Basking in the Son

The change of seasons had me reflecting upon this today.
I'm not one for laying out in the sun to get a tan. I don't like tanning beds or anything relating to laying around and tanning my body. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a good tan, since I can get pretty dark. Even on a beach, it is hard for me to just lay there, even when reading a book. I always feel like I have to be DOING something. Swimming in the ocean counts here.

Why mention all this? Well, there is a spiritual aspect that I need to address.
I LOVE basking in the presence of God. I feel connected to Him and desire more of His presence in my life. The challenge for me though is that these experiences lately have given me a greater desire to do something. I think that at times I have been content with those times in God's presence and then carried on with life as normal. I don't think this is what God wants. He would rather inspire us to action.
Do we realize that we can sense His presence serving, studying, singing, working, sharing, praying, and giving? The right heart gets us to experience Him is new ways.

So just like my desire to do something while enjoying the effects of the hot summer sun on my skin, I want to bask in the presence of the Son while I am doing something that shows off His power in my life.
God likes to show off, so use me to do it!

Vacation thoughts

I want to take the time to let everyone know how thankful I am for those that stepped up at church for Stephanie and me while we vacationed.

Annie did great leading worship the first Sunday and the team did well the second one, though they were fewer singers than usual.

Terry, thanks for doing the funeral and preaching the last couple of weeks.  You did great and people enjoyed the messages.

Since we started the church in '99, this was the first true "vacation" we have really taken.  I was always preaching on Sunday when I got back, so sermon prep happened while we were gone.  I was gone, but never really in my head.  We have had vacations, but somewhere in there I was always working on something.

So our trip to Fripp Island, SC with the Crothers was wonderful.  I did NO sermon prep, made only 1 ministry phone call, and checked NO email for 7 full days (I looked at it the last night before we left).  I have never done that.  I purposely did not even look at the book of Matthew when reading my Bible for fear that I would start working on a message.

I didn't want to make any decisions while we were gone and just needed to relax, and I did.

It is hard to take a day off and get away from it for me because I am always thinking about doing this or that.  I say all that to say thanks to the church and to my family.  We missed being with you on Sun, but went to the Baptist Church of Beaufort, SC which started in 1804.  But it wasn't like being at PSC.  So we drove 20 hours home in time to get a few hours sleep and get to church the next week.  I wanted to see our people and and worship with you and hear Terry too.

This are two of my favorite pictures from the trip.  There are stories of a charging alligator, running, and Cole going back for his shoes after the pic by the sign.

A Great post about relationships

A friend of mine is a Pastor in Tampa.  He has a great church there and we converse regularly about ministry.  Bill Craig is his name and he and I became friends in Seminary and Stephanie and I went to his launch service of his first church in Ohio.  I say all this to quote from a very good blog entry he made today.  http://billcraig.blogspot.com

You need Gate keepers, Singers and Levites

At the beginning of chapter 7 of Nehemiah, He stands out by the people he surrounds himself with. He is undertaking a huge task and he knows that the success of this task will rise and fall on who he surrounds himself with. He surrounds him self with healthy relationships and healthy leaders. Nehemiah 7: 1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. 

- Surround yourself with healthy relationships and leaders:

First Team: Gate keepers who oversee mission in neighborhoods, Accountability, staff...7:3 I said to them, "The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses." These are people to protect what comes in and what goes out. If we don't have wise gate keepers in our life ungodly and unholy stuff can get in to our lives.

Second team: the singers: He surrounds himself with people who know how to worship God. If you don't surround yourself with such people, you'll find your self around people who worship themselves, culture, wealth, idols, they worship the moment. Scripture calls such people idolaters not worshipers.

Third Team: Levites, pastors, elders, people who care for other people, males and females who care for people. Want people to be loved. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with [a] Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do. He put people in charge who were Godly, men of integrity and feared God. These would be men who held God's word in honor, obeyed it, hit it in their heart. Deacons, Elders, Pastors, Priests, Teachers and leaders who walked with God.

Why are such relationships so important? If you shortchange yourself in any of these teams you are opening your self and your vision up to defeat and chaos. Secondly, You deserve the best around you! You are an image bearer of God. You deserve the best gate keepers, the best singers and the best Levites in your life. I'm not saying they have to be the best singers, preachers, but I am saying they need to be the best and walking with God with integrity and they should be spending time in God's word regularly. This is no place to short change yourself. This is no place for the church to short change itself. You deserve it and Christ's bride deserves it. 

I thought this was key because I am preaching on judging others this Sunday and no one like to be judged, but as believers, we need those "Gatekeepers" to keep us on track.

Spend time in God's Word and ask God to bring you someone like that.

funny Baptism

A pastor friend sent this to me today. Watch the second kids get baptized.

Audience of One

Great worship this last week.
If you missed the message, here it is


Click here to get your own player.

Daniel Fast Day Three

As we begin day three of the fast, I have a few thoughts.

1. It's amazing how hungry I am not.
2. I feel great right now.
3. My body is trying to figure out what all this healthy food is.
4. I better get more creative in my food fixing. Peas and carrots are not dinner.
5. I feel like I can think more clearly and more focussed.
6. Going to God is more frequent since you learn the idea of depending on him for all things.

If you have any thoughts or recipes, email them to me and I will post them.

Fast Day One

I thought that periodically during the 21 Day Daniel Fast I would give my thoughts about how I feel or how to pray.

Let me state that I actually do not feel that hungry at 12PM today. I finished my last meal yesterday, a Grilled Chicken Salad and a loaded baked potato around 2:15 yesterday. Usually during Fasts I'm dying right now. I think I have had a lot of time to prepare myself. What I cannot prepare for is the splitting headache I have this morning. Thanks goodness for the church's water. It tastes much better than the water at home or even bottled water. Must be the nitrates:)

I have come to find these verses of great strength:

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Indeed we will lack no good thing.

Daniel Fast Requirements

A Note from Ken

Important reminder: Be sure to drink as much water as possible throughout the fast. In fact, a good goal is to drink a gallon of water a day! If you would rather fast one day a week for the next 3 weeks, that would be fine. What I am encouraging is a 3 week focus on total dependance upon God. Maybe your focus will be no sweets, coffee, soft drinks, etc during the 21 days. If you feel led to do the whole Daniel fast, then you need to stick to it, and not give up on it.

What about children?
They are under no obligation to join you in the fast.

Do you have questions about specific foods?

First, we're thrilled that you've decided to join with Prairie Springs to fast during the next 21 days!

Second, the list of foods provided is merely a first step to get you thinking about making better food choices. Remember, this fast is about growing your relationship with God. And He's not as concerned about what is in your stomach as He is about what is in your heart.

Daniel's decision not to eat the king's food was an outward symbol of an inward commitment he had made to God. Let your choices over the next three weeks reflect the hunger your have for God's presence in your life.

Since there is no definitive list of foods for the Daniel Diet, it is truly the spirit of Daniel's decision that we are imitating over the next 20 days. If there is something that is not specifically listed that you think still qualifies as a 'food of the king,' then ask God to reveal to you whether it should be part of your diet over the next few weeks. The details of the fast are between you and God — use this time to focus on Him.

God is certain to bless your life in new and exciting ways during the fast. We encourage you to write down your prayers and the many ways God reveals Himself to you. We can't wait to see what God is going to do in your life and in the life of our church!



Fasting Guidelines

FOCUS
The fast, as explained in the Sunday service, is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. As a church, we are fasting in order to deepen our relationship with God and to walk in step with His plan and purpose. What a great focus during the Easter season to focus on the work of the cross and how that message can be communicated to our communities. The best way to do this is to redirect our food source. This is accomplished through substituting our regular food intake with Bible reading, praying and journaling. The overall goal is to experience a genuine hunger for spending time with God.

TIMELINE
Sunday, February 24: 24-hour Liquid Fast
We will drink water, natural fruit juice and herbal caffeine-free tea (lunch will be our last meal and we will resume meals at dinner on Monday).

Monday, February 25: Begin the “Daniel Fast”
At dinner, we will begin to introduce meals with pure foods of fruits and vegetables. This plan will continue for the next 20 days.

The Weekend of March 16: Break the Fast
We will come together as a church and end the fast with communion at Prairie Springs Church. After church is the beginning of the Holy Week Experience by going to the downtown with Jesus riding a donkey then praying over the city. Go out to lunch afterwards.

MENU
The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, which means that we will eliminate some common things from our daily diet, but will have generous options available. We will focus on eating fruits and vegetables that are pure and simple. We have included a list of foods to eat and foods to avoid.

If you have any condition which would prohibit you from being a part of the Daniel Fast, there are other options. Choose something from your daily routine (i.e. specific foods or beverages, television, other technology, etc.) and fast in that manner for the next 21 days. Remember, the details are not as important as the spirit in which you participate.

*If you have any known medical conditions or suspect such conditions, consult your doctor before beginning the fast.
Foods to Eat

WHOLE GRAINS: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley

LEGUMES: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas

FRUITS: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon

VEGETABLES: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger Root, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini

Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

LIQUIDS: Water (as much as possible), Unsweetened Soy Milk, Herbal (caffeine free) Tea, Natural Fruit Juice (no added sugar)

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (small quantities), Honey
Foods to Avoid

• Meat, Poultry, Fish
• White Rice
• Fried Foods
• Caffeine, Coffee, Tea (including decaf)
• Carbonated Beverages
• Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
• Refined Sugar or Sugar Substitutes
• White Flour
• Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products
• All Breads
• Dairy (milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc.)

Calling on PSC to Fast

I'm sorry we didn't get to have church yesterday because of the weather. About 7 AM yesterday I went outside just to see how bad it was. I thought I would walk down the driveway to see how slippery it was. After a few steps I knew we would have to cancel. I hate canceling church. Stephanie and I have no idea what to do on a Sunday if there is no church. Many of those that were called were a little upset because we had to cancel. Some of the leaders and the worship team were excited about how great of a service we were going to have.
I hate not preaching too. I'm going to preach the same message I was going to do yesterday, but that is harder than you think for me. I memorize the message (I have no manuscripts)and it will be hard to hang on to it for another week.
So here is a preview. I am preaching on Jesus' section about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount. Fasting is an outside the box idea. Many people fast today to get something in return. I have heard preachers talk about fasting so that God might bless you with something like finances or health. A Scriptural concept of fasting is the notion that it is a Spiritual Discipline. It is supposed to be a part of our faith and Jesus spoke as though we actually do it.
I must confess, I don't fast very often. It is an act of sacrifice to God. When you fast, you become dependent upon God to sustain you. It will enhance your spiritual walk with God as you depend upon Him for strength and focus.

So here is the deal church. I am asking Prairie Springs to join me in a 21 Day Fast starting Sunday, Feb 24 until March 16. It will start after lunch on Sunday, where you will do a liquid only fast until Monday evening for dinner. This a partial fast called a Daniel Fast. What this means is over the next 20 days you will eat only fruits and vegetables. The guidelines will be in another post. No meat, dairy, sweets, or any caffeine. This will be a real challenge for me as well as for other caffeine addicts. If you cannot do this type of fast then do a liquid fast one day a week for the next 3 weeks. Maybe your fast will be giving up sweets and caffeine/coffee or soft drinks.

Why are we doing it? What better way to focus upon God and the work of the cross than to do this for the next 3 weeks. We are doing this as an act of worship to God as well as going before Him on behalf of our community and friends that so desperately need Jesus. The last day of the fast is Palm Sunday where the fast will be broken with a celebration of the Lord's Supper. Then we begin "The Holy Week Experience" with the riding of a donkey into Sun Prairie and praying over the city. After that we can all go to lunch.
I pray that you can join myself and many others in this Fast to honor God.

Enough already

It is official, we have had enough snow. I hereby declare an end to winter. Sixty inches of snow and counting. If God wants to give me the desires of my heart, I desire that Winter end and Spring begin.
OK so it doesn't work like that. As I prepare to get ready for the annual Pastors and Wives retreat in Green Lake, I realize that every year we go, it snows during the retreat. Quite amazing actually. Maybe it is because it falls around my wife's birthday. She of course is 29 this year, and more beautiful than the day we met in 1986. Wow, we will have been together for 22 years. I'm surprised she hasn't said "enough already." Days like today remind us that this is a far cry from Phoenix, which is where we really wanted to plant a church. Ah, but to be where God wants you is a much better place to be.
But enough snow already.