Week of Prayer #2

Prayer times have been great! Mostly 7 or more at each time. Each time has had it's own special feeling and experience and presence. People seem to be really touched by the opportunity to spend an hour in prayer. Letting God do the work needed on our lives.

I have have been truly blessed, spending 4 hours in prayer on Monday and 3 on Tuesday. How awesome! I don't know exactly what God is going to do, but this time has helped me get closer to Him in new and fresh ways. Thank you God!

Don't forget the special prayer time, tomorrow, Wednesday, at 6:30 PM. I am looking forward to having a larger group dedicated to praying for God's direction for our church and our willingness to go the direction(s) we are led.

God be with you on the Journey!
Kevin

Week of Prayer #1

    At Centerville we are having a week of prayer.  Everyone is invited to come and pray daily at 5:30 AM, Noon, 5:30 PM, and 9:00 PM.  You can come to one time during the week, once a day, or any time you want.  You can come and go as you want.  I will be there for an hour each time, but you can stay longer.  There will be information sheets there to help explain things better. On Wednesday we will be combining the 5:30 PM and 9:00 PM into one special convocation of prayer at 6:30 PM.
    We had a total of five folks this morning.  Thanks everyone for your dedication to your church.  I wasn't as ready as I wanted to be, but it was a quietly powerful time.  See others of you at Noon!

God be with you on the Journey!
Kevin

Junk Religion?

Well, here I am listening to fighter jets practice touch and go landings at Fentress airfield, about three miles away. It is about 4:00 PM and I am in my office. These things can get loud! I have been trying to dig out from under the mountain of administrative details that surround this position and see God fresh and new for the day. It gets hard sometimes, but He shows up when I let Him. In the devotion from Richard Rohr today, he asks, "Is your religion helping you transform your pain?" He goes on to say, "If it does not, it is junk religion." Rohr challenges me to transform my pain, not just transmit it onto everyone else, especially those closest to me. This doesn't mean we bury deep inside and just wait for it to explode, it means we actually allow God to transform it into something of use in His Kingdom. If all we are suppose to do is learn facts and grow buildings and budgets, then we really don't know how to transform pain, do we?

God be with you on the Journey!
Kevin

Things Going Well

We are starting to settle in to life in Virginia. We still have a mound of boxes to deal with, but things are feeling more comfortable every day. Thanks for your encouraging thoughts and all your prayers. Couldn't be doing it without you all and God!

I got to see zoo animals in the extended care program this morning: hawk, skunk, huge snake, lynx, alligator, bush baby, and more. It was fun! Then, on my way to lunch with one of the deacons, I got to see fighter planes landing at Fentress Air Field. Cool! Then VBS meeting tonight. Full, fun day!

I'm going across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel in the morning to see some folks on a ministry trip to migrant workers on the Eastern Shore. My first staff meeting is tomorrow and then we are going to try to hit the beach for a bit on Wednesday. Good times!

Turn The Page

About 2 hours ago I walked out of FBC Hamilton for the last time as pastor. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts. Everyone has been great! I was very glad to finish the public part of my ministry in Vacation Bible School. God is awesome!
Now we get to go to Branson and then on to Virginia! Keep praying!

God be with you on the Journey,
Kevin

Good Goodbyes make for Good Hello's

Well it has started. We are saying "goodbye" to many folks and experiencing our "lasts". Last Wednesday Bible Study, last band practice, last.... Tomorrow is my last Sunday as Pastor of FBC Hamilton. It's emotional.

It hurts to say goodbye to our friends, family, church family and community. God helped me understand that I will not replace these relationships and I will not be replaced, we are all just moving on in the next step of our journey. God is going to bring someone to help these friends, church family and community in the situations to come in a more timely way than I can. That helps keep from sensing such deep loss.

It is also exciting to see what God is going to do next. I feel a sense of awe at how God is preparing me for the challenges to come. I don't know everything that is coming, but I feel a great sense of peace that He is with Lynnette, the girls and myself in whatever comes.

Keep praying for us. Sorry it has taken me so long to post again.

God be with you on the Journey!
Kevin

Our Loss, Heaven's Gain

We lost a saint today at about 6:00 AM. My 92 year-old friend, Cornelia Gates, passed away. She was not a member of our church, but I saw her almost every week for about the past 3 years. She loved Jesus with all her heart. Cornelia would brighten up any room she went into and I don't ever remember leaving her presence without her saying she loved me and many more compliments along with that great honor. She was beautiful both inside and out. She loved her family and she still spread God' great love in the nursing home where she lived.
Many people have heard me tell the story, so I will just put it in short form. One day when I went to the nursing home for my regular Tuesday Bible Study, I was having a terrible day. I was mad and upset and just not getting over it. Cornelia didn't come to the study, but as Ron Kipp was playing the final song and I was still brooding mad, I felt God touch me. I felt some hands on the back of my neck touch me and just minister grace and peace with great power. Then as the song ended, she leaned down and kissed me on my cheek. I knew God was loving me through Cornelia Gates.
I am a better man for having known Cornelia. Thank you God and thank you Cornelia for loving me! I hope everyone has a Cornelia in their life.
God be with you on the Journey!
Kevin