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A place for people to tell of how God's power is working.

Prayer Newsletter

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As we progress towards a monthly Celebration service, we appreciate any prayers you would give on behalf of The Bridge.  Here is our latest prayer newsletter.  

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Posted February 8, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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Be Like Mike

It is an honor to know one of the NAMB Annie Armstrong missionary highlights for 2010.  

Mike McQuitty is the SBC chaplain for the campus of Syracuse University.  Those of you who read this who are a part of the SBC and give to the Cooperative Program and Annie Armstrong support people like Mike.  

He is great at producing ministry leaders.  Most recently, a guy from his ministry is now with the IMB in a part of the world where there are very few Christians.  If I remember correctly, another one of his former students does (or did) ministry with the New York Jets.  He has one of the potentially most frustrating jobs in ministry.  He works with someone for 4 or so years.  He trains them to do amazing work in ministry.  Then he has to release them so they do their best work in another ministry.  

Where some people would be frustrated to produce fruit for someone else to benefit, it is his joy to do it.

I meant to do this last week since he was featured in the "Missionary Moments Prayer Guide" for the week of January 31, but I didn't get to it.  When you see his video during your week of focus leading up to Easter, just remember that every dollar you contribute to people like Mike all around North America who are on the front lines of reaching people with the Gospel and training them in the work of ministry.

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Posted February 8, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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Noah Matthew

Noah="Rest," "Comfort."

Matthew="Given," "A Reward."

Yeah, I am a week late.  Sorry, it has been very helter-skelter this week.  I have not been able to sit down and spend time on this. 

For me, Noah Matthew's name has more significance in the stories than it does in the actual meanings of the names.  However, we certain believe he is "a reward" from God and we certainly want him to be at "rest"!

In the Bible, Noah and Matthew could not be any further apart in lifestyle when we first see them.  When we are introduced to Noah, we see that he is the most righteous person on earth.  Then God called him to build a boat, a big boat.  He was to build a big boat in a day before rain.  That's faith.  When we are first introduced to Matthew (Levi), we see that he is a tax collector.  That profession is not very likable, but in that day, a Jewish tax collector was a traitor and money swindler.   At first look, one was ready to save the world and the other was only looking out for himself.

Okay, based on that, you might understand why we would want the story of Noah attached to our child, but the story of Matthew.  Here is the deal, righteousness is a gift of God, not something earned.  Noah was the most righteous person because God had made him that way.  When Matthew started following Jesus, he too was made righteous.  

It does not matter what background you have, the righteousness of God is a gift available.  Our prayer for Noah is that he recognizes the gift God gives, follows Christ and then leads others to recognize the gift that he has.  I don't care what occupation he has.  This is the goal of life.  

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Posted February 6, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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Catching Up

One of the hardest parts of leadership for me is moving forward with others.

I have the tendency to set the pace and let everyone else just keep up.  There is an aspect where that is good.  It will show who is onboard and who is not.  

It can also send people into a guessing game wondering where I am going next.

I am trying to balance that.  Next week, we're going to have another Idea Meeting for The Bridge.  But before that, I want to catch up with those who have expressed interest to be along for the ride.  I am also leading another project--a John Maxwell Simulcast.  Again, I want to work harder at staying connected to those on board between meetings, not just at meetings. The Bridge has over 100 prayer supporters, a handful of financial supporters, and I'm looking to add to that.  The easy thing to do is to just send out the e-mails and that be good enough.  I need to check in personally--when I don't need anything.  When it comes to family, it is exceptionally difficult.  We expect them to just follow along no matter what.  Well, they're people too and need to be led just like anyone else.  

Who do you need to catch up with? 

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Posted February 3, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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Helter-Skelter

This week I am trying to fit in as many one-on-one meetings as possible with people.  That has created a helter-skelter schedule.  

It is good that these meetings are taking place.  But that produces a lack of long stretches of time to get some background things done.

Pray that these meetings go well and produce people who will join us, but more importantly join us with a servant attitude.

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Posted February 2, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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First Video and Photo Slideshow

Family alert!  If you don't like people sharing about their family on their personal blog, then slide right past this post.

Last Thursday, Nichole started having contractions.  That seems like a year ago.  That also seems like 5 seconds ago.  Yeah, both at the same time.  So far, we have amassed a certain amount of pictures and video.  

The video:
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The Flickr Photostream of several pictures, I have edited a few out:
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Tomorrow, I plan to (Yes, that gives me an out if I don't get to it) tell what Noah Matthew means and means to us.

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Posted January 28, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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We're Home

One of my excitements was to come home so the boys, especially Elijah, could see and react to Noah.  

Elijah is certainly going to be a good older brother.  His main concern was that Noah would have the toys he needed.  After pestering us for a while about Noah needing a car, we let him put a car beside Noah.  Apparently that sufficed and satisfied his need to make sure Noah was taken care of.

Josiah doesn't have a lot of range to be able to communicate, but we think that he is currently pleased with the new addition.  He was just at my computer pointing, smiling and saying, "This!"  That is as happy as it gets for him!  After Nichole put Noah down after feeding last night, Josiah did give her a huge bear hug.  It was a sweet moment.

I thought we took more pictures after coming home, but turns out we got more video.  We'll post that soon.  Here are a few more pictures for your enjoyment (Feel free to download).  Plus you can get a snapshot of Nichole's perspective.

Nichole's Perspective.

         
Click here to download:
Were_Home.zip (16178 KB)

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Posted January 25, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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Noah Matthew Kennard [First Camera Pics]

Okay, so I was too impatient to wait for people to guess.

Here are a few of the first pictures of Noah Matthew Kennard.

I was wrong on an earlier Twitter post.  He was born 8 lbs 8 oz. (Not 8 lbs 9 oz. like I said).  

Everything is going very smooth.  God has certainly blessed again with a very calm baby.  He has fed well and slept very well.  We are excited to go home tomorrow morning so that Elijah and Josiah can see their brother in person for the first time.  

Enjoy your pictures!

             
Click here to download:
Noah_Matthew_Kennard_First_Cam.zip (4269 KB)

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Posted January 23, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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It Is a Boy! [First Pic Included]


Here is the first picture of our third boy.  They do not weigh or measure right away.  We also do not have a name yet.  He was born at 9:53 AM on Saturday, January 23, 2010.

That means we have two 21 birthdays, two 23 birthdays...and me with a 3 birthday.

At least it has the name number a part of it:)

More will come.

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Posted January 23, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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Still Waiting...

Nichole is enjoying seeing her name trend upward on Facebook:)

There is one analogy that we can use for Nichole's labor process.

Crock pot.

Yeah, Josiah and this child both have gone about the same.  Contract for hours, actually over a whole day for about every 10 minutes.  Sometimes quicker.  Sometimes slower.  Sometimes they'll stop.  Sometimes they're more intense.  Most of the time I only know because she looks at her clock.

So we still wait because there really isn't anything to report.

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Posted January 22, 2010 by Shane Kennard 
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