I made a pretty big blunder this past Thanksgiving weekend (2012). I logged onto Facebook and started checking out my news feed. The language that I have noticed the last few weeks had me on notice. Every curse word that I saw, I would automatically block that person. I wanted to delete them, but decided not to.
So I scroll down my page and I notice an old high school friend with a post that really made my blood boil. The post had both the 'f' word and Jesus in the same sentance. I immediately assumed that my friend had posted this, so I blocked them. Well in doing so, I alienated a friend. I replied with a post on my own page about this friend being a Christian and posting things like that, and attacking their denomination as well. A couple of mutual friends called me out on it. Asking my who am I to judge and said that I am a hypocrite. Wow, I could not believe it. How could they. How dare they!
Then I started thinking. Wow, they are right. I wasn't showing Jesus to my friend. I was showing a wordly attitude instead. I was being judemental and hypocritical. They made me see the situation from a different perspective. I thank them for that. I found out that my friends account had been hacked and the post taken down. If I hadn't blocked so quickly, I would have known this.
I checked a little while later in my friends list to see if they had un-friended me. They had. I understand why. It just makes me sad. This situation just makes me look at everything and check things out before assuming. You know what happens when you assume, right! Nothing good!
Forgive me Lord, for my poor representation of you this time! I am still a work in progress, and thank You for still working on me, in me and through me.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
My Credentialing.
This is the story of my credentialing process to get my ministry certificate.
I had to have my application in by the end of January, along with all of the fees and other stuff. I did that, and waited. I waited for my interview and test. And I waited, and waited, and waited some more. Finally in July, I recieved the date for my interview and test. Great news!
So the day finally came for the inteview and test. I passed both with flying colors. So I started to expect that my certificate would come in the mail. I waited, waited and waited some more. Nothing came. Then I recieved an email, stating that my wife and I had to attend another meeting to further along the process. So my wife and I attended the meeting, and got the go ahead for my certificate. Then I started expecting something in the mail again. Again, nothing came.
Then another email asking about a question that I left blank on my test. I replied back with my answer, and thought "what next". So one Saturday night, after a long day out, my wife and I arrive home. I walk out to get the mail and I see a letter from the Illinois District Assembly of God. I thought "what do they want now?" I walk into my garage for better lighting, and I notice that the envelope is addressed to Rev. Keven Foulk. Hallelujah, praise the Lord. I finally recieved my credentials! I am a pastor now. So after so many months and almost actually quitting the process, I received my credentials! The big question is:
Now what do I do with it???
I can not wait to see what God has in store for me and my family. I expect that He is going to do great things with us. All I can say is " here I am Lord, use me".
I had to have my application in by the end of January, along with all of the fees and other stuff. I did that, and waited. I waited for my interview and test. And I waited, and waited, and waited some more. Finally in July, I recieved the date for my interview and test. Great news!
So the day finally came for the inteview and test. I passed both with flying colors. So I started to expect that my certificate would come in the mail. I waited, waited and waited some more. Nothing came. Then I recieved an email, stating that my wife and I had to attend another meeting to further along the process. So my wife and I attended the meeting, and got the go ahead for my certificate. Then I started expecting something in the mail again. Again, nothing came.
Then another email asking about a question that I left blank on my test. I replied back with my answer, and thought "what next". So one Saturday night, after a long day out, my wife and I arrive home. I walk out to get the mail and I see a letter from the Illinois District Assembly of God. I thought "what do they want now?" I walk into my garage for better lighting, and I notice that the envelope is addressed to Rev. Keven Foulk. Hallelujah, praise the Lord. I finally recieved my credentials! I am a pastor now. So after so many months and almost actually quitting the process, I received my credentials! The big question is:
Now what do I do with it???
I can not wait to see what God has in store for me and my family. I expect that He is going to do great things with us. All I can say is " here I am Lord, use me".
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Left to Go Right.
I was watching a televangelist on tv this morning, and he was talking about how God has people going left, to get them to end up right. He was going on and on about things and then he hit right where I am at in my life. It was like he looked right at the camera and said "Keven, this is for you." He had my attention, that's for sure.
He started to talk about if you are at a job that you don't feel it is a right fit for you, that is God taking you on a left turn, to get you prepared for the right turn. When you are left, God is preparing an even greater thing for you, than where you are at right now. In fact I just posted this on my facebook page the other day, about "God, I sure hope you something better for me than this." I was talking about my job.
The job that closed down and sent me to un-employment paid over $22.00 an hour. As my un-employment was running out, I didn't have much choice in jobs, so I had to take one that was offered to me for $10.00/hour. Less than half of what I had been making. I made more on un-employment.
I am very grateful to have this job. It is local (Sycamore), it's first shift, and I am able to get Friday's off for ISOM. The pay is the only thing that stunk about this. But I had a job, thank You Jesus!
So I have been there nine months now, and I have been hired full time. But, and there is always a but, I am really tired of the long hours each and everyday. On top of that, they expect you to just work them. Excuse me, but I have a life. I have a family and friends that I would like to see and spend time with. I don't live to work here. So last week, I was down in spirit about this place and crying out to God, "there has to be something more for me than this."
That's when this televagelist comes into play. He was preaching about the job situation and staying there until God moves you onto something bigger and better. And believe me, there is going to be something bigger and better. So right now, God has me on a left turn, and I am trying to be patient until He moves me to the right turn. I know that He has something more for me, I can just feel it. So while I wait, I will worship and praise Him! To God goes all of the glory. He gets everything from me, the good and the bad! I lay it at His feet and let go. Thank You Jesus!
He started to talk about if you are at a job that you don't feel it is a right fit for you, that is God taking you on a left turn, to get you prepared for the right turn. When you are left, God is preparing an even greater thing for you, than where you are at right now. In fact I just posted this on my facebook page the other day, about "God, I sure hope you something better for me than this." I was talking about my job.
The job that closed down and sent me to un-employment paid over $22.00 an hour. As my un-employment was running out, I didn't have much choice in jobs, so I had to take one that was offered to me for $10.00/hour. Less than half of what I had been making. I made more on un-employment.
I am very grateful to have this job. It is local (Sycamore), it's first shift, and I am able to get Friday's off for ISOM. The pay is the only thing that stunk about this. But I had a job, thank You Jesus!
So I have been there nine months now, and I have been hired full time. But, and there is always a but, I am really tired of the long hours each and everyday. On top of that, they expect you to just work them. Excuse me, but I have a life. I have a family and friends that I would like to see and spend time with. I don't live to work here. So last week, I was down in spirit about this place and crying out to God, "there has to be something more for me than this."
That's when this televagelist comes into play. He was preaching about the job situation and staying there until God moves you onto something bigger and better. And believe me, there is going to be something bigger and better. So right now, God has me on a left turn, and I am trying to be patient until He moves me to the right turn. I know that He has something more for me, I can just feel it. So while I wait, I will worship and praise Him! To God goes all of the glory. He gets everything from me, the good and the bad! I lay it at His feet and let go. Thank You Jesus!
Friday, September 21, 2012
I Want to do Better!
They last few weeks I have been looking back on where I have been, and where God has me going. I would like a little more revelation from Him, but I will be patient, or at least try to be. I the meantime I will worship Him!
What I have noticed is that in my mind I have failed at all or at least some of these things lately. So I want to do better.
I want to be a better husband. I want to be a better father. I want to be a better son. I want to be a better brother. A better uncle, a better friend, a better co-worker, a better witness for my Savior Jesus Christ. I want the Holy Spirit to help me do all of this.
My prayer is that God will help me become the man that He wants me to be. My job is to be patient and be still and let Him be God! I know the desires of my heart, but I want more of God and less of me. I want what God wants first and foremost, not what Keven wants. I want to hear His voice and answer His call. I don't want to be to busy to hear God. I want to be busy about the Father's buisness. I want to be working with and for God.
I know I can do better. I WANT TO DO BETTER!!
What I have noticed is that in my mind I have failed at all or at least some of these things lately. So I want to do better.
I want to be a better husband. I want to be a better father. I want to be a better son. I want to be a better brother. A better uncle, a better friend, a better co-worker, a better witness for my Savior Jesus Christ. I want the Holy Spirit to help me do all of this.
My prayer is that God will help me become the man that He wants me to be. My job is to be patient and be still and let Him be God! I know the desires of my heart, but I want more of God and less of me. I want what God wants first and foremost, not what Keven wants. I want to hear His voice and answer His call. I don't want to be to busy to hear God. I want to be busy about the Father's buisness. I want to be working with and for God.
I know I can do better. I WANT TO DO BETTER!!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Keep on pursuing God!
A pastor friend of mine gave an awesome devotion the other night, that really hit home with me. It was from 1 Samuel 30.
7 Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. 8 Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”
And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”
9 So David and his 600 men set out, and they came to the brook Besor. 10 But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.
The pastor told us that sometimes in life you are going to come to a brook, or an obstacle that will be in your way of your pursuit of God. He told us to keep going. God has called you into the ministry and for you to persevere in that calling. Seek God, pursue God with all your heart, mind and soul. So I asked that question of God. "Do You want me to keep on pursuing this ministry thing?"
About a month ago, I was ready to quit going to ISOM. Things were not happening as fast as I would have liked. I wasn't being interviewed or tested for my credentials. I thought that God was closing that door to me and I was ready to give up. God told me to be like the 400 men in the story above who kept on pursuing. Pursue me, seek My face, don't quit and don't give up. I wanted to be obedient to the Lord, but I just didn't feel it.
About a week later, my pastor let me know that we were going to interview and test, later on that next week. I was excited. I sent my payment in for my next class. Got all of my rooming taken care of, and started studying.
The testing day came and went. I passed the test and the interview. Thank You Jesus! Thank You for giving me the strength to hang in there. To not give up and throw in the towel. The door was not being closed, it was being pushed wide open. I intend to walk through that door. I don't know what God is calling me to, but I do know that He wanted me to continue with my ISOM studies. Praise the LORD!!
7 Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. 8 Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”
And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”
9 So David and his 600 men set out, and they came to the brook Besor. 10 But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.
The pastor told us that sometimes in life you are going to come to a brook, or an obstacle that will be in your way of your pursuit of God. He told us to keep going. God has called you into the ministry and for you to persevere in that calling. Seek God, pursue God with all your heart, mind and soul. So I asked that question of God. "Do You want me to keep on pursuing this ministry thing?"
About a month ago, I was ready to quit going to ISOM. Things were not happening as fast as I would have liked. I wasn't being interviewed or tested for my credentials. I thought that God was closing that door to me and I was ready to give up. God told me to be like the 400 men in the story above who kept on pursuing. Pursue me, seek My face, don't quit and don't give up. I wanted to be obedient to the Lord, but I just didn't feel it.
About a week later, my pastor let me know that we were going to interview and test, later on that next week. I was excited. I sent my payment in for my next class. Got all of my rooming taken care of, and started studying.
The testing day came and went. I passed the test and the interview. Thank You Jesus! Thank You for giving me the strength to hang in there. To not give up and throw in the towel. The door was not being closed, it was being pushed wide open. I intend to walk through that door. I don't know what God is calling me to, but I do know that He wanted me to continue with my ISOM studies. Praise the LORD!!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Disturbed
My family and I watched a movie the other night, that really disturbed me. The movie was titled 'Joyful Noise'. It supposed to be about a church choir singing in a competition between churches.
The movie was filled with all kinds of things that I found offensive. Pre-marital sex between a choir member and a random dude. Teenage kissing between a choir member and some other kid. The performing of secular songs in church. I mean really, if this is the way that the world sees us Christians, they really missed the boat.
If I were to attend a church service where all of this was going on, it would be my last at that church. To me, this movie portrays us Christains as a bunch of hypocrites. To me, to be a memeber of the choir, you need to old yourself up to some higher standards. Not worldly standards. We are to be in the world but not of the world.
I know that this isn't a Christian film, but seriously, they got it all wrong in my book. I don't know what kind of church they went to, to research this, but rest assured it wasn't my church!
Once again, this is just my opinion about this movie.
The movie was filled with all kinds of things that I found offensive. Pre-marital sex between a choir member and a random dude. Teenage kissing between a choir member and some other kid. The performing of secular songs in church. I mean really, if this is the way that the world sees us Christians, they really missed the boat.
If I were to attend a church service where all of this was going on, it would be my last at that church. To me, this movie portrays us Christains as a bunch of hypocrites. To me, to be a memeber of the choir, you need to old yourself up to some higher standards. Not worldly standards. We are to be in the world but not of the world.
I know that this isn't a Christian film, but seriously, they got it all wrong in my book. I don't know what kind of church they went to, to research this, but rest assured it wasn't my church!
Once again, this is just my opinion about this movie.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
My Daughter
My daughter just finished 8th grade. This has caused me to reflect back on what has happened in her life so far. Here comes the nostalgia.
Thank You God for her birth. She was born five weeks early and had to spend the first nine days of her life in the hospital. Her lungs were not full developed and had to be watched 24/7. She was transfered from Mercy in Aurora to Lutheran General in Park Ridge. Not being able to hold your own child for the first nine days, very painful.
Thank You God for getting her through her heart surgery when she was a year old. She had a hole in her heart that should have closed by itself by the age of six months. It did not. So she had to have surgery. Thank You Jesus for answering our prayers, even when we weren't walking with you. I did not know You at the time, but yet You still kept Your hand on the situation. Looking at her today, you would never know that she had these problems in her first year of life.
Thank You God for her very first day of school in kindergarden. Her class would line up outside and then all go in together. She went in the building but somehow got seperated from her class. So she came back outside crying that she was lost. Good thing I didn't leave right away. I got her straightened around and she made it through her first day.
Thank You God for every parent/teacher confrence that I ever went to was a positive one. Every teacher from kindergarden all the way to her eighth grade, gushed about her. How helpful she was in class. How she did everything they asked her to do. Her awesome grades. Even when she changed schools, the teachers could not tell that she was a transfer. She adapted so easily. Thank You Jesus.
I thank You God for her musical and acting abilities. She recieved the highest score on her solo ensamble in sixth grade. She won an award for that. She sang the song "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me. Made us all cry! She has tried out for and was awarded roles in every play from the sixth grade to the eighth. Not afraid to be on stage.
Thank You God for her softball ability. She is a really good player and understands the game well! I love being able to go out and play catch with her. Every Dad's dream right. To play catch with their kid.
Thank You God for her being a Cardinals fan and for loving the game of baseball. She actually wants to get a score book and keep score of games we watch on tv. Awesome! Her school went on a field trip last week up to Milwaukee to watch the Brewers play. Her friend wanted to walk around, but my daughter said that she came to watch the game! She would ask questions and give answers to her friend. I was so proud of her!!
Thank You God for blessing me with my daugher! I don't know what I did to deserve her, but thank You!
Thank You God for her birth. She was born five weeks early and had to spend the first nine days of her life in the hospital. Her lungs were not full developed and had to be watched 24/7. She was transfered from Mercy in Aurora to Lutheran General in Park Ridge. Not being able to hold your own child for the first nine days, very painful.
Thank You God for getting her through her heart surgery when she was a year old. She had a hole in her heart that should have closed by itself by the age of six months. It did not. So she had to have surgery. Thank You Jesus for answering our prayers, even when we weren't walking with you. I did not know You at the time, but yet You still kept Your hand on the situation. Looking at her today, you would never know that she had these problems in her first year of life.
Thank You God for her very first day of school in kindergarden. Her class would line up outside and then all go in together. She went in the building but somehow got seperated from her class. So she came back outside crying that she was lost. Good thing I didn't leave right away. I got her straightened around and she made it through her first day.
Thank You God for every parent/teacher confrence that I ever went to was a positive one. Every teacher from kindergarden all the way to her eighth grade, gushed about her. How helpful she was in class. How she did everything they asked her to do. Her awesome grades. Even when she changed schools, the teachers could not tell that she was a transfer. She adapted so easily. Thank You Jesus.
I thank You God for her musical and acting abilities. She recieved the highest score on her solo ensamble in sixth grade. She won an award for that. She sang the song "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me. Made us all cry! She has tried out for and was awarded roles in every play from the sixth grade to the eighth. Not afraid to be on stage.
Thank You God for her softball ability. She is a really good player and understands the game well! I love being able to go out and play catch with her. Every Dad's dream right. To play catch with their kid.
Thank You God for her being a Cardinals fan and for loving the game of baseball. She actually wants to get a score book and keep score of games we watch on tv. Awesome! Her school went on a field trip last week up to Milwaukee to watch the Brewers play. Her friend wanted to walk around, but my daughter said that she came to watch the game! She would ask questions and give answers to her friend. I was so proud of her!!
Thank You God for blessing me with my daugher! I don't know what I did to deserve her, but thank You!
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