Developing Others.
More specifically I am husband to an amazing wife--Nichole.
Dad to 3 great kids--Elijah, Josiah and Noah.
A pastor and church planter for The Bridge Church in Baldwinsville, NY. Just outside Syracuse...
Go Orange!
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A place for people to tell of how God's power is working.
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Addicted
I recognized something this morning.
By God's grace, I've become addicted to seeing what God has in store.Maybe the picture I used is shady, but I went to my favorite place to get pictures looking for something that would capture my thought and this was the "random" front page picture.In fact, when the high lets down, it is a pretty low low. You wonder, "What was I thinking this morning?" or "That will never happen?" or worst of all, you think nothing about what God was doing just a few hours (or minutes) prior.When you are in the moment, it is exciting. The future is as close to you as it has ever been. You think nothing is impossible (If what you experience is truly from God, which time will tell, that statement is true).What would I say to you who don't exactly experience this right now?Don't wait until you feel addicted to what God is doing to act on the fact that God wants to do something.Where do you start?It is real simple. Read God's Word and pray to the only One who does something with your heart. You cannot get to this point on your own (I certainly have not). You will go through times where setting aside the time is as difficult and painful as pulling teeth without novocaine. But as you are faithful to God, he will remain faithful to you. Over time, he will revive your heart. James says it this way, "Draw close to God and God will draw close to you."God wants to be close to you. He wants to show you things you can't handle. He wants you to be faithful, even when you don't feel like being faithful.Then, one day, you'll wake up and realize you are addicted too.Throwing Sinners Parties
I got the privilege to be at our last church FBC Heber Springs, AR this past weekend to preach. It was great to see so many people we hadn't seen in two years!
This message is a version of a message in the Transformed Series called "Throwing Sinners Parties." Jesus calls Matthew, the worst of the worst. Then Matthew threw a sinners party where Jesus was the guest of honor. According to the religious elite, this was irreligious.
The thing is that Jesus gave his best to the "worst." The "worst" in Jesus' day were those who religion had decided were too bad to be close to a holy God. As the church, we are supposed to do the same as what Jesus did. We are to give our best to the "worst." The people who are too bad for church.
(download)
Orchestrating God
These past two weeks, I've had the opportunity to preach at Lamson Road Community Church. As I sat down to study, I received a clear word as to what we all needed at this time.
Last week, from Revelation 1, we saw a God who was/is/will be Greater. Greater than what? You fill in the blank. He's greater.
This week, following that theme, it is time to get to work. What work? God's work. Actually the work that we do when we ride the movement of God, not when we try and manufacture God's work. Luke 5:1-11 was our passage. This is when Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John away from fishing to fish men.
Please note, I forgot to mention this in the sermon. The key phrases "What God originates, God orchestrates" and "Pray and prepare" are from Andy Stanley's, Visioneering.
Since he'll be watching this, sorry for not giving credit where credit was due:)
God Orchestrates from Shane Kennard on Vimeo.
Jesus Is Greater
Here is the sermon that I preached today at Lamson Road Community Church. The text was Revelation 1 and the focus was "What happens when things don't go as planned?"
Jesus Is Greater from Shane Kennard on Vimeo.
Recent Photos
Here are some recent photos our intern, Tim Kurtz took with his new fancy camera.Vision Leaks
It is said that vision continually leaks. We had an example this morning.
Nichole was rushing to get the boys out of the apartment to bowling. Because bowling starts at Noon and our budget won't allow for them eating lunch out, she had a vision of getting out the door while the boys had peanut butter sandwiches. For those of you who are Jim Collins' fans and have three boys, you know that is a BAHG.
The vision kept leaking for Josiah. We'd find the sandwich on his bedroom floor, on the table, anywhere but his hand and mouth. He'd recapture the vision, pick up the sandwich, take a bite, get distracted and put it down.
Just a reminder that it is so easy to get distracted and put down the vision God has given us.
What would be so wrong with this?
Since I'm having a hard time thinking of what to post that might be edifying...I'm going to go for the not so edifying. Here is something funny that came to my email today...
IF MEN REALLY RULED THE WORLD...
..nodding would be considered an acceptable response to "I love you."
..the funniest guy in the office would get to be CEO. (Another post @ another time, but this might not be that bad of an idea)
..your raise would be tied to the fortunes of your fantasy sports team.
..a "night out with the boys" once a week would be obligatory.
..the workday would start a lot closer to noon.
..every anniversary gift you would ever need could be found at the local hardware store.
..tanks would be a *lot* easier to rent.
What do you think...is that all bad?
Courtesy of Mikey's Funnies. You too can sign up to get this type of humor into your email inbox every weekday.
God's Call
We watched Evan Almighty last night. Which probably produces one of two thoughts for you...- It took you that long? OR
- Why did you waste your time on that piece of theological garbage?
Actually, for Hollywood, I thought they portrayed God and the story in a pretty decent light. Yes, "pretty decent" and "completely accurate" are two different things and a different blog post that I won't do, but here is what I think they did get right.The aspect of "God's call."It overwhelmed Evan. He didn't want it at first, but it kept following him around. (That statement is hilarious if you have watched the movie!)Then, he accepted it and started in and he was HORRIBLE at it. The call still overwhelmed him, but he started off by making a mess of it.No one understood his call. For most of the time, Evan didn't understand it either.When he thought he did understand it, he didn't...not quite.His wife's call was separate, but equal.Things happened that he couldn't explain.When everything lined up, it really took off, both the production and persecution.But when everything lined up, nothing else mattered than completing God's call.I'm not an expert in God's call. Actually, I think I know less now (about calls in general, not my/our call) than I did 13 years ago when I received my first dose. What I do know is that I want it to look like Evan Almighty's, or Noah's, or Paul's...Overwhelming.Stuck
I have felt stuck. Yesterday, I hit some sort of "bottom."
God, at least this time, to quickly get out of "stuck." He showed me, then with Nichole, we have formulated a strategy that will keep October 10, 2010 in our minds.
That's the day we are going to launch a weekly service. We're going to go all out these next three months to see it happen.
Our prayer is that God is the one that does it. Really, we are not good enough to do anything. If he doesn't come through, we'll fall flat.
Pray for God to move in power in other people's lives.
Fighting Together
God wants the people in the church to encourage each other to move away from sin and toward Christ.The writer of Hebrews shows us this.12 Watch out, brothers, so that there won't be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today (My note: just in case you don't understand what daily means), so that none of you is hardened by sin's deception. 14 For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start. Hebrews 3:12-14.
He wants everyone in the church to not give up the fight. To struggle together so that we can continue to be more like Christ. Personally, the times I didn't have people I could tell where I was being tempted were the times when I gave into sin the most. It was once I opened up and allowed others to challenge and encourage in specific areas, I was able to find increasing victory over sin.This is God's plan.Is it risky? Yes. Will you have to be vulnerable? Yes. Will people let you down? At times. But the risk is too big not to open up. The risk to not do this is to continue to struggle in those areas we cannot touch by ourselves.We are here to help in the battle, not tear down. Why? Because we are in a fight against sin. God designed this fight to be done together, and we need your help just as much you need ours. -
Shane Kennard's Posterous
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Developing Others.
