IN TRANSIT

Thankful . . .

2011-11-24T13:46:00.004-06:00

For the 412 Family...

2011-10-28T02:11:00.001-05:00

Adopting Jobs

2011-10-07T15:25:00.000-05:00

I was sad to hear about the passing of Apple Founder and president, Steve Jobs. I always had such great admiration for the creative genius. One of my friends and mentors had an Apple poster in his office with a picture of Buzz Aldrin on the moon with a simple phrase on it: "Think Different." I was impacted by this simple little slogan/ marketing campaign that Apple started years ago and am thankful that there are those in this world that Think different.

I had never heard the story about how this man who changed the world was adopted at birth. His mom was a college student who decided that she couldn't care for her baby and that it needed to go to a couple who were college grads with bright futures. Well- things didn't go according to her plans and baby Steve ended up in the arms of a young couple who were simply wanting a baby. You can read about it from Steve Jobs' perspective here- A Story of Life. His parents were not the most impressive people by the world's standards. His dad never graduated high school and his mom never graduated college.

But one thing they did well: Think Different.

It's amazing to think about how this young college student's decision to think differently and not abort her baby has changed the global landscape. Here's a snippet from the article:

"As you plunk away on your iPhone, iPad or MacBook, probably even to tweet about Jobs’ death, remember that the choices we make for LIFE may really change the world. 56 years ago it was Steve Jobs; 56 years from now, it may be the man or women who cures the cancer that took Jobs in the end."

I am so glad that someone decided to Think different and not abort her baby. And I'm so glad that a young couple decided to Think different and adopt a little boy- Steve Jobs.

And I'm so glad that God Thinks different than us and has acted differently on my behalf as well.
"In love God predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ..." Ephesians 1:5

When the worst day of your life is the best day of your life

2011-09-09T17:35:00.000-05:00

Only Jesus can make the worst day of your life the best day of your life.
Don't believe me? Ask the woman from Samaria in John 4.Essentially, here's what happened...

Location: A well-known water well outside of a town called Sychar. The woman who sleeps around approaches the well where Jesus is resting.
Jesus: Can I have a drink?
Woman: Seriously? Why are you talking to me? We shouldn't be talking like this.
Jesus: If you really knew who I was (God) you would understand that we need to talk. And if you listen to me, you will forever be changed.
Woman: Okay, let's get started.
Jesus: Well before we do that- go get your husband. He needs to hear this too.
Woman: I'm not married.
Jesus: You've got a point. You've only had 5 of them and the guy you're sleeping with now isn't your (or maybe it was "YOUR" emphasized) husband. Good point.
Woman: Whoa. How'd you do that?! It's clear that you're a holy man. Where can I go to get right with God?
Jesus: You can do that right here. Right now. God is everywhere. Just talk to Him.
Woman: I know that one day God will come and will make it clear to me how I can know Him.
Jesus: Lady, it won't get any clearer than this. I am God. Even someone like you can talk to me right here. Right now.
Woman: Holy water-well, Batman! Stay right here!
Jesus: (Smiles)
Woman: (runs into Sychar, where she has a terrible reputation) Everyone! Come meet a man who knows all of my junk- He said it out loud- and He still loves me! Can this really be God!?!? My worst day just became my best day!

Only when you admit that you are jacked up will you ever begin to grasp the love of God. Only when you admit your sin will you be able to be blown away by the love of a Holy God. Only Jesus can make your worst day your best day.

Will this be the best day of your life?
Romans 10:9-11

I'm not quite sure how to say this, but . . .

2011-06-22T16:21:00.002-05:00

"Between her feet
he sank, he fell, he lay still;
between her feet
he sank, he fell;
where he sank,
there he fell—dead."

Judges 5:27

I think I could have said it in not quite so many words. Just sayin.

Nehemiah

2011-06-21T12:47:00.004-05:00

Reading Nehemiah today.
Encouraged by this man of God:

My imaginary conversation (1-sided) with him.

Chapter 6 - "Okay, Nehemiah. People want to kill you and destroy your credibility and all that you are laboring for. That's pretty serious. What are you going to do?"

Chapter 7:1-4 - "So . . . the news isn't getting any better, Nehemiah. Your people are vulnerable to being attacked by your enemies. What are you going to do? It's about time you hit the panic button!"

Chapter 7:5-73 - "Seriously?! You're making a list!? A list of everyone who is with you!?"

Chapter 8 - "Seriously?!! You're reading the Bible out loud to everyone??! You really think that's gonna solve everything? Wow, Nehemiah. That's clever."

End of Chapter 8 - "Okay. Point well taken."

Nehemiah was courageous. He did some crazy stuff and I wouldn't have wanted to mess with him. Perhaps the most courageous thing he did, though, was that he actually believed that the Word of God was exactly what was needed to sustain, provide, and protect the people of God.
I'm hoping to be like Nehemiah- and trust the Word to produce fruit & perseverance in our people's lives.

The guy from Kenya- his name is Nehemiah. Probably a different Nehemiah than the one in the Bible- but his name is identical. Boom. Relevance served.

"Christianity is about being, not doing."

2011-06-16T14:41:00.006-05:00

I hear it quite often. It is perhaps one of the most popular phrases that Christians like to say today in the church. "Christianity is about being, not doing." Normally it's said in a defensive posture as soon as expectations are placed on someone. I've run across this phrase a few times as we have changed the way that we do church membership at 412. According to popular Church culture, Church Membership = Acceptance. Be a Christian and just . . . be.

Praise God that this is true when it comes to our standing before Him! We do not have to work in order to be accepted by Him. But the truth is that once we have been "Justified" before him, it's time to joyfully go to work. The Christian faith is a faith that works. You cannot even gloss over the New Testament and come away with a message that says "Christianity is about being, not doing." As a matter of fact- you might come away with (if you are just skipping through it) the exact opposite: "Christianity is about doing." It's about humbling ourselves, submitting ourselves to each other, praising God, sharing our faith, defending our faith, cherishing the Word of God, and loving our wives as Christ loved the Church. It's about loving our enemies, sharing with those who have need, encouraging others, obeying God, serving the church and speaking the truth. It's about ceasing to lie, steal & curse. It's about getting rid of rage and anger, bitterness, slander & gossip. It's about forgiving others. It's about imitating God. And God did not simply "be." He always showed us that he loved us by doing something for us. We have a God that works. We have a God that not only is, but does.
See Romans 12 and Ephesians 4-6 if you don't believe me.

Justin DeYoung just posted a very helpful blog today- and he reminded me that I must not confuse the way in which I became a believer (by faith alone) with how I am to live my life as a believer (by faith, yes, but with works as well). These works that I do are ONLY a result of my standing before God through faith in Jesus Christ. So in one sense, yes, Christianity is about being, not doing. But when we use it as a defense against raised expectations for Christians to behave like Christians, we lose sight of the Scriptures.

So there are too errors that we far too often embrace:
1. If I do enough good things, God will accept me.
2. If God has accepted me, I don't need to work anymore.

One error is deadly. The other is dangerous.

Let's avoid both and praise God for justifying us before Him through our faith in Jesus, and let's continue to praise Him by working to make His name known to a watching, unbelieving world.

Who would follow Christ the King?

2011-04-19T10:19:00.002-05:00

Who would follow
Christ the King?
Small & quiet,
Weeping, riding.

Wou would follow
Christ the King?
Homeless & humble;
Friends fleeing.

Who would follow
Christ the King?
Stripped & beaten;
Leaders rejoicing.

Who would follow
Christ the King?
Pierced & broken;
Women weeping.

Who would follow
Christ the King?
Cold & lifeless;
Creation groaning.

Who would follow
Christ the King?
Dead & gone;
Lovers hiding.

Who would follow
Christ the King?
Alive & well,
Breathing! Speaking!

I will follow
Christ the King.
Here forever!
Loving! Freeing!

Confessions of a Pastor

2011-03-22T22:34:00.003-05:00

Hello. My name is Kyle. I am a pastor. And I am a quitter. Quitting became easy for me growing up with 2 older brothers. Playing tag with older brothers and neighborhood friends was all-too-often a demotivating experience. I sometimes get the urge to quit on God. This urge to quit is an issue that all believers have to deal with in life. One of the most tiring games is chasing God.
Does it ever seem like God is up in Heaven playing around with you and screaming "Tag! You're it! No tag-backs!"? One of the Church's most Godly saints and Church Fathers, Anselm, had similar thoughts about God. He wrote:
"Oh Lord my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you...
My heart longs to see you, but your face is too far away.
I want to have access to you, but your presence is inaccessible.
I want to find you, but I do not know where you are.
I love to seek you, but I do not know your face.
Lord, you are my Lord and my God, and I have never seen you.
You have created me and re-created me,
All the good that I have comes from you, and I still do not know you.
I was created to see you, and I have not accomplished that for which I was made."
Chances are, if one of the giants of Church history like Anselm struggled with the chase, you will too. Maybe that's the way God intended it to be. The Bible is full of men and women who lived their whole lives reaching for an invisible God. The Christian life is based on the invisible. I think one of the keys to maturity as a Christian is to shift our focus from the visible to the invisible, from the seen to the unseen.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

The writer of Hebrews lets us in on a secret to the chase: God will let Himself be found by those who seek Him with all their hearts. Jesus came to earth to help us in our chase. God came out of "hiding" and allowed Himself to be seen, touched, heard, and embraced by those who were tired, distraught, wounded, forgotten, lonely, and sincere. So for those who are tired, lonely, abused, neglected, depressed, and distraught- don't give up seeking Him out. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. And what is the reward? Himself.

Check out Hebrews 11-12:3 if you're ready to give up in your search for God.

What do you do when you are snowed in?

2011-02-09T20:11:00.004-06:00

Many of you have asked me, "Kyle, what do you do when you and your family are snowed in?" To this I tell them- "Double Dream Hands." Check it out:

What message do you sing?

2011-02-02T14:25:00.007-06:00

I have to admit that I love me some hymns. This has not always been the case. I used to think they were outdated and irrelevant, but the more I grow in my knowledge of Christ, the more I love these age-old songs. There's something different about the hymns. And no, it's not that they are different because they are boring or lame. That may be your opinion. The hymns are different because they have a lot of depth. If it's true that 80% of the congregation's theology comes from the songs that they sing, then it's important for our songs to be Biblically accurate and to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of the most popular songs on Christian radio ("Safe for the Whole Family") may be catchy, but many of them are not Biblically solid or Gospel-declaring. Sometimes this kind of a music-culture can create people just like the songs- catchy and fun, but not very well-grounded and rooted in the the Scriptures.
So, what's got me thinking about this today? A hymn called "Jesus Saves" (written in 1882). The tune just somehow popped into my head and I've been reminding myself today that Jesus saves. See that it so wonderfully declares the Gospel- the Gospel that says we've been saved by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that this good news will not only redeem Christians but all of creation. I can't think of a better message to sing with the Church.

Here are the lyrics:

We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land, climb the mountains, cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Waft it on the rolling tide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, you islands of the sea; echo back, you ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free; highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Philippians

2011-01-26T22:05:00.003-06:00

Trip Lee- To Live is Christ
I have a lot of respect for Trip Lee and Lecrae for being gospel-centered and even expositional in their rap/hip-hop music. From what I understand, their concerts are an awesome testimony to the power of the Gospel. Check out the vid:

Psalm 32- the best Psalm ever written?

2011-01-06T17:30:00.003-06:00

It is told of Martin Luther that one day being asked which of all the Psalms were the best, he made answer, Psalmi Paulini (Psalms that have an Apostle Paul flavor), and when his friends pressed to know which these might be, he said,

"The 32nd, the 51st, the 130th, and 143rd. For they all teach that the forgiveness of our sins comes without the law and without works to the man who believes, and therefore I call them Pauline Psalms."

-Luther's Table Talk

A Christmas to Remember

2010-12-27T22:20:00.009-06:00

Hudson decided to surprise GiGi, GiDaddy, Joel and Nanny on Christmas day- as we were supposed to be there on the evening of the 26th. We drove all night (10 hours) on Christmas Eve to surprise them (without getting shot entering their house at 6:15 am). Here's a snapshot of our Christmas . . . one that we will all remember for a long time. It's a bit pixelated, but I think you get the picture.

A Social Network Christmas

2010-12-24T11:28:00.005-06:00

Creative video highlighting how the key players must have felt on that first Christmas.

The dance of sermon prep

2010-12-10T13:35:00.007-06:00

This walk, this dance;
Holy & sacred, joyful & true;
Weaving through the Word-
Loving every moment, loving You.

Praise You for Your faithfulness!
Valleys, hilltops, shadows & light;
You have not remained silent!
You have proven your might!

Use me. Use this-
Reading, meditating, seeking Christ out-
To build Your Church;
To make You proud.

I'm a Single Lady- and I'll be single for a long time . . .

2010-11-16T00:44:00.000-06:00

For the 4 of you who haven't seen this yet- I haven't laughed this hard at a video since Scarlett Takes a Tumble. Check it out:

Don't Waste Your Life

2010-11-11T14:35:00.003-06:00

God has gifted His people with unique talents and gifts- all for one purpose: Express the Gospel. Lecrae shares the gospel through hip hop and rap. I found this video on a blog post on the Gospel Coalition website.

Nuggets: Psalm 1-10

2010-10-18T12:41:00.007-05:00

I love the Psalms. Throughout my life, God has used the Psalms to strengthen me, encourage me, and challenge me in my estimation of Him. The Psalms have proven to be a steady agent of change in my heart. In my best days and worst, there are the Psalms. When I have words to say to God, there are the Psalms. When I am speechless, there are the Psalms. This morning, here are a few nuggets that have nourished my soul:
PSALM 1- "for the LORD knows (intimate interaction) the way of the righteous."
PSALM 2- "Kiss the Son (the Lord's anointed One, Jesus Christ), lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Psalm 2:12
PSALM 3- "I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me." Psalm 3:5
PSALM 4-"But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to him." Psalm 4:3
PSALM 5- "But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you." Psalm 5:11
PSALM 6- "Save me for the sake of your steadfast love." Psalm 6:4
PSALM 7- "God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow." Psalm 7:11-12. (any connection to Genesis 9:16-17?)
PSALM 8- "Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger." Psalm 8:2. (cf Genesis 3:15)
PSALM 9- "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed; a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you... For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever." Genesis 9:9-10, 18
PSALM 10- "You have been the helper of the fatherless... You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more." Psalm 10:14b, 17-18

Broken World- Awaiting Redemption

2010-10-04T23:21:00.005-05:00

This world is broken and it is not as it's supposed to be. God, awaken me. Awaken your Church to help the least of these.

The Village of Korah - A short documentary from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

Lovesick Father

2010-10-04T13:32:00.006-05:00

The worship pastor at the Together For Adoption Conference recently adopted a little boy named Amos from Haiti. Aaron Ivey wrote a song that expressed his heart during the long and difficult waiting period before they could get Amos home. Here is the music video that I feel expresses very well the heart of a lovesick father. Adoption is intertwined with the heart of God. I know because I have been adopted by God, a loving Father.

Journaling- Psalm 42

2010-09-22T12:29:00.005-05:00

I love the Psalms. I am always refreshed by God's love and challenged to trust Him in the midst of difficult times. Today I spent time flipping through Psalm 32-43. I settled on Psalm 42.
This morning I started journaling again. Here's a glimpse-

Perhaps journaling will help you...

Morman-ity VS Christian-ity

2010-09-01T19:29:00.002-05:00

Ever wonder what the differences are between Christianity and Mormonism? I like what the Gospel Coalition's Justin Taylor did- adapting the ESV Study Bible's section on religious cults. Here's a very concise look at the differences: FAQ on the Difference Between Mormonism and Christianity.

New blog to follow

2010-08-30T11:27:00.007-05:00

My wife is a fantastic woman. I love love love her and I love who she is and I love everything she cooks and I love the way she snorts when she laughs really hard. I also love the way she blogs. Check it out- a new blog to follow: To Become Children of God.

108! Wha!!??

2010-08-23T17:03:00.002-05:00

I know it's blurry, but please let me assist you:
108 degrees in Mansfield Texas.
73 degrees in Buena Vista Colorado.

Let's risk it all

2010-08-14T12:36:00.003-05:00

What will it take to reach 4.5 billion people for Christ and to literally save 30,000 children from starvation? I think the church must start by being willing to do what the rich young ruler couldn't do.
Radical obedience + Radical sacrifice = Radical rewards.
The reward is seeing millions come to know Christ and to see thousands of children clothed and fed and to see the name of Christ worshipped by every tribe, tongue, and language. There is nothing greater. And there is no time to waste.

This is a clip from David Platt's message titled “Are we going to die in our religion or are we going to die in our devotion?”
You can watch it here or download it here.

Where's your youth group?

2010-08-12T16:01:00.004-05:00

412CC has shy'd away from thinking "youth group" to thinking "minister to students." These links may clarify why we feel this way:
USA TODAY
THE GOSPEL COALITION

Get the word out . . .

2010-08-02T23:39:00.000-05:00

I wish I were the one who had done this. Good stuff.

Free Yourself

2010-07-05T07:53:00.000-05:00

K'Naan's song, Wavin Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix), is a song with a great vision- the nations gathering to celebrate something greater than themselves. It's about freeing yourself to celebrate a greater cause. For Christians, the greater cause is to spread God's fame around the world. Here's the vid:

By the way- the World Cup is AWESOME.

Do you speak soccer?

2010-06-30T09:26:00.001-05:00

Jess and I decided last week that Hudson is going to grow up playing the game of soccer (or futbol), so we went to Academy and bought him a soccer ball. It's not one of our favorite sports (not even close!), though I played soccer for 8 or 9 years when I was a child. The World Cup has opened up a new world for us. We see the nations playing and celebrating this game. We want Hudson to know how to play soccer when we take the gospel to the nations (who happen to REALLY know how to play soccer). Steve Adler (shout-out!) said it best- "It's the language of the nations."

Soccer will be the common ground between Hudson and children around the world- so that the common language will go from soccer to Jesus.

Orangatar

2010-06-22T11:40:00.000-05:00

To be sure, Lanny Donoho is one of the funniest guys I can think of at the moment. This is an intro video for a conference he just hosted. This will delete brain cells, but it's well worth it.

I REALLY like this guy...

2010-05-15T08:41:00.000-05:00

Looking for some good entertainment? Try booking K-Strass and Zim-ZAM!

I have A LOT of respect for this guy. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

Here's a link to another video from a morning show called Sunrise 7.
http://vimeo.com/11156270

Radical- it's what's demanded of us

2010-05-13T11:35:00.000-05:00

Let this video challenge you to the core.

RADICAL from David Platt on Vimeo.

Jessica and I are going to be reading this book together. The plan- turn off the tv no later than 9:30 pm and read and pray through "Radical" by David Platt. I have a feeling this is going to be like a baseball bat to the gut.

Jesus told the scariest cutest little stories.

2010-05-12T09:11:00.000-05:00

Why do I get the feeling that Jesus' parables have become like fairy tales or Aesop's fables to the church in America? As I studied and preached through some of the parables, I got the distinct feeling that we have truly missed the point of Jesus' stories. His stories were never meant to be cute. There was no "happily ever after" butterflies in the bellies of the listeners. No one asked Jesus at the end of his parable, "So what's the moral of that story, Jesus?" Granted, a lot of people didn't understand what he was saying (ie the disciples asked Jesus what a few of his parables meant), but they were more confused because they were hearing something that was totally counter-cultural. They were trying to understand Jesus correctly- ("So you're telling me that if I don't forgive that Roman soldier for running his sword through my pregnant wife, then I won't be forgiven by God?" "Jesus, you're telling me that if I sin and cause others to sin, then your angels will gather me along with people much worse than me and throw us all in the 'fiery furnace'?" Their understanding of God and humanity was being rocked and turned upside down.

Do you get what Jesus is saying in his parables? He's asking everyone to consider- "Are you sure you know God?" "Are you sure you are wearing the white hat?" "Are you sure you're on steady ground?" "Are you sure you aren't God's enemy?" May we approach the parables with a bit of fear and a prayer that we will understand what Jesus is really saying in his "cute little stories."

Creating church.

2010-05-11T13:46:00.000-05:00

Great video from North Point Community Church about how we often try to create church. My guess is that if you have visited churches lately, this will look strangely familiar. Painfully true...

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Do all things (even the iPhone) for the glory of God...

2010-05-02T08:04:00.000-05:00

I got this from Louie Giglio's tweet- the band Rend Collective. You gotta check this out.

Ever thought about starting a Family Worship Time?

2010-04-27T14:59:00.000-05:00

If you're anything like me- a guy who's still trying to figure out how to be a great pastor for his home and family- this blog post is for you. If you've ever thought about how to lead your family in worship at home, check this out . . .

FULL BLOG POST HERE.
Thanks for the help, James Grant.

Super Sweet

2010-04-10T04:30:00.000-05:00

This is weird, but it's super-sweet!

PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.
Uploaded by onemoreprod. - Arts and animation videos.

A snap-shot of God's mercy

2010-04-08T20:29:00.000-05:00

Jessica snapped this shot with her phone the other day and texted it to me. When I saw it, the rays of light reminded me of the great mercy of God- allowing Jessica and I to have a little boy. We're so thankful.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

Easter- The Jesus Storybook

2010-04-01T16:18:00.000-05:00

I got this from The Gospel Coalition. Here’s a video telling the resurrection story by using the art from the Jesus Storybook Bible and David Suchet’s narration. This would be great to watch with your kids. The intro is long (45 seconds) so you can just skip ahead.

Sometimes I wonder about Jesus

2010-03-31T10:44:00.000-05:00

- I wonder what His conversations with God were like when He was 4 years old. I wonder how much Mary and Joseph must have laughed at their little bundle of joy and energy behind closed doors at their house when he was a little guy.
- I wonder who his best friends were when he was a teenager and if they ever thought he was "a little odd." I wonder if there was a point when they decided not to like Him. Or if their parents warned their kids to stay away from Jesus- He was too dangerous.
- I wonder what Jesus thought about when He laid down at night and drifted off to sleep. I wonder what He dreamed about. Did He have nightmares about His future? I wonder if He dreamed about Heaven.
- I think about how it must have been obvious that He had so much love in His heart when he hung out with his buddies. I wonder how Jesus would have responded and how his body language must have changed when his buddies would sin (against Him!).
- I wonder how teenagers today could live like the teenager that Jesus was.
- I wonder how often Jesus went out of his way to specifically tell people "I love you."
- I wonder how old Jesus was when people who were staring Him in the face started wondering "Is that man, or is that God talking?"
- Was He a 15 year-old causing people behind closed doors to ask "Seriously, who is that kid?"?
- I wonder if Jesus would have ever hung out with me. I wonder, had I been alive then, if I would have wanted to hang out with Him.
- I wonder if there were certain children who knew Jesus well and saw Him as kind of their "God-father." I wonder if they ran to Him when they would see Him. I wonder if they ever tackled Him with big hugs or covered his eyes from behind and played the "Guess who?" game. And I wonder if He always got it right.
- I wonder if the children who loved Jesus understood what happened to Him when He was suddenly gone. Mere babes trying to figure out where Jesus went . . . And I wonder how their moms and dads tried to explain to their children why Jesus was arrested and "went to heaven."
- I wonder what they thought when they gathered with Him the day that He ascended back into Heaven.
- I wonder if there were any who followed Jesus from a distance for months who decided that He was not legit. I wonder if they second-guessed themselves even when they were old, gray, and wrinkly.
- I wonder if the blind man who received the gift of sight followed Jesus long enough to lay his eyes on the mangled body of Jesus.
- I wonder what it would have been like to be the son of one of the guys that met Jesus on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24)- sitting in the living room listening to him speak with tears about the time that Jesus walked and talked with them. I wonder if his non-verbals and the fire in his eyes would carry me to that special road and that special conversation that he had with Jesus. I wonder if Hudson will ever be able to see the same fire in my eyes that I imagine those 2 guys had after meeting Jesus.
- I wonder what it would have been like to walk into the empty tomb while it was still early in the morning on that day, wipe the sleep from my eyes, and lose my breath.

When your heart beats faster when you think of Jesus, that means something. This is what it means to truly be alive.

A Conversation between blind people...

2010-03-10T11:06:00.000-06:00

I couldn't help but chuckle a little bit when I read this article... up until I realized that these "Christians" are more concerned for their pets after the rapture than they are for the person who will be taking care of them.
Imagine the conversation. Essentially it will go something like this:
"Are you sure you're an atheist?"
"Yes."
"How can I be sure?"
"Well, I think you are an idiot and God definitely does not exist."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! Are you kidding? You guys are nuts!"
"Okay, good. Then take good care of Scruffy when the rapture happens. (I'll be gone and you'll still be here). He likes to eat Fancy Feast Dog Food and I like to give him a treat every night before bed."
"You got it. Have a nice day."
"Thanks. You too."
Win-win-win situation.

The blind talking to the blind.

Don't believe me? Here it is:
Christ died for more than this...

Are you a healthy member or a guilty party?

2010-02-25T17:00:00.000-06:00

I am reading through a small book called "What is a Healthy Church Member?" by Thabiti Anyabwile and got my highlighter warmed up. Here are a few things that I highlighted:
- "Just as the pastor's preaching agenda should be determined by the meaning of Scripture, so too should the Christian's listening agenda be driven by the meaning of Scripture." p 19
- "When we listen to the preaching of the Word, we should not listen primarily for "practical how-to advice, " though Scripture teaches us about everyday matters. Nor should we listen for messages that bolster our self-esteem or that rouse us to political and social causes. Rather, as members of Christian churches we should listen primarily for the voice and message of God as revealed in his word." p 19-20

I highly recommend this book for every pastor and member of a Christian church. The reason is that I have found there to be a troubling number of people who have become spiritually emaciated at their church. Many people are quick to blame the pastor and leadership for "not feeding" the people of the church. Just as the leaders are to blame, the members are to blame even more-so. The reason I believe this is because too many people willingly trade in Biblical doctrine and truth for feelings of goodwill and warm fuzzies. And before they know it, the Christian sitting in the audience on Sunday morning has become the epitome of 2 Timothy 4:3-4. "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires (warm fuzzies), they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (Parenthesis was added by me).
So who's the guilty party? The teacher? Perhaps- especially if the teacher is willingly doing his job to bolster his ego or his checking account. The listener? Absolutely. Paul tells us that those who are at fault are the ones who gather around those who may make them feel good, give them warm fuzzies, or "say what their itching ears want to hear."

This is absolutely commonplace in our church culture in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Example- a recent text exchange between a teenager and a student pastor (true story): "Hey man, where were you at church this morning?" "I was at so-and-so church." "What did he preach about?" "I'm not sure but it was really good." "Okay, well what passage of Scripture did he preach from?" "I don't remember that. I think he read from Matthew and Corinthians and stuff but he mainly speaks from his heart and not the word."

The tragedy is that speaking from the heart and not the Word has become admirable among Christians today. God help us and God help those who have itching ears! And hide me from the temptation to entertain people with itching ears instead of faithfully loving my God and His people through the intentional, Gospel-saturated, proclamation of the Word of God.

So, Christian, are you a healthy member of a congregation who listens for God's voice in the midst of everything that happens on Sunday morning, or are you a member of a guilty party who has itching ears? Think long and hard about your answer. It's really important.

The Power of God

2010-02-24T14:46:00.000-06:00

Do you believe that the Gospel is the power of God? This video shows us what that means. This video footage was taken during a missionary's first time to explain the Gospel in the native language of this tribe.

The Gospel is Good News and it is the power of God. Do you believe this?
Romans 1:16-17

My name is Wade Phillips and I like to have a good time

2010-02-12T23:19:00.001-06:00

This is good stuff. This is the head football coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

My Boy! Little Warrior!

2010-02-03T15:15:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I know. He's cute.

Who do I give to?

2010-01-21T20:09:00.000-06:00

Here is a link to a safe organization to send your money if you are looking to help with the situation in Haiti (and I hope you are): http://churcheshelpingchurches.com/
Check them out and pray about how you can help.

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10

What I didn't mention last Sunday... The Great Flood

2010-01-14T15:49:00.000-06:00

Since I forgot to address the issue of archaeology, geology and the historicity of the Great Flood event, I'd like to do that now. The Scriptures were never intended to give scientists a leg to stand on (though in many cases it does!). The original intended audience of Genesis would not have been looking for the same answers that too many of us look for today. So without getting too bogged down in peripheral issues, I will simply say- the Flood is a historical event. It’s simply a fact that this truly happened. It’s interesting that there is Mesopotamian and Babylonian literature that include a story of a great flood. The Mesopotamian story is called the Epic of Gilgamesh. It has many similarities to the story recorded here in Genesis. No doubt oral tradition played its part in the passing down of the different accounts of the Great Flood. The account in Genesis was written by Moses under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That makes the book in our hands not just reliable, but also essential to understanding God's purposes for us here on earth. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, a man (named Utnapishtim) built an ark, loaded it with animals, and survived a torrential flood. The story says that he loaded animals in pairs onto the ark (much like the story of Noah).

What is key to recognize is not so much the similarities of the stories, but rather, the differences:

Epic of Gilgamesh:
- Warring gods created the earth.
- Mankind was pretty much an afterthought to the gods.
- The sun and moon and stars are depicted as gods to be worshipped.
- Mankind becomes noisy and rambunctious.
- The gods are annoyed and have a headache so they send a flood to wipe out the noise along with all of mankind.
- The flood got out of control.
- One man escaped their view and survived (much to their dismay). They overlooked a man named Utnapishtim.

The Bible
- A loving God created the heavens and the earth by opening His mouth and speaking them into existence. All that He created was good.
- Mankind becomes God's masterpiece, and it's clear that He loves mankind.
- The sun, moon, and stars, were spoken into existence by a powerful Creator. They are not even mentioned by name, perhaps to point to the fact that they are duds without the power of God to give them light. See Genesis 1:14-19.
- God is not annoyed by the noise of man, but he is grieved by man’s sin.
- God sees that His creation has been ruined by sin and recognizes the need to deal with sin.
- God, in His great wisdom and mercy, watches and sees with his own eyes, a man named Noah. Genesis 6:8.
- God intentionally wipes out all living creatures, except for Noah and his family and a select portion of the animals.
- God's salvation was made known to Noah's family and all flesh through His Word (specific directions given to Noah) and through the wise provision of the ark. Noah's faith was rewarded by deliverance from annihilation.

It's fascinating to think through this story- with all the dynamics at play. How would a righteous and blameless man feel about all that was happening? What about his friends that he must have loved dearly (blameless and righteous people are, by definition, loving)? How many conversations must he have had with God through all this time? What about the conversations he must have had with his wife and his friends? Or conversations with the rhino!

And then you must consider the sheer horror of the event. God essentially drowns all that "had the breath of life in its nostrils." We learn that God cannot simply sweep sin under the rug and avoid dealing with it. The Flood is a picture of humanity gone wrong and God's grieving over the sin of mankind. He is the only one who can save us from what we deserve. Here's video footage taken on December 24, 2004 from Banda Aceh, Indonesia. It gives a slight hint as to how horrific the Great Flood would have been (though clearly the Great Flood would have packed a much greater punch than this Tsunami).

WARNING: This is a very intense video and contains images that some may find disturbing.

value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RDOuwMj7Xzo&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999">

I am selfish.

2010-01-09T11:40:00.000-06:00

This holiday season has reminded me of many things. Like- a family that loves God is the greatest blessing, traveling non-stop from one place to another is not a blessing, my wife and son are AWESOME, and I am selfish.
CS Lewis wrote about this sickness. He addresses his own selfishness (some call it depravity) with bravery:

All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through;
I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.

Peace, reassurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek,
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin;
I talk of love- a scholar's parrot may talk Greek-
But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.

I was blessed with great food, friends, family, and great memories, but as embarrassing as it is to say, all I keep thinking about is how much money I received for Christmas, how much money I have left to spend, and how much I want stuff.

Anytime I replace God with something else, then I am guilty of idolatry. God save me from myself and open my eyes to see the emptiness of loving the riches of this world.

You Will Suffer

2009-12-05T23:49:00.001-06:00

Act like a cat...

2009-11-13T09:28:00.000-06:00

When I was a student at UTA (University of Texas Almost), I took a class called "Oral Interpretation." In this class it was expected of all the students to memorize a rear-end-load of literature and eventually recite/perform it back to the class as if we were the author or main character of the piece. 10-15 minutes worth of monologue is A LOT of memorization. My professor told us that if we were to forget our lines, then we should just keep going- act like it's all in the plan. She summed up her advice by saying, "Basically, act like a cat. When a cat runs into a wall, they just keep going and act like they meant to do that."
While I was preaching on Sunday, I took her advice. During my sermon on Sunday, I was reading a James Dobson interview with Ted Bundy (16 hours before Bundy went to the electric chair). I came upon the word "succumb" and mispronounced it horribly. Instead of placing the emphasis on the 2nd syllable to say "suh-kuhm" I placed the emphasis on the first syllable to say "suck-uhm." I immediately knew that I mispronounced it. I decided not to look up and see spouses leaning over and whispering and giggling like little kids. I acted like a cat. I was hoping no one would notice. But I was reminded in my Life Group on Sunday night that my cat-like reflexes were not very good.
I was also reminded that last Sunday I mispronounced another word while I was reading Revelation 12. The word was "scepter" and I read "skepter." I knew that it was wrong when it came out of my mouth, but I kept on going. It was glorious.

While we're at it- if you have heard me say anything else that needs to be exhumed or brought out into the light, leave it here and laugh it up.

Secret Church

2009-11-10T20:05:00.000-06:00

I am really pumped about Secret Church this Friday night. In case you're in the dark, here are the details:
Location: Jose & Rosanne Zapata's house- 6901 County Rd 526, Mansfield, 76063
Time: 6:00 pm - midnight
Agenda: Hear from Tony Rizzo (our friend from Gospel for Asia), take the Lord's Supper together, pray for the Persecuted Church, and study the entire New Testament.
If you are planning on attending, please eat before you come and get ready to dig into the Word. If you can, be there a little before 6 because we'll start on time and it's going to be a special time of identifying with the early church, the persecuted church, and of worship together.

Here's a promo video by our friends at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama.

Cain and Ted Bundy and you and me

2009-11-10T09:47:00.000-06:00

On Sunday I read part of a manuscript of a Ted Bundy interview conducted by Dr James Dobson 16 hours before Bundy went to the electric chair. I feel like this interview highlights very well the seriousness of sin- the way that sin will work if we think we can manage it and deal with it ourselves (just like Cain in Genesis 4). Bundy tried to manage and deal with his secret sin on his own for a couple of years before it finally pounced on him and devoured him (and over 30 lives were taken as a result).
The moral of this story: Don't think you can deal with your sin on your own. Don't think that you are beyond Bundy. Don't think that you are stronger than Cain.

Here's the interview in case you are interested.

Hudson's Lullaby

2009-10-30T14:26:00.000-05:00

Last night was a rare night. It was rare because I held Hudson between 2:30 am and 4:00 am and absolutely loved every minute of it. He did not fight me- he fought sleep. He would rest his eyes for 3-5 minutes, wake up, pull back from my chest, and then collapse into it again. He rarely cried and rarely made a sound. I hummed and sang softly the same song over and over again for about 45 minutes. It's a lullaby that Jessica and I wrote together last Christmas as Jessica was carrying Hudson in her belly. It's sung to the tune of "Be Thou My Vision." I thought I'd share it with you now.

"Sleep now our Hudson
with whom we've been blessed;
Dream of our Jesus
for He's your true rest;
He's your great Comfort
your Strength and your Friend;
He'll never leave you
from now til the end."

We'd like to make little songs like this and traditions in our house all point to Jesus. We're looking for more family traditions and songs that are meaningful and amplify Christ. Feel free to share if you have one that's a must!

Raising my son to be violent?

2009-10-28T15:28:00.000-05:00

As I was preparing for the message on Sunday morning (Genesis 3:14-24), I came across a short blog by Dr Russell Moore, a well-respected pastor and professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lousiville, KY. I have included it below so that you can read it for yourself. It's well-worth the read. I was definitely intrigued by the title of the blog "Why I'm Raising Violent 4 Year-Olds" partly because it sounds counter-Christian, but also because I think I know what he means. I don't want to raise a nice boy. I want to raise a boy who is a warrior in the battle against Satan and the dark forces of this world. By the end of my son's life, I want his hands to be soaked in blood from battles with the Enemy- blood not from his own violence, but blood that he's accepted from the cross of Christ. I want to raise a conquerer who will not love his life even when faced with (and by) death/Death. Take part, Little Warrior, in an age-old battle. Victory is sure to be yours with Christ your valiant King beside!

Revelation 12:10-12 & 17
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.

11 They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.

12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short."

17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

Why I'm Raising Violent 4 Year-Olds
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
by Dr. Russ Moore
....

This is because of my overall philosophy of childrearing. I am aiming to raise up violent sons.

I am not seeking to raise sons who are violent in the amoral, pagan sense of contemporary teenagers playing "Grand Theft Auto" video games or carjacking motorists. I want them to be more violent than that.

I want them to understand that the Christian life is not a Hallmark Channel version of baptized sentimentality. Instead, it is a cosmic battle between an evil dragon and the child of the woman, an ancient warfare that now includes all who belong to the Child of the Promise (Rev 12). I want them to forgive their enemies, not because they are good boys, but because they understand that vengeance against the Serpent comes not from their hand, but from that of the anointed Warrior-King (Rev 19), whose blood-soaked garments don't often transfer to the imagery of a Precious Moments wall-hanging. And I want them to exercise self-control of their passions, not because it is polite, but because they are called to struggle against the Evil One, even to the point of cutting off their own limbs rather than succumb to devices.

The "Star Wars" movie offered the opportunity to talk through these issues of cosmic struggle with my boys. And to place such themes in context of what they already know from the most blessedly violent bedtime stories they hear every day: the Holy Scriptures.

Good stuff.

2009-10-17T23:12:00.000-05:00

So I found out about this video from a friend (Steve) who heard about it from his friend (David Crowder). Thanks, Steve, for sharing. And thank David for me, as well. This is powerful powerful stuff.

Life Group of the Year Award

2009-10-13T13:42:00.000-05:00

Many of you have been asking me, "Kyle, which Life Group would get the Life Group of the Year Award? Which one is the best Life Group ever?" One of you even asked me, "Kyle, which Life Group do you believe will go down as the greatest Life Group in the history of the world?" Someone even asked me, "Kyle, which Life Group would win in a bar-fight?" All of these questions boil down to one spectacular award: Life Group of the Year Award.
And here it is . . .
(drum-roll please)
The Vongdachan Life Group

You ask me, "Kyle, do you play favorites?" My response: "No. I will only award this award if the Life Group does something truly magnificent such as celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving."

So, here's to you, Vongdachan Life Group: Ya geez. Happy Thanksgiving, ey?
And thanks for the invite. It was totally kosher!

The Appropriate Place for an Exorcism?

2009-10-08T14:09:00.001-05:00

I found this article on Fox News' website. I believe that exorcisms take place- and probably should take place more often. I have no trouble believing this story. What amazes me is the reaction of Debbie Heida, Dean of Students. I laughed out loud when I read this: Dean of Students Debbie Heida said a school campus is an inappropriate place for an exorcism and removed him from his R.A. post.

She's a Dean of Students at a "Christian College." Christian! When is the appropriate time to rid a girl of a demon! "Excuse me, Sir" (I'm using an old lady voice right now), "This is not the time nor place" (pressing eyeglasses up against the bridge of my nose) "to exercise a demon. Next time you need to tell that demon to wait."

Now, I can't think of an exact time or reference, but I'm positive that Jesus saw no barriers- no poor timing, no bad locations, no improper situations- to casting out demons. Sometimes I think we read stories about exorcisms and think about what kind of power must have been displayed in that situation. But what about the person afflicted with the demon? How much pain and anguish must a person be in when possessed by a demon? I'm proud of this RA at Berry College. I'm glad he didn't wait for an appropriate time and place. Give me a break!

Praise God for giving this young man a spirit of power!

College R.A. Removed From Post After Performing So-Called 'Exorcism' - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

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Made in the Image of God

2009-09-30T14:56:00.000-05:00

I realize that politics are taboo, and sometimes bills and amendments are a bit more muddy than we'll understand, but there is one thing that is crystal clear: Taking the lives of the innocent and defenseless simply cannot be justified. Our God is sovereign and He has declared mankind to be His prized creation, made in His image. It comes down to this: It's His choice. Not ours.
Hopefully things will change in America and a lot of much-needed healing will begin to take place.

John Piper's response to Barack Obama.

Public schools, taking risks & prayers for my son

2009-09-08T14:51:00.001-05:00

I have no problems with home schooling. I have no problems with public schooling, either. I know the teachers that Jessica has worked with in the Mansfield ISD and they have ALL been incredible- no lie! They went to school for the very purpose of studying to become great teachers because they have a passion for teaching children. I would be excited for Hudson to have a teacher like any of them when he grows up. Not only that- but I feel like they all promote morality in their classrooms- in other words, their classrooms are not "Godless." So, here's a shout-out to all of Jessica's teacher-friends. THANK YOU!

And I think I would be fine if Jessica decided to home school- because I know she is a GREAT teacher. I am blogging about this because I have noticed that public schools have taken a HUGE hit lately. I hardly EVER hear anything good about public schools these days- especially from Christians. I told Jessica the other day that we have been closet-public-school-lovers for far too long. So- please hear me say that I have no problems with home schooling. For some children, it really may be what is best for them and their development. What I want to say is that I LOVE the idea of public schooling (for the most part) and I LOVE Mansfield ISD. That's my preface for what I want to say.

What I take issue with is when Christians want to home school because the public schools are not good at teaching their kids about God. My question- "Whose job is it to teach your kids about God?" I take issue with a mindset that says "It's too scary out there. Let's just play it safe." Why are we so insistent on running from darkness when God has told us to run to it with the Light?

I am praying BIG prayers for my son- that God would use him for His glory- that God would show Himself to be mighty on his behalf- that God would use Hudson to be a peace-bringer, joy-giver, loser-lover, defender of the weak, adventuresome boy with a voice that is as loud as it needs to be when the Gospel is silenced. Where the Gospel is squelched- that is where I want my son. I want him there so he can be a proud voice for his Loving Father and his Savior, Jesus Christ. After all, "How can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15

The following video helps explain how I feel about this culture of comfort I see in the DFW area.

Why I sometimes...

2009-08-10T13:31:00.001-05:00

Why I sometimes hold my wife's hand during worship:
1. Because God has saved her too. Joy floods my heart when I think about God opening her eyes to see what He has done for her. I am happy to sing next to her because we both have been rescued by God's own hand. Sometimes I wrap my arm around her while we sing- I love to sing praises to God as a family. One of my most vivid corporate worship memories is when we were at Student Life Camp with 6000 teenagers, and Chris Tomlin was leading worship. We were both in the midst of despair, and though we couldn't understand why God had taken us to Florida, we proclaimed what we knew in our hearts to be true- together, gripping each other's hands so tightly, tears rolling down- "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord . . . You are the Everlasting God . . . You do not faint, You won't grow weary. You're the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need, You lift us up on wings like eagles." Every time we sing that song now, we grip each other's hand tightly and sing that song with all our hearts- often in tears. It reminds us of God's saving arm and His provision for us in our history together.

2. It strengthens our love for each other. There is not a stronger bond than the one that is united by God.

- ps- Because I can see a teenager reading this post and thinking that I encourage doing this with your girlfriend or boyfriend during worship I feel led to share this: I used to hold my girlfriend's hand during worship when I was in high school. I did this for no other reason than to be close to her and, I think, to steal some of her praise to God. I don't recommend this show of affection among teenagers and many singles. The girl wants to be close. The guy wants to be physical. The problem comes down to this: an individualistic mindset versus a community mindset. I held her hand because it felt good to me and not for any other reason. It was a selfish act of self-worship.

Okay, I know this is kind of a weird post, but felt the need to share. Be sure to vote in the poll- What do you think about teenagers showing public displays of affection during times of worship?

More "Why I sometimes..." coming soon...

To tip or not to tip

2009-08-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

I am torn. I cannot settle in my heart what I am supposed to do when the carhops come to deliver our food at Sonic. I have always thought it was kooky krazy that there's an assumption that customers are supposed to tip the carhops at Sonic. I have always thought that I was being very generous when I tip them 50 cents or a dollar. I know that they make minimum wage- but that's much better than waiters and waitresses make at restaurants. When I waited tables at Cracker Barrel I made $2.13/hour plus tips. Sonic peeps are making $7.25/hour (plus tips)!

I'm not opposed to tipping at Sonic. What I am opposed to is snippy Sonic carhops who get mad when they aren't tipped for delivering a Cherry Limeade. Pretend it costs $2.05 for a large drink. Carhops are hoping that you will tip them the change- a whopping 95 cents! That's a 25% tip... for walking a drink from inside Sonic to the car. I would rather pay them exact change so that my drink is a $2 drink instead of a $3 drink.

As I blog about this I am getting mad. I am typing really fast and loud right now. Okay, I've decided how I feel about this. My encouragement to you. Don't do it.

Am I crazy?

Sonic: To tip or not to tip?

btw-
I've been surveying people here at ABC coffee. Here are a few things I've heard so far:
"The lids are hardly ever on tightly and it always spills."
"There's always junk on the lid of my drink. It's always messy. I hate that!"
I asked one girl, "Do you tip Sonic carhops?" She said, "It depends on how close I park to the door."

Sonic: To tip or not to tip?

Fools and their tricks...

2009-07-20T12:38:00.000-05:00

Last week when my wife was out of town, I found myself on a screwy schedule. Dinner at 9 or 10 pm most nights, and then on Friday night I went to workout around 10 pm. I did some cardio and lifted weights and then ended the night with a little down-time shooting hoops in the gym. That was when I saw him.

"Hey man, you wanna git a game of 2 on 2 goin?" He was wearing Umbro-like shorts and some black, Keds-like, low-top, K-Swiss shoes. Weighing in at 5'10" 220 ("Ding!"). Approximately 20 years old.

I said "No thanks man. I can't. I'm not wearing my basketball shoes. I'm just gonna shoot around."

"So? What's wrong with the kicks your wearing?" he said. (I was wearing some Adidas running shoes). "Look at what I'm wearing- I wear these and they do just fine."

(From judging at his body type and his outfit I was betting he was right. He probably didn't push it too hard on the court. At his speed and skill level, Flip-flops would have probably worked just fine too.)
I said, "I need my basketball shoes because I broke my ankle not too long ago."

"How?"

"Playing basketball."

"Well," (as he spread out his arms and looked down at his body), "I've never broken anyting playin hoops."

I believed him.

He finally conceded and said, "Alright cool. You mind if I shoot around wit you?"

Though I was really looking forward to some down-time shooting hoops I said "Sure" and soon we were shooting hoops together.

Well, sort of...
As I was shooting, out of the corner of my eye I kept seeing him do these odd basketball tricks (like he was trying to do some And1 Streetball tricks). He was obviously making them up as he went along. He would pretend that he had someone guarding him and then he would do some "sweet" trick and then put up a 10-foot jumper. Airball. Over half of his jump-shots were airballs.

"I used to be a killer shooter," He told me. "I used to be able to make 8 shots in a row behind the 3 point line." (He looked at me for approval and a "wow" facial response.)

I said, "Well that's pretty good!"

"Yeah, but I ain't played in like, 2 years. So, that's why I ain't makin as many today."

"Cool." I said.

After about 20 minutes of shooting around I said, "Alright "Matt", it was good to meet you. I'm headed home. See you around." I started walking off the court.

"Hey man! Before you go," he said, "can I ask you one question?" He had a smirk on his face.

"Sure thing."

"Has anyone ever shown you a basketball trick?"

"O this is too good to be true!" I thought to myself. "No! Whatcha got?" I said.

"Check dis out."

He then proceeded to get down on the floor, with ball in hand, and tried doing some sort of crabwalk-flipparoo pass-the-ball-between-your-legs while on the floor spinning around like a drunken breakdancer, then getting back up on his feet and trying to kick the ball and cup it in his hand and then pivot move and fake pass. When he finished, he looked a bit dizzy and had a "what now?" stare and then he said "I used to do that move all the time win I played on da streets. It was crazy!"

I said, "Really? Wow. Did they not call you for a travel or a carry?"

He shook his head yes and then said, "Yeah, exactly." (With a very satisfactory look on his face.) He had no idea that a "travel" or a "carry" was a bad thing in the game of basketball. He was very proud of his move that he just pulled off. He thought he was the most incredible basketball player, but as I walked off the court it was clear to everyone else that he was a fool.

I know many people who claim to be Christians but their lifestyle doesn't fool anyone. They are clearly posers and nothing more. They don't need to become better, they need to be born again. They have no hope of improving their game unless they are given a new nature. Just like that kid's game betrayed his talk, there are too many people whose lifestyle betrays their confession. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

How much will you allow the culture to shape you and your family?

2009-07-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weeks I have asked the church this question: How much are you going to allow the culture to shape your family?
Last Sunday I cried (yeah, so!) when I talked about how I felt when I was at the gym and was watching a whole slew of tv's that were showing what to me appeared to be degrading. There was a heaviness and inner pressure I felt as I watched a music video of a former Disney Princess. It was a music video of Hillary Duff and I was saddened by how common it had become for everyone to see a woman singing and dancing suggestively in short shorts and in tight dresses (that's right- Hillary Duff!). I had a hard time explaining how it made me feel that everyone was on their own treadmill (going nowhere, mind you), watching entertainment that had zero redeeming qualities about it. I run the risk of seeming legalistic here, but we cannot settle for that to be normal in our lives!
I ran across this blog from John Piper, and I feel like here he is able to capture with ease what I was trying so hard to say on Sunday with tears.
I'll give you a short excerpt from it, and if you want to read it in its entirety, then go for it. You'll be better for it.

There are, perhaps, a few extraordinary men who can watch action-packed, suspenseful, sexually explicit films and come away more godly. But there are not many. And I am certainly not one of them.

I have a high tolerance for violence, high tolerance for bad language, and zero tolerance for nudity. There is a reason for these differences. The violence is make-believe. They don’t really mean those bad words. But that lady is really naked, and I am really watching. And somewhere she has a brokenhearted father...

To check out the rest of his blog, and to see why he has not owned a television in 40 years, click here.

Pray for Will

2009-06-30T11:48:00.000-05:00

I normally don't do this, but feel led to share this. I don't know the Herndon's, but I know that my God cares for them. Here's an email from his mom. Pray for Will.

Hi friends,
As many of you know, my 6 year-old son Will has experienced vision loss over the past several months attributed to what was thought to be a genetic form of juvenile macular degeneration.

We received some devastating news this week from our genetics visit last month that diagnoses him with Batten's Disease, a very rare neurologically disease that initially attacks the eyes and then moves to the brain. As you can imagine, we are in shock...and while we refuse to claim this diagnosis, based on our faith, we cannot deny the DNA tests, nor the progressiveness of this disease.

My Will is such a wonderful, kind, caring and loving child. To think this horrible disease affecting only 1000 children in the country will steal his vision, mind, mobility and life is unimaginable. Since there is no cure (yet), we will rely on faith and prayers to lead the way to a miraculous healing for our son and possibly sons, since all our boys are at risk and will be tested next weeks.

I ask you plainly, with your utmost passion, to pray for our Will. Please pray for him each day; please include him prayers groups, at churches, share his picture with friends and family of faith. All we have is prayers and faith in God, and I will take the possibility of his intervention over any medicine, any day. I believe in each of you and I thank you for taking the time to read this, thoughts for my family and the hope that you wonderful friends send our way.

I've attached a recent photo of our sweet Will as a visual reminder of who you are praying for. Many thanks to Jamie Werner for taking this awesome photo and capturing his beautiful face so perfectly!!

With love and a heartful of thanks,
Missy and Wayne Herndon

Overwhelming

2009-06-02T13:58:00.000-05:00

I have started and erased this blog post several times because I am having a hard time putting into words what happened on Sunday. I knew that it would be a great day, but I was not expecting what happened. God's presence with us was overwhelming. On Sunday evening, as I was helping the guys grill hot dogs at Joe Pool Lake, I tried to mentally download what happened over the previous 8 hours. Tears filled my eyes. I can't really describe it and this blog post is going to be frustrating to those who were not there to experience it with us, but all I can say is that there was a movement of God sweeping over His people at 412. Three people accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior- and 2 of them did so in the middle of the service. It was almost as if they themselves could not stop it from happening.

Sunday night, we baptized 14 people. It was truly one of the happiest celebrations that I have ever been a part of. Tears fill my eyes just thinking about it.

Here are a few pics:

King Stanley the Great and I

2009-05-27T23:12:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to flaunt this, but will simply tell the facts. I rescued a dog today. I named him King Stanley the Great. He stared death in the face on Matlock and Cooper Street at Pioneer Pkwy. I also stared death in the face when I followed him across Cooper in my vehicle. He is a good boy. He now resides in Arlington Animal Shelter. I believe that he will break out and come find me if it's fate. Or, if it's God's will.

Beloved Shirt

2009-05-12T11:08:00.001-05:00

Today I am wearing my "Beloved" shirt from my sermon on Sunday. In case you missed it, God wants us to wake up in the morning and renew our minds to the truth that we are His Beloved. I don't have to go out and try to be lovable. I am loved. And so are you.

If you don't believe me, read Ephesians 2:4-5.

Powerful

2009-05-09T23:23:00.000-05:00

Keith Wigi sent this to me on Facebook. I had to share the love. It's packed full of truth. It's Grrrrrreat!

The perfect Latte

2009-05-05T11:50:00.000-05:00

From our friends at ABC Coffee. This is the perfect Latte. I don't even like coffee but I think I would drink this. Thanks to Dr. Calvin Pearson for letting me take a picture of his latte. It was awkward, but i think all of you would agree that it was worth it.

Sunday morning's messenger

2009-05-04T13:46:00.001-05:00

By the time I got to church on Sunday morning, I was rattled. I was so scatter-brained. To make a long story short, I experienced what I think a lot of families experience on Sunday morning- stress. When I got out of the car on Sunday morning, Jonathan (our worship pastor) was in the parking lot getting something out of his truck. I sighed and told him, "I'm not preaching this morning." He said, "I'm not either." I said, "Fine then. I'll do it."

Walking through the halls that morning, it was so weird trying to be a pastor when my psyche had been wrecked minutes earlier. When people asked me how I was, trying not to be two-faced, I responded, "Scatter-brained." That was true. But if someone would have said, "Hey Kyle, are you ready to preach? Are you pumped?" I would have had to lie and said "Absolutely."

But then it happened. I believe God sent a messenger to me right before the service started. "Hey Kyle, I don't know if anyone has told you this before, but I just want to say 'Thank you.'"
"For what?"
"For all that you guys do. I love this church. I have never liked church and I haven't been to church in over 20 years. I've never been religious, really. But I feel so free right now. I feel like I can have a relationship with God. I feel accepted by God. Thank you."

Needless to say, it put me in my place. I decided that there was nothing I would rather do than what I was about to do- deliver a message of hope to the people of God.

God is always on time. I love the way that God will always deliver His timely message- to his messengers and through his messengers. Have you ever been there? Just when you needed a bail-out, a fresh message, an encouraging word- God brought the noise and revived your soul...

I don't know.

2009-04-28T18:00:00.000-05:00

5 questions come to my mind as I post this:
1. Am I being inappropriate for posting this?
2. Should I ask my wife about this before I officially post it?
3. How can I make this blog and commercial spiritual?
4. Where can I get a ringtone like that?
5. Does this make me less of a pastor?

I don't know.

If you have answers to any of my questions or if you have more questions- just leave a comment.

Colossians, Christ, and my Wordle

2009-04-23T15:29:00.001-05:00

This week I have been soaking in Colossians and skimming through Romans. There are times when I read Scripture that I subconsciously skip over certain passages because for some reason or other I think it's not applicable (I know- it's dumb). But there are times when I can't stop reading a book. Enter Colossians this week. I don't know how to adequately describe it, but it's like my heart had been bound by chains of religion and when I began to meditate on Colossians my heart began to become free. All I know is that I fell more in love with Jesus when I read it. I am just curious- What was the last thing you read that made you fall more in love with Jesus?

I created what's called a "wordle" today. It's based on my experience in Colossians this week. Here it is:

You can easily create one too at wordle.net.

yahooglemytubeface.com

2009-04-21T09:36:00.000-05:00

Hello friends, family, and countrymen.

My name is Kyle Walker. On March 8, 2007, I set out to make a difference. A difference in my life. A difference in your life. A difference in the world's life. The results of my venture were astounding. The ripple effect went around the world and has now returned to me. Apparently, I only had two people who bought into my business venture. Do you realize what that means? It means that some of you were not paying attention. (If you do not know what I am talking about, look at the original message sent out on March 8, 2007 below).
So this is what happened: I didn't have buy in. I failed to create a sense of urgency regarding the product and I failed to shove my credibility in your face. So here it is: This is the best thing ever and I am the greatest business ventureman ever! I am yet pursuing another new business venture, seeing how my website "myfacetube.com" is now taken by someone named Pawky who talks funny. I recognize, however, that this is not necessarily bad- perhaps it's fate. Because myfacetube.com is only half the website that it should be. For those of you who don't know- myfacetube.com is the enjeanyus mixture of the highly successful myspace.com, facebook.com, and youtube.com. I have improved my venture- one upped myself, so to speak, and have concocted a new force:

yahooglemytubeface.com

This combination of 5 wildly popular websites will only engulf them in incredibility. I will blow all 5 of those websites out of the water by creating this mammoth of a website. Yahooglemytubeface.com is the panther of the cats of websites. It is the Toblerone of chocolate, and honey, and almond nougat candies. It is the wicker of back porch furniture. Imagine. More improved. More useabilitity. More cutting edge. More capabilities. More safe. Yahooglemytubeface.com is just better. It's the best. It just is. My only fear is that yahooglemytubeface.com may serve as a black hole, if you will, of websites. It could possibly be so great that it eventually puts itself out of business and destroys the internet altogether! Certainly there are kinks to be worked out.

My resolve has not changed. I am here to make a whole bunch of money. And also to change the world- one world at a time. And also I would like to help the world to be a better place. Will you join me? Not so much in the money part, but in making the world a better place.

If you will join me, just copy this message and sign your name at the bottom of the page and pass it on. If you do not pass this message on to at least 10 people immediately, something very bad will happen to you in the next 3 days.

Sincerely,
Kyle Walker
Businessman, Venturer, Inventor, Awesome

ORIGINAL VENTURE 2007
Hello friends, family, and countrymen.

My name is Kyle Walker. I am currently pursuing a new business venture. As I was sitting back thinking of all the different ways I can make money with my entrepenuer skills, I really began to think. There is this website called "Myspace.com" and then there is this website called "Youtube.com" and then there is this other website called "Facebook.com" (you should know this one because you are on it right this second). Well, both are very successful. But I am thinking about blowing the 3 of those websites out of the water by creating a bigger, better website. Bigger. Badder. Faster. Ballsier. More improved. More useabilitity. More cutting edge. More capabilities. More safe. More . . . better.

It is going to be called "Myfacetube.com."

My main goal is to just flat-out make a bunch of money, and put everyone else to shame. But secondly, I would like to help the world to be a better place. Will you join me? Not so much in the money part, but in making the world a better place.

If you will join me, just copy this message and sign your name at the bottom of the page and pass it on. If you do not pass this message on to at least 10 people immediately, something very bad will happen to you in the next 3 days.

Best Regards,
Kyle Walker

This is what it's like at our house

2009-04-13T21:25:00.000-05:00

It's worth every minute of it.

1 minute of Fame

2009-04-05T16:18:00.001-05:00

I want to meet this guy. He had his opportunity at 1 minute of fame and he took it! Hey-O!!!

I am blessed.

2009-04-04T20:48:00.001-05:00

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Funny or Sad?

2009-04-03T17:28:00.000-05:00

I will not say whether or not I think this is funny. Some may say this is sad. Some may say it's funny. I refuse to say that I think this is hilarious.

Testing. Testing.

2009-03-28T09:11:00.000-05:00

Here's our little man. He is so cute. Docs said he was a little jaundice. Apparently he appears yellow. Looks fine to me...