Calling You Out.

 I went to see the band CAIN in concert over the weekend. They have a song "Rise Up (Lazarus)". It's a song about Jesus calling us out of the grave. Just like Lazarus.

John 11:43-44 New Living Translation

43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

I have heard this song many times, but when it was played live, it just hit different. Powerful! Hands raised in the air, I could feel the Holy Spirit speaking to me. He asked me what Jesus has been calling me/us out of? How comfortable have we gotten on our own. We are too scared to make a move, when God tells us to move. He wants to wake us up. Call us out of our tombs, just like He called Lazarus!

So what grave is Jesus calling you out of today? 

Your past? Are you to comfortable living in the past? Once we accept Jesus, our past is gone. A new life begins. A new life in Him!

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Is He calling you out of your sin. Are you comfortable in your sin. It is something that you are familiar with.

1 John 1:9 Living Bible

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.

Is He calling you out of addiction? Pornography? Drugs? Idols?

1 John 2:16-17 The Message

15-17 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

All the above mentioned things are graves to us. Meant to keep us captive and not to live. We feel like a stone has been rolled in front of our lives. Jesus came and rolled those stones away. 

Jesus is calling us out of all of these worldly things, but He is also calling us into a life with Him.

Galatians 2:20 Amplified Bible

20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

So I encourage you today. Jesus is calling us. We need to rise up and become more like Him. To live the life that He went to the Cross for. He is the chain breaker, life giver. He is everything we could ever need!

God bless.

PK.

The World!

 There is a song being played on the radio with lyrics that go like this. "I Don't Want To Love What The World Loves, I Don't Want To Chase What The World Does. The title of the song is "First Things First" by the band Consumed By Fire.

This song has really gotten me to think about what I chase and desire. Am I really chasing after what God wants for me? Or am I chasing what the world wants me to chase? The world wants you to be the king of your own world. Put yourself first. That's why there are so many self help books to help "us" out. The world wants you to love yourself first. The love of money, big houses and fancy cars. It seems lately that the world is more about me, me, me. How dare you get in my way. I am offended by everything that goes against what I believe. 

I don't want to love or chase any of that. I want to chase after Jesus and what He has for me. I don't want to love worldly things. I want Him first. He is enough for me. I'm not saying nice houses and cars are wrong. I just don't want them to be my primary focus. I don't want to sell my soul to attain those things. That's right. Cars and houses are things. Cars will rust and fall apart. Houses become dilapidated.

You know who never breaks down or gets rusty? Jesus. Jesus is eternal. I want that! I want to chase after Him. Love Him. Serve Him. Like the song says, *First Things First*. He is the first thing in my life! Everything that I do, I do it for Jesus. Work, play, everything.

You might notice along the way as you begin to serve and worship Jesus, you will lose some friends or family. In fact some people may even hate you for your new life. That's okay.

John 15:18-19 Amplified Bible

18 “If the world hates you [and it does], know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would treat you with affection. But you are not of the world [you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world hates you.

Remember, Jesus has called us to new life. A new life in Him. He still lets us operate in the world. Be a disciple for Him! To point people to Him.

1 John 2:15 New Living Translation

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

So I urge you today to chase after and love things that really matter. Jesus. He is EVERYTHING that you will ever need.

PK

Body Shop.

 Today, two months after the accident, I got my van back from the body shop. Let me tell you. It looks sharp. Probably almost better than brand new. Can't tell where the impact was. Where the paint was left behind by the other vehicle. Scratches, dent, everything, gone! Really fine job by the body shop.

I started thinking about Jesus and how He makes us new after we get dented, scratched, broken, as we go through life. We go to Him in such sad shape, and just like the body shop repaired my van, He will repair us! Make us new. He just wants us to come.

John 15:3 Amplified Bible

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].

You see, we don't need to get a new set of clothes, a fresh haircut, or get squeaky clean to come to Jesus. He accepts us as we are. Broken, hurting, in need of a Savior!

Just like I didn't have to go and have my van washed before taking it in to get worked on, it's the same with Jesus. We go to Him and present ourselves to Him. Flaws and all.

Like the body shop took off the door and replaced it, took off the broken parts of the body and fixed them, Jesus does the same for us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

What a new life it is. You will not be sorry to accept Jesus! He loves us and wants the best for us!

Like the body shop wanted only the best outcome for my van, how much more does Jesus want for us?

John 10:10 Amplified Bible

10 I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

My encouragement tonight is this. Don't wait (think) that you have to have your life together before you can come to Jesus. You can do it right now. Right where you are.

John 3:16 New Living Translation

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Do it tonight. Tomorrow may be to late!

PK.

Worship Experience!

 I had the pleasure this past week to go see worship artist Brooke Ligertwood in concert. She is the worship leader for Hillsong Worship and has released some solo music as well. She was on one of her solo concert tours for her recording *Seven*. 

From the moment I bought the tickets, I knew this concert would be different. I wasn't exactly sure how or why it would be different, but I just knew that it would. She was performing at a church in Naperville. So not to far away. I get to the church and head into the auditorium. It is a general admission show, so I am looking around at possible seats. A gentlemen approached me and asked if I was a single. I told him that I am married, but for the sake of the concert seating I was a single. He told me that he had a seat for me if I wanted it. I said "sure, I'll check it out." He started walking toward the stage and walking closer and closer. Ended up five rows from the stage. I never thought in my life I would ever get that close, but there I was filling it.

Like I said earlier, I knew that this night would be different. The crowd was electric and ready to worship God! Before one note was played or one word sung, I was weeping. You could just feel the sweet presence of Jesus in that room. Holy Spirit was very evident!

Brooke came out and started playing and the tears really started. Wow! The power of her music and the message the words contained (The Gospel). 

I had made up my mind going into the church, that I was going all in. Worship like never before. So I sang (ok let's be honest here. Made a joyful noise) as loud as I could. Instead of raising one arm, I had both in the air. So much so that my shoulders were hurting on the way home! She asked us to pray in our own prayer language, and boy did I! My body was hurting. I had helped move my step-dad the Saturday before and did something to my lower back/upper leg. I could hardly walk a step without almost going down. I prayed for healing from that. (Side note. Ever since that night, I have been able to walk pretty freely without pain and almost going to the ground). I prayed for healing for people I know that are battling all kinds of things. I prayed for the night and for God to move. Boy, did He ever move. 

I really didn't know what to expect that night, but I came expecting. To feel God differently. To experience Him differently. To feel His presence. Wow, is all I can say. For almost two hours we sang, prayed, gave praise and worshipped our Lord & Savior!

John 4:23 New Living Translation

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

Hebrews 13:15 Amplified Bible

15 Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

God is ready to do something new, if only we are willing to do something new. I have been to worship events before. Both at the local church and national touring artists. Like I said earlier. This show just had a different feel to it. From the purchasing of the tickets, to the final word and chord played, God was in this whole thing, to me!

I give thanks and praise to You Jesus. For using Brooke Ligertwood in such a powerful way! To magnify & lift up Your name.

Thought Provoking!

 My family and I went to see the movie *Jesus Revolution* over the weekend. It is a really good movie. If you don't know the story, it is about how the Jesus movement got started in the '70's with the hippies in Southern California. How one California church opened it's doors to the hippies much to the chagrin of it's existing members. They had long hair. Were a little smelly, wore clothes with holes in them. The "proper" church members told the pastor that these people didn't belong in their congregation. The pastor disagreed and opened the doors and welcomed them in. Thus beginning a Jesus movement that spread throughout the whole world.

Well if you know me, you know what happened. The movie got me to thinking.

Do I treat and welcome people who are different than me? That look, dress & smell different? How they are dressed? I mean do I really? I would like to think that I do, but after the movie, I'm not so sure.

I wear shirts or hats that have a Christian message on it. Or Scripture passages. Something about Jesus. I call it witness wear. The meaning behind it is to start a conversation about my faith and of course Jesus. Trust me, I have had plenty of conversations because of this type of clothing. When I wear something like that, people approach me. Some are not like me, at all. If I am honest with you, when I see them coming towards me and I know that they are coming for me, sometimes in my head I'm like "please keep moving." "Don't stop, don't stop." Then when I think that, I say to myself, "that's not like Jesus at all." How am I showing Jesus to them if I wish that they would keep moving. Nine out of ten times they stop.

1 Peter 2:17 The Message

17 Treat everyone you meet with dignity. 

Even if people I meet do not look, dress or act like me, I still try and treat them with dignity. They are still human after all. I engage in conversation. Listen to what they have to say. Most of the time they just want someone to listen to them. I guess I look like that guy to them. After talking with them, I always kick myself for wanting them not to stop. Jesus loved everyone, so why can't I even talk to everyone that comes my way? 

1 John 3:11 Amplified Bible

11 For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another;

So I will and try to do better at welcoming in people who are from a different situation than I am. If I meet them in church I have a different reaction than if I meet them out in public. And that is a shame.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Borrowed Time!

 One month ago to the day, I was involved in a car accident. Nothing major. More of an inconvenience than anything. Going around one of those stupid roundabouts that are supposed to make traffic flow better. Yeah, made it flow right into my vehicle. Little damage to both cars. Both myself and the other driver were okay. No injuries. As we were exchanging insurance info, we were lamenting about how much we hate roundabouts! After exchanging info and checking again to make sure everyone was okay, we went our separate ways. As I drove off, a thought came to me. I (we) are living on borrowed time.

If this would have been a different time of day or a different intersection, the outcome could have been much different. Damage could have been worse. One or both drivers could have been hurt or even killed. I was thanking and praising God for His protection over the situation. I know that I was still involved in an accident, but like I said, it could have been much worse.

We need to be prepared to meet Jesus at any given moment. You never know when it will be your time. Like I said, if that accident had happened some place else, I could have gone to meet Jesus! People think that they have time to accept Him. "Oh, tomorrow is soon enough." You know what? Tomorrow never comes! Accept Him today, tomorrow may be to late.

Proverbs 27:1 New Living Translation

27 Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

We all make plans for the next day, but truth be told, we don't know what tomorrow holds. Jesus does. 

1 Thessalonians 5:2 New Living Translation

2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

So I implore you tonight. Get right with Jesus before it's to late. Do you think that I planned on being involved in a car accident that fateful day? I was just on my way to have lunch with my beautiful wife. God had an interruption for me. For some reason that only He knows, He wanted the other driver to meet me. In time, maybe I'll know why. God's timing!

God bless.
Rev. Kev.

Excited, Emotional, Exhausted & Frustrated??

 My wife and I were finally able to take our trip to Israel. I say finally because it has been in the works since 2018. We made our first deposit for the trip that was scheduled for 2020. Well, we all know what happened that year. So it was postponed. And then postponed again. I believe that it was postponed four times all together. Then it was totally cancelled, but then rescheduled for 2023. We kept holding our breath for another set back, but it never came. Needless to say, we were excited to finally be going. 

EXCITED:

Excited is an understatement. Who wouldn't be excited to take a trip to the Holy Land? Wasn't really excited about the long flight, but once we arrived, OH WOW!  To be able to see in person places that you only read about in The Bible. The Sea of Galilee. The place where Jesus walked on water. Where He called Peter to get out of the boat and come to Him. Where the battle of Armageddon will take place. Visited the city where Jesus' first miracle took place. Turning water into wine. The Jordan River. To baptize and be baptized in the same river that Jesus was baptized. See all the ancient architecture & ruins. It was a lot to take in. Sensory overload is what some of the people on the trip were saying.

EMOTIONAL:

How can you not get emotional about seeing where Jesus walked and talked and taught? The Mt. Of Beatitudes. The Mt. Of Olives, where Jesus will set foot when He returns. The Upper Room. The garden of Gethsemane. Seeing where He was whipped and beaten. Walking the Via Dolorosa. The same street that Jesus walked while carrying the Cross. Seeing where he stumbled and put His hand on the wall. Where He fell and Simon helped carry the cross. Golgotha. Where He was nailed to the Cross. Then the tomb where they buried Him! We checked. It's still EMPTY!! To see and take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The Western Wall or better known as the Wailing Wall. One day, so many emotions. Very powerful and impactful. That's not even the half of it. If I were to list everything, it would be a novel!

EXHAUSTED:

To say that we were beyond exhausted is another understatement. Every day we were on the bus @ 8:00 and done by 5-5:30ish. We walked & walked and then walked some more. At the end of the trip we added up the mileage that we walked. Thirty one miles during the five days that we were actually in Israel. That is a lot of walking for those who are not used to it. On some days we were emotionally exhausted as well. Some places we carried heavy emotions while we walked. Lets just say that we all pretty much slept good every night after a long day of walking and sight seeing.

FRUSTRATED:

Not going to lie. I as well as some others were frustrated with our tour guide. He was good at what he was doing, but there were some things that we wish we could have spent a little more time at. We took a tour of the tunnels under the Western Wall and came to the spot where the Holy of Holies was at. He just kind of brushed past it like it was no big deal. We were like "wait, hold on a minute." Wanted to spend a little more time there. Maybe do some praying. You know, what we Christians do. He was very knowledgeable in history, buildings, flowers and such. I wanted more of what Jesus did and where He did it.

WRAP UP:

The trip was amazing. We had beautiful weather everyday. Went with a great group of people. Made many new friends. I know that I am forgetting a lot of what I saw & experienced,  but I think that I hit some of the most important parts. At least to me. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime. Like I said, to be able to see and experience what you read in The Bible. Priceless!

Psalm 135:4 Living Bible

4 For the Lord has chosen Israel as his personal possession.

God Bless you all.

Rev. Kev.