BAPTISMS

It was an amazing Sunday afternoon at Lake Andrea yesterday where we baptized 108 KFA-ers in water.  That's Pastor Lisa and me baptizing a friend below.

In Psalm 51, David prays for a clean heart - a right spirit.  He's passionately committed - not just to being changed - but to being overhauled - transformed by God.  He pours out his heart for this change. A heart that's pure.  That's God's heart.  That's what we're after.

When we talk about one of our KFA purposes - PASSIONATE WORSHIP - this is it.  It isn't just singing our hearts out ... it isn't just giving our time and talent and treasure - it isn't just praying and fasting.  It's this.  It's having our hearts washed.  It's having hearts that want to be like God's heart.

Is that what we're after?  Is it?  She doesn't care that you can bench press 300 pounds or shoot two under par.  This is what she's looking for . . . a man with a heart for God.

So it was great to see men, women, families entering the water this weekend in order to profess their desire to worship God and be transformed by Him and to serve Him all their days.  

Boom.

Done.

And be blessed.

HEART

Unless you've experienced some particular problem with yours - or had a new one put in - we seldom think much about the heart in terms of the physical organ that beats in our chests.  We use the word 'heart' more often to describe our sentiments and passions.  We speak of it in very emotional terms ...

You wear your heart on your sleeve ...
You need to get to the heart of a matter ...
You have a special place in your heart for someone ...
Your heart gets broken ...


We use the word to talk about how we're feeling.  And yet, the heart is at the very center of our desires.  It's the seat of our wills.  If I were to bring one of our team members into my office and tell them we were going to address a heart issue, they'd know we were going to the very core of who they were.

'As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  (Proverbs 23:7)  I always thought thinking was associated with the mind, but the writer of this proverb says the real you thinks with his heart.

Stealing?  From your heart.
Murder?  From your heart.
Gossip?  From your heart.

'What's God's greatest dream for your anatomy? That you would run after Him.'

When you give your heart to someone, it doesn't mean you reach inside your chest cavity and grab a big, bloody hunk of cardiac tissue and offer it to someone.  It's a statement about your emotions.  Desire, despair, temptation, sorry, fear -- they're all there -- in your heart.

The heart is the seat of our integrity.  It's where honor lives.  God tries our hearts, searches our hearts, refines our heart, and knows our hearts - because that's where the true you is.

And what is God's greatest dream for your heart and your anatomy?  That you would run after Him.  Seek Him.  Wonder about Him.  Examine Him.  Look for Him.  Hunger and thirst for Him.  Reach for Him.  Grope for Him.  Call out to Him.  Listen for Him.  Turn to Him.  Return to Him.  Lie down and wake up with Him.  Work for Him.  Serve Him.  Praise and thank Him.  Adore Him.  Enjoy Him.  Love Him and be loved by Him.

And be blessed.

ATHLETES

There are a lot of Christian athletes in the 2012 Olympic Games - but a few that might be worthy of an extra watch are:

Kevin Durant - basketball
A member of Oklahoma City Thunder - apparently his off court humility is legend.

Charlie Houchin - swimming
He'll be overshadowed by teammate superstar Michael Phelps, but Houchin is a strong believer in Christ.

Amy Rodriguez - soccer
She was on the Olympic team four years ago when the women won the soccer gold, and here she is again.

Sanya Richards - track
She's married to Super Bowl Champion cornerback Aaron Ross, but she's also a woman of God whose faith keeps her grounded.

Jonathon Horton - gymnastics
He won the silver medal in the high bar four years ago.  He says he's praying for open doors of opportunity to share faith at this year's Olympic Games.

Kendrick Farris - weightlifting
'I expect people to see God move in a major way.'

Jennifer Nichols - archery
Her message is that it's OK for young women to wait until they get married to have sex.


Jared Frayer - wrestling
He directs people toward God, using the birth of his recently born Down's Syndrome daughter as part of his testimony.

Brittany Viola - diving
A victor of struggle with bulimia, she now has a goal to share Christ with the world.

Things are looking up.

And be blessed.

OLYMPICS

I love the Summer Olympics.  The beginning of the competitions tomorrow is going to be great, but I admit I love watching the nations walk in one-by-one at the opening ceremonies.  Something inside stirs with great pride when the United States team walks in every four years.  The ceremonies and the lighting of the torch is always special.  Some find it boring - not me.

These next couple of weeks provide us all with a great opportunity to pray for our world -- for peace -- for safety -- for Christians in London right now who have trained, prayed and waited for this moment and who will walk thru open doors of opportunity to see many visiting the streets of London receive Christ.  

Several thousand miles away, we can be part of it all by being a prayer presence for them.

And be blessed.

OREO

I am prompted to write on this topic today --- because 2012 was the 100th anniversary of the OREO cookie - because I found out this week that my dad, who I didn't even grow up knowing, eats four OREOS per day (like me) - because well-meaning people who call themselves my 'friends,' continually try to get me to stop eating them.

So to reinforce my devotion, I salute the OREO.  


71% to 29% is the cookie-to-creme ratio of the original OREO.  Perfection.


381.  That's the number of times all the OREOS ever manufactured could circle the earth if lined up end to end along the equator.  If stacked, they would reach the moon and back more than five times.  Impressive, right?

After U.S. citizens, our next top OREO brothers and sisters live in China, Venezuela, Canada and Indonesia.  


Four hundred fifty billion - with a "B" - have been sold worldwide since they hit the market 100 years ago.  Take that, you fake McDonald's chocolate chip cookies.  


So I know there are evil people in my circle of influence who would consistently tempt me to stop eating them in the name of health and holiness ... 


... but to you, OREO, I remain faithful.

Click "LIKE" if you agree.  OREO haters, stay away.

And be blessed.

ROUNDABOUT

They've installed two roundabouts on the roads that get you in and out of my neighborhood.  I'm used to them from traveling in Europe and Asia a bit, but here, not so much.

The other day, I made the circle as I always do, but I got so distracted thinking about all the things I had to do that day that I don't know how many times I went around it without realizing it - 4 times?  5 times?  I don't know.  A lot of times.

It's kind of hypnotic to get on the roundabout.  If you keep your steering wheel at 'that exact degree,' you just keep circling and circling.  You have to change the wheel's direction in order to get out of the turn and get where you need to go.

Know what I mean?

It reminded me of the scene from European Vacation with Chevy Chase, where he's trying to 'get left' and just can't - and ends up circling the London roundabout all day long.  Here it is:

You can do that, you know - circle all day long, I mean - unless you change the wheel's direction.

And be blessed.

NIGERIA

Forbes Magazine did an article awhile back on the Richest Pastors in Nigeria:


David Oyedepo - Living Faith World Outreach - estimated worth, $150 million.  Their worship center seats 50,000.  Oyedepo owns four private jets and has homes here and in London.  He owns Dominion Publishing, Covenant University and Faith Academy, an elite high school.

Chris Oyakhilome - Believer's Loveworld Ministries - estimated worth, $30 million.  He's a charismatic preacher with a church of 40,000, some of whom are business executives and politicians.  He operates Loveworld TV Network, the first Christian network to broadcast from Africa to the rest of the world 24/7.

Temitope Joshua - Synagogue Church of All Nations - estimated worth, $15 million.  His church accommodates over 15,000 each weekend.  He owns Emmanuel TV, a Christian network.

That's amazing.  I don't know.  I think I might be pastoring in the wrong country.

And be blessed.

EAR

God hears you.

He is listening.  He isn't sleeping or dozing.  He is neither inattentive nor uncaring.  He cares deeply.  'He who planted the ear, does He not hear?'  (Psalm 94:9)


He hears you in your joys and pain; He hears you in your triumphs and trials.  He hears you in your greatest need and your greatest testimony.  He hears.

All of it.  He hears your murmurings and outcries against Him as well.

He is listening.

And be blessed.

HATERS

I'm not writing or responding to anything specific happening in my life at the moment, but the truth is, every now and then somebody lets out an attack on the church that gets big-time publicity - it's mean-spirited and pendulum-swinging.  It's usually directed at some pastor or speaker with a National following like Driscoll or Osteen or Warren or one of those guys.  Occasionally though, we get them at KFA, which always makes me scratch my head, because I'm not even famous.


They are people who charge that there is a lack of depth or they wonder why we don't more viciously (right term) contend for the faith and defend the Gospel, as if God needed our help with that.  They have one tool in their toolbox - a hammer - and to them, everything looks like a nail.


They always seem to dislike something -- always have a better way -- always think it should have been done differently -- always see the glass half-empty -- always pick everything apart -- always grumbling -- always letting others know how they feel.  


I so try to give them the benefit of the doubt -- see if the criticism may be warranted -- believe the best about what they have to say -- figure it was last night's bad pizza -- but I don't know, it sounds like a miserable life to me.


So I accidentally ran across this video by Pastor Stephen Furtick of Elevation Church called "Hey Haters," and I couldn't resist putting it up here for you.  

PS - I'm thankful that 99% of the folks who call KFA home aren't haters.  You're so gracious, mature, forgiving, compassionate and supportive.  I can't thank you enough.


And be blessed.

POLLS

I read with great interest the results of the two polls I posted here in the past two weeks.  They asked your preferred length of singing and preaching at a regular weekend service.  Results were as follows:

SINGING
Less than 15 minutes preferred ... 8%
15-20 minutes preferred ... 19%
20-25 minutes ... 9%
25-30 minutes ... 22%
30-35 minutes ... 13%
35-40 minutes ... 6%
40-45 minutes ... 7%
Longer than 45 minutes ... 12%


Said another way, 58% preferred singing to last less than 30 minutes, while 38% preferred it longer than 30 minutes.  Ours at KFA, depending on the weekend, lasts about 20-22 minutes, give or take.


PREACHING
When it comes to length of the weekend message:
Less than 15 minutes preferred ... 0%  (that's good cuz that ain't never happening)
15-20 minutes ... 3%  
20-25 minutes ... 4%
25-30 minutes ... 12%
30-35 minutes ... 14%
35-40 minutes ... 17%
40-45 minutes ... 12%
Longer than 45 minutes ... 33%


Frankly, it shocked me that 66% preferred longer than 30 minutes - and 45% preferred longer than 40 minutes.  Somehow, it was gratifying to know how you feel about the Word of God.

Thanks for responding.

And be blessed.

FED

* Only a few more hours to take the poll at right, based on a blog posting earlier this week.

I'm a Keith Green fan ... have been since the early 1970s when I sat there in a little Kansas City church sanctuary on the floor barefoot with some of my friends while he played a baby grand piano and sang his music.

One of his songs said:
'The world is sleeping in the night,
And the church just won't fight, 
'Cuz we're asleep in the light.  
How can we be so dead, 
When we've been so well fed?  
Jesus rose from the grave, 
And you, you can't even get out of bed.'

I can hear the music even as I type those words.

'How can we be so dead, when we've been so well fed?'               --- K. Green

We seem much more aware of ourselves than we are of the world.  We seem obsessed by our own spiritual standing more than those who have no connection with God at all.

Somewhere along the line that got off track.  We worry about conformity to the world but end up abusing Christianity as a shelter it was never intended to be.

O. Chambers says, 'We cannot do what God does, and God will not do what we can.'


We're called to wake up - stop sleeping in the light - and spread the same love of God to others that Christ has freely given to us.

And be blessed.

NEED

Please take the poll at right - based on a blog posting earlier this week - only a few hours left now.

I used to be more of a 'need to know' person than I am today.  I still want to know, but I don't necessarily need to know.  Not all the time.  Just sometimes.  About certain stuff.  But not about everything.  Just some things.

When you gather a team around you who is competent and driven and effective, you don't need to know quite so much.

Sometimes Joelene will ask me certain things about the church I pastor and my answer now and then is, 'Uh ... I don't know.'  She used to respond to that with:  'How can you not know?  Aren't you the pastor?'  

ME:  'Uh ... yeah ... but I still don't know.'  


If we have systems at our church that are led and managed and followed through on by motivated people, then I don't need to know everything.  Again, not that I don't want to know; but I don't need to know.

Too many leaders spend their time monitoring all the people in their organization.  If they can't manage themselves then I suppose you have to monitor them, but my goal is to get people who can skillfully lead the activities that will take the church where it needs to go without me looking over their shoulder all the time.

'I don't need to organize the day of a team that knows what it's doing.'

I don't need to organize the day of a team that knows what it's doing.  They need to know the vision and the mission and the purposes and values and focus and model from me, as well as a clear understanding of their own goals. After that, they need the space to get it done.

In the end, it all needs evaluation to make sure the goals were met, but if I'm the only decision-maker in the organization, nothing gets done if I'm not here.  R. Warren said: 'You can structure for control or growth, but not both.'  

So I don't need to know all the time.

But I still want to.

PS - I fully expect someone from our team to copy this posting and tack it up so the next time I walk in asking questions, they can just clear their throat and point to the wall where it is displayed.

And be blessed.

ORPHAN

Please be encouraged to take the poll at right, based on a blog earlier this week.

Today we had the thrill and opportunity to be part of the ORPHAN'S TABLE EXPERIENCE at KFA (www.kenoshafirst.com).  It was a meal that orphans around the world would likely eat - rice and beans.  There was explanation about KFA Orphan Ministry and a connection with others who have the same kind of growing heart.  We have a great team who is driven by compassion and love to bless both widows and orphans at KFA.  Thank you.

The arrow changed everything when it was introduced into warfare in ancient times.  Before the arrow, if we were doing battle, I'd have to actually go right up to you and beat you with a stick.  But suddenly, someone came up with this contraption - and now they're a whole valley apart and the guys on the other hill go: 'What is that they're doing over there?  What do they have in their hands?'  And, then all of a sudden, the guy next to him goes THUNK! and drops dead - because arrows can fly further and faster than you possibly could.

The Bible says children are like arrows in the quiver and they'll go further and faster than you could ever go; they just need some direction and guidance and velocity, supplied by you and God.

Look at it this way:  Our kids and grandkids are going to wreak havoc on hell fifty years after we're dead - and we get to program them.


'That sounds like brainwashing to me!'  

That's right.  Everybody gets their shot at it and I'm taking mine with my kids and grandkids, don't you worry.

'Our kids and grandkids are going to wreak havoc on hell fifty years after we're dead - and we get to program them.'

And I know right now you have 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 children and you can't go anywhere because you have 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 children.  Your date nights are going to the grocery store, kids in tow - or to McDonalds for Thanksgiving dinner where three of them can share a Happy Meal - or to the lake or anywhere that's free where they can have fun.

But 200 years from now, when you and your kids and grandkids and great-grandkids are all in heaven, you're going to look like geniuses - because all the people in heaven are going to ask, 'Who brought all these children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren into the world?  Who's responsible for the truckload of DNA that got passed down to these?  Where are you?  Stand up right now.'


And then you - sitting with your spouse over in the corner of heaven - can raise your hand and say: 'Over here.  That was us.  Our quiver was full and we sacrificed big time, but we did it for love.  We did it because we believed children need to be rescued and taught and given hope and a chance and a home - and it was worth it and we're not sorry.'


When we step into intercession with adoption or foster care, we're not just doing it so we can make a child's life easier, but so we can obliterate hell and change eternity forever.


We have not been saved just to get to heaven; we have been saved for the sake of God-exalting good works.  We've not been saved merely to avoid evil, but to do great good.

We care for orphans and widows at KFA, not just because we're rescuers.  That isn't what drives those ministries.  We do it because we are the rescued.

And be blessed.

WANTED

Gospel 101 is the story of Jesus.  He came, He was crucified, He died, He was buried and rose on the third day.  Redemption is at the core of that story.  He was innocent, we were guilty.  His pure blood poured out for our busted souls.  He paid our penalty.  We did nothing but receive it and get freedom out of it.  That's the story of redemption.

Not only were we redeemed; we were received - received into the family of God.  The Father sent His only Son in order to gain His adopted children.  Family.  It is the essential motif of the universe.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit live in relationship.  They represent family.  And there is an open chair in Their circle for you.

'Some of you have never felt wanted, but God wants you.'

That's our story with God - that whatever belongs to Him also belongs to His family.  Heaven isn't just this really cool place, it's where 'DAD' went and created a space for us.  It's our inheritance; it's our home.  It's why we store up treasures there, not here.

That's why everyone who gives their life to Christ walks in to KFA a spiritual orphan and walks out a spiritual son or daughter of God, not to mention a brother and sister of ours.

God knew our status as orphans and He wanted us in His family.  He wanted us.  Some of you have never felt wanted, but God wants you.  That's the nature of what it means to be brought into His family.  We're pursued; we're run after; we're wanted.

And be blessed.

PS - Please feel free to take the poll at right.  Thank you.

RAIN

I have to blog about the rain today because it’s the first time in literally weeks that we’ve seen any around our area of the country. It comes as a welcome relief, albeit brief and light.

We used to sing a song by Andy Park that said: ‘Let it rain ... let it pour from heaven ... let it rain ... to revive our souls ... we need your rain ... we need your streams of refreshing ... until we thirst no more.’

We need the rain for both our fields and our spirits.  The fields are completely in the hands of God.  We have a little say about the rain that feeds our spirits.  We can’t control the droughts that blight our planet; we can prevent drought from laying siege to our spirits.

We can acknowledge how dependent we are on a God who sends the showers of relief to us - and be thankful.

We can pray like Elijah, until the rain comes down.

We can - as Spurgeon put it - ‘value the least sign of grace’ - watching for it as the prophet did, until we see the small cloud on the horizon coming our way.

And when the rain comes to water our souls, we can bring the fruit back to God, where it belongs.

Let your spirit be drenched.

PS - Please be encouraged to take the poll at right, based on an earlier blog post this week.


And be blessed.

POLL RESULT

I'll admit to being a little surprised at the results of the poll I posted here regarding the preferred length of a message during a church service.  It was based on the July 3rd blog post.  

The results were:

Less than 15 minutes - 0%  (Thank you.)

15-20 minutes - 3%

20-25 minutes - 4%

25-30 minutes - 12%

30-35 minutes - 14%

35-40 minutes - 17%

40-45 minutes - 12%

More than 45 minutes - 33%

So a hefty and amazing 76% of you wanted messages at least 30 minutes long, if not longer.  Well, I have to say - I must be making a bunch of you very, very happy.  :)

Now ... I have posted a secondary poll at right -- this one on your preferred length of SINGING during a church service.  Please vote.

And be blessed.

HARDY

To listen to the podcast about Co-Pastors that Dan and I recorded recently with Dick Hardy of 'The Hardy Group,' copy and paste the following link:


http://www.thehardygroup.org/avms.asp?avstartid=230


Thanks for listening.

And be blessed.

PETITION

I don't know if you've noticed how much easier it is to get people to sign petitions for stuff they're against than stuff they're for, but it's true.

The very word 'petition' kind of assumes you're against whatever it is, doesn't it?

I mean, you never hear anyone passing around a petition to, say, give the boss a raise 'because all of us in the office agree he really deserves it.'

Petitions are always about things we're against, never things we're for.  This has been one of the least desirable marks of Christianity for as long as I can remember.  And when that becomes one of our standards, it's way too easy to get judgmental quickly.

If we were to stand at the back doors of our American church auditoriums on the weekend and pass out ready-made signs protesting the latest Supreme Court decision that didn't go our way, we'd likely have a rush of takers.


It's way easier to condemn a pornographic magazine seller than it is to campaign for Godly, healthy attitudes toward sex.

Christ has not saved us from the world; He's saved us to it.  Yes, He came to deliver us from the evil one, but the call is to go into the world and change it - not petition against it.

And be blessed.

P.S.  There is no petition going around at KFA, just so you know.  Not that I know of.

Please be encouraged to take the poll at right - based on this past Tuesday's blog post.

POTTER

Please be encouraged to take the poll at right, based on this past Tuesday's blog post.

At KFA (www.kenoshafirst.com) this weekend we hosted potter Denise Moline of Silly Sisters Pottery in Lake Villa, Illinois.  She formed a bowl on the potter's wheel onstage while I spoke.

I learned from her that when you buy clay from a store, it comes in a nice, neatly packaged, sensibly shaped 25-pound square block.  Some of us had built nice block lives, all neat and orderly - and then we found ourselves in the hands of the Potter - and the first thing He did was allow that orderly shape to be pounded away so now your block looks/feels like an unattractive lump that has been altered by the Master Artist who has something else in mind for you but hasn’t bothered to inform you of what it is yet.

But every artist knows what he’s making before he begins working.  It’s important that we get that.  God knew His plans for you before His hands made contact with you.  God isn’t trying to decide what to do with you; He already knows. 

'I can't tell you the number of times I've felt worthless.'

The will of the Potter is worked out on the Potter’s wheel.  But here is a piece of pottery that God made with His own hands ... and it’s flawed ... it’s messed up.  What happened that we wound up in His hand spoiled and marred?  What has happened over the course of your life that made you feel like God forgot you?

You’ve felt worthless.  Is that how God made you?  No.  

You’ve felt broken and discarded.  Is that how God designed you?  No.  

What happened?

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve felt worthless.  I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve felt like a failure, or the number of times I’ve felt useless.

The Potter held the vessel and the vessel was marred.  Nevertheless, the Potter doesn’t toss the vessel aside; He holds it in His hand.  And then the Potter does something very interesting.  He makes the vessel again.  And in order to do that He had to put it back on the wheel.  

You can try to fix your own messes and put yourself at the mercy of a world that doesn’t love you ... or ... you can let the Potter put you back on the wheel and work on you.

My friend, stay on the wheel.  I promise you, it’s safer for you to be in the hand of God than any other place.  Dear clay ... everything God desires for your life is on that wheel.

And be blessed.

HAND

Please be encouraged to take the poll at right based on Tuesday's blog post.  Thanks very much. 


One of the most famous paintings in all history is found on the ceiling of the SIstine Chapel in the Vatican.  It was painted in the early 1500s by Michelangelo and is called ‘The Creation of Adam.‘  It illustrates the story from the book of Genesis and shows the hand of God - on the right - reaching out to touch Adam’s hand.

In the Bible, the finger, hand and arm of God symbolize great power One.

Jeremiah said:  ‘Ah, Lord GOD!  It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too hard for You.’  (Jeremiah 32:17)

David:  'When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him ... ‘  (Psalm 8:3)

When God sent a plague of LICE on Egypt in the book of Exodus, Pharaoh’s magicians called it an act perpetrated by ‘the finger of God.’ 

'God didn't have to do anything He's done for you.  He didn't have to promise you anything.  He wanted to.'

God gave to Moses the two tablets of stone written with the 'finger of God.'

Jesus:  "It is by the finger of God that I cast out demons ... ”  (Luke 11:20)

Hands and fingers are powerful.  A person in authority just has to crook a finger at someone and he’ll come.  A parent can point at something and the child will understand that means, ‘Pick that up and bring it here.’  A policeman simply holds up his hand and you stop.

Maybe one of the more vivid portrayals of the arm/hand of God in the Bible is found in Deuteronomy 26:  ”The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.  And He brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”  (Deuteronomy 26:8, 9)

By God's mighty hand He brought us out.  And then ... He brought us in.  When you gave your life to Christ - He took you out of the darkness and transferred you into the light.  Whenever God takes you out of something, He never just dumps you or leaves you to fend for yourself.  He sets you down into something better than He took you out of.

God's hand reaching in and bringing you out represents His will in your life.  When we see His hand in action, it's always confirming what He wants.

God didn’t have to do anything He’s done for you.  He didn’t have to promise you anything.  He wanted to.  He wanted to love you.  It was a merciful and graceful act of His will and by His hand.

Nothing but the hand of God could have brought you out of the mess you were in ... and nothing but the hand of God is keeping you out of another one. 

And be blessed.

LENGTH

Please be encouraged to take the poll at right.  Thank you.

There is a movement out there that suggests church services have become too long -- 50 minutes should  be the absolute outer edge, time-wise.  Gee, I sometimes sermonize for 40 minutes alone, so that would be rough.

But they're saying, 'Stop singing so long ... stop praying so much ... stop preaching so long.'


People have shorter attention spans now.  (That's one of the arguments.)  I wonder if they took that poll right after folks came out of the movie theater, double feature.

They're insisting that we've re-considered everything else at church -- cafes in the lobby -- moving lights in the auditorium -- giving kiosks in the hallways -- but we refuse to re-think service length.

Thirty minutes.  That was the suggested perfect length.

OK.  That would be:
15 seconds to welcome everybody
9 minutes for singing
2 to talk about and collect an offering
30 seconds to shake somebody's hand
1 minute to communicate the important announcement for the day.
1 minute for a prayer
13 minutes for a message
2 minutes to draw in the net
1 minute to pray again
15 seconds to say goodbye
And ... we're out.


So, what do you think of that schedule?

OK.  Indulge me in the poll at upper right.  Assuming the speaking was at least moderately interesting, what's your preferred length of a weekend message?

And be blessed.

BOTTLE

Psalm 56 records the strangest thing.  It says God has put our tears in a bottle.  Of all the things we think God keeps track of, it is this.  So I was wondering today how full my God-bottle is and what things have caused my bottle(s) to fill up.

I have three daughters and a wife.  I'm jealous of them at times because their tears seem to flow much easier than mine.  I think I'm supposed to be proud of that as a man but for some reason that rings hollow.

I know Jesus cried, so it must be OK.

That Bible passage says our tears are recorded in a scroll as well, so I picture somewhere out there in the celestials, rows and rows of shelving miles high with gazillions of assorted bottles full of wetness, each with an accompanying book that tells what each droplet is about.

I don't know if the shelf thing is true, but it wouldn't be unlike God to care that much.

What are you crying about right now?

And be blessed.

4-PLEX

Today, at a specially called KFA (KenoshaFirst.com) business meeting, our congregation unanimously approved the purchase of a 4-plex across the street from Tremper High School for the use of Journey Ministry College dorm residences for our students.

The college began last year with 13 students and our goal is to double that this coming year.  The need for dormitory style housing was high on our list of hopes and dreams.  There are four units, each potentially housing four students in each.

Now we need to get in there and give it a little TLC -- replace some cabinets -- install some new flooring -- give it a fresh coat of paint and a little 'love.'

We're still looking for some nice furniture -- bunk beds -- washer/dryer (electric) -- anything that makes a 'house' a 'home' for our students.  Look out for an open house in a few weeks to stop in and see the make-over -- and maybe bring a bag of groceries to stock the cabinets so the students have something to eat.  Stay tuned for that.

We are excited about this purchase and are thankful for a body of believers at KFA who get the vision and are willing to go out on a limb in order to embrace it.

And be blessed.