PICTURE

Picture a different world. Imagine one in which two billion believers truly embrace the full Gospel -- each doing his part by placing his or her piece into the puzzle and completing God's stunning vision of a reclaimed and redeemed world -- the Kingdom, right here among us.

Might the world sit up and take notice of that? Would they ask new questions?
Who are these people so motivated by love?
Where did they come from?
Why do they sacrifice to help those the rest of the world has forgotten?
Where do they find their strength? And joy? And peace?
Who is this God they serve?

Can you picture it?

And be blessed.

V. V.

We were meeting with a couple of our staff today about our Video Venue (V.V.) that meets every Sunday morning in another auditorium across campus.

We're excited about this new opportunity to reach a brand new group of people who perhaps have given up on church 'as is.' It's hipper, darker, more casual - take a donut and a cup of coffee on in with you -- relax -- message is on video but worship is 'cool' and 'live' - the leadership is younger - etc.

The guys we've got overseeing it are really pumped about it - and that makes ME more pumped to see THEM pumped.

We've done this, in part, to respond to the number of out-of-college-aged people and young couples who grew up in church, and yet are now walking away from their faith - not to mention those young people in their 20s and 30s who have never HAD a faith and don't know what church is all about except for what they've created in their minds, none of which is particularly good.

The estimate of those who have walked away from their faith is rising into the 70 and 80 percentile. Staggering. These are not people who have grown up in agnostic homes; they've grown up RIGHT IN CHURCH ... but we're losing them.

It's irrelevant.
It's boring.
It's not for me.
Yawn.

A few of our mainline denominations now have as an AVERAGE age of their constituents nation-wide, age 60 or over. I wonder if any of them are thinking about what happens with their churches in the next 10 or 15 years ... all the while holding fast to their traditions and customs, insisting they are critically important and taking those traditions - literally - to the grave with them.

The bottom line is that the church is losing influence with two entire generations. This is a pivotal time in history when the church needs to re-focus its mission. Time to get those generations back - and not lose any future ones.

And be blessed.

LEAVES

One Saturday a year is "THE DAY." It's "THE DAY" I spend eight hours raking the 17 bajillion leaves in my yard that fall every Autumn. I love our yard the other 11 months of the year, but November ... well ... let's just say ... not my favorite month.

But today was 75 degrees and sunny -- awesome for southern Wisconsin in November -- practically unheard of. And to take it from good to great, three guys from my Saturday morning small group decided to come over and help me rake, blow, bag and move the leaves to the street, where the village will come pick them up this week.

So guys - I can't thank ya enough. You absolutely rock.

If that wasn't grand enough, Joelene and I offered our home in the Christian Life School (http://www.kclsed.org/) Romania Auction today. Guests bid on dinner for six at our home - 'A Taste of Italy.' The dinner went for $100.

Pumped up for a great day tomorrow.

And be blessed.

MESSY

It doesn't really matter what a church is right about if it is wrong about its relationship with God. God is more interested in the heart of a church than He is with its size or intellect. He is far less impressed by our ability to debate church structure or theology than He is with our willingness to touch those around us.

Our programs are not sacred. Our church is not sacred. What is sacred is the mission. You are called to shine a light and demonstrate God's love and grace to anyone who needs it. Our mission is not to preserve the church as it presently exists in its forms and models --- our mission is to be the church.

It's amazing when you think about it. If people looking in from the outside really knew your story - or mine - they'd probably question how we got this role. Even so, God has chosen us in spite of our messiness, or very possibly because of it. All along He has planned this thing called the church so we could send a collective message to a generation that needs to know Him. We are in this together only because God put us together to show how much He cares for a broken world, of which we are a part. That's His plan and only He could have thought of it.

And be blessed.

SHOULDER

This is just a sampling of the kind of crazy things our pastoral team does when I'm trying to be completely spiritual and serious during staff meetings. They take pictures and post them around the globe on Facebook with the caption: "Pastor Kevin has the unshakeable feeling that someone is looking over his shoulder as he reads ... "

I think that's enough said on today's blog. LOL.

It's a great team to be on. I am blessed.

You be blessed, too.

NET GEN

We call them by different monikers --- Generation Y --- Millenials --- Next Generation --- and the NEW one: "NET GENERATION," so called because they are the first generation to be born completely within the internet and 'computerized' era (born 1978 or after). It personally came to bear the day I was talking to my youngest, born in 1990, about a typewriter -- to which she instinctively replied: "What's a typewriter, Dad?"

EXCUUUUSE MEEEE!!!!????

Three of our very own staff pastors are from this Net Generation, which brings a much-needed outlook into our process every week.

This NET GENERATION are so young that:
They have no meaningful recollection of Ronald Reagan nor do they know he was shot.
They do not remember the Cold War and have no fear of a nuclear war today.
They have only known one Germany.
They don't remember the space shuttle blowing up or Tiananmen Square.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
The compact disc (CD) was introduced when they were 2 years old (in 1979).
The TONIGHT SHOW has always been with Jay Leno.
The Vietnam War is as ancient history as World Wars I or II.
They have no idea that Americans were held hostage for 444 days in Iran.
Most have never used or even seen a rotary phone.

This group is not just a flash-in-the-pan. They are a larger group than the Baby Boomers -- presently 30% of our current population - more than 80 million strong. They are not just a few kids coming along with a few new trends. They are bringing a force into American culture that will have to be reckoned with.

More coming ...

And be blessed.

MILITANT

In Matthew 16:18, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and Jesus gives Peter a new name. He calls him a rock. Then Jesus says, "On this rock" -- and we understand that to mean on the rock of this kind of faith, “I will build My church ... and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."

We describe this principle as the ‘church militant.’ We don't hear that expression very much, but it’s a great one – the church MILITANT, victoriously standing against the gates of hell. This is huge. We often think of the church as being all huddled together in a little fortress while the powers of hell rage all around us. But Jesus turns that picture UPSIDE DOWN. He says hell is the kingdom that's huddled together behind iron gates and locked doors. And Jesus says, 'Here comes the church,' and He’s out front leading it and building it and He is battering the gates of hell. Jesus comes, and He is claiming human beings for Himself from the kingdom of darkness who would otherwise be separated from Him forever. He is saying: ‘That one over there – who will separate Me from THAT one? And this one here --- who will separate Me from THIS one?’ He is passionately reclaiming the people He loves … and the gates of hell are being battered by the power of Jesus and His church.

That's our mission … to batter the gates of hell ... to find people who otherwise would be lost for eternity --- apart from God --- and help them get to Christ. That’s … why … we’re … here.

This is serious business. It’s not a game. Heaven and hell are as real as it gets.
Are you willing to be salt for somebody in your circle of influence?
Are you willing to share your faith with somebody?
Are you willing to pray for somebody?

THAT is the church militant. And God is calling our church (www.kenoshafirst.com) to it and we're going to respond. We're going to pray and we’re going to see God move in amazing ways this coming year. We're going to fall on our knees and beg God for a mighty outpouring of His power, and we're going to reach out to people all around us -- people we work with, people we shop with, people we play with, our neighbors, our family, our friends.

And be blessed.

PRE

Ever felt like a complete idiot? I'm sure you have. :)

I did today.

I went to get a new phone. This is something I do about once every 27 years. But it was time. My last one weighed about 8 pounds and was awkward to carry in my pocket. It made me tilt to one side.

So anyway, I went to the store to get a new one. My contract was up and it was time. The guy at the counter was about 16-and-a-half (looking) and his name was SHAI. There ya go.

He tried to explain the ins-and-outs of the new phone - what it would do (wifi - GPS - itunes library - scramble an egg) - what it wouldn't do (it will do everything except file my taxes for me). He was giving me a tutorial of the phone - flipping around on the keypad - touching the screen with lightning speed - all the while talking, expecting me to follow along. I nodded my head and said 'yeah' and 'sure thing' a lot, but otherwise, I was clueless. My wife was standing nearby and she, being much more versed in all this stuff than I, asked appropriate questions and basically made sure I didn't totally glaze over during the conversation.

So I've been sitting here for the past 3 hours trying to figure out my new Palm Pre. I know how to turn it on so far. Tomorrow I'm going to try to actually place a call on it.

On a side note - here are the results of the 'most annoying word/phrase' survey. YAHOO! told us it was 'whatever.' My readers did not quite agree. Our results were:
"Like" - 46%
"Whatever" - 31%
"You know" - 13%
"Totally" - 8%

And be blessed.

LAMPSTAND

The church was designed to focus light on just one thing - Christ. But when we continually move the lampstand and use it for other purposes -- personal agendas or political ambitions or anything else -- even those outside the chuch can recognize our misuse of the light.

People are constantly asking us what our stance is on certain subjects - asking us (without actually asking us) to move the lampstand a few inches here or there ... "What does the church think about Harry Potter?" ... "What does the church think about children going trick-or-treating?" "What does the church think about Hollywood?" "What does the church think about President Obama?" -- and so on.

And the temptation is to move the lampstand to shine on those other things.

Why do I sometimes get so anxious about things that really don't worry God? I have a real hard time imagining Him up in heaven saying: 'Oh no! It looks like Disney is going to let 'those people' into their park for a special day again. I better get some Christians to go boycott that.'

Instead, I can more easily see God pointing at the lampstand saying: 'Who moved it way over there? Why are you focusing on that? Bring it back over here where it belongs. Show them who I AM.'

As a believer, you can certainly have your personal convictions and opinions, but as far as the church is concerened, don't ask us to wage a battle that God isn't fighting. Don't ask us to move the lampstand away from its rightful position - smack dab where Jesus is.

Because when we move the lampstand, our influence becomes weakened and we make it harder to see what Jesus looks like.

And be blessed.

SCALE

A day in the life ...

I hit the gym after work before heading home today. When I get the chance to go, I typically step on the scales sitting right there before you head to the locker room. I'm not the kind of guy who fluctuates much with weight. Right now, I land right between 197 and 199 - pretty religiously, no matter what. Two days ago when I was there, sure enough, like always, it said 199.

So today I stepped on as I entered the locker area and it said ... 211! 'WHAT? That's IMPOSSIBLE.' I couldn't have gained 12 whole pounds in two days. That just isn't in my history at all.

So I went on into the locker room. A couple of guys were in there that I was familiar with and I mentioned that the scales must be 'off.' We were joking around about it but inside - I admit - it was bothering me. Twelve whole pounds? No way.

Both of the guys went to test the scales themselves. Both returned to let me know it was pretty much what they expected. The scale seemed accurate.

Then one of the guys asked me if I was usually dressed when I stepped on the scales. And -- well -- yeah -- since the scales are located OUTSIDE the locker room --- um --- definitely dressed every time.

AND THEN -- it dawned on me. I had done something today I don't ever do, but i guess I was just in a hurry when I walked past the scales and stepped on real quick. I had my gym bag on my shoulder when I weighed myself.

So I went back out WITHOUT the bag just to make sure - stepped on the scales --- yep --- 199. My faith is restored. I'm gonna have that extra HO-HO now.

Note to self: I have way too much stuff in my gym bag. Fix that.

And be blessed.

TRAVELED BY

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference." ---- ROBERT FROST

I will admit that I have struggled more of late than ever before about the implications of the Gospel in my own life.

What is my responsibility to the poor?
How should I use my money?
How do I deal with my own pride and self-centeredness?
What exactly does God expect of me if I claim to follow Him?
Can I call Him "LORD" if I'm not always doing what He says to do?
What right do I have to pastor a great church, challenging others in THEIR Christian walk?

It's like one blind beggar helping another blind beggar find food. And yet, God uses broken, imperfect people to bind up wounds, heal hurts, speak truth and inspire others. He uses both mistakes and victories to shine light on a path for others to follow. What He has done in all of our lives is a miracle.

In the end, responding to the Gospel is not for nations or committees or even churches; it is for individuals - one person at a time. It takes transformed people to transform the world.

And be blessed.

MISSIONS

Today was our every-six-months emphasis on Missions.

Features:
Maris Banas -- who spent 11 months ministering in 11 countries all around the world thru 'The World Race.' What a tremendous ball of wonderful energy she is.

Sam Johnson -- former missionary to Portugal and Spain and currently establishing churches in Africa, including countries in the 10/40 corridor such as Algeria and Egypt. Another amazing ball of energy.

Highlighting of '09 - '10 missions trips -- England, Jamaica, Thailand (6 trips), Honduras, Mexico, Minneapolis, Kenya, Nicaragua, India.

Thailand Dinner at Las Cazuelas -- I know -- a Thailand fundraising dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Go figure. Over 100 people didn't care because that's how many bought tickets to eat in support of the trip. Packed full of noisy, hungry KFA-ers. All that energy under one roof.

A ton of energy this morning. I'm pumped.

And be blessed.