3qYGtSaR_RX_JG50AjRlr8D7CdqIRmi0H97oHSUCQ2tUxa04lO8JneCCI0bPMHWjw/s320/Kent+QT+Indian+ocean+3.jpg" width="320" /></a>Each year I try to take a Sabbatical/vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For about a week I get away, sometimes alone, to
breath, clear my mind and to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
year is no different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I again will be
trekking a section of the Appalachian Trail for a week in September from Davenport Gap to Sam's Gap...
maybe beyond (about 100 miles).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a
few books, and plenty of prayer time slated for the time on the trail. The word Sabbatical comes from our Lord's command to take a period of rest, a Sabbath as part of our relationship with Him.</div>
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The Sabbath Day is the seventh day of the week, a day of rest
for the Hebrew people under the Mosaic Law. But the Law also spoke of a
sabbatical year. Leviticus 25:1–7 provides instructions for the sabbath year
that was to be observed after the Israelites moved into the Promised Land.</div>
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The Sabbath year is also instructed in Scripture. Leviticus 25:3–5 explains what the sabbath year was: “For
six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather
their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath
rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Do
not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The
land is to have a year of rest.” Every seventh year, then, was to be a time of
no planting or pruning of crops. The Sabbath (meaning “rest”) was applied to a
time of rest for farmland (this is also mentioned in Exodus 23:10–11). Every seven years, I try to take an extended sabbatical time... maybe in the form of a focused life change, course work, biblical study, etc. Something that would strengthen my relationship with Christ.</div>
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Jesus also clarified for us that we are to rest in Him. This is good news... that we rest eternally in our salvation
relationship with Jesus.... "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath" (Mark 2:27), Jesus was restating the principle that the Sabbath
rest was instituted to relieve man of his labors, just as He came to relieve us
of our attempting to achieve salvation by our works. We no longer rest for only
one day, but forever cease our laboring to attain God’s favor. Jesus is our
rest from works now, just as He is the door to heaven, where we will rest in
Him forever.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, Moses gave warning of what might happen if the sabbath day/year were not obeyed in Leviticus 26:33-35... and it was not a blessing. I believe that the joy of a relationship with Christ is an every day faith based resting place.... there is nothing that we can face that we can not trust God with. In addition, a regular weekly, yearly and every seven years is just a bonus time to enjoy that relationship with my Christ.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Regardless of the time taken, the truth can not be avoided. God wants to be with me, and I want to take time to be with just him too... Thanks for your prayers and hope you will enjoy a fresh sabbatical soon.. if not this Sunday.</div>
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<![endif]-->Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-42359998743090919052015-07-06T21:25:00.000-07:002015-07-06T21:55:20.899-07:00Building Bridges of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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On June 21, 2015 I was in Kenya speaking to the church at Masai Corner. My message that Sunday was, "<i>Building bridges of love that connect people to Jesus Christ and each other</i>." I shared how my home town (Charleston, SC) and my home church (Ashley River Baptist Church) were similar in many ways to Mombasa, Kenya. Our towns were both Coastal port cities, both separated by a river on both sides. One difference however, Mombasa has a bridge on the north side and a ferry to the south. Thus, the illustration of a relationship based on a bridge versus a ferry resonated with them.... </div>
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Rewind... a little background. Over four years ago, our ARBC missions team began to pray about developing missionary partnerships. Chris & Lisa Moore (<a href="http://www.real4christ.org/">www.real4christ.org</a>) were presented to us by church members who had recently visited there (2011) on a homecoming trip for her, having been raised there by missionary parents, and wanted to show her husband and daughter where she grew up.... After Chris & Lisa then visited ARBC three years ago (2012), we began to plan a mission trip there. Two years ago (2013) that trip dwindled down for various reasons and was canceled. My two daughters, Sierra and Sky, were still led of the Lord to go, and they did. They became messengers of hope and possibility to ARBC, Chris & Lisa visited ARBC again last year (2014) and another trip was forged, this time 12 team members were sent out by ARBC to begin to build this bridge of relationship with the churches and ministries of Real 4 Christ... our first personal, supportive relationship with a cross-cultural missionary has begun.</div>
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The hope of the ARBC missions team, and a growing number of ARBC members, is that this relationship will be a bridge of constant hope, love, prayer, support and partnership. Not a "ferry relationship" with barriers of complication, differences and distance that remain, but a bridge that will connect us personally with each other, on a spirit-led moments notice.</div>
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The culminating similarity of our two eastern coastal towns that resonated with the 100's of Kenyans in attendance that Sunday, was the similarity of pain felt...., caused by those who were led by Satan with the intent to "<i>steal, kill and destroy</i>" relationships. Still fresh on the minds of the Masai Corner church was the horrible massacre of over 180 college students (4/2/2015), many Christians, in the town of Garissa, Kenya who were killed for their faith by those with a devious hope to drive fear and division among the Kenyan people. A relationship bridge was developing before us... as I shared about the horrible tragedy and amazing forgiveness of the disastrous killing of godly people in Charleston, SC (6/17/2015).... that too, an effort by Satan to "<i>steal, kill and destroy</i>." As we wept and prayed together for our Charleston home community, God was still at work building bridges in Kenya AND in Charleston! After that Worship service (6/21/15), Masai Corner Church, Kenya, held hands, together.. along with those in Charleston who would be holding hands across Charleston when the sun rose there.... <i>building bridges of love to connect people to Jesus Christ and each other.</i>... we connected... a relationship is forged in so much we have in common... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgME2aDqZEU1pz2GB69mRTZTF9cGQHEMCYCRWA8hOzMI6nlNF4X2po7qkMjq_-E4rSV9HsXWsq9_VmOWROXwRmVmoBlWFp1yDvkhgesKodHIB9dK15Wu21mwlpAe1EPcviLc6B6Tlrh4gHe/s1600/holding+hands+in+Kenya+along+with+Charleston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgME2aDqZEU1pz2GB69mRTZTF9cGQHEMCYCRWA8hOzMI6nlNF4X2po7qkMjq_-E4rSV9HsXWsq9_VmOWROXwRmVmoBlWFp1yDvkhgesKodHIB9dK15Wu21mwlpAe1EPcviLc6B6Tlrh4gHe/s640/holding+hands+in+Kenya+along+with+Charleston.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Below is an audio experience that... you may just hear the voice of God in....</div>
<b>The Sounds of Kenya:</b><br />
Our ARBC team traveled by safari off road vans, through rivers, and herds, deep into the Kenyan hills, to visit 4 church plants. "<i>If you are not careful, you might miss the voice of God"</i> Chris Moore said, through tears after worshiping with the R4C Dzomba Fellowship Church Plant<b><br data-mce-bogus="1" /></b><br />
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<a href="https://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/player/videoplayer.php?sid=5459&url=http://d79eaeaa22b1aa699f79-6a37c94d7725517e2b234a1c50fa4cf2.r90.cf2.rackcdn.com/uploaded/a/0e4352392_1436236448_audio-dzomba-fellowship-kenya-there-is-no-one-like-him-who-sites-on-the-high-seat-and-he-sees-the-heavens-and-the-earth.m4a&mediaBID=3703276&template=https://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/player/videoplayer.php&type=sound&CMSCODE=EKK&CMS_LINK=https://my.ekklesia360.com&width=400&height=300&autostart=true&playlist=false&target=MediaPlayer" target="_blank">Dzomba Fellowship Church Plant, Kenya: There is no one Like Him Who sits on the high seat and He sees the heavens and the earth"</a></div>
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<a href="https://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/download.php?sid=5459&url=http://d79eaeaa22b1aa699f79-6a37c94d7725517e2b234a1c50fa4cf2.r90.cf2.rackcdn.com/uploaded/d/0e4352404_1436237649_dom-a-fellowship-grace-has-come-run-t-it.m4a&mediaBID=3703285&template=https://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/player/videoplayer.php&type=sound&CMSCODE=EKK&CMS_LINK=https://my.ekklesia360.com&width=400&height=300&autostart=true&playlist=false" target="_blank"><br />"Grace has come, run to it!"</a></div>
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a few days before, we learned of the horrible massacre back in our home town Charleston, thus this excerpt from my message that Sunday:</div>
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<b><a href="https://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/download.php?sid=5459&url=http://d79eaeaa22b1aa699f79-6a37c94d7725517e2b234a1c50fa4cf2.r90.cf2.rackcdn.com/uploaded/b/0e4352430_1436239302_building-bridges-in-kenya-message.m4a&mediaBID=3703307&template=https://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/player/videoplayer.php&type=sound&CMSCODE=EKK&CMS_LINK=https://my.ekklesia360.com&width=400&height=300&autostart=true&playlist=false" target="_blank">Message: Pastor Kent shares @ Masai Corner Church, Kenya Africa "Building Bridges of Love"</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU8mn_7GU9nHsjg32V_nDs03gDdiXU18ao2QI8-2j6LhEQhwiNXnt176kE5yd8k68NC_zaRNvIBRBv3PHF6LA_UcAaxtcn5bz_DKZa3cBsBJEt1gNf2xGJ0n_UiOtGGIXAxKPEF7X6zSo/s1600/baptism+in+kenya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU8mn_7GU9nHsjg32V_nDs03gDdiXU18ao2QI8-2j6LhEQhwiNXnt176kE5yd8k68NC_zaRNvIBRBv3PHF6LA_UcAaxtcn5bz_DKZa3cBsBJEt1gNf2xGJ0n_UiOtGGIXAxKPEF7X6zSo/s640/baptism+in+kenya.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Kelvin Charo, is baptized.... "<i>connecting people to Jesus Christ & each other</i>"</div>
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#ARBCKenya</div>
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<a href="http://www.missionmombasa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">#missionmombassa</a></div>
Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-4292302852767335612015-04-25T19:23:00.002-07:002015-04-25T19:23:31.927-07:00Make Me A Sanctuary<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Make me a Sanctuary”</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pastor Kent Williams</i></div>
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Traditionally, a sanctuary is a holy place set apart for the
purpose of worship. All over the world, churches meet in schools, houses,
gymnasiums, community centers, parks, an under mango trees... etc. For a few hours a week, those places
become sanctuaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, those
places are not sanctuaries at any other time during the week. What turns an
ordinary room—a gymnasium, for example—into a sanctuary?</div>
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<br /></div>
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When we think of the word church, we often think of a
building. Sometimes that word reminds us of a structure with a steeple or a
long aisle between pews. That’s not what God calls the church. Instead, He
calls everyone who has accepted Christ “the church” (see Colossians 4:15). So,
the church refers to people, not a building.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is important to know because, when we are with other
Christians, we are the church and we can make any room into a sanctuary. When
Christians worship God, an ordinary space becomes a sanctuary—a place set apart
for worship. We don't go to church... we are the church.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We see this concept of a sanctuary explained well in the Old
Testament.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Exodus 15:17 is the first mention of a sanctuary: “You will
bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance—the place,
LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.”
The sanctuary was a place for God to dwell in the midst of His people.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Exodus 25:8 reiterates this thought. “Then have them make a
sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Psalm 68:35 says, “You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!”</div>
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<br /></div>
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The sanctuary in the Old Testament was the tabernacle and,
later, the temple—a place where the Lord dwelt among His people. He appeared
in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The presence of the Lord
over the sanctuary was a powerful reminder to the Israelites.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Our “sanctuaries” today are much different than the original
sanctuary of the Israelites. Since Jesus’ death and resurrection, a special
dwelling place no longer exists. The Lord dwells in us as believers (1
Corinthians 3:16). The gathering places we call sanctuaries become that when
His people gather for Worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Identifying them as Sanctuary buildings declares holy what God did not
want to be declared so. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So, make my heart a Sanctuary…, and as my life and walk
become holy ground… Life becomes a worship experience every moment of every day….</div>
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<i>Worship is Life!</i></div>
Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-62382928672434245522015-03-04T21:57:00.002-08:002015-03-04T21:57:54.092-08:00Christian Parenting TipsJeff Strong posted this list in 2010... it is due to be redistributed.<br />
<br />
<strong>10. Not spending time with your teen.</strong><br />
A lot of parents make the mistake of not spending time with their
teens because they assume their teens don’t want to spend time with
them! While that’s true in some contexts, teens still want and need
“chunks” of one-on-one time with parents. Despite the fact that teens
are transitioning into more independence and often carry a “I don’t
need/want you around” attitude, they are longing for the securing and
grounding that comes from consistent quality time.<br />
Going for walks together, grabbing a coffee in order to “catch up,”
going to the movies together, etc., all all simple investments that
teens secretly want and look forward to. When you don’t carve out time
to spend with your teen, you’re communicating that you’re not interested
in them, and they internalize that message, consciously or
unconsciously.<br />
<br />
<strong>9. Letting your teen’s activities take top priority for your family. </strong><br />
The number of parents who wrap their lives/schedules around their
teen’s activities is mind-boggling to me. I honestly just don’t get it. I
know many parents want to provide their children with experiences and
opportunities they never had growing up, but something’s gone wrong with
our understanding of family and parenting when our teen’s wants/”needs”
are allowed to overwhelm the family’s day-to-day routines.<br />
Parents need to prioritize investing in their relationship with God
(individually and as a couple), themselves and each other, but sadly all
of these are often neglected in the name of “helping the kids get
ahead.” “Don’t let the youth sports cartel run your life,” says Jen
singer, author of You’re A Good Mom (and Your Kids Aren’t So Bad
Either). I can’t think of many good reasons why families can’t limit
teens to one major sport/extra-curricular activity per season. Not only
will a frenetic schedule slowly grind down your entire family of time,
you’ll be teaching your teen that “the good life” is a hyper-active one.
That doesn’t align itself to Jesus’ teaching as it relates to the
healthy rhythms of prayer, Sabbath, and down-time, all of which are
critical to the larger Christian task of “seeking first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).<br />
<br />
<strong>8. Spoiling your teen.</strong><br />
We are all tempted to think that loving our kids means doing all we
can to ensure they have all the opportunities and things we didn’t have
growing up. This is a terrible assumption to make. It leads to an
enormous amount of self-important, petty, and ungrateful kids. A lot of
the time parents are well-intentioned in our spoiling, but our continual
stream of money and stuff causes teens to never be satisfied and always
wanting more. Your teen doesn’t need another piece of crap, what he
needs is time and attention from you (that’s one expression of spoiling
that actually benefits your teen!).<br />
There are two things that can really set you back in life if we get them too early:<br />
a. Access to too much money.<br />
b. Access to too many opportunities.<br />
Parents need to recognize they’re doing their teens a disservice by
spoiling them in either of these ways. Save the spoiling for the
grandkids.<br />
<br />
<strong>7. Permissive parenting.</strong><br />
“Whatever” — It’s not just for teens anymore! The devil-may-care
ambivalence that once defined the teenage subculture has now taken root
as parents shrug their shoulders, ask, “What can you do?” and let their
teens “figure things out for themselves.” I think permissive parenting
(i.e., providing little direction, limits, and consequences) is on the
rise because many parents don’t know how to dialogue with and discipline
their children. Maybe parents don’t have any limits of boundaries
within their own life, so they don’t know how to communicate the value
of these to their teen. Maybe it’s because they don’t want to, because
their own self-esteem is too tied up in their child’s perception of
them, and they couldn’t handle having their teen get angry at them for
actually trying to parent. Maybe it’s because many parents feel so
overwhelmed with their own issues, they can hardly think of pouring more
energy into a (potentially) taxing struggle or point of contention.<br />
Whatever the reason, permissive parenting is completely
irreconcilable with a Christian worldview. I certainly do not advocate
authoritarian parenting styles, but if we practice a permission
parenting style we’re abdicating our God-given responsibility to provide
guidance, nurture, limits, discipline and consequences to our teen (all
of which actually help our teen flourish long-term).<br />
<br />
<strong>6. Trying to be your teen’s best friend.</strong><br />
Your teen doesn’t need another friend (they have plenty); they need a
parent. Even through their teens, your child needs a dependable,
confident, godly authority figure in their life. As parents we are
called to provide a relational context characterized by wisdom,
protection, love, support, and empowerment. As Christian parents we’re
called to bring God’s flourishing rule into our family’s life. That
can’t happen if we’re busy trying to befriend our teen. Trying to be
your teen’s friend actually cheats them out of having these things in
their lives.<br />
Sometimes parents think that a strong relationship with their teen
means having a strong friendship—but there’s a fine line that shouldn’t
be crossed. You should be <em>friendly </em>to your teen but you
shouldn’t be your teen’s friend. They have lots of friends, they only
have one or two parents—so be the parent your teen needs you to be.<br />
<br />
<strong>5. Holding low expectations for your teen.</strong><br />
Johann Goethe once wrote, “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as
he is. Treat as man as he can and should be, and he become as he can
and should be.” All of us rise to the unconcious level of expectation we
set for ourselves and perceive from others. During the teenage years,
it’s especially important to slowly put to death the perception that
your teen is still “a kid.” They are <em>emerging leaders</em>, and if
you engage them as such, you will find that over time, they
unconsciously take on this mantle for themselves. Yes, your teen can be
moody, self-absorbed, irresponsible, etc., but your teen can also be
brilliant, creative, selfless, and mature. Treating them like “kids”
will reinforce the former; treating them as emerging leaders will
reinforce the latter.<br />
For an example of how the this difference in perspective plays out,
I’ve written an article entitled “The Future of an Illusion” which is
available as a free download from www.meredisciple.com (in the Free
Downloads section). It specifically looks at my commitment to be
involved in “emerging church ministry” as opposed to “youth ministry,”
and it you may find some principles within it helpful.<br />
<br />
<strong>4. Not prioritizing youth group/church involvement.</strong><br />
This one is one of my personal pet peeves (but not just because this
is my professional gig). I simply do not understand parents who expect
and want their kids to have a dynamic, flourishing faith, and yet don’t
move heaven and earth to get them connected to both a youth group and
local church.<br />
I’m going to let everyone in on a little secret: no teenager can
thrive in their faith without these two support mechanisms. I’m not
saying a strong youth group and church community is <em>all </em>they need, but what I <em>am</em>
saying that you can have everything else you think your teen needs, but
without these two things, don’t expect to have a spiritually healthy
and mature teen. Maybe there are teens out there who defy this claim,
but honestly, I can’t think of one out of my own experience. As a
parent, youth group and church involvement should be a non-negotiable
part of your teen’s life, and that means they take priority over
homework (do it the night before), sports, or any other extra-curricular
commitments.<br />
Don’t be the parent who is soft on these two commitments, but pushes
their kid in schooling, sports, etc. In general, what you sow into
determines what you reap; if you want to reap a teenager who has a
genuine, flourishing faith, don’t expect that to happen if you’re ok
with their commitment to youth group/church to be casual and
half-hearted.<br />
<br />
<strong>3. Outsourcing your teen’s spiritual formation.</strong><br />
While youth group and church is very important, another mistake I see
Christian parents make is assuming them can completely outsource the
spiritual development of their child to these two things. I see the same
pattern when it comes to Christian education: parents sometimes choose
to send their children/teens to Christian schools, because by doing so
they think they’ve done their parental duty to raise their child in a
godly way.<br />
As a parent–and especially if you are a Christian yourself–YOU are
THE key spiritual role model and mentor for your teen. And that isn’t
“if you want to be” either–that’s the way it is. Ultimately, you are
charged with teaching and modelling to your teen what follow Jesus
means, and while church, youth groups, Christian schools can be a <em>support </em>to that end, they are only that: support mechanisms.<br />
Read Deuteronomy 6 for an overview of what God expects from parents
as it relates to the spiritual nurture and development of their
children. (Hint: it’s doesn’t say, “Hand them off to the youth pastor
and bring them to church on Sunday.”)<br />
<br />
<strong>2. Not expressing genuine love and like to your teen.</strong><br />
It’s sad that I have to write this one at all, but I’m convinced very
few Christian parents actually express genuine love and “like” to their
teen. It can become easy for parents to only see how their teen is
irresponsible, failing, immature, etc., and become a harping voice
instead of an encouraging, empowering one.<br />
Do you intentially set aside time to tell your teen how much you love
and admire them? Do you write letters of encouragement to them? Do you
have “date nights” where you spend time together and share with them the
things you see in them that you are proud of?<br />
Your teen won’t ask you for it, so don’t wait for an invitation.
Everyday say something encouraging to your teen that builds them up
(they get enough criticism as it is!). Pray everyday for them and ask
God to help you become one of the core people in your teen’s life that
He uses to affirm them.<br />
<br />
<strong>1. Expecting your teen to have a devotion to God that you are not<br />
cultivating within yourself.</strong><br />
When I talk to Christian parents, it’s obvious that they want their
teen to have a thriving, dynamic, genuine, life-giving faith. What isn’t
so clear, however, is whether that parent has one <em>themselves</em>. When it comes to the Christian faith, most of the time what we learn is <em>caught </em>and not <em>taught</em>.
This means that even if you have the “right answers” as a parent, if
you’re own spiritual walk with God is pathetic and stilted, your teen
will unconciously follow suit. Every day you are teaching your teach
(explicitely and implicitely) what discipleship to Jesus looks like “in
the flesh.”<br />
What are they catching from you? Are you cultivating a deep and
mature relationship with God personally, or is your Christian parenting
style a Christianized version of “do as I say, not as I do”?<br />
While having a healthy and maturing discipleship walk as a parent
does not garauntee your teen will follow in your footsteps, expecting
your teen to have a maturing faith while you follow Jesus “from a
distance” is an enormous mistake.<br />
You are a Christian before you are a Christian parent (or any other
role). Get real with God, share your own struggles and hypocrisy with
your entire family, and maybe then God will begin to use your example in
a positive and powerful way.Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-38032484842131120672015-03-04T00:26:00.002-08:002015-03-04T00:28:22.647-08:00Envisioning the Future Church<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are many who have sought to
predict the future of the Church, and as a pastor, I too want to lead people to
where they will be most effective. Does this information help accomplish
that? Another question for the futurist.... Being a student of
what might be ahead, I believe, is a healthy exercise for leaders. Studying trends
and expected environments helps make decisions in the present. Waiting on the Lord
is vital and the most important approach in looking to change and what the future
will bring... for God alone knows the future. Maybe God will give those
who love and serve Him some insight along the way. I read as much as I
can find on the subject, spend time in prayer and try to apply it to where I
presently lead at any given moment.... these ideas pile up. Right now,
here are some accumulated thoughts on the matter.... however, in a year or
two... these may change in my mind as well.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Mission field among us:
Millennial generation. (Church must become relevant to them or…. )</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our nation will see the emergence of
the largest generational mission field in over a century. According to current
research, <b>the Millennial generation</b>, those born between 1980 and 2000,
will have a very low Christian representation. Estimates now are that only 15%
are Christian. With a huge population of nearly 80 million, that means that
nearly 70 million young people are not Christians. The dominant attitude
of this huge generation toward Christianity will be largely indifferent. Only
13 percent of the “Millennials” rank any type of spiritual matter as important
to their lives. They are not angry at churches and Christians. They simply ignore
us because <b>they do not deem church/Christians as meaningful or relevant.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Must change the way we minister
to Senior Adults.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Senior adult ministries in churches
will experience steep declines. As the large <b>Baby Boomer generation</b> moves
into their older years, they will resist any suggestion that they are senior
adults, no matter how senior they may be. Unfortunately, many churches are slow
to adapt to new realities. If they do senior adult ministry the way they’ve
always done it, it will be headed for failure. The large Boomer
generation will become more receptive to the gospel. Data is anecdotal for now,
but we are seeing indications that the Boomers may actually become more
interested in spiritual matters in general, and Christianity specifically. If
so, this trend will be counter to other trends where adults tend to become less
receptive to the gospel as they age. The Baby Boomers have tried it all and
found no joy. They may likely turn to the hope of the gospel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Family will be a key value for
both of the large generations.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the Millennials, family is their
most important value. Nearly eight out of ten of the Millennials ranked family
as the important issue in their lives. They reported that they had healthy
relationships with their parents who, for the most part, are Baby Boomers. Some
churches say they are family friendly, but few actually demonstrate that value.
Churches that reach both of these generations will make significant changes to
become the type of churches that foster healthy family relationships,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. “Holy buildings” scare people </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We live in an increasingly
post-Christian culture. To get people to “come to us” will mean that the
structure must be culturally relevant. Otherwise, we will have to “go to
them” and use spaces that are familiar. The church should be in the culture and
making a difference, that is a Biblical imperative and this makes it tangible!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Activate New Volunteers,
quickly. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If churches do not provide
opportunities to quickly connect</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> dedicated volunteers they will not
consider being part of the organization a priority, regardless of membership.
Developing space that does not need volunteers to maintain it, set
it up, lead in it, work in it, serve in it… will not prosper in the
future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. The ability to say no.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
One of the reasons churches don’t change is because leaders are unwilling to
say no to current members who prefer things the way they were. When you learn
to say no to the preferences of some current members, you learn to say yes to a
community that is ready to be reached for Christ. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. We exist primarily for the people
who are not here….</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prioritizing a<i> </i></span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">for
you</span></i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> not </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">from you</span></i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
culture. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Andy Stanley often talks about what
he wants for people, not just what he wants from them. Churches in decline
often think in terms of what they can get <i>from </i>people – money, time,
growth etc. Churches that will make an impact on the future will be passionate
about what they want <i>for </i>people – financial balance, generosity, the joy
of serving, better families, and of course, Christ at the center of everyone’s
life. For example, our parking experience is not about parking, but
warmly welcoming people. Churches that become passionate about people
outside their walls will be far more effective than churches that are
passionate about keeping the few people they have inside their walls happy.
Better still, you will have a healthier church if people outside become the
priority target group. We call individuals who are fixated on their wants and
needs selfish and immature. Selfless and mature churches will have an impact
because of their passion for people God cares about. <b><i>Growth and
maturity</i></b> are certainly an important foundational part of the discipling
church, reaching people outside will not happen w/o growing, maturing believers
who have needs and struggles that are being addressed, of course. We just
can’t get caught in the cycle of meeting that ever-growing list of selfish
needs. The Church must get beyond those obstacles, with Christ help.
Instead, make decisions and choose preferences with the “people who are not
here” as a priority.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. A tailored experience, not a
tailored message. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Christ-life is a life
experience, not simply a message. We don’t have to tailor the message to
un-churched people, but churches that have an impact will tailor the experience
of the message. The content is the same – the experience needs to change.
Churches that decide they will hold the message sacred but tailor the
experience to an ever shifting culture will be more effective. Therefore,
there should be a high value on experimentation. The more traditional we are,
the less we will value experimentation. If we start to raise the value of
experimentation and change, we will accelerate change and flexibility. If
our approach or method is not accomplishing our goal, then our approach needs
to change. The churches that connect with their community will be the churches
willing enough to try a variety of things, and who also have the courage to kill
them as soon as they stop producing results. It is important, if space is
to be developed for ministry, we need to design space that is not locked into a
single or even limited use. We need to be able to change the experience
as soon as it is not effective in delivering the message.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. The importance of the church
building is being renewed</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
The church is not a building, but a building is where the church meets. And
buildings are the most expensive part of discipleship. In North America people
go to buildings to do things — they go to the game in an arena, to the doctor
at her office, to school in the classroom, and to the movie at the theater.
Part of our culture is the expectation that things happen in buildings. This
cultural expectation is true of the church — people go to church to be
discipled, experience life inspiration and encouragement. Not all
churches have buildings, nor are they required. However, buildings may be
important pieces in God’s mission of building his kingdom again. Many building
and design firms are becoming more intentional about creating space with the
purpose of making disciples, where life inspiration may occur and encouragement
is prevalent. In the next ten years, this focus will continue to grow.
Churches will begin to view their buildings as part of their disciple-life
process. Furthermore, the recent trend of video driven church venues may
wane in the next 10 years. As video resources are more and more readily
available on the Internet, people will be looking for a place to connect with
people face to face. In certain niches on-line church might become the
church for some who simply have no other access to church. But there is
something about human relationship that requires presence. Because the church
at its fullest will always gather, on-line church will supplement the journey. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. Churches that love their model
more than the mission will die</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That said, many individual
congregations and some entire denominations won’t make it. The difference will
be between those who cling to the mission and those who cling to the
model. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11. Attendance will no longer drive
engagement; engagement will drive attendance</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Currently, many churches try to get
people to attend, hoping it drives engagement. In the future, that will
flip. The engaged will attend, in large measure because only the engaged will
remain. If you really think about this…engagement driving attendance is
exactly what has fueled the church at its best moments throughout history. It’s
an exciting shift. In the future church, attendance won’t drive
engagement; engagement will drive attendance.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12. Gatherings will be smaller and
larger at the same time</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While many might think the
mega-church is dead, it’s not. And while others think mega-churches are awful,
there’s nothing inherently bad about them. Size is somewhat irrelevant to a
church’s effectiveness. There are bad mega-churches and bad small
churches. And there are wonderfully effective mega-churches and wonderfully
effective small churches. We will likely see large churches get larger.
Multi-site will continue to explode, as churches that are effective expand
their mission. At the same time, churches will also establish smaller, more
intimate gatherings as millennials and others seek tighter connections and
groups. Paradoxically, future large churches will likely become large not
because they necessarily gather thousands in one space, but because they gather
thousands through dozens of smaller gatherings under some form of shared
leadership. Some of those gatherings might be as simple as coffee shop and even
home venues under a simple structure. We will see the emergence of bigger
churches and smaller churches at the same time as the gathered church continues
to change.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Source references: </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Andy
Stanley, Leading Change. Carey Nieuwhof, Conexus Leadership. Rich Birch,
Leadership Network. Thom Reiner, LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern
Baptist Convention. Sam Rainer, Rainer Research; Kent Williams, Ashley
River Baptist Church</span></div>
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<![endif]-->Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-80003689941653370692014-12-09T22:04:00.000-08:002014-12-09T22:04:16.369-08:00Decisions, decisions... right or wrong?How do you make important decisions, such as where to go to college? What job should I take? relationships? Do you ask other people their opinions? Do you do diligent research? Proverbs 16:25 says, "There is a path before each person that <i>seems </i>right but it ends in...(<i>not so good</i>). Know what Proverbs 14:12 says?? ..same thing. Just because a decision "<i>seems right</i>" does not guarantee that it is the right decision. The truth is that our "<i>personal opinion</i>" is probably not the best place to determine right and wrong paths. Our own intelligence, logic and experiences are not usually the best place to go for important decisions. The problem with trusting our own opinion is it is often founded in an emotional moment, temporary understanding... and it can quickly change. If you really do care that you choose the "<i>best</i>" path, and not settle for anything less... (which would be the wrong path according to what God's desire is for you), then your desire for the right decision should be a serious pursuit.<br />
<br />
So where can you go for those tough choice insights?...is it possible to really know that there are good choices and better choices? John 8:32 and 14:6 point out that Jesus <i>IS </i>the truth, and knowing Him will put you in direct relationship with the right path. Knowing the truth means accepting Him, obeying His direction and regarding His instructions above all earthly opinions... even your own. Living in a constant relationship with Him and daily engaging with His true teachings give you true freedom from the wrong path... that ultimately frees you from sin and death. How does knowing, trusting and following Jesus (the Truth) give freedom? If you are a believer and you genuinely listen, obey and relate to him daily you will truly become free to do God's will, and thus fulfill God's ultimate purpose in your life. The path he will lead you on will be the right one.... always.<br />
<br />
<b>Think about this:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>What areas of your life are you living by your own ideas of right and wrong?</li>
<li>Pray. Ask God how you can know if something we believe comes from Him or your own personal opinion.</li>
<li>You can gain greater freedom and understanding of the true path by studying God's Word regularly... start today. Make sure you are never deceived and led away from the truth of Christ... even if it is of your own making.</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.pastorkent.com/" target="_blank">www.pastorkent.com </a>Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-53059717811506588162014-04-29T20:00:00.001-07:002014-05-01T20:16:09.771-07:00Tough Times<i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old..." Micah 5:2</span></span></i>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Right now, at this time of year, many graduating Seniors are finding out that the college of their choice is just not ready for them yet. Tough times like this are often a discouragement to many. However, I want to point out, that some of the greatest things God does for those who love Him are through difficult disappointment and struggle. Let me elaborate. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">The mighty angel Gabriel had appeared to both Mary and Joseph. His appearance to Mary assured her that the child she would carry and bare would, in fact, be the only begotten Son of God. He would be the fulfillment of all the Old Testament’s prophecies concerning the advent of God in flesh - Immanuel, God with us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Joseph, too, had been informed of the miraculous conception. Had he not been blessed with a supernatural encounter from this same angel, he would have done the right thing by the Law and have Mary put away. Because of his tenderness, this would be done in secret so that Mary would suffer no more public disdain than was absolutely necessary. He must have loved her - else, he would have had her stoned. However, the angel spoke to Joseph and he believed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">The Scriptures record that Joseph was a just man (<b><i>Matthew 1.19</i></b>) - a man who adhered to the Law - a man who was devout in his religion. It also records Mary’s song, the Magnificat, (<b><i>Luke 1.46-55</i></b>) showing us how deeply religious and learned was Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">They were an ideal couple making a home suitable for the birth of our Savior. We can safely assume that they began preparations for the arrival of Mary’s firstborn son. There in Nazareth, they began arrangements for the baby’s “space.” It seems, no matter what era, a newborn baby needs space - among other things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Time for the baby’s arrival grew near, but something was wrong - terribly wrong. Micah had prophesied that the baby would be born in Bethlehem - they were still living in Nazareth. Since Micah was the only prophet to predict that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, could We be overreacting - after all, this is just a single, minor detail spoken by one “minor” prophet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">In order for God’s Word to be true and accurate, God used the entire Roman government - from Caesar Augustus to the census bureau to the local Governor. God controlled an entire nation - the world power - to accomplish a minor glitch in location. When you think of something so nearly impossible that it would take an act of Congress to get it done, well, here you have it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">From Joseph and Mary’s perspective, it would have taken more than a mere suggestion. Mary was “great with child” (Luke 2.5, at least in her last trimester) - Bethlehem was 80 miles away (through rough terrain) - and, the ambulance was a donkey. Awaiting them in Bethlehem was the unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">All of this that the Word of God would not be broken even in the least of matters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Throughout history, God has done some remarkable things in order to accomplish His plan. He allowed the entire nation of Israel to fall so that Daniel could personally meet the king of Babylon and deliver to him and the world a message of the end times. He prepared a great fish to encourage a wayward prophet, Jonah, to preach to a city with more than 200,000 children. He sent some hornets ahead of His people into Canaan to inspire at least three nations to move out allowing Israel safe passage. (<b><i>Exodus 23.28</i></b>) He ordered His servant, Ezekiel, to preach in a graveyard (<b><i>Ezekiel 37.4</i></b>) to teach him of the blessed future prepared for God’s chosen people. He sent His Son into a world of sinners to die as a substitute for our sins so that we would never need to taste His wrath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">So, what difficulty clouds your path? What troubles are you experiencing? Have you considered that God may be using incredible circumstances to move you into a position where He can bless you beyond your wildest imagination? Trust Him even in the disappointment. Remember, it is through difficult pathways that He does His greatest work. So hang on, crack a smile. The best is coming your way.
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Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-32495971299688562332014-04-02T06:06:00.003-07:002014-04-02T06:06:54.260-07:00I like movies... better when they move me.One thing I do enjoy is a good movie... particularly when it gives me something to think about.<br />
<br />
Consider the recent movie, Noah. The director's comment that it would be "the least biblical biblical movie ever made.." well, that is probably very true. It likely IS the least biblical biblical movie every made. In addition... well, it just was not a good movie. Now, there were a few things that I remember that were scriptural... the six "days" of creation, Adam and Eve are created by God, the Fall was Adam and Eve eating forbidden fruit, humanity is exceptionally evil, the flood is global, two of each kind of animal, a raven and dove are released to search for dry land, after the flood Noah gets drunk/naked.... but can I say here that, "everything else is not scriptural." Noah's three son's were all married and their wives are on the ark, Noah's father lived 590 years after Noah was born, a group of fallen angels helping out...(what is that all about?), and most of all, Noah being unsure about what God wanted him to do... could not be further from the truth. God was crystal clear and very detailed in His instructions to Noah. Interesting that God was very clear on these things and Noah would not have been conflicted about God's plan, including the truth that God intends for man to be fruitful and have dominion over the earth (Gen 1:26-28).<br />
<br />
<span itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
<span itemprop="articleBody">The Bible does not present Noah as having an emotional struggle, but
it is conceivable, likely even, that Noah and his family would have some
emotional turmoil. In that, I can relate. This world is not heaven and Satan enjoys bringing confusion into our daily lives here.<br /> </span><br />
<span itemprop="articleBody">This one thing was clear for me, the Noah movie was a powerful reminder of God's wrath
against sin and God's mercy in saving us. The one scene of the movie
that I found to be powerful was Noah and his family huddling inside the
ark hearing the screams of the dying people outside the ark. I had never
really thought about what it must have been like to be the only
survivors of a global catastrophe.</span><br />
<span itemprop="articleBody"><br /></span>
<span itemprop="articleBody">In contrast, the film I enjoyed was, "God's Not Dead." The idea that "God is dead" is primarily a
challenge to God's authority over our lives. The notion that we can
safely create our own rules was the lie that the serpent told Eve: "you shall be as gods." Peter warns us that, "..</span><span itemprop="articleBody"><a data-resourcename=""esv"" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Peter%202.1#footnote0" rel="popup"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-style: italic; line-height: 0; vertical-align: super;"></span></a><a data-resourcename=""esv"" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Peter%202.1#footnote1" rel="popup"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-style: italic; line-height: 0; vertical-align: super;"></span></a>there will be false teachers among you, who will <a data-resourcename=""esv"" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Peter%202.1#footnote2" rel="popup"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-style: italic; line-height: 0; vertical-align: super;"></span></a>secretly bring in destructive heresies, . . ." </span><br />
<span itemprop="articleBody"><br /></span>
<span itemprop="articleBody">The "Noah" movie moved me to be mindful of the false teachings that invade us every day, the "God's Not Dead" movie moved me to personally be more active in sharing truth every day.</span><br />
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<span itemprop="articleBody">I like movies.. better when they move me.</span>Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-30953861931482002592013-06-02T00:19:00.003-07:002013-06-02T00:19:54.369-07:00the cause The book of Acts clearly shows that the early church thrived when the opposition was great, following 'the Way' was not popular and the world, as a whole, was generally without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Hmm.. sounds like another period of time I know about, yet the early church thrived! She thrived because the leaders worked together for a clear <i>cause</i>. Those leaders may or may not have been willing to die for one another, but all were willing to die for <i>the cause</i>.... and many did.<br />
The church then was, and the church today should be, committed to<i> the cause</i> first and each other second. <i> The cause</i>. Does every member of the church know what that cause is? Does every member who knows what <i>the cause</i> is, pursuing after it as though the God of the universe commanded that they pursue<i> that cause</i> over any other?<br />
Great churches, and the teams leading them, are always clear about <i>the cause</i>. Job descriptions, rules, office hours, dress codes, etc. don't have to even be in place if <i>the cause</i> is at the center of every member of the team. Each member will do all that needs to be done because they are all committed to <i>the cause</i>. Some find comfort in the structures while others are more comfortable with the lack of rules. Regardless of the environment of the leadership team and the church polity, nothing will work if everyone is not committed to getting the job done: <i>Pursuing the cause</i>! Having a position, being in charge, doing only what's assigned, spending lots of time on administrative details or even doing many good things, these things will not guarantee a pursuit of <i>the cause</i>.<br />
The cause of my church/team is <i>"building bridges of love to connect people with Jesus Christ and each other"</i> (2 Corinthians 5:11ff). This mission statement and the commitment of the leaders to<i> this cause </i>should be the single thing that keeps us together and on track. Caring about each other and the needs around us, is important, but <i>the cause</i> should come first. In fact, without<i> the cause</i> being the reason for whatever we do, Jesus tells us that it will not matter. Jesus calls those who do good things, even when done in His name...., without knowing and pursuing<i> the cause</i> as our purpose, he calls them "evildoers" (Matthew 7:22).<br />
Matthew 22:36-39 says, "...<i>Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " </i> The rest of <i>the cause</i> is stated clearly in Matthew 28:19-20,<i> "... Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."</i> This is <i>the cause</i>, everything else is secondary. If you know<i> the cause</i> as truth, then inspiration, motivation, human resources,etc, will be of little relevance. Genuine belief, by faith, in <i>this cause</i> will, without reluctantly, propel each individual on the team and in the church towards fulfilling <i>the cause</i> in their life, in their church and in the world around them. Pursue <i>the Cause</i>!Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-87310661629194776232013-04-14T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-14T00:06:19.872-07:00Humbled when they really "believe" what you teach.<!--[if !mso]>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBjCbvFFvTfwFxUDPh44XC3W3G2WCmJ0kcTorkHaehudl-rcLhSsskEzEI5-MgPSERk5HMYA6UwpRTYM5B61qdWBnDqtFFC6P_24me3H3hkTCKweN8ghZVEphedyI813fEJ6HS28J6qXJ/s1600/sierra+n+sky+AT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBjCbvFFvTfwFxUDPh44XC3W3G2WCmJ0kcTorkHaehudl-rcLhSsskEzEI5-MgPSERk5HMYA6UwpRTYM5B61qdWBnDqtFFC6P_24me3H3hkTCKweN8ghZVEphedyI813fEJ6HS28J6qXJ/s200/sierra+n+sky+AT.jpg" width="183" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 118%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;">"A note from our Dad:"</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;">Dear Life Support Team of Sierra and Sky,</span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Life lesson in Spiritual parenting 101:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;">Do not challenge your children to follow God’s call in their life, regardless the cost of the assignment, if YOU, as a parent, are not willing to prayerfully obey God’s call in your children’s life when He leads them.”</span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For almost 30 years of youth ministry now, I have challenged students to fall in love with Jesus, learn how to understand and obey God’s Word and to discover God’s ministry in your life and obey the Holy Spirit’s prompting in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have deeply meant this every time God has led me to challenge students in this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen, literally, hundreds of students respond to this challenge and discover God’s wonderful plan for their life in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, I have seen students tested, challenged, blessed and I have seen the multiplying of this challenge explode in others that they eventually lead as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>calling like this that Sierra and Sky have responded to, “Go to Kenya, Africa for a month, live and serve with missionary friends there,” finally, I have to REALLY believe all the teachings I have reflected over these years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are going without me or their mother there to watch over them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they will be staying in the home of our trusted friends, missionaries Chris & Lisa Moore (real4Christ Ministries), they will not have a “chaperone” from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sky has long sensed that God may be calling her to vocational missions, and she reflects that this will be a perfect life moment for her in this process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a few days ago, when Sierra and I were looking at flight cost, and I was expressing concern, my daughter quoted her father, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;">“say yes to God’s call, and He will provide the resources!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;">I was almost moved to tears as I shook my head in the presence of such faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These girls believe these words without any hesitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am in awe when I witness faith like this.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Sierra & Sky’s Youth/Missions Pastor, I am not officially endorsing this trip, as we are not sending the usual compliment of chaperone supervision and overall church support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This type of trip is a stretch on conservative planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as the earthly father of two children of THE Father, I could not support this kind of faith any more strongly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you will pray for them, AND me in this God assignment too… and give God the glory whatever the result.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A humbled dad,</span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></div>
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<i>Kent</i></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="http://d79eaeaa22b1aa699f79-6a37c94d7725517e2b234a1c50fa4cf2.r90.cf2.rackcdn.com/uploaded/k/0e33457_kenya-2013-mission-trip-info-sierra-and-sky-go.pdf" target="_blank">Sierra & Sky Mission Trip Information</a> </span></div>
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Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-25726014444315107992013-04-01T22:33:00.001-07:002013-04-01T22:33:30.398-07:00Does the Great Commission apply to every believer? Missions is evangelism, here, there and to the corners of the earth. On earth, the goal is not converts, but making disciple makers. I don't think that we are disciples or becoming a disciple if we do not have as our goal to also BE a disciple maker. But does this apply to every believer?<br />
The population in the U.S. represents only 5% of the world population, and 95% of U.S. believers go to minister with 5% of the world's population, while 5% of believers go to minister to 95% of the world's population, a population that mostly does not know Christ. In addition, less than 5% of Church resources are sent to support missions to this same 95% lost world, anything more would be of too great a sacrifice.<br />
The Church must not consider Missions simply as supporting workers overseas or going to another country, Missions must become a missional attitude of using every believer, by every means, to reach every person, everywhere! Inside the church walls, the neighbors in the shadow of the steeple, the city, state, nation and the world are ALL equally our assignment. Missions is not something we do, but must be something we are! Not what every believer supports, but what every believer is. The Church must transform their thinking to the fact that they exist for the people who are NOT attending their church! We must become a church for every people and a gospel for every person. Setting up bases of operation around the world, so the message of Christ hope and grace can impact every culture.<br />
Missions research estimates that six million new churches are currently needed in and around over two billion non-Christians to effectively reach the nations. That would mean that 600,000 new missions volunteers sent forth by the Holy Spirit from existing churches on every continent are needed.<br />
The only way to sustain the level of outreach required to finish the task Christ left for us, is that <i>every </i>Christian must embrace the vision Jesus set for <i>all </i>of His followers. Expecting the primarily secular U.S. culture to awaken to this need is no small feat. Therefore, providing solid opportunities for every believer, young and old to live out their faith, becoming compassionate servants who respect the value and worth of every individual must be the emphasis. We must reorder our values and priorities.<br />
The challenge is not new, but Matthew 28:19-20 could be stated... <i>"Believers of Christ, in addition to living your life every day as a disciple and a witness for Jesus Christ, every teenager should participate in an annual mission trip, at least before they finish High School, every college student should participate in a 30 day to year long cross-cultural mission assignment before finishing College; and every Adult should participate in an extended mission trip at least every five years, for life."</i> If adopted, this would infuse millions of new volunteer missionaries into the task Jesus left for the Church to accomplish.<br />
Envision it becoming normal in our churches that almost every student serve full-time in domestic or international missions for a summer, semester, or year around age eighteen or nineteen. Interestingly, society is increasingly using the term "gap year" to refer to a student who takes time from university studies for an extended trip or some immersive experience. Envision parents opening savings accounts at birth that eventually will fund "gap year" mission trips. Churches budgeting for this as a priority part of their great commission assignment. Imagine a major group of believers who receive a call by God to earn their living by secular means, but for the goal to fund this strategy of missions all of their lives. Envision a day when most all the adults in the church have, as part of their heritage, a season when they joined Christ on the front lines of kingdom advancement. Would it change the spiritual climate of my church if almost every adult who taught the Bible, made church decisions, parent teenagers, leaders... all had spent a "gap year" completely immersed in the Great commission ministry of Christ? All continued to pursue this GO assignment, as though it came from God Himself? Hmm....<br />
Believers who deeply fall in love with Jesus, quickly turn their attention to those who do not know Him. We believe, we pray, we grow, we give, we send, and we GO. Exempt from any of these I am not. Are you?Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-27895393246720858812013-01-02T20:02:00.000-08:002013-01-02T20:02:53.156-08:00Can you hear me now?<b>The Basic Minutes Plan</b><br />Our Church enters a two week Summit Revival from January 6-20. Revival can not happen in our hearts if we are not in tune to God. This blog is designed for you to evaluate some basic principles to open/improve that line of communication between you and God.<br />Any communication has basic principles that make communication work. The main one is to communicate… <i>talk</i>! This is true with our relationship with God too. There are basic communication disciplines that God has given us to keep the signal strong. The “<i><b>Basic Spiritual Disciplines</b></i>” are routines that will train our hearts to stay close or get closer to God. Take some time to evaluate how strong your signal is in these areas (a brief definition follows each discipline for consideration):<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Bible Study</b>—is a close examination of the Bible under the leading of the Holy Spirit. It may focus on a book or a section of Scripture, a biblical person, or a specific theme or word found in Scripture.</li>
<li><b>Fasting</b>—in the Bible means choosing to do without food for a time in order to focus more on God. However, this discipline can be applied to many areas of life. Giving something up in order to listen more carefully to God.</li>
<li><b>Fellowship</b>—is more than choosing to go to church with your friends. It is choosing to share your life with other believers. Loving, forgiving, confronting sin and meeting needs.</li>
<li><b>Journaling</b>—Tracking your daily spiritual journey. Could include recording prayers, words you hear from God, prayer request from others, insights from scripture, poetry, drawings, quotations and written reflections.</li>
<li><b>Meditation</b>—involves focusing your mind totally on God. Choosing a passage of Scripture to contemplate and seeking to totally understand what God is telling you through it.</li>
<li><b>Prayer</b>—Quickly raising every issue of your life to God as they occur. It also involves extended times of prayer, sometimes called “praying through” something. A decision not to leave God until you are sure that you have sensed his leadership in the issue.</li>
<li><b>Quiet Time</b>—This is time that you consistently set aside each day, usually in the morning, to be alone with God. It involves prayer, Bible reading, but can also include any of the other disciplines as well.</li>
<li><b>Scripture Memory</b>—involves consistently committing God’s Word to memory so that it is available to you for worship or spiritual warfare.</li>
<li><b>Silence</b>—The discipline of closing out all distractions for a time. Turning all the noise off for a period to be still and listen for God’s voice.</li>
<li><b>Solitude</b>—Choose to be alone. Most people spend time alone from time to time, but this discipline is choosing time alone. Time that belongs to you and God only.</li>
<li><b>Witnessing</b>—Telling others what you have discovered about God. A conscience choice that every time God provides the opportunity, you will speak for Him.</li>
<li><b>Worship</b>—More than singing. Pouring out your love, from your heart, for God’s pleasure alone.</li>
</ul>
<b>The Extended Coverage Plan</b><br />Are you ready to engage with God? There are five more spiritual disciplines that are called “<i><b>disciplines of readiness</b></i>.” These are necessary to be used by God in great ways. These will put you in the “<i>5 bar signal</i>” range.<ul>
<li><b>Contemplation</b>—Is the discipline of setting aside quiet time to reflect on your walk with Christ and His love for you. This may include coming face to face with areas of sin in your life.</li>
<li><b>Contentment</b>—Is an internal decision to be at peace and satisfied regardless of outer circumstances. A daily decision not to believe the message that says “more things will make me happy.”</li>
<li><b>Purity</b>—Certainly includes not having sex until you are married, but it is much more than that. It is living a life that is not mixed with any of the things of the world… inappropriate relationships, music, movies, books, etc.</li>
<li><b>Reconciliation</b>—The discipline of living in right relationship with other people. Whenever you realize that you have a broken relationship, you do everything you can to fix it. It does not matter how the relationship was broken, whose fault or whether the other person is sorry.</li>
<li><b>Simplicity</b>—Clearing the complications from your life. Focusing on loving God and loving people. Living in a way that brings honor to God. Remain ready to respond when He calls.</li>
</ul>
<b>Check your Signal</b><br />
What spiritual discipline above can you work on that will best improve your signal between you and God? Often, in relationships, we get frustrated that we can not get our relationship where we want it to be so we give up. Try this approach instead.<br />
<ul>
<li>Pick a discipline above. Now, ask yourself where it is on a scale between 1-10 (1 is not at all, and 10 would be part of your every day lifestyle). Now, if you said 5 or 6, talk about what you would need to do to get it to a 6 or 7. Just one step of improvement will improve your relationship with God and others. Talk to your family or friends about this, and help each other improve your signal with God. He wants to connect with you in wonderful ways.</li>
</ul>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJk2xMI-CJKxDnZwM8ghShUWXgvlf9X58OE4HogXuZkKyBO8nK6i88oNbA_DeHeUWcp4RxV7H2jz_BHvCuHVGw0ZreEPfzK5HYmTZ3uBbGePTGLywMZQMMpN91Hfamc1er4kXpv-aFcZF/s1600/Karen+snorkel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJk2xMI-CJKxDnZwM8ghShUWXgvlf9X58OE4HogXuZkKyBO8nK6i88oNbA_DeHeUWcp4RxV7H2jz_BHvCuHVGw0ZreEPfzK5HYmTZ3uBbGePTGLywMZQMMpN91Hfamc1er4kXpv-aFcZF/s320/Karen+snorkel.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A few weeks ago, Karen and I had a snorkeling adventure like no other. We went snorkeling right off the beaches in St. Marten, St. Thomas USVI and Nassau, Bahamas. At one point, at Couki Beach, I was snorkeling right over scuba divers below me. For a long time, I followed them, straining to see what they were discovering about 25 feet below me. To go snorkeling, all you need is a mask, a snorkel, fins and some clear water with a view. To go deeper, there is more training and equipment... Karen and I are completely content to snorkel. There’s no big commitment, just us tooling around with our flippers looking at the colorful fish hoping our backs don’t get sunburned, which I am still pealing from... But, what if there is something even more beautiful that lies deeper and farther than we can see from the top? What if there is an entire world under the ocean, the vastness of which we cannot comprehend? What if we’re missing something so much more amazing because we are snorkeling on the surface?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If we had diving gear, we would not be restricted to the length of our snorkel. We would instead be able to dive down into the deep, swim with awe inspiring ocean life and experience the view of magnificent coral reefs and countless treasures of the sea that would probably take our breath away... But I would not know. As a snorkeler, I have seen incredible views, but by staying on the surface, I can only assume that there is more. But for those who have donned a wet suit and tank and caught a glimpse of what lies much farther beneath, they are driven to return, time and time again. I have been told that once you get a taste for what the experience of diving can be, nothing less will cut it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> I had a thought... What if we looked at worship in a similar way? For over 30 years I have helped develop Youth Group Worship Bands and been part of Church Worship Teams. If you think about it, the act of leading worship songs is kind of easy, in the same sense that snorkeling is easy. Anyone can learn how to do it. All you need is to play an instrument and/or carry a tune. While it is a beautiful experience, it really does not take a great deal of effort for one who is gifted. Leading worship songs and being a lead worshiper are not the same, however. Being a lead worshiper is a calling from God that comes with the anointing to do what He has called you to. There is a weightiness that comes with it. It carries a responsibility. This mantle of Lead Worshiper demands to be stewarded well. What if, like those who invest in training so they can go diving, Lead Worshipers invested some time and energy into obtaining some formal training in worship leadership? What if we found a mature, godly worship leader or pastor to mentor us? What if, like the diver who carefully inspects his gear before jumping off the boat, lead worshipers took the job seriously and were intentional about every aspect of choosing songs, building a set, rehearsing the band, leading, discipling those in the band? More important, if no one showed up for a worship service, would we worship none the less? With the same passion and desire for pleasing God with our song? Or would we just be satisfied with getting the tune just right.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lead Worshipers have the privilege of creating an atmosphere where people can engage personally and corporately with the God of the Universe. If we approach it lightly, as if with only a snorkel, we will stay at the surface level of simply leading worship songs. We will miss so much more of what God intended for worship between the Creator and the created one to be. If we truly understood that, we might just find ourselves discovering a rich, vast, awe inspiring wonder that we have never known before. And when we do, we will never be the same. Snorkeling and Worship, I like them both very much... </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> What is down deep? God created a world of people that want to go there. We can not lead any further than we go ourselves. Going deep will require that "I" go deep and do what it takes to enjoy what God has placed there to enjoy. Then I will not be satisfied until I have brought others to the experience of only pleasing God with my Worship.</span></div>Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-74679934731255924052012-03-20T08:29:00.000-07:002012-03-20T08:29:11.355-07:00RE-Post: ReInventing Youth MinistryAlvin Reid wrote a blog recently that one of my Youth Leaders ran across and shared with me. A reminder of our focus: 1. God, 2. the gospel, 3. the goal: disciples and 4. the gathering: connect youth to the church. Our ARBC Student ministry goal: 1. Fall in Love with Jesus (KNOW), 2. Learn how to handle God's Word (OWN), and 3. Discover/have a ministry (KNOWN). Thanks for the reminder, Alvin.<br />
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<b>Reinventing Student Ministry</b> (by Alvin Reid)<br />
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Last fall I had participated in the ReInventing Youth Ministry Conference at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The conference focused on what has become apparent to many who work with students: student ministry in the Western Church needs an intervention that leads to a reinvention.<br />
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Something remarkable happened at the conference. One of the founders of the largest student ministry organizations in my lifetime, Wayne Rice of Youth Specialties, made a confession: “We got what we wanted. We turned youth ministry into the toy department of the church. Churches now hire professionals to lead youth ministry. We got relevance but we created a generation of teenagers who are a mile wide and are an inch deep.”<br />
Why do so many students finish high school and drop out (actually many drop out when they get their drivers license)? Because we created a youth ministry culture that taught them to do so. We have not equipped students to be adults, who understand the gospel and live as missionaries. We created a “cool” subculture where they could be treated like the center of the universe and given a bunch of stuff, but not enough Jesus, Scripture, or character.<br />
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To his credit, Wayne Rice then argued for three changes:<br />
1. Turn student ministry back over to the church. Youth pastors should be seeking to work themselves out of a job as they help youth become incorporated into the life of the church.<br />
2. We can no longer ignore the role of the parents.<br />
3. We can offer them nothing better than the gospel<br />
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I agree with Wayne Rice. We need a new paradigm. I want to offer my thoughts on what that paradigm should emphasize:<br />
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First, God. We need a new vision of God, His vastness, His power, His love and justice. If your students have a lot better grasp on who you are as the student pastor than who God is as the mighty creator of the universe who sustains the world by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:4), you have a problem. We need student pastors, national and parachurch leaders who are better at theology than at new ideas. Wayne noted that the founders of Young Life said it is a sin to make Christianity boring. Agreed. And it is a greater sin to make Christianity silly, which is what has happened. We must exalt a great God and give focus to His Word.<br />
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Second, the gospel. We have taken the good news of the gospel and taken it off the headlines of our ministries where it should be and put it in the advice column part of our youth groups. We pull the gospel out to give advice rather than showing students how Jesus is the hero of all of Scripture, all of life, all the parts of their lives, and how the gospel makes sense of everything. Let me remind you that in newspapers, advice columns are next to the cartoons. And that is what we do with the gospel, putting it next to an ipod giveaway instead of showcasing it always as the main event, the one thing that is constantly newsworthy in your ministry. We need a radical, Christocentric transformation, understanding the gospel is for salvation AND sanctification, for saved and unsaved alike. This Jesus cares for the broken and rebukes the self-righteous: He is the children-loving, disciple-calling, leper-healing, Pharisee-rebuking, humble child born and ultimately the reigning Lord Jesus.<br />
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Third, the goal. I believe the goal of student ministry is to develop disciples who see the world as missionaries and live as missionaries. The goal is not to have a great event and have a lot of buzz. This means we do less student ministry that is based on the lowest common denominator. It means you score success in long-term disciples. It means to help students to grow and to develop their own plan for gospel impact now. If you help individual students to develop a plan for gospel advance in the context of your local church you, will in fact help them to hear from God and be confident in their planning and thus to be better prepared about college, career, and all of life.<br />
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Fourth, the gathering. Connect to the whole church, across generations. The generation of teens today is not only the largest, it is also the most fatherless. We must connect students to the larger church and not function as a parachurch ministry within a church building. Students need older believers in their lives. We need a Titus 2 revolution where older men teach younger guys and older women teach younger ladies.<br />
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Over the past generation culture has reinvented the teenager into a formidable marketing segment of our population. Perhaps student ministry can help to shape them into something much more significantPastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-68991563458692683562012-01-31T08:24:00.000-08:002012-01-31T08:25:40.612-08:00Growth really is optional....<i>“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in Him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.</i>” - John 15:5 <br />
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There are multiple languages in our culture today. Music, business, agriculture and athletics are all languages that many in our society speak fluently. Reaching people in any language that we speak should be our goal as Christians. Building bridges of love to connect people with God and others is really what our life should be about.<br />
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For about 30 years I have coached kids, teenagers and adults in multiple areas from basketball to football and most things in between. This is an opportunity to connect with people in an incredible way. The Bible is filled with the athletic model for life. The clearest observation of knowledgeable coaches however, is their frustration with those they instruct. This holds true with our Christ-walk.<br />
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We all have to age and mature physically, but growth and spiritual maturity are optional. We can listen to accomplished coaches explain their winning offensive philosophies, but if we don't try to implement changes in our own lives we will get the same results we have always had. Similarly this is true spiritually. We can go to church, read our Bibles, do our devotions, even an occasional mission project, but if we don't apply what we learn to our own life, does it do us any good?<br />
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UN-fruitfulness should not be an option for us as Christians. As a coach/pastor, I owe it to my "team" to commit myself to continual improvement and growth. Athletes/Christians whom I influence have the same responsibility as well. It is time to make a decision to grow and thrive in Him.<br />
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<i>"God, fill them with all hope, joy and peace that they may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit..."</i> Romans 15:13Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-13498528522871621832011-06-26T21:55:00.000-07:002012-01-31T07:54:14.884-08:00Let it Rain.This afternoon, I was running on the beach. It wasn’t a particularly pretty day, the sand was very soft and difficult to run in. Then, it started to rain. I realized that I was the only one out there running in the weather. I could only think about how difficult this was and how much longer I had to go, and how I could just turn back and cut the run short…. Then I felt God teaching me something.<br />
It is raining on a number of areas of my life right now. I just returned from a week of Youth Camp with some incredible students… but I still feel like we are just not there yet... The deep passion, excitement and joy of following Christ just is not there… like running in the rain.<br />
But can I praise Him when it rains? Does my attitude about the weather have an effect on my performance and enthusiasm…. I realized that sometimes the rainy days often take the wind out of my sails.<br />
The message came through so clearly that it was as if someone standing next to me had spoken it: "If you find joy while you run in the rain, you'll be ready when it rains on race day." While I do not run races, I have been praying hard for an awakening among our teen culture today.<br />
If the weather is beautiful, God is good. If it's terrible, God is still good. And the same thing rings true in every area of life. When everything is going great we should praise Him with everything we have. When everything feels like it's raining, we can rest in the knowledge that God is still good and deserves just as much praise!<br />
When I finished my run, with a time that was a bit slower than usual, I put on my fins, snorkel and mask and went for a 30 minute swim in the rain. You know, I did not even notice the rain as I swam. When I came out from my swim, the rain had stopped and I felt refreshed. Press on in the rain, leave the growth in the hearts of others up to the Lord…. A refreshing realization. I look forward to the next opportunity to run or swim in the rain.<br />
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” - Romans 8:18Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-73877820274919156372010-12-22T09:35:00.000-08:002011-01-05T13:31:14.937-08:00a sign for Christmas: Swaddling ClothesInteresting insight from my devotion that I read today. “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)<br />
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The word “swaddling” has fallen into the dustbin of unused terms. It is still a viable term concerning the care of infants. While some translations simply use the word “clothes” or “cloths,” others misuse the word “rags” for that in which the newborn Savior was wrapped. The Holy Spirit specifically selected the term “swaddling” – it is used only twice in the New Testament (sparganoo, Luke 2.7, 12), because of it's use among shepherds.<br />
This was the common practice of the day – to wrap a newborn snuggly. To swaddle a baby was to wrap it so that it felt the security of the material and to protect it from the elements. I remember with my own children when they were born, Karen and I would wrap our young babies tightly like this as it was recommended by so many medical practitioners for protection against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).<br />
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Did Mary know all of this then? Was she aware of how she was protecting the baby Jesus when she swaddled Him? Maybe. Maybe not. But there is much more to the story. This was to be a “sign” for the shepherds. If this was a common practice, then why would it be considered a “sign” for Mary to do something that everyone else was doing?<br />
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The answer lies in God’s providential care and sovereignty.<br />
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According to Jimmy DeYoung (biblical and Jewish scholar), these were no ordinary shepherds. They were priest/shepherds. They were selected at a very young age for this particular task – watching over the Temple flock. They were most probably not the young boys depicted in most Christmas plays, but were men in the early years of the priesthood – somewhere in their early thirties. For most of their lives they had studied the Scriptures and had been trained to care for these sacrificial animals.<br />
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From atop a two-story stone watchtower, shepherds would watch over the flock – making certain that there was no threat to the flock. On the ground, other shepherds would remain with the sheep insuring their safety.<br />
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When a ewe was ready to give birth, the shepherds would take the mother into the first floor of the watchtower, reach into the mother’s womb, and deliver the lamb. The lamb would then be wrapped in swaddling clothes to protect it from any harm and lay it in a manger lined with soft hay. (Remember the lamb for sacrifice must be without blemish. A bruised or broken bone would disqualify it.) Once the lamb had settled down from the birthing process, the shepherd would remove the swathing materials and deliver the lamb to its mother. The lamb would receive special care from the shepherd/priests because this lamb would be sacrificed for the sins of the people.<br />
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The shepherd/priests had trained all of their lives for this very moment.; To the common passerby, seeing a baby in a manger meant very little; however, to the shepherd/priest it was a sign of the coming Messiah. They were keenly aware that the Messiah would one day free the people from their sins.<br />
A baby, announced by the heavenly choir, lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes was more than they could handle – they “came with haste.” They immediately recognized the sign – this baby was the One born to die for the sins of the world.<br />
All the signs are still here. Christmas is a time to remember the birth of the Christ-child, Jesus the Messiah. We all should come with haste and bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords. We all should recognize the wisdom and power expressed by our heavenly Father as He presented His Son as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.<br />
In the middle of all the "signs," traditions and symbols of Christmas today, let us not forget that this was the Lamb of God, who at birth was determined to go to the cross for our sins. Our youth did a drama Sunday that was a beautiful display of this truth. I will post a video it here soon.<br />
Look for the signs that God is placing before you today that will remind you of what He has done for YOU through the birth of His Son, Jesus.Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-1099492758012081252010-05-11T11:19:00.000-07:002010-05-11T11:19:32.141-07:00The Heart of Delay.Something that I have learned so much about the heart of God is that, from my perspective, He often operates from a posture of delay. Well, it seems that way at least. We live in a culture of drive through, instant, microwave society that expects God to be more spontaneous and immediate in His actions.<br />
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So many examples of scripture reveal that God is about building depth of character by delay. When Moses led the people out of Egypt, it did not take long for the people to become restless with the slowness of blessings, so they took things into their own hands, making an instant idol to lead them. Result? More delay. Forty more years of delay. However, forty years later, when Joshua received his battle plan to take the city of Jericho, delay was the plan (Joshua 6:1-5). March around the city six days, on the seventh day add the blowing of horns, and a shout. Did Joshua look for short cuts? No, he was faithful, trusting the delay of his commander and chief, the Lord.<br />
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There is so much wisdom found when one learns the heart of delay.... patience. It could appear in so many different ways. A delayed appointment, a delayed health treatment, a delayed assignment, a delayed response, blessing, etc. God is always on time and never late. But the best approach is to expect d<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">elay</span> according to your schedule and calendar... but the blessing will be oh so sweet when He decides you are ready to receive... trust, patience, faith. A wonderful delay. (Proverbs 3:5-6; P<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">salm</span> 119:73; Joshua 24:14-15)Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-9133064266854745912010-03-29T15:21:00.000-07:002010-03-29T16:12:02.661-07:00Stretching Me.Last week I spent a day Mountain Biking around Fontana Lake, in Swain County, NC, right next to the Smoky Mountains. I was spending some time alone with the Lord, there was no one else on the trail the whole day. It was just me and God. I remember at one time during my trip, I had planned to just sit and listen to God when the time was right. Well, that time came at just the right moment. I was on top of a great hill, having climbed it for hours on my bike, and wow... what a view. God began talking to me right away. His creation and beauty were speaking in such a loud voice I could not help but sit and listen.<br /><br />My muscles were speaking loudly as well, and grateful for the break. I began to think and pray about the many assignments that were in my hands and I wanted to listen to what God had to say about them. While my assignments have been many these past months, I was kinda thinking that I was capable of something a bit more, something a little more challenging, and kinda expecting God to begin to lay some things out before me to start working on.<br /><br />Well, I should have seen it coming. As my muscles were still doing some talkin', I began to sense that God was letting me in on something even bigger than any assignment He might have for me. He has been at work on me. If God based my assignments on my walk with Him, and I wanted something more than I had in hand, I realized that he needed to work on my faith and character even more. One thing I realized is that there is really no one particular way God helps me grow, but one thing I did realize, as the sweat dripped off my cheeks, there will be growing pains.<br /><br />The times that Christians mature the most in their life is when things are up hill, facing hardship or crisis. Inevitably people say it's through their suffering that they grow the most spiritually. If that is true, what should I expect when I ask God to increase my faith and to make me more like Christ? Yet, here is the typical pattern: 1. we pray and ask God to make us more like Christ. 2. God allows stretching circumstances into our lives so we can grow. 3. We call our church prayer ministry and frantically enlist everyone to pray that the latest difficulty in our life be immediately removed! I believe that many of the items found on our church prayer lists are actually circumstances God allowed in order to mature His people.<br /><br />The reality, we must decide whether we want comfort or Christ-likeness. We often can not have both. I have come to enjoy (somewhat) the trying times. God let's me see that He is still working on me. At first, the hill is difficult and quitting is a lingering thought. But as I approach the summit, the more enthusiasm I experience and the view... the view is just something else. That, is really an incredible thought. God still considers me worthy of a deeper, more mature growth experience, and the end result is breath taking... sometimes literally.<br /><br />So the call remains in my heart. I am NOT satisfied with my present state of service to God. And I am open to the necessary growth, even when it is painful. Stretch me more, and Lord, I am thankful that you have given me just enough strength to endure the hill that awaits ahead, for it is only through the pain of that climb will I have the growth experience that will in turn equip me for the greater assignment.<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-55341256295038760702010-02-10T22:52:00.000-08:002010-02-14T13:26:39.119-08:00Clarity of Call.I have had a few opportunities that have recently come my way that gave me reason to go deep for clarification on what God has called me to.<br /><blockquote> <span style="font-style: italic;">In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: [2] Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. [3] For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. [5] But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. </span>2 Tim. 4:1-5 <span style="font-style: italic;"></span></blockquote><br />I have my call from God; that is it, from 2 Timothy 4:1-5 above. God's call on my life is an inescapable commission, and as Paul said, '<span style="font-style: italic;">Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.'</span> I love the fact that God continues to give me reason to experience the clarity of this call in fresh ways again and again.... it never gets stale or old.<br /><br />So, what exactly should people expect from me as a minister? I want to be fair and honest when I say, I intend to love God with all my heart, and to love all people, no matter what. I intend to shepherd and feed His people for as long as I am able and God's people will allow me to serve them in this way. I will not discredit, compromise, or turn my back on what I believe the Word of God teaches, and that means that there may be times some may feel my shepherd's crook, not to judge or malign, but to help move people in the right direction, to protect, and to heal. I intend to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, for that is my calling. I have a strong burden to fulfill the duties of this ministry that has been charged to me by the Holy Spirit. I can not turn my back on this call or deny it. Until the Lord tells me otherwise, I intend to remain focused on this call.<br /><br />I have great opportunity to go deep, and it has given me great passion for even greater depth in His Word and Spirit. The joy, peace, patience and provision has been more evident in my life than ever before. I will remain faithful to the depth of such a call... in season or out of season.<br /><br />I enjoy clarifying the call that God has placed on my life from time to time. I am thankful for the moments that come my way that cause me to deeply reflect and certify a fresh this call. Thank you Lord for clearly reminding me again and again of this assignment.<br /><br />What is your call? Is it clear today? It can be. Go deep!<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-15812090557214481382010-02-05T08:43:00.000-08:002010-02-05T10:31:35.885-08:00A Sapling in God's Hands<em>He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water</em>. —Psalm 1:3<br /><br />Last night I watched (via computer live feed) Adrian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Despres</span>, (a disciple who I first met over 27 years ago as a freshman recruit who joined our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Furman</span> football team) speak to a packed crowd at Clemson's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">FCA</span> where 100's came to Christ, many dismissed sin in their life that was weighing them down while others were encouraged to build solid foundations on every act of a normal day. I was encouraged in so many ways. Not only was I encouraged to continue using the bricks of a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">strong</span> foundation in my life, but also that so long ago, after his freshman <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">roommate</span> led him to Christ, I had a part in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">discipling</span> him, laying those first foundational bricks, in those early days as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Furman's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">FCA</span> president and Senior Football player/mentor for Adrian and others.<br /><br />Helping to plant in someones life a direction of faith in Christ appears to be so insignificant when I see a young <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">sapling</span> begin to grow by God's hand. I don't know, and most of the time never know, if someone ever will grow into that strong towering tree that brings honor to Christ.<br /><br />So it is with all my spiritual endeavors: I may have planted, watered, and fussed over my “saplings” (those I've mentored/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">discipled</span>) for a time, but only God can make a “tree.”<br />Occasionally, I hear from those I ministered to years ago, and discover to my delight that they have grown to maturity and have been greatly used of God—with no help from me. It’s a gentle reminder that I plant and water for a while, and help others “grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Eph</span>. 4:15). But only God “gives the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6-7).<br /><br />German theologian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Helmut</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Thielicke</span> writes, “<em>The man who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">doesn</span>’t know how to let go, and does not have confident joy in Him who carries out His purposes without us (or also through us or in spite of us), . . . that man will become nothing but a miserable creature in his old age.”</em><br /><br />I still may yet tend a sapling or two, but mostly I will let go and watch them grow. I have been in Ministry for over 25 years and seen more people than I can remember who God has planted in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">their</span> heart a love for Him and a life devoted to service. I think too that God is still at work in my heart as well. Many have watered, fertilized and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">encouraged</span> my growth over the years and I still have so much farther to go.<br /><br />A number of months ago I began ministering as a speaker, mentor, consultant to people and churches. This assignment, has been a time where I am growing too. I saw this as a time of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">transitioning</span> into another forest where I can continue to serve Him by planting more. However, the planting opportunities have multiplied in this season. I substitute teach in a different school class room just about every day, I help coach two middle school basketball teams, I work at a local Ski Resort on weekend and some weekday nights, I officiate school and recreation basketball games, counsel folks in marriage, speak and consult chuches in many ways.... Time with my children and wife have been incredibly precious. I have been more busy planting in different ways than ever before.<br /><br />It is so incredible that while I have been planting, feeding, watering and fertilizing others, God is tending to my sometimes limp and broken branches as well with total attention. My roots are being strengthened as my faith in Him continues to grow.<br /><br />My Prayer: Thank you Lord for gardening in my life. I want to continue to be used by You in others’ lives. Teach me from Your Word so that I can help others follow You too. And enable me to let go and trust You to work in them. In the mean time, teach me and enable me to walk <em>with</em> You and not be satisfied with simply <em>following </em>You. Amen.<br /><br /><em>Those who follow Christ leave a path for others to follow, but why not encourage others to walk WITH you along the path as you too walk WITH Christ.</em>Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496771315043128923.post-85536372209125950732009-09-08T16:35:00.000-07:002009-09-08T19:12:03.727-07:00Want to have Surgery?A number of weeks ago, my orthopedic surgeon asked me a question.... "<span style="font-style: italic;">You want to have surgery?</span>" Well, my response was, 'certainly not...' I did not 'want' to have surgery. Then he clarified that he determined my shoulder injury, after six months of therapeutic, non-surgical treatments, would not improve past the 80% healing point that I seemed to be stuck in... He explained that there was just the tip of a bone that continued to irritate the injured area (called an impingement), and needed to be shaved down, so the injury could fully heal. He explained it with pictures and drawings that a simple guy like me could understand, and I agreed to the procedure and the time was set.<br /><br /> When I awoke from what was supposed to be a simple hour long procedure, I noticed that the Surgical recovery area was empty except me, and that somehow I had been in surgery for five hours.... The Surgeon had left for the day, having explained to my wife that he discovered the real problem, a hole/tear in my rotator cuff, that needed to be repaired, and that I was to meet back with him in a few days at his clinic.<br /><br /> Karen, my wife, explained it to me, the best she could, but this had not been part of the long explanation that I had been through before I agreed to surgery. The MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging... kinda like an x-ray of tissue) had not revealed any injury like this that was mentioned to me... I was a bit more at a loss.<br /><br /> Three days passed painfully slow, at the meeting with my surgeon, he clearly explained to me what he discovered when he went into my shoulder with his orthoscopic camera. I asked, why the MRI did not pick this up months before? He explained that an MRI is like looking out a window with Vaseline smeared all over it... is that a truck in the parking lot?... I think so, it is blue, but what kind of condition is it in..... ? ...Well I thought that an MRI was a lot more clearer than that, and that surgeons were more certain of what they could see before going into a surgical procedure.<br /> <br /> I look at the five small incisions in my shoulder now in the mirror as they heal and I am moved at how such a discovery can be found, and repaired through that small space... In addition, I have recently become a new student of the structure and make up of the human shoulder like never before. God has created such an incredible number of cooperating levels of tissue and mechnisums that makes up the shoulder that just blows my mind. And that with the technology we have today, there is no clear way to really know what may be wrong without actually allowing the surgeon to go in and look for him self.<br /><br /> Kinda like surgery, I am most grateful that God is at work in me, even when I'm not sure what the procedure is or why it needs to be done, I know that when the pain resides and my strength returns I will still be in love with Him and trusting Him in all things, all the more. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13, <span style="font-style: italic;">"NOW we see but a poor reflection; THEN we shall see 'clearly' face to face.."</span> The question I ask now when the Surgeon (my Lord) says, "Want to have Surgery?" The fact that He wants to help me, He loves me and knows what needs to be done humbles me greatly. I hope that my desire for any surgical procedure He wants to do, however painful or if I don't even understand it, my answer will be a trusting "Yes!" I look forward to these faith growing procedures more each day.<br /><br /> "Want to have surgery?" God.<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Pastor Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06961098540038394019noreply@blogger.com0