Unified!

 If you listen to any kind of news at all, they all seem to say that our country is more divided than ever. Black/White. Republican/Democrat. Rich/Poor. Open border/closed boarder. Vaccine/no vaccine. On and on it goes.

I'm here to tell you that we Christians are unified. Unified in our hope of Jesus and His return. So many people put their hope in the government & it's programs. That is a false hope. They will not help. Those programs only last a short time. 

You know who never runs out? Jesus!

He is the same yesterday, today and the days yet to come! (Hebrews 13:8)

Malachi 3:6 New Living Translation

6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change.

I have been to a lot of concerts this year. More so than usual. All of them have been Christian concerts. I don't know what is going on, but these shows seem much different than in other years. God is at work at these shows!

From hard rocking acts like Stryper or Sacred Warrior, to worship acts like Kim Walker Smith, Brandon Lake, We The Kingdom & Casting Crowns. These artists seem to have renewed energy. Not holding back in proclaiming The Gospel! I think that they think that the time of Jesus' return is drawing closer! We need to get ready!

 All the crowds have been fantastic. Enthusiastic in their worship of Jesus. They are going after it, hard!  Hands and arms raised. Singing along for all their worth. It has been awesome to have been part of this. Doesn't matter if it's a 500 person club or a 10,000 person arena. 

While the rest of the world wrestles against itself for one party or another to gain control, we Christians are uniting behind Jesus and His message!

1 Corinthians 1:10 New Living Translation

10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

Starting with Stryper in September, all the way till last night with Sacred Warrior, I have never seen crowds more united. Looking out for each other. Taking care of each other. It was incredible to see. People being nice to each other! The common denominator for all of these shows was Jesus! He was present at each and everyone. Spirit filled every venue that I attended for a show.

If the world could only learn this. To live for others, instead of themselves. To live in harmony instead of chaos! What a different world we would live in, wouldn't we!

That's why I like going to see these artists live. I know that I am going to be able to shut out the world and be unified in worship with brothers and sister of faith. To proclaim the only message that matters. The message of Jesus Christ.

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

Walk & Talk.

 

Whenever I have the chance, I go down to Starved Rock to have a walk and talk with God. I walk and He talks. I also listen. I have to admit, sometimes I do more talking than listening. Hard to hear God speak when I am blabbing the whole time. So today was one of those days. I headed down to Starved Rock with the intent of just walking in silence and listening for God to speak to me.

It wasn't more than 10 minutes into my hike when God revealed exactly why I was there and what His message was to me. 

I always go on the same path to the same canyon, almost every time. Sometimes I change it up, but not usually. So today I thought about changing it up and going on a different trail. I decided against it. Then instead of going down the same old trail that I usually do, I went the opposite direction. Out of character for me. I am a creature of habit!

Anyway.

As I was walking along, I came across an elderly couple who were trying to navigate a slight incline on their way back. Instead of taking the little stairs, they decided to walk on the side, where they thought it would be easier for them. Well, on the side there are some rocks. They are pretty slippery by themselves most times, but even more so when there are leaves on top of them. The older gentleman took a couple of steps and almost fell down just as I was passing them. I reached my hand out and he grabbed a hold of it and that is when I heard God speak to me.

"Keven." "This is what I want you to do." "Keep helping my children." "To be My hands and feet, extended." I was like wow. I had already extended my hand to the gentleman to help steady him, then I helped walk him back up the hill till we were on flat ground. He and his wife could not stop thanking my enough for helping out. I told them that God had me at the right place, at the right time for them.

God knows what He is doing. 

I went on a path that I don't normally go on, in a direction that I don't normally go. He was getting ready to speak to me. He used that couple to do it. As soon as I touched the other guys hand, the message was loud and clear.

"Keep being My hands and feet."

1 John 3:17 The Message

16-17 This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

So I encourage you tonight. Go on a walk and talk with God. Listen to what He has to say. He will not lead you astray or down a wrong path! Like lyrics from a song that I listen to. "If you woke up today, and are still breathing, God ain't finished, yet"*

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

*Lyrics taken from 'God Ain't Finished Yet' - Emerson Day.

When The End Comes!

 While surfing the net the other day, I came across an article written by a hospice chaplain. Being a former hospice chaplain myself I was intrigued. I click on the link and start reading. The chaplain was talking about people very near the end of their life and the last statements that they make. I cannot remember the exact stats, but I'll go with 100 quoted. The hospice patients at the end of their life, all of them said that they wish they had did more, spent more time with their families. Not one of them said they wish they had worked more and made more money. When the end came, they realized that money and possessions did not matter. It was their relationship with Jesus and their families that mattered most. Of course it is to late to do anything about it now, but they wanted others not make the same mistake and wait till the end of their lives to figure it out. Leave behind a life of regrets!

So tonight while watching YouTube videos, I stumble across a video from the great Johnny Cash. The video was for his song "Hurt". I say stumble, but I really don't believe that. I believe that God put that video on my viewing radar. Anyway. If you haven't heard the song or seen the video, I encourage you to go to YouTube and watch and listen. It is a very powerful song and video, about someone reflecting back on their life. The life they leave behind.

So I started thinking about my life. About when the end comes for me. How are people going to remember me? What kind of a legacy am I leaving? 

Will I be remembered as being materialistic? I sure hope not. I'm starting to think that all of my collection of things are just a waste. My little mini guitars. All of my Cardinals collectibles. All of that is nice, but it will mean nothing at the end of my life! Jesus will not care if I collected those guitars or if I was a Cardinals fan. He only cares if I believed in Him!

Will I be remembered as a selfish person. Again, I hope not. I try and never do anything for me. I am always looking out for the end user. I try to make it as easy as possible for the person coming after me. That is what I am known for at work. Our material handler loves working with me for that very reason.

Philippians 2:3 New Living Translation

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

I know that I am not perfect. Far from it as a matter of fact. 

Romans 3:23 Living Bible

23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal;

I just hope that when the end comes for me that I am remembered as a faithful servant of Jesus. A faithful, loving husband. Loving father, good friend and co-worker. Generous. A guy who loved God and loved people. A guy who tries to be more like Jesus everyday.

Acts 10:2 Living Bible

2 He was a godly man, deeply reverent, as was his entire household. He gave generously to charity and was a man of prayer.

So I encourage you. To live your life for God and others. All of the trophies and accolades are nice, but when the end comes, they will mean nothing. You cannot take them with you. Make a lasting legacy for your family to remember you by. Not how much you worked and all the events that you missed. But how many events you made and they way that you loved them!

God Bless!
Rev. Kev.

I Don't Care How!

 Listening to one of my favorite worship artists songs, Brandon Lake's "Tear Off The Roof". I absolutely love this song. It is based on the story in The Bible about a paralyzed mans friends tearing off the roof of a house where Jesus was at, so they could get their friend to Him to be healed. 

I did a sermon on this topic several years ago. It was about fighting to get to Jesus, no matter what. It seems like the world is trying to take us away from Jesus and His teachings every chance they get! We need to fight everyday to get to Jesus, no matter what.

I talked about the guy who was demon possessed.  The man was possessed by a legion of demons. Legion means many demons possessed this man. When this man saw Jesus far off in the distance, he fought through all of the demons and ran towards Jesus. He fought what was inside of him to get to Jesus. He made it Him, and Jesus healed him of the demon possession. He sent the demons into a herd of nearby pigs, and the man was free of their control. (Mark 5:1-15)

The woman with the bleeding issue for twelve years. She spent all the money that she had on doctors, trying to figure out what was wrong with her. Then she heard that Jesus would be near her, and she heard about the healings that He was performing. She thought that if she could just get close to Him, she might be healed. In those days, someone who was bleeding was considered unclean. No one could touch them or be touched by them, as that would make them unclean. So imagine the courage it took her to go to the place where Jesus was, knowing that she was unclean (basically out in public illegally). She fought through the crowd to get to Jesus. She only touched the hem of His robe and was instantly healed. (Luke 8:43-48)

The earlier mentioned story. Four friends of this paralyzed man heard about Jesus and the miracles and healing that He had been doing. They thought if they could get their friend to Jesus, he could be healed. As they approached the house, the saw that the crowd was to large to get him inside. They hatched a plan, taking him to the roof and digging a hole through it and lowering him down inside. So that is what they did. And it worked. He was healed! (Mark 2:3-5)

So all three of these stories have one thing in common. Through almost impossible odds, they fought and succeeded to get to Jesus. No matter what stood in their way.

So what are we doing to keep getting to Jesus, no matter what? When the whole world seems to be against us and Jesus! Do we just throw up our hands and say "oh well, I guess I'll quit!" No, of course not. We dig into His word more. Pray more. Stay connected to Him. He is the only thing that matters!

So I encourage you to keep fighting to get to Jesus, no matter what. No matter what the world may throw against us and try to derail us. Doesn't matter what the world says, I am only concerned with what Jesus says.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Inflated, Deflated!

Think about the day you accepted Jesus as your Savior! You started to live your life like He wants you to. You start attending church regularly. Clean up your act. Stop swearing  (or at least trying to). Get rid of all the music and movies that don't glorify God. You think you are doing pretty well. On the right track. 

Then one night while on the internet, you click on something. It leads you down a slipper slope. One that you have been down before. You feel the Devil or Satan starting to inflate himself again in your life. He is trying to rise back up to where he was before you accepted Jesus. Trying to pump air into himself to gain traction again. 

1 Peter 5:8 Living Bible

8 Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart.

You realize what is happening and cry out to God.

"PLEASE HELP ME". "I need Your help" 

He hears your cry and answers with "Not today Satan." "You are defeated, deflated and face down on the ground!" He does what every father should do. Protect His children!

2 Thessalonians 3:3 Living Bible

3 But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from satanic attacks of every kind.

You start feeling better about things. Knowing that God is with you. We are His children.

2 Corinthians 6:18 New Living Translation

18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

So strengthen yourself by going deeper into Gods word. Read your Bible everyday. It will give you the wisdom and knowledge that you need to overcome the evil one!

James 4:7 New Living Translation

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

So I encourage you to put on the full armor of God. Get ready for a battle. The evil one may strike your heal, but you strike his head! He is defeated & deflated!

God bless!

Rev. Kev.

 

Words, (Good, Bad)

 Do you know the words that you say have an affect on others? Whether they are good or bad words, they will affect them one way or another. Good words lift up and encourage. Bad words can tear down and discourage. So choose what you say carefully!

Matthew 12:37 Living Bible

37 Your words now reflect your fate then: either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.”

Even the words you speak to yourself can have an affect on you!

When I'm at work and I do something that I know how to do and have done it hundreds of times, but this one time I do it wrong, I'll start calling myself names. "Well done stupid!" "That was a smart move, dumb butt!" Many more words I call myself when these things happen.

Colossians 3:8 Amplified Bible

8 But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth.

The problem with that is, this isn't how God sees me. He doesn't see me as stupid, dumb or what other negative adjective I use. He sees me as His child. Loved by Him. He knew me before I was born.

Ephesians 2:10 New Living Translation

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Did you know that you can't yell and scream at your children before bed and expect them to get a good nights sleep. 

You can't yell and scream at your children before they go to school and expect them to have a good day.

Words. They have an affect! 

You should be uplifting and encouraging to your children. Never speak harsh to them. I know first hand, that this can be difficult. Especially if you have a had a tough day yourself. You take our your frustrations on your children. That's not fair to them!

Ephesians 6:4 Living Bible

4 And now a word to you parents. Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice.

So I encourage you today. Be wise in how we speak to one another. Choose our words carefully. I can still remember mean things said to me many, many years ago. Memories of words spoken to us can last a lifetime. So let's speak life!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

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.