Perfect Example!

 This past Friday was the perfect example of God's timing vs. Keven's timing. So my favorite band in the whole world, Stryper were set to play at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles. So I came up with a plan. Not sure if you know or not, but my Jeep is Stryper themed. I have decals all over the front. My tire cover is the Stryper logo. The two rear windows are covered with the Stryper logo! So I thought it would it would be cool if somehow I could get the band to see it.

So I contacted the owner of the Arcada and explained to him what I had in mind. He thought that it was a cool idea, so he set it up. The band were to arrive around noonish, so he asked if I could be there at 11:30. The security guard was made aware of my coming there, so he was ready for me when I arrived.

I parked, got in touch with the security guard, and waited. And waited. And waited. I was expecting them to show up in a tour bus. Not so much. They arrived in three mini vans, at 1:15. They piled out of the vans and started grabbing their bags of clothing and whatnot to perform that night. One of the guys did happen to see the Jeep while they were parking, and mentioned how cool it was. They proceeded to tell me they would be back out to take a look at it. Just didn't say when.

So the band took all their stuff inside and I waited some more. I told the guard that if it didn't happen, I wasn't to worried about it. I know that they have a schedule and I was just taking a chance. After waiting for another 45 minutes, I asked the guard if they were coming out? He said that they were busy signing vinyl's  and would not be out for awhile. I told him that I needed to leave as I had yet to have lunch and I needed to get back to pickup my brother. He said no problem. He told me that he would block off the area that I was parked in, so that when we arrived later we could just park in the same spot. Awesome!

Well, when we came back to the theater, someone had already parked there. So the guard had me go around the block and park where he was parked. He moved his car so I could park there. How nice of him. The spot was six spots up from the back entrance of the theater. I thought for sure the band could walk at least that far to check it out. 

After the show was over, we went to wait by the back door for the band to come out. Upon talking with another fan, who happened to see my Jeep, he talked me into moving it once again. He told me to move it the very corner of the street and put the flashers on. So that is what I did. Right by the back door. The band could see it right when they came out.

The band came out and were interacting with everyone, signing autographs and taking pictures. I talked to their manager about getting them to see the Jeep and take pictures with it. She said to let the crowd die down and it would happen. 

Little did I know, my brother was working the same angle. So he had members of the band come over to the Jeep when they were available. So I have pictures of them with the Jeep, just not all at one time. It was awesome!

I was very grateful that they took the time to check it out and take pictures. They didn't have to do that, but were very gracious and kind.

So God had a different plan than mine! I had my whole idea set up in my head, and God said "Not now, later." Guess what? It was way better later! God's ways are always better!

Isaiah 55:8-9 New Living Translation

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 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

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Chain

 

My wife and I went on a fifteen day cruise/trip to the UK, Norway, Scotland and Iceland, along with my in-laws. It was a trip of a life time. It was truly amazing. To see God's creation first hand, breathtaking! On one of our Norway excursions, while waiting at a bus stop, I noticed the monument pictured above. God spoke to me.

God - "Do you see those chain links over there?" 

Me - "Yes"

God - "Walk over there"

So I started out and crossed the street to take a closer look.

God - "Do you see how big and thick these links are?"

Me - "Yes."

God - "Do you think that I could break that those links, despite the size?"

Me - "Yes, You are God." "I believe that You can do anything!" "Nothing is to hard for you."

Jeremiah 32:17 New Living Translation

17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

God - "Go tell people about this." "I am the chain breaker! No matter the size of the chain." " A necklace chain that you wear around your neck. A bicycle chain that moves the pedals. A chain that you lock things up with, or chain that you place on anchor on to hold the largest ships from moving. I can break them all!"

John 8:36 New Living Translation

36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

So I encourage you today. No matter what size chain you are dragging or carrying around with you. God can break it. He is able, more than able. He wants us to be free. Free in Him!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Armor!

 I had a dentist appointment the other day. As they sat me in the chair, they let me know that I was due to have x-rays taken. When it was time for the x-rays, the tech came in and placed a lead cover, apron, blanket (not sure what they are really called) over me, to protect me from radiation exposure.

As the tech placed the covering over me, I started thinking about how many other kinds of people use protective coverings?

Police officers wear bullet proof vests. Military personal wear Kevlar to protect them while out on patrol or in an active situation. They also wear helmets to protect their heads. Firefighters wear helmets and fire retardant clothing, to protect them from the fire.

All kind of sports teams wear helmets and other kinds of body protection to keep them safe during the game. Hockey, baseball, football. Baseball catchers and hockey goalies wear chest protectors and leg protectors. NFL quarterbacks will wear a flak jacket to protect their ribs from injury, or further injury.

So all these professions wear all kinds of body armor to protect them and keep them safe in whatever they are doing or facing.

Then I thought about us Christians. Aren't we supposed to do the same? Put on the full armor of God, to protect us in battle?

Ephesians 6:12 Amplified Bible

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

Ephesians 6:13 New Living Translation

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

The Bible lists several pieces of armor that we need to put on the defeat the enemy. If you take notice, all the armor is forward facing. Meaning that nothing protects our back. That's because we are not supposed to turn around and run. We are to go forward in our battles!

Ephesians 6:14-18 The Message

14 Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind.

Unlike others on this list, who can put on and take off their protective equipment, we should have ours on and at the ready at all times. We will never know when the enemy is going to attack. He is relentless, I'll say that. The more prepared we are, the better off we'll be to deflect him and his attacks. Being in prayer should be our first line of defense, not out last resort! Prayer is a powerful weapon!

It seems like more and more everyday, we as Christians are under attack. We need to put on the full armor that God provides us, and go into battle. He will be there with us, fighting for us!

Isaiah 54:17 New Living Translation

17 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Enough!

 It seems like every day the feed on my Facebook page is fraught with stories of more and more junk. More criminals being set free to commit more crimes. Videos of people fighting on cruise ships, in fast food places. People punching random people while walking down the sidewalk. Pushing people on the train track as the train is approaching. On and on it goes. Enough!

Well, I'm going to borrow the title of one of my favorite bands (White Cross) songs:

Enough is Enough.

I'm tired of hearing about or seeing all these things. Why speak on it or bring it to light if nothing is going to be done about it?

Ecclesiastes 8:11 The Voice

11 When the penalty for a crime is not carried out quickly, then people start scheming to commit their own crimes.

Seriously. It seems like the more things that are uncovered and left unpunished, other people get it in their head that they can do the same without consequences. Enough!

Tired about hear of the fraud in MN, CA. and elsewhere. Tired of hearing about election tampering. Tired of hearing about Iran, Israel, Hormuz Straight. Tired of  it all. Nothing changes. Enough!

Tired of hearing about the Squad, Omar, AOC, and the rest. Tired of hearing about Epstein, his island and everything else associated with him/it. Nothing has been done about it. Nobody is being tried or even arrested. Enough!

Tired of hearing the word racist. It's being tossed around so much that it is losing it's meaning. Enough!

Tired of the name calling. All I hear is Nazi, pedophile, rapist, king, among other names being uttered. None of this has been proven! Enough!

With elections coming up this year, I'm tired of the smear campaigns. Tired of the candidates running each other down. Tell me what you are going to do to make me and my families life better.

Tired of hearing that a baby in the womb is just a clump of cells. It is a human life from the moment of conception. 

Isaiah 5:20 Amplified Bible

20 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

So with everything that is going on in the world, I am glad that I am rooted in God's word. His word makes my path straight.

Proverbs 3:6 Amplified Bible

6 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Enough is enough!

 Let us as Christians be an agent of change! Let us live like Jesus calls us to live. Love our neighbors as ourselves. Lift each other up. Be a light in this dark world! Point and direct people to Him, the only Savior for this world!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Hollow!

 Imagine as a little kid on Easter. You walk into the room where the "Easter Bunny" put your Easter basket. You notice all the goodies. You begin to poke around and see the chocolate eggs that have been left. Your thinking to yourself "these are going to be so good." "Can't wait to bite into one and devour it."

So you unwrap it, open your mouth and prepare to take a big bite out of it. You bite down and then disappointment sets in. The egg is hollow. No cream filling. No caramel filling. No peanut butter. Not a solid chocolate egg. Just a hollow chocolate shell. Your crushed. You were looking forward to something so delicious and heartbreak.

Fast forward to being a little older. Things that you have done in your life, you take a look back thinking that they would be fulfilling, only to find what you had done or accomplished was actually, hollow! Had no meaning in the long run.

One thing that Facebook does everyday is share your memories from years past on a specific date. You can tell what concert you went to see. A movie, sporting event, whatever. As I look at these memories sometimes, I think to myself, "did I really post that?" How irrelevant it was. I thought that it had meaning at the moment, but years later, I think about how silly that post was.

I look back and I see complaints about how the Cardinals played that day. Or the Blackhawks. Or something else that didn't matter, I thought that the world should know happened.

These memories that keep coming up and noticing what I had posted had me thinking about the book of Ecclesiastes in The Bible. Especially the first chapter.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 New Living Translation

2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”

I keep thinking about all these things that I'm doing, thinking that the world needs to hear about it, and then reflecting back, it meant nothing. At the moment I thought that it did, but no!

I went though a divorce in the early 2000's. When it was finalized, I felt hollow. There was hole left were the marriage had previously been. So I thought that dating every woman that I could would fill that hole. I would be proven wrong. No woman filled that hole in my life. 

It wasn't until I went to church and accepted Jesus as my Lord & Savior did that hole get filled. I no longer felt hollow. I felt a fullness to my life now. One that I had never felt before. Hard to explain unless you have the same experience.

So unlike the hollow chocolate egg, that was unsatisfactory, Jesus satisfies every need in you life. My life now has meaning. No longer do I feel hollow!

Ecclesiastes 3:4 New Living Translation

4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.

Divorce was time to cry. I didn't cry because of the divorce, I cried because I thought that I had failed. But then came the time to laugh. Jesus became the joy of my life! The One I needed more than anyone!

Nehemiah 8:10 New Living Translation

10 For the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

So, you are feeling hollow today, let Jesus fill you, as only He can. 

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

He Did!

 We are at the half way point of Passion week, 2026. I wanted to pause and reflect on what Jesus has done for me/you. The sacrifice that He made for me/you.

Who pulled me out of my sinful life and set upon the rock? He did! (Psalm 71:3)

Who changed my life? He did! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Who died for me? He did! (Romans 5:8)

Who took my sins upon himself? He did! (1 Peter 2:24)

Who took the punishment that was due me? He did! (Hebrews 10:12)

Who has given me the life that I lead? He did! (Philippians 4:19)

Who has healed me, many, many, many times? He did! (Psalm 30:2)

Who rescued me from many situations that I found myself in? He did! (James 1:12)

Who has given me the family that I have? He did! (Colossians 3:19) (Ephesians 6:4)

Who has protected me, even when I didn't know I needed protection? He did! (Nahum 1:7)

Who as supplied everything that I need? He did! (Psalm 37:25)

Everything that I have, my life, my family, friends. Everything good, He did!

So as we approach the Friday that we thought was a disappointment (His death and burial), He turned it into a glorious Sunday (His resurection & empty tomb)!

So remember this Easter season isn't about bunnies and chocolate but about The Lamb. The Risen, resurrected Jesus!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Added To!

 Have you ever had God add something more to your life? Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks or years? How about finances? Healing of your body. 

My question is, if He has added more to your life, what did you do with it?

Did you squander it, or make the most of it?

Did you continue to live the way that you did before, or did you make changes to take advantage of what God has given you?

I've known people who were basically on their death beds & God healed them. Healed them of a myriad of health issues. He added more time to their life!

Many started praising God for what He has done for them. Others did not!

In a way this kind of reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. He was given his portion of his fathers inheritance before his father passed away. What did he do with it? He went and squandered it all away living recklessly! Ending up broke and poor. 

Luke 15:13-14 New Living Translation

13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.

This father added to his sons life or so he thought. All he did was enable him, to live recklessly. He squandered it away! So I pray that if God were to add more to my life, I would use whatever it was, wisely!

God provided a newer Jeep for me to drive. I did nothing to receive this vehicle, so upon acquiring it, I wanted to use it for good purposes. I appreciated the newer vehicle to drive. I have already participated in a couple of charity events, delivering things to those in need. I didn't want to just drive it around and use gas, for my enjoyment. I wanted to use it to be His hands, feet and wheels when needed to bless others!

I listened to a message about King Hezekiah. About how he was very ill. He prayed to God for healing and God answered him and added more time to his life.

2 Kings 20:6 New Living Translation

6 I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”

With the added years to his life, he became prideful. Disregarding the mercy that The Lord had shown towards him. He showed visitors his palace and all that he had acquired in those fifteen additional years.

2 Kings 20:15 Amplified Bible

15 Isaiah said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen everything that is in my house (palace). There is nothing in my treasuries that I have not shown them.”

So I pray that if God gives you a second chance at life. Adding more years for you to live, or more finances, more of anything, that you use what He has given you to give glory to Him. He alone is worthy!

God bless.
Rev. Kev.