Monday, May 31, 2010

MEMORIAL

Memorial Day has become a mixed bag in America. It is a day for picnics, being on the lake, going biking, eating with family and friends. It is also a day for going to cemeteries to place flowers on graves of loved ones and give thought to the lives they shared with us. It is again a day for hanging the American flag on your porch and for remembering those who have given the ultimate price in service to our country.

For me, it's a day to remember Grandma, who made it to heaven last summer at age 96. She's not 96 in heaven. She's only about 10 months old there, with a long ways to go. Here's to a great lady - self-sacrificing - loving - caring - funny - Godly - energetic - and someone who could make a mean apple pie. Love you, Grandma. We miss you. Your 'pride and joy.'



Here is a Memorial Day tribute to those who have served our country so faithfully as to lose their lives in the service of it ... "All gave some ... some gave all."


Sunday, May 30, 2010

DISCIPLE

Spiritual formation. We need to define that. It is actually becoming like Jesus, not just knowing about Jesus. A disciple is not someone who stays the same.

Becoming a disciple is an invitation to follow Christ -- to REALLY follow Him.

A disciple is one who strives to live a life of heartfelt love and obedience to God.

A disciple is one who lives for the higher purposes of God's Kingdom.

A disciple is one who is called out of his selfish ambitions.

A disciple is one who understands the longer he follows Christ, the more uncomfortable he will be and the more sacrifice and effort it will require

A disciple is one who wakes up every morning expecting God will lead and guide his day.

A disciple is one who has given everything he has back to God for Him to direct.

A disciple is one who trusts God for supernatural provision.

A disciple is one who lets faith in God win out over safety, common sense and worldly wisdom.
A disciple is one who is deeply ingrained within a community of believers.

A disciple is one who has relationships with people in the non-Christian culture.

A disciple is one who views Scripture as God's message to a missional people.

A disciple is one who prays when he finds himself in difficult circumstances.

A disciple is one who views the church as a community of fellow passionaries joyfully gathering to see each other, as opposed to strangers they sing songs with once a week.

Are you a disciple?

And be blessed.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

IHOP


Jesus was marked for criticism - and ultimately death - because of His very close association with people whom the Pharisees felt compelled to keep outside the fence. The Pharisees believed part of their job was to patrol the fences, like the US/Mexico border. Jesus was no respecter of that kind of thing, so He became a threat.

How could they hate Jesus that much?
How could they hate sinners that much?

When Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors and the like, He wasn't saying "I like you," or "I am with you." He was saying, "I am you."

That's the ultimate blessing of the incarnation so many of us don't seem to understand. Jesus didn't just come to visit us; He came to become one of us.

In fact, if Jesus were here today in human flesh, He'd probably be sitting at IHOP some Friday nights at 3 a.m. and He'd know the name every server and what their kids' names were. He'd sit at your dinner table and compliment your pot roast, even though you both know it's a little dry.
He'd eat with us because we're His kind of people. And in so doing, He would be saying He wanted to have an intimate relationship with each one of us - with all sinners.

Next time you sit down to eat, imagine Jesus sitting there too -- because He is.

And be blessed.

Friday, May 28, 2010

THIRD PLACE

Joelene filled out a survey a few weeks ago for the Kenosha Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and this week she found out she had won THIRD PLACE in a drawing of those who had filled out surveys.

So, the Taylors suddenly became the recipients of:

1 night's stay in a whirlpool suite at COUNTRY INN & SUITES (rock on!)

$50 gift certificate to ACTOR'S CRAFT

RECPLEX Family Day pass (we're not members there so that's cool)

$25 Prime Outlets gift card

$25 gift certificate for ALPACA ART

$15 gift certificate for FRANK'S DINER (love that place!)

$5 gift certificate for SANDY'S POPPER (is that popcorn?)

So it's true then ... good things come to those who wait -- and to those who fill out surveys.

And be blessed.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

MERCY HILL

Today I'm at Mercy Hill Church in Milwaukee. Some pastors are gathering to talk about "What is a Pentecostal Church in 2010?"

It is a subject of great discussion in our movement today. I love seeing Spirit-filled pastors meeting together talking about how it all works out day-to-day. Nothing better.

This is my first time at Mercy Hill Church. It is in an old former tannery converted into a church just planted three years ago. Today they are running 300 and have already planted a church of their own and are planning to plant another this year. The building they occupy is decades old but is the coolest place/church you've ever seen. I'm sitting here inside these blond stone walls taking it all in. The best.

And be blessed.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

TRAP

Sometimes I feel like I have this rodent-like existence. I'm in a trap, feeling I have to provide a safe, well-staffed place for great worship that ministers to all the congregation's felt needs - do crisis management and counseling, administration and spiritual formation - provide outlets for the artistically and musically gifted to live out their passions within our walls and organize development for all ages from newborn to senior citizen.

The trap is - it feels as if I don't do all these things, the next hard-working, well-funded leader will, and our folks will trade us in for the newer, upgraded models. I'd love to get off that Habitat wheel, but I'm not always sure how to. Every church of size deals with this struggle.

The one good thing from this is that it forces us to ask the right questions. The pain of providing what people want rather than what they need will eventually either kill you or cause you to ask, "What is the main thing I was trying to do again?"

It's time to stop spinning plates just to keep people happy. As leaders, we must clarify what we're called to do and how we're called to lead and get back to the Main Thing. Each church has a thumbprint given specifically by God, but every church must also answer the larger call for which we all will someday have to give an answer.

We know what our main thing is: "Go and make a disciple."

When we get face-to-face with Jesus, He's never going to ask us:
'How good were your programs, preaching and presentations?'

'How much is your church budget' or 'How many friends do you have on Facebook?'

'How many people read the blog this month?'

'Did you pick the right form of church strategy' or 'Were you culturally relevant?'

The only thing He's going to ask will be based on a simple measurement: 'Did you do all you could with what I gave you to make people like Me?'

Well?? Have you??

And be blessed.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN

Today our staff had the grand opportunity of hanging out with the staff at Naperville Community Christian Church. They are in 11 different campuses and running about 7,000 people. We were at the campus today known as 'The Yellow Box,' so named because it is a rectangular yellow building. Makes sense.

We joined in some brainstorming sessions with them and watched how they process their weekend services and develop their messages.

It was great to see these creative, fun, smart guys gathered around tables laughing, getting deep and - in the end - coming up with an amazing message outline for the weekend services.

Thanks NCCC. It was a great time. Thanks for hosting us.

And be blessed.

Monday, May 24, 2010

BALANCE

It is very often that people ask me how it is that I'm able to balance my life, my family, my ministry, my leisure.

My response is simple: "I don't."

In my opinion, the balanced life is hardly achievable - and most probably not Biblical. Did Jesus call us to balance? One of the fruit of the Spirit? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Balance ... ?

When you follow Jesus, life will often be out-of-balance. He may lead us on long stretches of ministry followed by substantial amounts of rest. Life is rarely predictable.

Maybe we need a sermon about how to be imbalanced in a way that honors God.

And be blessed.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

TEMPTATION

Some days it feels like personal temptation is going on around me 24/7 ... trying to pull me away from God.


In those moments, what am I supposed to do? Close my eyes? That won't work, you know that. So --- what then?


Ever have a time when you’re driving and you have to get somewhere fast and you’re looking at red lights everywhere - and you're so focused on getting where you’re going because you’re going to be late? And there could be a friend in the car over in the next lane ... and they’re waving like mad, but you don’t see them. And later on, your friend tells you, “I was right next to you at the stop light and I was waving at you like a maniac and you didn’t pay any attention to me. We were honking even.”

And you say: “I’m sorry; I didn't even see you. I was focused on where I was going. I’m sorry.’


The
Bible says: Don’t close your eyes to temptation. Fix your eyes on JESUS ... set your mind on things above ... not on earthly things.”


Be focused on your love relationship with God. Not where God is waving like mad trying to get your attention ... ‘I’m over here, I’m over here’ ... and we’re just not listening. But where we’re so focused on Him we can hardly notice anything else.


That's the idea. We can’t just keep running from temptation our whole lives. That's no fun. We have to run toward Jesus because we’re focused on Him.


The word ‘sin’ means ‘missing the mark.‘ Like aiming an arrow at the bullseye ... ‘Oh, I MISSED it.’ No, that's not it. It’s that you started aiming at something else - not you barely missed the center ---- you missed the whole target because you were over here looking at that.


So --- keep your eyes on Jesus. You can't go wrong then.


And be blessed.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

CLS GRAD

Tonight was a great night. We graduated 57 seniors from our Christian Life School. Every year it's great to watch those students walk across the stage and receive their diplomas from one of the greatest private schools in the state.

We're very proud of our school, our administration and faculty, and our students.

Two of our youth pastors, Pastor Jon and Pastor Gabe, were part of the evening and gave great addresses to the students.

Over a million dollars in scholarships have been made available to these 57 students. Very impressive.

And be blessed.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

FENCES


They say good fences make good neighbors, but I don't know why people say this. I mean, I can agree when it comes to bad neighbors. If I have a bad neighbor (I've had one), you bet I want a good fence between us - a tall one.

But if I really love my neighbor, I'm not sure i want a fence between us, physically or metaphorically. How can I have an intimate relationship with my neighbor if there's a fence between us? Yes, I said intimate.

Intimacy. The word evokes different images in the minds of men and women.

Women envision long walks in the rain, a candle light dinner, conversations where deep feelings are verbalized (men, that means with words).

I don't think most men really know what intimacy means. To men, it invokes images of ... well ... um ... er ... you know ... and definitely not the kind of thing Christian men should be involved in with a neighbor. So it's a good thing that's not the kind of intimacy I'm talking about.

To Jesus, the word intimacy meant eating and drinking with sinners. Eating with someone in the first century was an intimate act. Eating with someone in the ancient world was a statement; not just an act of hospitality. When people ate with others in the early centuries, they were saying they were willing to be associated with - connected with - accepting toward - those with whom they were eating.

No barriers.

No fences.

And be blessed.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

TEN QUESTIONS

Passing along these Ten Questions Every Person Should Ask About His/Her Relationship With Christ ...

1. What did I learn in God's Word this week?

2. Is my burden for prayer growing or diminishing?

3. Does my heart break for the things that break the heart of God?

4. Have I grown accustomed to or accepted sin in my life?

5. Am I doing ministry out of an overflow of God's work in my heart or out of my own strength?

6. Has my teaching and ministry deepened, changed or evolved in a positive way in the last year?

7. Do I have a sincere peace that I'm living an authentic life of spiritual integrity?

8. Is my heart growing larger for people and God or is it shrinking?

9. Am I closer to God today that I was a year ago (or this morning)?

10. Do others say they can clearly see evidence of God's work in my life?

And be blessed.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

COMMUNITY

We had staff meeting at my house today - out on the patio. It was a little chilly but it's great to move out beyond the walls of the church for our weekly meeting.

We talked in large measure about our community - its needs - hopes - dreams. The needs of the lost in our neighborhoods call out to me. We face a steep climb to meet them more effectively. It would be a lot easier to settle for nice, easy ministry, but God hasn't called us to comfort.

Ultimately, the vision God gives to leaders isn't about church size; it's about God accomplishing His purpose, rescuing lost people and helping them become lovers of Jesus. I can honestly say that the vision of KFA has never been about numbers. God has blessed us there, but it's never been about that.

If I'm like Jesus, when I look out over Kenosha at the lost and hurting among us, my own heart should break. Our goal isn't to have big services in large buildings but to see hearts touched with God's amazing love and power. The purpose of each service, each small group, each class - is to create an opportunity where people's lives can be transformed by the power of God. We EXPECT that He will change their lives.

God help us with that.

And be blessed.

Monday, May 17, 2010

INFO

I used to read thru the entire Bible every year. Well, I mean, I've read it thru many times. I did it just a couple of years ago. Some years we ask our congregation to join us in that. I feel hypocritical if I'm not doing it with them, so I do. Some years we make that request more 'formal' than other years. In the 'informal' request years, I don't always do it religiously, though I still read every day - or nearly every day.

When I'm reading it thru in a year, there are times I get behind, though I'm fairly disciplined and consistent. Occasionally I get stressed because I'm lagging and then I sit down and just start cramming Scripture down my throat just to get back on track.

It's in those moments I sense God asking me an important question: "Kevin, do you equate information about Me with the transformation I want to bring to your life?"

So OK. I've read the entire Bible thru how many times? Ten? Twelve? Twenty times? And after having done that, do I love people more? Am I more forgiving? Do I have more patience, kindness and gentleness than I did before I read it thru twenty times? Or am I just accumulating information and equating it with transformation? I know a bunch about Jesus. I know a ton about the Bible - but does what I know change me?

We have more access to Bibles and sermons and blogs and devotions and conferences and retreats and books and web sites than any generation in human history - but is it transforming us?

The disciples had very little information. They were pretty much set up for failure by our standards. There was no instruction manual. They go to a mountain and Jesus starts floating up into the sky and He says: "Go into the entire world and teach everything I've taught you. Baptize people, disciple people. And I'll be with you."

With such little information a revolution was born. But has the revolution I long to be a part of sought to be informed more than it has desired to be transformed? If I'm honest, I say 'Yes.'

I don't need more information to have a better marriage - I need to be a more loving husband.

I don't need more information to let go of resentment - I need to choose to forgive, then choose to forgive again, and again.

I don't need more information to grow in my faith - I need to surrender control.

I don't need more information to have deeper friendships - I need to be a better friend.

I don't need more information to know God's will - I need to apply what I know about God to my life.

And be blessed.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

KFA

We were talking the other night with some folks about whether or not we should call our church KFA (www.kenoshafirst.com) or just stick to the full Kenosha First Assembly. I have noticed that almost all the newer people to our church are calling it KFA right away. It's the more long-standing members who haven't switched over to the acronym.

It was also mentioned how it may be a bit of 'insider' language. Do guests understand what KFA really is when we say it in church? Are they out of the loop then?

Good questions.

Having said that, there are dozens of companies that use acronyms or initials in their names, but I wonder how well YOU know what the abbreviated letters mean?

1. CVS

When the pharmacy chain was founded in Lowell, MA in 1963, it was known as “Consumer Value Stores.” Over time the name became abbreviated to simply CVS.

2. K-MART

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Longtime five-and-dime mogul Sebastian Kresge opened his first large store inGarden City, Michigan in 1962. The store was named K-Mart after him. (By the way, he opened up this brand-new venture at the tender age of 94.)

3. IKEA

The Swedish furniture giant takes its name from found Ingvar Kamprad's initials conjoined with the first initials of the farm where Kamprad grew up, Elmtaryd, and the parish he calls home, Agunnaryd.

4. JBL

The speaker company is named after its founder, James Bullough Lansing.

5. BVD

The stalwart men’s underwear maker was originally founded by a group of New Yorkers named Bradley, Voorhees and Day. Eventually the trio branched out into knitted suits for men, and their wares became so popular that 'BVDs' has become a generic term for any underwear.

6. DHL

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In the late 1960s, Larry Hillblom was a broke student at the University of California law school. So to pick up a bit of extra cash, he would make courier runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles. After he finished law school, he decided the courier business was the real racket for him, so he and a couple of pals - Adrian Dalsey andRobert Lynn - began making delivery trips in a single Plymouth Duster. The company took off and they named the new business after their respective last initials - Dalsey, Hillblom & Lynn.

7. 3M

It gets its name from its roots as a company that mined stone to make grinding wheels. Since it was located in Two Harbors, MN, the company was known as Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing -- later shortened to 3M.

8. H&M

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The beloved clothing store began in Sweden in 1947. Founder Erling Persson was only selling women’s clothing, so he called the store Hennes - Swedish for 'hers.' Twenty-one years later, he bought up a hunting supplier named Mauritz. After the acquisition, Persson branched out into men’s clothing and began calling the store Hennes & Mauritz, which eventually became H&M.

9. A&W ROOT BEER

Roy Allen opened his first root beer stand in Lodi, CA, in the summer of 1919 and quickly began expanding to the surrounding areas. Within a year he had partnered with Frank Wright and the pair christened their new product “A&W Root Beer."

10. GEICO

The gecko’s employer is formally known as the Government Employees Insurance Company. Although GEICO has always been a private company, its name reflects its original purpose: Leo Goodwin founded the company in 1936 to sell insurance directly to employees of the federal government.

11. P.F. Chang’s

If you go looking for Mr. P. F. Chang, you’ll be searching a good long time. The Asian dining chain’s name is a composite of the founding restaurateur Paul Fleming's initials and chef Philip Chang's last name.

12. H&R Block

Brothers Henry and Richard Bloch began their tax preparation firm in 1955 in Kansas City. Their only problem was their last name. They worried people would mispronounce it as 'blotch,' hardly a term you'd want associated with your tax return. They decided to sidestep this problem by spelling the company’s name 'Block' instead, so nobody could possibly get it wrong.


So - after all that -- I think I'm going to stick with KFA.


And be blessed.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

RICHER

I went on a website the other day and found out that I am within the top 50,000,000 richest people in the world. I'm inside the top 1% of wage earners in our entire WORLD!

Now wait! That doesn't mean I'm really rich by U.S. standards. I'm not. It means all us Americans are rich. It's all about perspective.

For instance --- $8 could buy ME 15 organic apples ... or ... 25 fruit trees for farmers in Honduras to grow and sell fruit at their local markets for income.

$30 could buy ME a "LOST" dvd box set ... or ... a first-aid kit for an entire Haitian village.

$73 could buy ME a new cell phone ... or ... a new mobile health care unit for AIDS orphans in Uganda.

$2,400 could buy ME a pretty spectacular high-def TV unit ... or ... schooling for an entire GENERATION of children in Angola.

Just something to think about.

And be blessed.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

BOXES


If we're not careful, church buildings can become boxes that isolate Christ-followers from the world and sap huge amounts of time, energy, creativity and money that could otherwise be used for greater purposes.

Don't misunderstand me. I don't hate church buildings. Far from it. I pretty much grew up sitting on a church pew in Kansas City, Missouri. My mother and I lived in the little white house right next door to our church for several years while my mom cleaned the church for a living. I mowed the lawn around that church building. I was baptized in a church building. I was married in a church building. T0day I work in a church building every day.

So NO - I don't hate church buildings; but I don't LOVE them either. The first Christians did pretty well without a church building. They gathered in homes, caves, catacombs and anywhere else they could safely gather.

A BODY is the image God uses for His church. But some churches focus on the BOX today more than they do the BODY. That is problematic.

Boxes don't move. Boxes aren't alive. The church was never meant to be an immobile box sitting on 75th Street. God intended us to view the church as a healthy, mobile body of believers walking - moving - thru the earth.

Boxes don't grow. 'Nuff said.

Boxes don't last. We have an awesome building -- 280,000 sq ft of space -- a master class gymnasium with a running track -- state-of-the-art student and children's auditoriums and cafes -- a main auditorium that can squeeze in 1,750 people at once -- but buildings don't last. People last.

Boxes don't care. Unless you're Donald Trump, you can't have a relationship with a building. Jesus touched people. If we want to be like Him, we have to do everything we can to maximize the time spent outside our church boxes.

And be blessed.

Monday, May 10, 2010

LOST

LOST ... it's a highly addictive TV show with people stranded on a deserted island that is nearing the end of its TV run soon.

LOST ... it's that zone where single socks, class rings, sunglasses and your car keys go to.

LOST ... it's how I feel listening to my daughter tell me that Zac Efron is now actually singing in High School Musical 2 unlike the lip-synching he did in High School Musical 1.

Being lost is never fun. Being lost and realizing no one is even looking for you is even worse.

I have found I have not done a great job at reaching lost people for Christ, mainly because I am surrounded by other Christians most of the day.

I used to be immersed in a world full of lost people. I rode my Big Wheel with them. I sat next to them at elementary school. I traded my last piece of Bazooka gum for their chocolate milk. We played soccer and ping pong together, went to see "Planet of the Apes" together, skated all-skates together at Rink World, eventually graduated together and waited tables together.

But eventually my encounters with pre-Christians got further and further apart. Today, I have to work extremely hard to build relationships with unbelievers.

This can change. It must change ... one relationship at a time ... one meal at a time.

And be blessed.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

CORE VALUES

The verdict is in - at least in the blog values poll. Thanks so much for weighing in.

This, of course, is not the tell-all, but it's interesting to see what people value regarding core church values. Back in the May 2nd blog it was mentioned that the Bible discusses values plenty, but it doesn't specifically say which values should characterize specific churches.

The Bible tells us what our church MISSION should be.
It tells us what our church PURPOSES should be.
But it leaves specific VALUES up to the individual church to decide on.

Of course, everyone should have integrity - everyone should be loving - everyone should have grace - etc ... but churches can only have 5-8 real values maximum to concentrate on. Too many results in church schizophrenia; less than five is too few, because church is just too complex.

So -- here are the results from the 85 people who voted in this week's church values poll:
Unconditionally loving -- 37 votes
Integrity -- 33
Grace-filled -- 32
Compassionate -- 24
Family-focused -- 21
Authentic -- 19
Outward-focused -- 18
Accepting -- 18
Relevant -- 17
Purposeful -- 13
Committed -- 13
Culturally Aware -- 7

Thanks again.

And be blessed.

Friday, May 7, 2010

SPIRIT

If you weren't part of the leadership meeting this past Sunday evening, there is still one day to vote at left on the CHURCH VALUES POLL. Consult the May 2nd blog for more context.


I am an eternal optimist when it comes to the church. While it is true that some would say the light of the American church is barely flickering - even nearly extinguished - I still believe the church is alive and well and is the hope of the world today.

Having said that, in many circles we are selling out to the kingdom and values of this world. While most people see that as some kind of a problem, few know what to do about it. And many of those who do run toward the wrong solutions.

The work of the Holy Spirit is absolutely vital to our situation today. Of course, He is always vital, but perhaps especially now. After all, if the Holy Spirit doesn't move, we will not produce genuine fruit, no matter how much effort or money we expend. The church becomes irrelevant when it becomes merely a human invention. We are not all we were made to be when everything in our lives and churches can be explained apart from the work and presence of God's Spirit.

And be blessed.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

PRAYER

If you were not part of the leadership gathering Sunday night, consult the blog on May 2 and then vote in the VALUES POLL at left.


Today is the National Day of Prayer across America.

I'm normally a big supporter of our governmental leaders. According to the Bible, we're called to support those in authority over us -- pray for them --- hold them up in vocations that must be monumentally stressful and where leadership calls are questioned daily. So they need our prayers and support.

That said, it was bad form to me for President Obama to recently cancel the National Day of Prayer festivities and ceremony scheduled for today. It has been held every year since 1952, when President Eisenhower began the practice.


Nevertheless, today at high noon many of us gathered around the Kenosha Courthouse downtown to pray for our nation, military, churches and citizens. It was especially gratifying to see that at least a third of the crowd were KFA-ers. Way to go everyone.

And be blessed.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

JOY


That's my 'pride and joy' there on my shoulders --- my grandson, Elias Kevin Thulin.

Can't help showing him off on the blog every now and then.

Not much else to say about it besides that.

And be blessed.

VALUES POLL

Please help us out by filling out the VALUES POLL at left. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Read Sunday's blog to get a context for what we're talking about here.

If you were at our Sunday evening leaders meeting, you don't need to weigh in on it, since I'm trying not to duplicate. Thanks again.

And be blessed.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

VALUES

After reading, please take the poll at left in relationship to today's blog. Thank you.

We gathered some folks in the lobby of KFA tonight to talk together about what our church VALUES should be. I don't know if you've ever thought about that or not --- but let's.

Church MISSION differs from church PURPOSES differs from church VALUES.

We don't get to choose our church MISSION. God already told us what that was. We get to choose how we WORD it, but not what it is. Jesus' mission is our mission. That's it. And Jesus' mission was 'to seek and save what was lost.' So ... that's our mission, too.

The way we say that at KFA is: "MAKING IT EASY TO FIND AND EXPERIENCE GOD."

We don't get to choose our church PURPOSES. God already told us what those were. We get to choose how we WORD them, but not what they actually are. All New Testament churches have essentially the same purposes. Here are ours at KFA:
AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY
ENTHUSIASTIC SERVICE
PASSIONATE WORSHIP
PERSONAL GROWTH
OFFERING HOPE

We GET to choose our church VALUES. The Bible lists all kinds of values, but never specifically says what each church's should be. Church VALUES are what make our church different from the church down the street. They are what draw some people to KFA and they are what repel some people from KFA.

Values are separate from mission or purposes. As important as both mission and purposes are, they are not repeated within the values.

Core values are the things you want the person who doesn't come to KFA to say about KFA when you ask them about KFA ... the things we want to be known for in our community. Values are not FUNCTIONS or PROGRAMS. They are ATTITUDES and MOTIVATIONS. They are the how and why 0f what we do.

So at our meeting this evening, certain values rose to the top. They are listed in the poll at left. Vote on the THREE you think are most important?

And be blessed.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

MAY DAY


May 1st ... MAY DAY.

We don't really honor it or celebrate it, but it's nice phrasing ... May Day ... it works. The origins of May Day come from the Romans. The first day of May was devoted primarily to the worship of Flora, the goddess of flowers. It was in her honor that a five day celebration, called the Floralia, was held.

Gradually it made its way to
England and then, with the early American settlers, over here. It came to be regarded more as a day of joy and merriment for the kids, rather than a day of observing false gods.



And be blessed.