October 12, 2009
Six years ago, I attended Catalyst… five years ago at this conference God began to call me to plant a new work. In years past, every time I would attend God would hammer me with the calling of starting church, every year I ran.
Some of you know in early spring this year, I submitted to Gods call. This year there were no blows to my calling, only to what lives inside, my character. God spoke many things to me that I had to confess and realign my heart on.
This Catalyst, was a confirmation of what He has called me to do – we had the East Coast team there and had a great time growing together. These are just a few things God spoke to me…
Andy Stanley:
- You wont see what mark you’ve left until long after you’ve left
- Don’t worry about who is for you or against you, focus on who YOU are for
- When God does His greatest work through you, you wont know it happened
- Living to make MY mark is too small of a thing to give my life to
- You WILL leave a mark, is it going to be God’s or yours?
- Get on your knees — and stay there
- You never know who you CAN’T trust… until you trust them
- Trusting is risky, refusing to trust is riskier
- When you cant choose to trust, you must choose to confront
- Concealed suspicion poisons the relationship
Rob Bell:
- When you are obedient to God, you wont worry about anyone else’s life
- Pastors preach peace, but don’t experience it in the most intimate place – home
- Does your family get your best or do they get the scraps
- If it’s going well with church but not with your family, then its NOT going well
- Your kids pick up on what’s important to you without you saying a word
Reggie Joiner:
- You can win the battle and lose the heart
- You kids must know their relationship with you is worth fighting for
- Don’t be so consumed with what you’re building that you forget what you’re becoming
Matt Chandler:
- Confession and repentance is for the believer, not just the new believer
- Every delay in obedience is God beckoning at your heart to grow
Dave Ramsey:
- Nothing moves unless you push it
- We lose focus because of fear (eyes on others) and greed (eyes on ourselves)
Chuck Swindoll:
- God cant pour His riches into hands that are already full… let go
- It’s lonely to lead
- Its hardest at home
- It’s essential to be real
- Brokenness and failure are necessary
- Gods way is always better than my way
- We’re too capable & can do things in the flesh
- DONT MESS WITH THE MESSAGE!
- Legalism makes you defend things that need not be defended
- Fight the temptation to be self reliant & in control
- Do more with others and less alone
God broke me many times during these two days, what He spoke to my heart is STILL ringing in my head!
October 12, 2009
Friday and Saturday I went to the Catalyst Conference, God showed me MANY things. I will blog a full post on what I learned later. Tonight I want to share with you one thing I heard Reggie Joiner say.
“You can win the battle — and lose the child”
Yes that applies mostly to the family, but it also applies at the work place, in the family and in the church. You may be completely right, but be wrong in the end because you care more about your pride than you do the other person.
- sometimes you have to let go
- sometimes you dont have to prove a point
- sometimes its better to have a soft answer
- sometimes, people heard you the 1st time
- sometimes you dont have to drive your point home with a sledge hammer!
Sometimes, its better to give your opinion, step back and let the other person make their decision. If you are always making it for them, if they “have to” do what you say or approve of – then do they really ever take ownership of their decisions?
Do you want them owning YOUR decisions, or theirs.
This is so important in dealing with teenagers. We have to let them make decisions, and take ownership of them, and work through those consequences. Isn’t that what God does for us? Or does he “make us” follow the bible? It’s a choice. When I choose right, I see the reward, when I choose wrong I see the consequence. When God allows us to choose, He also allows us to experience ownership. I heard one student say this once, ” I have my dad’s faith, but Im trying to make it my own faith“. This takes time, especially in a christian home.
They cant take ownership unless you allow them to. Ownership is taken by letting go. My advice if you deal with young people is to guide and direct, give your opinion… then step back and let them decide. It’s tough, but it sure does help them take ownership in their life.
October 7, 2009
I am honored to work with the people who have bought into the vision of East Coast Church. I’m not in any way honoring one in particular above the others, I just wanted to share with you a little of his heart. He will be leading us to God’s throne in worship. He has led me in worship, just by observing his life. Its what he does, not what he sings. I wont use his name. He has already proven himself a huge asset to EC, beyond his musical talent and passion for Jesus Christ. Here is a little of what was scribbled down on his napkin at a local coffee shop.
This guy has a PASSION for God and a passion for excellence. Dude, I appreciate you.
October 6, 2009
Here is a link to some pictures of an East Coast Church outreach we did last Sunday morning at the Jaguars Stadium. Here’s a link explaining the story and how God provided for us…
Thank you for the prayers. Really – thank you.
Kevin
East Coast Church
October 2, 2009
Is this really the way it’s supposed to be? The more people you lead, the more you make? If you are faithful, wont God bless you financially? Not when you stand that up next to a man who, started many new churches, discipled many leaders in the church, was a international speaker, and wrote 3/4 of the New Testament. These are the words penned by the Apostle Paul, the man who was responsible in leading the explosive birth of the global church…
“Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.” – The Apostle Paul (1 Cor 4:11-13)
That was current for Paul. He led a movement, yet that’s the way he lived. Wont God give you tons of money, a nice house, a nice car, and some toys for the lake to play with on the weekend? No, not necessarily. God NEVER promised any of that and any preacher that preaches differently should go back to what the Word of God teaches.
Is there any thing wrong with having THINGS?
NO, as long as they don’t have you…
Don’t think for a minute that God is the one who has given you these things… He very well may have, but so may have Satan as a tool to take you away from God. Do you love them more than you love God? What if he asked you to give them up to meet the need of someone else? Would you be able to do that? If not, then you probably do love them more than you love the God who you believe gave them to you.
I’m just saying if the Apostle Paul, a man of great responsibility and leadership is described in the previous (1 Cor 4:11-13), then maybe expect way to much of God in return for “OUR” successes.
September 25, 2009
Heavy reading in Romans this morning – deep – clear and to the point. We have a lot of work to do today…
Romans 12:9-20
- Love w/ hypocrisy
- Be devoted to each other in love
- Honor others by giving them preference
- Be diligent
- Be fervently serve God
- Persevere through problems
- Devote yourself to prayer
- Contribute to the needs of the church
- Be hospitable
- Bless those who persecute you
- Rejoice with those who rejoice
- Weep with those who weep
- Be unified
- Don’t be proud
- Hang out with the less fortunate
- Don’t be wise in your own eyes
- Never seek revenge
- Respect whats right in the sight of all men
- Do your part to live at peace with everyone
What could happen if we actually attempted to live like this today?
September 21, 2009
You can live this day forward without sinning ever again!
As I was reading Romans this morning I came across a passage that I am passionate about. When I tell people that they can live this day forward without sinning, they look at me like I’m a heretic and are in shock that I just said that. I love Gods word, it shocks people. These are two of my favorite verses, I will let you draw your own conclusion as to the truth of what they mean. In my understanding, they mean one thing… That I DONT HAVE TO SIN – today, tomorrow, … for the rest of my life – through the power of the indescribable Holy Spirit of God living inside of me!!!
” In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” – Romans 8:4 (ESV)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
Its plain to me! Though I struggle with this flesh and fall to it many times… through the power of the Holy Spirit God has given me, I do not have to!
Submit to God and live life in the Spirit today!
Have a great day!
September 12, 2009
When was the last time you heard someone being critical about you or the vision God has uniquely given you for your life? Today, yesterday, last week? Unfortunately critics will ALWAYS be there. Some you may need to listen to, for God can surely use a critic, for others… consider the source.
This morning I read a passage of scripture in the last chapter of Acts…
- Paul is shipwrecked on the island of Malta
- He gathers some sticks together for a fire
- Gets bit by a VIPER…
The people then said this about him:
“A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.”
Paul didnt say, “You dont know me! I’m outta here, I got no time for you”.
- He let God work
- He was patient
- He didnt give up
Paul didn’t let the critical distract him from being missional…
Sometime later Paul observed sickness in that village – he remembered the mission, “It’s all about people”, he healed them and prayed for them. He had compassion on them even in the midst of criticism. (Funny thing about critic’s – some will come full circle once they know you’re genuine… some of them).
People can be very judgmental and critical about you – most have no clue what God is really doing in your life. When criticism comes don’t let it distract you from the mission. The mission is still reconciling man to God – it’s still all about people. Never let people get in the way of that.
September 3, 2009
Not being at Promise Land on Wednesday night was pretty weird for me. If you didn’t know, I am a part of a church plant in San Marco. If you didn’t know, I’m working at an Acura dealership greeting people and transporting cars until East Coast gets off the ground. Its a job… but I see it as more than that – We’ve got to see God in everything we do. We’ve got to live missional. I have already seen God working in a few situations and I know He is using me in this new sphere of influence. I’ve had the change to talk to a non believer about God, encourage another believer in his walk with God, and pray for a lady who has been in the hospital. I can see God at work. You don’t have to lead 12 people to Christ everyday – just be a light and recognize the opportunities He gives you. There are opportunities everyday… we just have to see them and seize them!
Where has He placed you?
Why are you there?
Are you living on mission?
I think about East Coast Church every moment of everyday! As I was driving home about 7:15 across the Matthews Bridge I snapped this picture. Greater things have yet to be done in THIS City – Jacksonville. They are in the works. God is orchestrating things everyday to reach the people of Jacksonville & He wants to use YOU!! Everyday is a chance to be used by Him – WHERE YOU’RE AT!!
