Good times

We get so busy. Spring/summer is an amazing time. The weather becomes tolerable so we can sit/stand out on the deck and just talk and dream. I don't know what it is about our deck, but it is good for that stuff.

Last night Jared, Sean and I stood out on the deck, smoking cigars and dreamtalking. This kind of time helps put life and ministry in perspective. Sean stated at one point how he had missed these times, we agreed. It was a good time, and with the season just coming in, I look forward to more of them. Where is Steph and that 30 year old port I have been hearing about?

God is good.

peace,

K

Thank God

I am encouraged. As I sit here and contemplate our ministry and evaluate On Rock and The OD, I am blessed. In the last year, God has doubled our ministry. Today we are involved in food bank work, street ministry down town, soup kitchen work and we have a night for 16-21 year olds.... Who knows what is next. We have also partnered with another food bank that uses our facilities on Mondays to make 50+ food baskets a week.

I am thrilled that God chooses to use us. He is good.

peace,

K

Kingdom Building vs kingdom building

I had a great weekend. The retreat went really well. The crowd was small, about 40, but is was a good atmosphere to explore christian spirituality. I think people were challenged.

Kikki, Kayla and I had fun as well. We had an ice cream fest at midnight on Saturday night. Ben & Jerry for president....

I have been thinking alot these last few days about God's Kingdom. How He loves what He has created. He wants to redeem all of it. Do I have the same goal? Of Building God's Kingdom... or am I building my kingdom? The former requires selflessness, the latter is built on selfishness. Am I looking for respect, credit, glory, etc, for doing what God has called me to do, or am I satisfied with the pleasure that my obedience gives my Father?

This is tough, because the heart is desperately wicked. Many times, I am sure that I am doing something for the right reasons, and only later realize I was really doing it for selfish reasons.

In order to build God's Kingdom, I must decrease and He must increase. I am humbled by the way God moves in me and through me. I want to constantly be checking my heart, making sure that it is His Kingdom I am building.

Peace,

K

This Weekend

I am off this weekend to Frontier Lodge, for May Weekend Retreat. We are going to spend 3 days having fun and talking about Christian spirituality. Kirstyn and Kayla are coming along as well, which should be alot of fun.

Have a great LOOONNNGG weekend.

Peace to all,

K

What do you think?

A friend of mine, a young pastor who recently started a church, talks to me from time to time about the new face of Church in America "about the post-modern church. He says the new church will be different from the old one, that we will be relevant to culture and the human struggle. I don't think any church has ever been relevant to culture, to the human struggle, unless it believed in Jesus and the power of His gospel. If the supposed new church believes in trendy music and cool web pages, then it is not relevant to culture either. It is just another tool of Satan to get people to be passionate about nothing."

Don Miller, Blue Like Jazz

Peace,

K

It's a Beautiful Day

I am spending the day on my deck, preparing for a retreat this week-end. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that summer is here. God is good.

I have officially been appointed Pastor of The Open Door by the FMC, as of May 17. This may not be big news to you, but for me it is a significant step in a long process.

My son has decided he wants to be a drummer. This is like balm to my soul. I would have preferred he wanted to be a musician, but drummer is the next best thing,.....:) So, now all he talks about is playing drums, taking lessons, getting drums and drum sticks. He even air drums, I can't wait till he starts using the table and every other surface within reach.

All this to say life is good. The sun is good. God is good.

Makes me want to raise Wild Turkey.

Peace,

K

What is the proper response

Looking at the news, especially in the last week or so has been very depressing. I read about the Americans in Iraq and the beheading of an American and I don't know what to think. What is the proper response of a Christ follower? I find myself torn.

I think that the American invasion of Iraq may have been initiated for the wrong reasons, but that it was the right thing to do. Saddam was systematically killing his own people. I feel bad for Bush because he's damned if he moves and he's damned if he doesn't. I feel bad for the American soldiers who have been put in a situation that has become more political than it should be.

Decisions are no longer made on the basis of what needs to be done, but on how will it look. Sometimes, I think the best solution would be to turn off the cameras, boot the reporters out and do the job.

I feel bad for the Iraqi prisoners who are being abused because of the desperation American soldiers feel at being abandoned to do a job they weren't cut out for.

I just plain feel bad about this whole situation. I pray that God would have mercy on all parties. I know that God is grieved by the way His kids treat each other. We do crazy, unspeakable things when we are in crisis and not trusting God.

Peace,

K

Foul Language

Have you ever noticed that the majority of words we use to describe our relationship with God and the world are "war words", courtroom words or "accounting words".

We Get "saved". We "engage" people. We "battle" temptation. We "present" the gospel and its benefits, like we sell cars. God "tests" us. We go through "trials". We "surrender". We are "guilty". We are "condemned".

Now I am not saying these words in and of themselves are bad, but with them we create a picture of God that does not speak of a real relationship. It sounds like an adversarial relationship or at best a contractual one. Not the kind of relationship one has with a loving Father. not the kind of relationship I think God wants to have with us.

Here is a challenge, when talking about God, listen to your language and try to replace the words you would use on a battlefield, courtroom or business. Talk about God like he is someone you are in relationship with. With affection, warmth and humor.

What do you think?

peace,

K

and I quote....

I am reading Don Miller's Blue Like Jazz. This is a great book about Don's spiritual journey, It is very real and transparent. I am loving the book. I am also challenged by it. Today I was reading chapter 15 called Community Living with Freaks, here is a quote that challenges me, "If we are not willing to wake up in the morning and die to ourselves, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are really following Jesus".

I am not always willing to put others first, actually, it is often a struggle for me to put others first. I can't say I like this quote, but it does ring true, doesn't it? Now I have to figure out what I am going to do about it. Stupid book....

Peace,

K

Get The Picture?

Yesterday, Peter and Donna Jordan joined us for church at The OD. They shared with us and encouraged us. Donna created a great word picture of how the Bride of Christ treats the groom sometimes.

She said imagine you are the
groom" waiting at the front of a church for your bride to come down the isle. The bridesmaids come down and then the flower girl, and you wait with expectation for your bride. Then, she appears, dressed in grubby jeans and a t-shirt. she walks in, but does not have her eyes fixed on you, but rather is checking out all the other men in the church to see if she might be missing out on something better. Imagine how you would feel.

That is sometimes the way we treat Christ. Is He really our hearts desire? Do we have eyes, only for Him?

Heavy picture.

Peace,

K

Kingdom Building

What does it mean to be a Kingdom builder? Are we building and involved in God's Kingdom, or building our own little kingdoms?

I met with a friend yesterday who encouraged me greatly. He is a Kingdom Builder. His desire is to do whatever he can to grow God's work.

In a "Christian culture" where so many seem to be willing to do ministry if it is convenient, it is amazing to see someone who is willing to go "balls to the wall".

Building a Kingdom isn't a Lone Ranger job. It requires the body to work together. Everyone doing their part because without you doing your part, everyone else has to labor harder and sometimes the job doesn't get done.

We are too territorial, too individualistic. We need to develop God's love for the world and work together to make sure the Kingdom is being built, not just "our" little acre.

Peace,

K

About Last Night

Donna Jordan joined our core group meeting last night. She is an incredible lady in that she is a humble servant of God, who goes around the country encouraging people in their ministries and lives to listen to God, their Father.

She encouraged us in the work that God has called us to do. She also encouraged us to make Jesus our Lord, not just our Saviour. Donna doesn't say anything earth shattering, just the truth. I wish I had her knowledge of The Book.

We had an awesome prayer time, with brokenness and encouragement. God was with us.

Peter and Donna will be with us this Sunday.

Peace,

K

Despise your life

Alright,Think about this, If you love your life, you will lose it. This is more than where your treasure is.... We are being given a very clear heads up, as to how God expects us to approach our lives.

Jesus once told someone who wanted to go bury their mother to "let the dead bury the dead". Do we understand this concept? Our lives, the things we hold dear, the people we hold dear, are not to be held above God. If God calls us to do something, we are to be obedient to that call. Our time is His time first, the same for our resources.

We do not really understand sacrifice. We think a few hours a week, serving the church or community is a big sacrifice.

We have been called to "make disciples". Are we willing to do what it takes to make disciples? Are we willing to "let the dead bury the dead"?

This is more than, "it isn't about you". This is, "it is totally about God". It is not your/my life, our lives are His, and if they aren't, we are dead.

We want Peace, Joy and Victory, this is how we gain it, by dying to ourselves.

Peace,

K

Question ???

John 12:25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

What do you think this means today?

Peace,

K