Kicker Getting Kicked!

 As I'm sure you have heard by now, an NFL place kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs gave a commencement speech for the 2024 college graduating class from Benedictine College. His speech as caused much backlash against him. It has been construed by some as controversial. To some, it was spot on. It seems that much of the controversy comes from the comments he made concerning the women graduating. So that is what I want to focus on. 

This is my take on what he said.

He congratulated them on a job well done. All the accomplishments they achieved in their lives up to that point. He addressed them about having the future wide open before them. The careers they could achieve. Getting a great job, all the promotions & titles they could achieve. But, he also said there was another title that they could get. The title of wife, mother and homemaker! 

That's it. The controversial statement. 

People have taken this and ran with it. Put their own perspective on it. Right, wrong. Up to your own interpretation. Taking a shot at the kicker. They thought that he was saying that a woman's job was to only be a wife, mother & homemaker. I don't think that is what he meant at all. To me he was saying that all of the positions they could achieve in the workforce, being a wife and mother is just as important. While I don't think that a woman should give up a possible career to have a family, why can't she have both? I know plenty of successful woman who both have careers and families! Over half the women that I work with told me that if they could stay home with their children, they would. They only work because they have too. The family needs two incomes to make it. I also know many women who really get emotional when they have to return to work after their pregnancy leave is over. The idea of having to leave their children to go to work. It breaks their heart!

So when did a speaker at an event talking about starting a family cause such an uproar? If he had talked about going out and grabbing the world by the tail, chasing their dreams & living for themselves, he would probably have been lauded. But he didn't. He stood up for the family and it's values!

I applaud this player for taking a stand. People have even wanted him fired by his team for his comments. My thoughts on that are, what if your employer heard what you said to others or in certain circumstances, do you think that you should be fired? We all have something that we said or did that could be controversial. Doesn't mean that we should get fired for it. I'm just glad that I serve a God who is full of Grace and Mercy towards us. We should show the same to others!

Hebrews 4:16 New Living Translation

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

God bless!

Rev. Keven

Sick Of It!

 How many of us have been there, or are currently there? What do I mean you are asking. Being sick of the way that things are. The shape that the world is in. The shape that your life is in. The choices that you make are just not working out. Sick of the rut that your in. Need/want to make some changes. You buy a self help book. Get some advice from friends. Buy a new car. Get some new clothes. A new job. New house. Anything to try and make a change. Still nothing changes. Your still 'sick of it'.

Then you think, "I should try going to church". Nothing else has worked. So you pick out a church to attend and go to service. You sit there listening to the pastor talk about the love that Jesus has for you. The freedom that He'll give you. The chains that He'll break. You start thinking about everything. How you are sick of it all! Then when the pastor asks if there is anyone who wants a change in their life and accept Jesus, to raise your hand. You remember what the pastor said Jesus would do for you. Being sick and tired of it all, you think this is the change that I need and all of a sudden, your hand is in the air. You just made the right choice that will change your life forever. The air feels a little lighter. You're walking a little taller. Things just seem better. You went into church one way and came out another. That's what Jesus does. He changes us. No self help book, medication, drug or anything else can do that for you. Only Jesus!

Psalm 55:22 New Living Translation

22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.

So raise your hand if your sick of: Regrets, broken promises, favoritism at work or in your family. Evil running rampant everywhere! There is a reason life is sometimes referred to as a rat race. Just seems like you are caught in an endless maze! With no way out.

Galatians 5:1Amplified Bible

5 It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

Jesus provides that way out. Out of our doldrums. Our depression. The endless maze that we seem to be caught in. 

So I encourage you, that no matter what it is that you are 'sick of'. The world, your life, your job. Stop trusting yourself and put your trust in The One who is trustworthy. Jesus!

Proverbs 3:5 The Message

5 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.

God bless!

Rev. Kev.

    

How Is Your Race??

 Not sure if you are aware or not, but the moment you are born, your name and life enter a race. A life race that lasts from the moment you are born till you take your last breath! There is a start date, a finish date, and then all the dates that we live in the middle. Conception is the starting line, birth is the starter pistol going off. Unlike many other races, there are two routes to choose. The one that God sets before us, or the way of the world. Years ago, I was running in the worlds race. Then I was handed a baton that changed my directory and lane. That baton was Jesus! I started running the race that God has placed before me.

Hebrews 12:1 New Living Translation

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Doing worldly things. Living a life of sin! Doing things my way. Heading for destruction. Alcohol, fornication, etc. etc. I worked hard, but I partied harder! The world was telling me to live a certain way. The worlds race was like a sprint. Go as fast and furious as you can. Full speed, to the end. 

Then I had a road to Damascus moment. Just like Saul (Paul), (Acts 9: 3-6), I saw that the way that I was living my life was not beneficial to anyone. I opened my eyes to see that the race that I was running was in the wrong direction. I had a daughter I was raising. What was I showing her? That it's okay to act this way. To do these things without any consequences? My eye opening experience showed me that I needed to start living differently. I life for God & family. I wasn't the only one I had to worry about any longer. I had another person I was responsible for. I am so grateful for that encounter. Jesus wasn't finished with me yet. He still had work for me to do. Starting with being a stable father.

I view the Christian life as a marathon, not a sprint. The world race wants everything RIGHT NOW!!

1 Corinthians 9:26 English Standard Version

26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

As we run the Christian race, Jesus justifies us. To become more like Him. 

Titus 3:7-8 The Message

3-8 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, easy marks for sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.

So I encourage you tonight. To keep running the good race. The one that God has set before you. That way when we come to the end it will be said of us:

2 Timothy 4:7-8 The Message

6-8 You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Bon Jovi.

 Why am I writing a blog about Bon Jovi you may be asking? Because God said too. 

As you may or may not know, there is a rock doc on the band Bon Jovi. It is a four episode limited series. It is very well done and covers a lot of their history as a band.

So a friend of mine and I have both watched it and were discussing it the other day. He asked me if I thought that Bon Jovi was a Christian. I told him, I'm pretty sure he (they) are not. I asked him why he would ask such a question. He proceeded to tell me because of some of their song titles. Like "Living on a Prayer." "Lay Your Hands on Me." He said those have Christian words in them. I said "yes, yes they do. But I'm sure the meanings behind each of these songs are not Christian based." "I'm sure they have a far different meaning than what you think."

I told him that I would try to break each one down and see what happens.

First up: Living on a Prayer. 

The song has two fictional characters in it who are in a relationship. BF/GF? Husband/wife. Doesn't matter. The song is talking about how the couple is down on their luck. That they should hold on to each other. That they would make it together. They don't talk about praying to God to help them out. They are leaning on each other for help. To me if you are singing about "Living on a Prayer", you should be living, waiting for God to answer your prayer(s). I don't pray to my wife and she doesn't pray to me. We pray to God!

Psalm 121:2 New Living Translation

2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Next: Lay Your Hands on Me.

The band is singing about physical touch. How it can grow a couple closer together, more intimate. A more emotional, deeper connection with someone. That's great and all, but to clarify for my friends question, a Christian, especially a Pentecostal Christian, the laying on of hand has a whole different meaning.

Numbers 8:10-11 New Living Translation

10 When you present the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. 11 Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the Lord’s service

When we lay our hands on people, it is usually for healing or an anointing of some kind. There are many, many verses about the laying on of hands. 

So this is my break down of these songs. Just because a band uses Christian wording, doesn't make them Christian. 

Metallica wrote a Christian based song. (Creeping Death)

Black Sabbath wrote a Christian song. (After Forever) 

W.A.S.P wrote a Christian song. (Golgotha)

Take a listen if you don't believe me. I'm sure there are more out there, but these are the only ones that I can think of.

I guess my point of all this, is this. You can use all the Christian lingo, wording, whatever you want. To be a Christian, you have to believe in The One True God, and have relationship with Him.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Don't Stop Praying!

 I've heard the Matthew West song "Don't Stop Praying" many times on the radio. Once again, I really never paid attention to the lyrics, just the part about "Don't Stop Praying." One day last week, the lyrics finally hit me, hard! He was singing about continue praying no matter what. Even when you don't feel like it, or you think that God is not listening. Don't stop praying. Just because He doesn't answer a prayer the way that you think it should be answered, don't stop praying.

I thought about my mom. The whole time she was in the hospital. I would pray for her before I left every night. I would pray that God would heal her and get her out of that hospital bed. Night after night, the prayers continued. Till one night I got the call. You know the one that we all dread. "Mom is not going to make it, you need to come to the hospital." She passed away early the next morning. But my prayers were answered. Not the way that I wanted, but the way that God wanted. He did heal her and get her out of that hospital bed. He called her back to Himself. Her race was finished. She had crossed her finish line.

I have had prayers answered immediately on the spot. I have had prayers answered sometime hours or days after I prayed. There are still some prayers that I am waiting to be answered. But, I don't stop praying.

Isaiah 55:9 New Living Translation

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Just because God doesn't answer your prayer in your time frame, doesn't mean that He isn't listening. His answer may be not yet. Or just plain no. He doesn't always say yes to us. He knows what we need and what is best for us.

Jeremiah 29:12 Amplified Bible

12 Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you.

I drive an electric forklift at work. When the battery gets low, a warning beep goes off. When it is completely dead, it will beep twice. There have been loads that I have been about half way unloading when the truck beeps once. I still have a half of the load to go. I pray "Lord, give my truck enough power to make it through this load before it dies." More so than not, that prayer is answered. It reminds me of the verse in The Bible when a woman is baking something and the flour and her oil supply is very low, but it never runs out. (1 Kings 17:16)

I get approached all the time for healing prayer. Love that. God will hear those prayers. But there is so much more than just healing. We can pray for protection & provision for our families. Battery power, rain, sunshine, a good outcome, job, etc. etc. The point is: Don't Stop Praying!

Romans 12:12 Living Bible

12 Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.

So I encourage you. No matter what your situation is, don't stop praying. Help is on the way. Maybe not the way that we think or expect, but it will come!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Do It Now (before it's to late)

 Recently, in my circle of family, friends & co-workers, there have been some people suddenly passing away. Going to take a nap during the day. Going to bed after dinner and watching a little TV. Going someplace to visit someone. 

One of my co-workers worked all day, went home and had dinner with his significant other, went to bed and had a major heart attack and died. Everything was normal right up until that point. No warning, no indication that something was wrong or about to take place.

Another co-worker worked all day and the next she was gone. Passed away while driving to visit family. Again, no warning or indication!

People taking their own life. Car accident. Falling and hitting your head in the shower. Sudden sickness with no explanation. The list goes on and on. So many ways for it to be the last moment of someone's life. You just never know.

So why am I saying all this you may be asking yourself. Well, let me tell you why. There are a couple of reasons.

First:

 A lot of these events happened suddenly or unexpectedly. I just urge to hug your family more. Tell them that you love them, every chance that you get. Spend as much time with them as you can. Once they are gone, you will never be able to do any of that. There is no do over button. No undo button. So, do it now before it's to late. 

Second:

You never know when it will be your last day on Earth. Anything can come along and take you out. Natural causes, automobile accident, work accident. You never know what. So I urge you to get right with Jesus before you leave this life. Do it now, before it's to late! You may be thinking "Oh, I can do it tomorrow." You know what? Tomorrow never comes. You can't accept Jesus when you die! Accept Him now while you still can.

I plan on loving my family well and Jesus even more! Reminds me of system I saw at a store one time. Good, Better, Best. 

Work is good. Relationships you have with co-workers can be good.

Family is better.  

Jesus is BEST! Having a personal relationship with Him! Nothing better!

So I encourage you tonight. 

Love God, love your family! Be it either blood, friend or co-worker.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Well, I Was Asked!

 Asked about what you may be asking yourself. Well I'm glad that you asked. Not sure if you are aware of the men's conference controversy that took place last weekend at a church in Missouri. The controversy started with the opening "entertainment", and then being called out by a guest pastor who followed afterword. So I have been asked my opinion about it. So, I'll give my thoughts on what happened.

Stronger Men's Conference is a men's conference held every year at James River Church in Springfield, MO. It is advertised as a men's conference that exists to "inspire and equip men to live out God’s vision for manhood to be the husbands, fathers, and leaders God has called them to be,".

The opening entertainment to kick of the event was a shirtless, sword swallowing dude, who was swinging from a pole. Hmmm.

My first thought upon watching a little of the video is, wait, what? What am I watching? This is a church men's conference?? I don't know about you, but how does this kind of act help men to become stronger? Inspire them to become better husbands, fathers and leaders that God has called them too?

If I paid money go to this conference and I saw this, I would have walked out and demanded a refund. Not because I am a prude. It's just that this kind of act doesn't belong in a church. If you were on the strip in Vegas, then okay. But it wasn't!

Say I am a new Christian. God brought me out of sexual sin. Pornography & lust while attending female strip clubs. I go to this conference to get inspired to become a better man and I see this going on. Instead of women being topless and dancing on a pole, it's a dude, in church. I would think that the church is acting just like the world! Not much different. How hypocritical. Don't go stare and lust after topless woman, but we are going to present a topless dude using a pole for your entertainment. 

Romans 2:3 The Voice

3 Here’s what is happening: you attack and criticize others and then turn around to commit the same offenses yourselves! Do you think you will somehow dodge God’s judgment?

Romans 14:21 New Living Translation

21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

The Pastor that spoke after this act was finished, called it out. He said there was a Jezebel spirit during that act. I don't disagree with him. If he didn't say anything, it would seem that he agreed with it happening. He obviously didn't!

So my two cents are this. In everything that we do, we must honor Christ. Did this shirtless, pole dancing, sword swallower man honor God? To me he didn't and neither did the church.

1 Corinthians 10:31 New Living Translation

31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.