A Behind the Scenes Look...

State of the Church ... 2014

This weekend has become one of my personal highlights of the entire year. This is the time I share a "behind the scenes" look not only of where we've been but, more importantly, where we sense God leading us in the future.

The Cliff’s Notes Version:

• We've never experienced a year like this past year or the run of our previous five years
• I believe we have just set a foundation in place to Chase the Dream…
• The dream is one person at a time…experiencing the miracle of life change through Christ, in a way that compels us to…Reach ~ Grow ~ Serve

Our past is rich…

Our future is bright…

Our God is able…

See you soon,

Pastor Ken

What are you willing to fight for?

Have you ever been in a fight? I'm sure some have, but most of us probably have not. Let me ask you two more questions...

1. What would you be willing to fight for?

2. How would you feel if you knew, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that you would WIN the fight - and all you had to do was your part?

I will fight for family. Most of our "fighting" today does not involve fists, but prayer, action, and love. For some, it's the fight for hope over discouragement. For others, it's the fight for God's best versus my shortsighted desire. In the most basic sense, there is a fight of good versus evil every day, and the church has been entrusted with the keys to victory and winning.

This weekend, we wrap up our series, Two Ships...Same Waters ~ Different Purpose, by looking at the fight The Church is called to be in.

The great news…this War has already been won...we just simply need to do our part.

See you this weekend,
Pastor Ken

My #TBT ... What do you see in the mirror?

In honor of TBT #throwbackthursday, I dug out my senior picture from high school. Our oldest son, Jackson, is a senior this year and had his pictures taken last week. I think he looks good but, I have to wonder in 25+ years, will we think he looked goofy? Everyone says it, everyone has heard it...because it's true…time flies!

There are times I look at old pictures and can barely recognize the person. Often though, when you look closely at their eyes, you can tell it's the same person. This weekend, we will ask the question, "When you look in the mirror, what do you see?" The eyes of people speak a common language. At times, they speak despair and pain…other times, they speak of hope and promise.

I'm thankful God sees things in each of us that we can't! How we think often determines what we see…which leads to daily action…which yields transformed living! This weekend, I will share five words that have shaped my life in recent days.

I hope and pray to see you this weekend in worship,
Pastor Ken

 

What Brings Incredible Joy?

Question…Have you ever left home and ran out for a short time but, before you left, you gave instructions to your kids of a few things to complete before your return? If you are like me, you have returned to find, at times, they "forgot" or "got busy" doing other things. In these cases, disappointment is the overwhelming emotion for me as the parent. BUT, there have been a couple of times when everything was completed just like I had asked. I even remember one day (the stars and planets must have aligned) my kids completed everything WITHOUT BEING TOLD OR REMINDED...complete JOY filled my soul…just typing this brings a smile to my face:)

In week 2 of our series, TWO SHIPS, Same Waters…Different Purpose, we will be talking about what brings incredible joy not only to God, but to ourselves as well! For those looking to increase their personal level of soul satisfaction...see you soon.

Pastor Ken

A Matter of Life and Death...

I noticed the scars on his leg the first time I saw him wearing shorts; I wondered what had happened, had he been in an accident. Yesterday, in conversation with him, he shared he had spent 13 days on death’s door due to a rare blood infection. The scars are what remained from the surgery that saved his life. He told me they even called in the priest to offer "last rites.” In the midst of our conversation, we agreed it is situations like these that help us to prioritize what truly matters in life and what doesn't. As this thirty-something year old dad looked into my eyes, I could sense a deep belief when he said, "You have no idea and you are so right."

This weekend kicks off a new series that cuts right to the heart of what really matters when it comes to the existence and purpose of “the church.” Fair warning...I've been out for a few weeks and my heart is so full it just might explode as I talk about the thing I am most passionate about in this life…loving God, and being busy and effective about the purpose of His church.

See you soon,

Pastor Ken