Self Checkout.

 If you know me very well, you know that I love to talk. I can talk to almost anyone, about most things. Want to talk music? Especially heavy metal. Let's chat. Want to talk about sports? Especially baseball, again let's chat. Same goes for concerts, movies, tv. shows, etc.

I really, really love to talk about The Bible and God/Jesus! I have had to go back and take a second look at a house because I was to busy talking to the seller about Jesus! Bring Him up, and I lose all interest in everything else. 

This past weekend, I was in my element with talking to people. Saturday, I volunteered with Convoy of Hope for an event they were hosting in Chicago. I was stationed as a greater at the prayer tent. My/our job was to welcome people into the tent for prayer if they wanted it. Talked with all kinds of people about all kinds of subjects during the day. People who knew Jesus and those who did not. It was really awesome!

Sunday, I volunteered to hand out bottles of water at our local car show, from our church. I talked with so many people and handed out so much water, it was great. Getting to hear peoples stories about past car shows, what church that they attend, life and so much more.

Isn't it Biblical to meet people where they are? Just as Jesus does? He meets people where they are. You don't have to go to church to meet Jesus! Many of the people I talked to, will probably never set foot in our church, or any church. So we took church to the streets and handed out water to parched, hot, thirsty people.

Colossians 3:12 Living Bible

12 Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others.

Because I love to talk to people, that is the reason that I never use the self checkout lane at stores. I love to talk to the cashier. Ask about their day, see how things are going for them. I have heard so many stories from people about their lives, how long they have been on the job, and actually had the opportunity to pray for some of them.

I would never get that chance if I used the self checkout.

Jesus tells to us to go out and make disciple of all nations. (Matthew 28:18-20). How can we do that if we never talk to anyone. Can't make disciples going through a self checkout lane. That would be like just placing the bottles of water on a table for people to grab, without ever interacting with them. We were out there, showing them the love of Jesus by providing something they needed.

Psalm 145:15-17 New Living Translation

15 The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.

16 When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.

My friend Jimmy P. Brown II penned these lyrics to the song 'Passing' by his band Deliverance.

"We hide from families, the neighbors and pets And make friends with the computer We Twit and Facebook our lives on a screen."

Isn't that the truth. We avoid human contact, at all cost. We hide behind our computer or phone screens. We may have hundreds of friends on Facebook, but not any in real life. We forgot how to have a human interaction. Human connection is so important for our lives. I can't imagine not talking with or interacting with someone else.

So I encourage you to start going to the cashier and avoid the self checkouts. I know that they can be faster and get you out quicker, but I think that is part of societies problem We are in too much of a hurry. Need to slow down. Life goes by fast enough.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

One Year Later!

One year ago today, my life changed forever (for the good). After some mechanical difficulties with my last vehicle, my wife started researching a Jeep for us to buy. She found this yellow one at a local dealer. She made an appointment for me to test drive it. Upon pulling into the lot and laying my eyes upon this Jeep, I was awestruck! I loved the color and everything about it.

So I took it out for a drive, put an offer and viola, here it is, a year later. To say that I love this Jeep is an understatement. I have already had three oil changes on it. I drive it, just to drive it. This is probably the most fun vehicle I have ever owned and driven!

I have used it to move furniture. I have used it to minister to people. I have used it for everything, except go off roading. I have what other Jeepers call a "mall crawler or pavement princess." I don't care what you call it, I love it just the way that it is and the way that I use it.

So upon purchasing this Jeep, a couple of friends of mine mentioned that I should join the Jeep club that they belong to. I looked them up and put in my request. I was accepted and so it began. The most awesome journey with Barbed Wire Jeeps. Without this Jeep, I would not have meet some of the most amazing, awesome people there are. It's more than a club, it's family. I truly feel that way about them!

I have been a part of all kinds of events with Barbed Wire. Parades, Toys For Tots, Shriners, restaurant runs, and so on. Every time that we get together, it's like a family reunion!

Speaking of the Toys For Tots run, I also met some more awesome people from Jeeps On The Run! This is another amazing group of people, whom I never would have meet if not for my Jeep! I  have done a few events with this group as well. Again, another family reunion!

To top it all off, I decorated my Jeep with my favorite bands (Styper) logos. I had decals made for the front. I had a tire cover designed with the logo. Had back window covers made as well.

Anyway, 

About a month ago, Styper came to St. Charles for a concert. I was able to park close enough to the back stage door and the band were able to come and check out the Jeep and take pictures. What a culmination of what my vision for the Jeep was.

So God blessed me with my dream vehicle. I have wanted a Jeep for over forty years, and finally got it. So I encourage you to not give up on your dream(s), no matter what it is. Doing whatever dream that you have. Whether it takes forty years or however long, just don't give up on it.

God has blessed me with this Jeep. I hope that I have blessed Him with the way that I use it. I hope that I am using it for His glory!

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.

Comments, Quips & The Ever Present Side Eye!

 I had a dream the other night. In the dream, God gave me the title for this blog. And then He proceeded to want to download what I was supposed to say in it. I'm like "God, I'm trying to sleep."

In the dream I felt kind of like John in the book of Revelation,

Revelation 1:19 Living Bible

19 Write down what you have just seen and what will soon be shown to you.

What God showed me in the dream and what I have noticed myself every time that it happens, is that I get judged when I mention what kind of music that I listen to, or books that I read.

I know that I have written about this before. I thought that I was done with this, but the comments, quips and side eye keep happening. I don't get it.

Most of the judgement comes from my Christian circle. They are quick to comment. To pass judgement. 

Matthew 7:1-2 Amplified Bible

7 “[a]Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly]. 2 For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so will you be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you.

Is that band really Christian? 

Why? Because the musicians have long hair and play heavy, hard, fast music? 

Is that author really a pastor, or a Christian leader? Should you really be reading a book written by them?

Why? Because they have long hair and their arms are covered with tattoo's? 

Last time I checked, having tattoo's, long hair and play heavy music doesn't stop you from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus!

John 7:24 Amplified Bible

24 Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly and righteously.”

I honestly thought that the judgement would come from my unsaved friends. But they are the ones that are the most accepting about what they see me reading or listening to.

When they see the Stryper logos on my Jeep, or t-shirts. They ask what does Isaiah 53:5 mean. I tell them what the Bible says and that is where Stryper get their name. "Oh, that's cool" And they move on. No sly comments. No little quips, or side eye given.

If they see me reading a book by a certain author, or authors. They ask about the author and the subject matter of the book. Again, they accept what I say, and move on. I figure that I am planting the seed. If they are that interested, they can look them up and decide for themselves!

I feel like what Forrest Gump said in the movie "Forrest Gump". I've said my peace, that is all I'm going to say about this. The more this happens, there is a wedge between me and you. 

So I urge you to be respectful of what other people listen to or read (in the Christian realm). Just because it isn't your taste, doesn't make it wrong!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

MLB = King Nebuchadnezzar

 So it seems that we had on Old Testament story play out in modern day times a few weeks ago. Not sure if you had heard or not, but the MLB were holding LGTBQ+ pride nights at all the teams stadiums, except one. The Texas Rangers are the only team not to hold a pride night event. 

They had the team change their logo to include the rainbow colors, plus put a patch on the sleeve.

Well, three players from the San Francisco Giants team didn't refuse to wear the hats and uniforms, but they wrote Bible scripture across it. They wrote Genesis 9:12-16.

Genesis 9:12-16 New Living Translation

12 Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. 16 When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.”

The backlash against these players was instant. Social media went wild with this story. How dare they not bow down to something that the MLB mandated? 

Kind of reminds me of the story in the book of Daniel 3, with King Nebby (my abbreviation) requiring everybody to bow down to the gold statue that he had erected.

Daniels three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to this gold statue. They refused to bow down to an worthless idol. They vowed to only bow before their one true God!

Their punishment for not bowing down was to be thrown into a fiery furnace. King Nebby was so angry that he had the furnace heated up seven times more than normal. They were thrown in, but God rescued them from the fire. 

These players were thrown into a fire. Not a literal fire, but a fire storm of controversy and media condemnation. For not bowing down to something they did believe in. MLB were going to punish them for this, but in the end, they did not. I think that God stepped in, just like for those three friends and softened MLB's heart towards this situation.

I think about when the MLB teams hold faith nights. What would happen if every team had a cross put on their hats and uniforms. The players who are not Christian and would refuse to wear or alter them, would there be as much outrage as this event? I'm guessing no, there would not be. 

Just a side note. A minor league baseball team forfeited a game because the players refused to wear the above said uniforms.

I applaud these players for standing up for their convictions. I would rather stand before God and be judged by the world, than stand for the world and be judged by God!

2 Corinthians 5:10 New Living Translation

10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

I'm not blasting teams holding these kinds of nights. Go ahead and do them. Invite in the public to participate & celebrate, but let the ball players do their job, playing baseball.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

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.