Perfect Example.

 Have you ever looked to someone or something as an example to follow? Look at your parents. See how they example on how to do things or handle things. Good or bad. They will set an example for you. My dad taught me what not to do as a husband or father. My mom set a great example on how to be generous, loving and kind to others. How to work hard for what you wanted. To provide for your family.

If you are in public someplace. You watch others to see how they do things. How to act in a restaurant. How to order, how to deal with the wait staff. How to navigate a drive thru line. How to do many things while driving. How to act in public in general. Again, there can be good or bad examples of everything. 

The perfect example in my life is Jesus! He knew how to act and conduct Himself in every situation. He never runs anyone down. His words are always uplifting or encouraging to others. By watching Jesus, people had the perfect example how to conduct themselves. In all situations.

He never got upset when He was inconvenienced with an interruption. He just kept loving on people! He was patient and kind when these things happened. When people approached Him unexpectedly, He didn't turn them away or rebuke them. He listened, cared & healed if necessary. 

The woman with the bleeding issue. (Matthew 9:20)

The blind man on the path Jesus was walking (Luke 18:38-42)

The Roman Centurion (Luke 7:1-10)

There are many examples in The Bible, but I think that you get the idea.

One time I did something nice for someone, they replied, "wow, I want to be just like you." I'm like, "I'm just following Jesus' example." "Don't follow what I do, follow what Jesus did!"

1 Corinthians 11:1 Living Bible

11 And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ’s.

So I encourage you. Whenever faced with any kind of situation, follow the examples that Jesus set. 

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

Metal, Christian!

 

I get asked all the time, "how can you claim to be a Christian and a pastor and still listen to Heavy Metal?" Why does metal music get such backlash amongst Christians? No other genre gets the kind of hate that metal does. Rap, hip hop, country. I have even heard some Christian songs sound like disco or top 40. All those seem to be okay, but not metal!

What's the difference if a metal band is singing about worldly things. Partying, fornicating, debauchery, etc. etc. Or singing about God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit? I mean it's still the same fast, aggressive, heavy music. Just different lyrics. When I became a Christian, I switched from secular metal, to Christian metal. Heavenly Metal if you will.

When I say I listen to Stryper, Disciple, Skillet, Seventh Day Slumber, to name a few, that's when the side eye starts. You can just see the other person thinking about that. "Heavy metal is the devils music." I have heard several big name pastors say the same thing. Chastise the band and their fans for listening to them. Your not a real Christian if you listen to heavy metal. Really!!

I would say the same for hip/hop or rap. Nobody says a word when I say I listen to Toby Mac, Lecrae, or any other Christian hip/hop, rap artist. 

Hip/hop and rap to me are even worse than metal. The artist really use profane language, treat woman as objects. Encourage violence, especially against the police. I know that metal has the same kind of lyrics in some of the songs. I'm not oblivious. 

Two of my sermons were inspired by heavy metal songs. 'Rise Up' - Disciple and 'I Will Fail You' - Demon Hunter. Both were well received. If I were to tell the congregation were the inspiration came from, there would probably have been an uproar.

So if I listen to Stryper, Hillsong, CAIN, Toby Mac, no matter what genre, I am still worshipping God! No matter what anyone thinks.

Psalm 105:2 The Message

Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Raised In Defiance!

 Have you ever done anything that someone told you that you couldn't do? Something that other people thought that you were incapable of doing? I know that I have many times. How many times when you accomplish the feat that others thought couldn't be done, did you raise your fist? Many times come to my mind both personally and others that I have watched. 

My doctor told me that I would never lose enough weight through diet and exercise to become pre-diabetic. Oh yeah, challenge accepted! I went on to lose over 100#. The day that I went back to my doctor, she could not believe it. I walked out of her office with my fist raised HIGH!! Don't tell me I can't do anything!

I was baptized in the Jordan river on a trip to Israel. I came up out of the water and raised my fist. Take that Satan. I was baptized in the same river that Jesus was! He wins. I win!

Anytime that I do something difficult at work or anywhere. I get the feat accomplished and raise my fist in victory. Life, you will not defeat me!

Philippians 4:13 Amplified Bible

13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]

Watching Ozzie Smith in the 1985 NLCS hit a game winning homerun. Running around the bases with his fist raised high! No one expected that. He was the last guy that people would think to hit a game winning homerun!

MLB, NFL, NHL, golf, tennis, no matter what sport, when something good happens, they raise their fist.

All this to say, that in the face of adversity, telling someone they can't or shouldn't do something, when they do it, they raise their fist, in defiance! Defiance of the situation or obstacle.

Even people did this act in The Bible.

In the book of Exodus, the Israelites were trying to get out of Egypt. Moses kept going to Pharoah and telling him what God had said about them leaving. Pharoah's heart was hardened, so he would never let them leave. Even after God had sent ten plagues upon them, he still wouldn't let them leave. 

Finally, he caught on that The Lord wanted His people to leave. But after they left, his heart was still hardened and he chased after the Israelites.

 I love this verse!

Exodus 14:8 New Living Translation

8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.

Defiant to Pharoah. Defiant to his harsh ways, and slavery! Obedient to God and His ways!

So the raised fist of defiance goes all the way to the Old Testament in The Bible.

What a good place to start a trend. Biblically! 

God bless,

Rev. Kev.