Open Your Mouth (When To/When Not To)

 It seems like for the last several years, people have felt the opportunity to open their mouths to run someone down. To make comments on how they look or dress. What kind of car they drive. Where they work. What sports team they cheer for, etc. etc.

What gets me is how people feel like they can just comment on how somebody does something that they don't like. Dress a way that they don't like. Cheer for a team that they don't like. Drive a vehicle or whatever it is. Seems like everyone has an opinion on how things should be done, according their tastes!

The Bible specifically warns against this. It says that we are supposed to lift each other up, not tear each other down.

Ephesians 4:29 Living Bible

29 Don’t use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing.

Seems like more and more, people have the audacity to run people down. Speak their minds about someone's weight. Body type. They are very vocal about things that they deem are not up to their standards.

You're a plus sized person, you can't wear that outfit. You're to old to dress like that. Have a hair cut like that. On and on it goes. Just wrong in my opinion.

I would never use words to run someone down. I try to lift up as much as possible. Encourage one another. World is negative enough, without someone adding more negativity to it. We don't think that words have power, but they do. I still remember things said to me in middle school. Many, many years later!

Proverbs 16:24 New Living Translation

24 Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

I wish I could say that what I mentioned above was totally true, but it's not. I had an event happen last summer with someone that I love very dearly. Something happened and vile, hateful words spilled out from my lips. I could not believe that I was speaking such unkind evil words to this loved one. It forced them to make a choice that was not the best for them. I hated myself for that. 

Like I said, words have power!

Proverbs 18:21 The Message

21 Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.

That night I chose poison! I have apologized over and over again, but I don't think that I can apologize enough. After that happened, I changed my thought process on the way that I speak. I try to think before I speak. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. 

Colossians 4:6 New Living Translation

6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive[a] so that you will have the right response for everyone.

I am a Christian, still under construction. I am not, nor will I ever be perfect this side of Heaven. God is still working on me.

So I encourage you. Let's be kind to each other. Let's lift each other up and encourage. This life is tough enough without people piling on with negative comments about others lives!

Know when to open your mouth. Know when to keep it shut!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Tribute!

 One of the most famous quotes from the character Katniss Everdeen from the movie "The Hunger Games" is "I Volunteer As Tribute." She makes this quote to step in to take her sisters place in the game about to be played. The game pits other people against each other in a fight to the death. By volunteering as tribute for her sister, she chose to possibly die instead of her sister.

This made me think of Jesus, volunteering tribute for us. He voluntarily went to The Cross. He didn't have too, He chose to. To take on the punishment due us! Our sins should lead us to death as The Bible says.

Romans 6:23 New Living Translation

23 For the wages of sin is death

But Jesus came to take all of our sins upon himself. Not one or two, but all. Every single person. Doesn't matter who you are. Race, ethnicity, gender, tall, short, He volunteered as tribute for everyone!

Galatians 3:28 New Living Translation

28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,[a] slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Jesus calls Himself our friend, but most of all He is our Savior, Redeemer, Healer, Provider, Protector, our Heavenly Father. So he went to The Cross for His friends (us) and took the punishment that we deserved! 

John 15:13 New Living Translation

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

He didn't have to! He could have called down a legion of angels to save him, but He loved us so much that He went through with His fathers plan for Him.

How many of us would take the place of someone else that we love, so that they could live? How many of us would volunteer as tribute? He did that for us, even though we were (are) still sinners!

Romans 5:8 New Living Translation

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

So I pray that with what Jesus did for us, the crucifixion, the scourging, the piercing, the nails. Everything that He endured for us so that we may live, we live good Godly lives. I know that we will still sin, but try our best to live like Jesus.

1 Peter 2:24 Amplified Bible

24 He personally carried our sins in His body on the [a]cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been [b]healed.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Hot Fudge Sundae!

 My wife and I stopped for ice cream last night after dinner. I ordered a hot fudge sundae. Love them. We got our order from the window and went to sit in the Jeep and enjoy. Had the top off, enjoying the night sky, breeze, ice cream and each others company.

Anyway,

I put my spoon into the dish and I noticed, like every other place that I have gotten a hot fudge sundae from, the hot fudge was just on the surface. Not all the way through it. So after taking it all off the top, all you're left with is vanilla ice cream. Bleh!! I mentioned to my wife "why can't they mix the hot fudge all the way through the sundae?" "So you get some in each scoop?"

At McDonalds, when I am standing at the counter, I catch them sometimes and have them put some hot fudge in the bottom before filling the container with the ice cream and then put some more on top. They charge me for extra topping, but I don't care. I would rather have more, than not enough.

Anyway, once again.

So as I'm eating said sundae, trying to mix it all together, I had a thought. Isn't this just like us and Jesus. How many of us just have a topical relationship with Jesus. After we go though the top layer, there is nothing left. Our top layer may be going to church on Sunday. Listening to the pastor speak from the Bible, hear some good worship music and then go home back to our lives. We've experienced the topical Jesus, but didn't go any deeper.

It reminds me of the parable of the soils. (Luke 8:4-15)

It talks about the different kinds of soil that people plant seeds in. Some take root, and run deep and produce good fruit. Some do not. Some get washed away as soon as a good rain storm comes along. Some take root for only a  little while, but get withered away from lack of caring for it.

To have good roots, we need to be in God's word, daily. Prayer and fellowship with other believers. Serve one another.

Colossians 2:7 New Living Translation

7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

 Shallow soil falters because of the next new thing that comes along that seems better. Which ever way the wind blows, people will follow.

Matthew 13:7 New Living Translation

7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

Many things can come along and choke out the seeds that have been planted. Life happens. But if you are rooted in Him, life can happen differently!

I encourage you today. Let the seeds that God has planted in you, deepen. Grow down deep into Him. Then which ever way the wind blows or rains come, you are steadfast. You will not be shaken.

I will never look at a hot fudge sundae the same way again.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

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.