Pastor Ken Kelly

When a Church Is at Its Best

2009-06-30T22:28:00.004-04:00

For those in our Chapin family, we all are stricken with grief this week over the tragic automobile accident that took two young lives from us. For those outside our CBC family who read my blog--Craig and Crystal Hewitt, a beautiful young couple in our church, model husband-wife, model mom-dad, are grieving the loss of their two precious children--Parker (5) and Haley (3), both killed instantly on Monday morning.

I've been in Augusta most of the week ministering to the family. Not a one of us can imagine the pain they must be going through. I've always had a high respect and fond love for Craig and Crystal. But I'm telling you this week has increased that love and respect a thousand-fold. Only God could be giving Craig the strength and level-headedness he is displaying as he makes decisions while caring for his wife who is still hospitalized and will be having spinal surgery on Wednesday morning.

Crises always bring out the best in us. Not that we ever want to face tragedy. But I'm telling you that the people of Chapin Baptist Church are shining brightly during this tragedy. I am very proud of our church family. I'm very proud of our church staff. The road of healing for the Hewitts will be long and hard. But I am confident they will make it because of their faith, because of their family bonds, and because of their spiritual family at Chapin Baptist.

Funeral arrangements are still pending. But most likely we are looking at early next week to conduct services at our church. Debbie is doing a great job keeping us informed via email. Pray. Pray. Pray.

One lesson I think we all learn in tragedy--we are shocked into reality of the things that matter most in life and the things that really don't matter much at all.

Pray for me. This has to be one of the toughest assignments in all my years of ministry. But I know my assignment pales in comparison to the assignment God has given Craig and Crystal. Cover them with your prayers.

I love you!

JOURNEY THROUGH ECCLESIASTES

2009-06-24T14:18:00.002-04:00

Here is my chapter-by-chapter journal through Ecclesiastes that I wrote at the end of 2008. This is a book about trying to find meaning to life through money, sex, power, adventure, and knowledge. Sounds like a recent publishing release, doesn't it? Apart from God we are totally incapable of finding meaning to life

It is humbling to know that I can strive to be successful; but when I'm gone, I won't be remembered.
Reminds me of the bumper sticker-"I'm out spending my children's inheritance." Solomon wonders about the validity of hard work and making lots of money if all you're doing is leaving it to others after you die.
This chapter reminds me of a common way people mishandle the Scriptures. Just because Solomon says something doesn't mean he's right--just because "it's in the Bible." He says everyone--man and animal alike end up as dust; so we should just live it up. I don't think that's the philosophy of life God intended for us.
One life principle Solomon had a great grasp on--the importance and value of meaningful relationships.
Don't worry about how long you will live. Just live every day to the fullest with great joy. Every day is a gift.
If you need an encouraging word, stay away from Chapter 6. Solomon must have eaten too many tacos the night before. He may have been a wise man. But I wouldn't want him counseling my children at this stage of his journey.
What did Solomon mean by, "Crying is better than laughing"? We learn more about life, and our spiritual roots go deeper in life's trials versus life's pleasures.
I disagree with Solomon's assessment that you can never figure out the meaning of what God is doing. Certainly His ways are beyond mine. But I believe we can understand and even join Him in what He is doing.
Seize life! These are great words of exhortation. How do we seize life? One way is to relish life with your marriage partner. I'm eternally blessed by a wife that I enjoy doing life with.
Here's a great rule for life: Never use your tongue to degrade people.
I love this chapter. Enjoy every day to the fullest. Follow the impulses of your heart. Be a blessing to others.
Although Solomon has presented some questionable statements, his final analysis hits the bull's eye: "Fear God. Do what he tells you."

Leading Children to Christ

2009-06-22T11:47:00.002-04:00

Last week Virginia Wallace, our Director of Children's Ministry, shared some exciting news with me. We have about 25 kids that have made spiritual decisions recently and want to take the next steps of baptism. That's awesome news. But she really got me pumped up when she told me about a new ministry she is implementing to counsel with these children.

When a child makes a decision for Christ, Virginia and her staff will plan a meeting of the children with their parents. The parents will be trained a very simple way that they can lead their children to Christ. The training materials have proven to be successful in many other churches. Sometimes the parents themselves end up receiving Christ through this process.

As I shared in my sermon on Father's Day...there is no higher calling of a Dad than to disciple his children. What our children's ministry is implementing is a giant step forward in helping dads and moms assume responsibility for their children's faith journey. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE talking to children about Jesus and leading them to a decision to accept Him into their hearts. But what excites me more is the ability to equip parents to lead their children to Christ. Can you think of anything more moving than to hear someone say, "My dad/mom led me to Christ"?

Way to go, Virginia! As we implement this process, let's pray that every parent will respond and that families can be spiritually transformed as a result.

JOURNEY THROUGH JAMES (PART 2)

2009-06-18T11:41:00.002-04:00

Here are the rest of my journal entries in my read through the book of James.

2:18--2008 Chapin translation--"You take care of the GoodWorks project, I'll go to the Bible study--not good. It's all about application."

2:18--Faith is not faith unless it is working. Separate faith from works and you get a corpse.

Ch. 3 (sorry, I didn't write down the specific verses from here on out)--

Those who teach are held to higher standards.

How I use my tongue is my choice. Will I use it to edify, encourage, and bless, or will I use it to tear down, gossip, and curse?

What does it take to be a man/woman of wisdom? Holy living, getting along with others, gentle spirit.

Ch. 4 and 5--Quarrels start because people want their own way.

Flirt with the world and you'll become God's enemy.

The best way to get on your feet is to get down on your knees before the Master.

Dabbling in sin will destroy you.

When Christians argue and fight, God is the one who takes a beating.

If you know the right thing to do and don't do it, it's sin.

I must be cautious of complaining against someone because a far greater complaint could be lodged against me.

Make it a habit to always speak the truth. That way you never have to remember what you said.

Pray, pray, pray.

Don't ever give up on someone who has wandered from God.

JOURNEY THROUGH JAMES

2009-06-17T10:07:00.001-04:00

Here are some thing God taught me in my recent reading through the book of James. This book is a brutal reminder that churches are filled with sinful people. Pastor James deals openly and honestly with the issues. Known as "camel knees" for the calluses formed on his knees for his many hours/years of praying, James teaches that prayer is foundational to wisdom.

1:2-4--Trials from every side are gifts from God. I need to let God do the shaping in my life that He wants to do.

1:9-11--Great insights on prosperity, especially in light of the economic downturn. Prosperity can disappear overnight.

1:13-15--Interesting take on temptation. Doesn't come from God. According to these verses, the temptation comes from within us. We become victims of our own lust.

1:19-21--Key to spiritual growth and maturity. Let God landscape you with His Word.

1:22-24--Another key--applying the Word.

1:26-27--True religion--reaching out to the poor and rejected and staying clean from the corrupt world.

2:1-7--Racial prejudice and neglecting the poor are two things God hates. We should too.

2:8-13--I'm grateful God is sending Black and bi-racial families to our church. And I am grateful that we have built (not completely there yet) a culture of love and acceptance.

2:8-13--If I don't commit adultery but I do show favoritism to the rich, I'm crazy if I think the two balance out. No, I'm a man guilty before God.

2:17--"God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense." In other words, it's all about application.

People Who Have Mentored Me (2)

2009-06-16T19:06:00.002-04:00

In my last post I listed the people who have mentored me through the years. I'm eternally grateful to each one. In my years of ministry there are well-known leaders who have had great influence on how I think and do ministry. Some of these I've met. Some I've never met. Only one do I know on a personal level. But through their writings and conferencing, they have made me a more effective pastor/teacher/leader.

Leading the list is John Maxwell. I had never heard of John. But back in the mid 90s when I was going through a ministry crisis, a brochure "happened" to appear on my desk advertising a leadership conference in Atlanta he was leading. I jumped on it. And it was a life-changing experience. No one has helped me more in the realm of being a leader than Maxwell. And I'm still learning from him.

Rick Warren has become known as America's pastor. Years ago I attended a 3-4 day Purpose Driven Church conference sponsored by the SC Baptist Convention that Rick taught. My only claim to fame with Rick is that he was in one of my evangelism classes in seminary. Rick has helped me (and tens of thousands of pastors) understand the importance of building a church around the five purposes of the church.

Through the teachings of Bill Hybels God has helped me believe that the local church still is the hope for this world. He has helped me to see that worship can be done with excellence and that a church can become "mega" without watering down the gospel.

Reggie McNeal is another influencer in my life. Reggie is a personal friend. We graduated with our Ph.D. side by side way back in 1986. Reggie has challenged me to think outside the box. He has helped me to understand that God's idea of a church is not necessarily counting heads and dollars on Sunday morning. Instead, God has called us to be missional.

Perry Noble, pastor of Newspring in Anderson, has helped me to see that God can grow a huge church even in a small town atmosphere, like my hometown of Anderson. His bold preaching and down-to-earth personality can serve as a model to every pastor.

Well, these are a handful of mentors. There are others such as Erwin McManus, Andy Stanley, Bill Easum, and Leith Anderson. By God's design I am a learner. I try to soak up everything I can from these guys to become the man of God and leader for God that He has called me to be.

People Who Have Mentored Me

2009-06-15T18:38:00.001-04:00

One of the leaders of Campus Crusade at Clemson back in the 60s started a Clemson Campus Crusade for Christ Facebook group. What a great way to re-connect. Howard, the guy who got this thing going, asked how we found our way to CCC while in school. Who influenced us? Who mentored us. His question got me reminiscing about those who have been great mentors to me. So, let me take a couple of blogs and tell you about friends and family who have mentored me and then well-known leaders/authors who have mentored me.

I would be remiss if I didn't start by talking about my mother and grandmother. They both had a huge godly influence in my formative years. My mom who made sure I was fully engaged in church and who modeled how to get along with people. My grandmother who taught me the importance of prayer and digging in the Word. It was my grandmother who, after I publicly announced my call to ministry, informed me that she had prayed every day of my life that God would call me to preach. (I didn't have a chance!)

Charlie Edmonds was my Royal Ambassador teacher for years. He would pick me up every Thursday evening to take me to RAs. He'd pick up several guys along the way. We all rode in the back of his pickup truck (it was safe back then). He modeled patience and consistency.

Lee Taylor is a fellow I grew up with in Anderson. We both went to Clemson. He got his life in spiritual order before I did. He invited me to a CCC Bible study that he led. That was a key turning point in my life. Lee discipled me faithfully.

Charles Fant was my best friend in high school. We were roommates for four years at Clemson. He actually is the one who talked me in joining him by going to Lee's Bible study. He has been a great influence in my life for many years.

And then there was C.W. Farrar. He pastored FBC of Landrum, SC, for many years. I'm not sure where his passion began, but he took a lot of interest in many of the Clemson Crusaders and mentored us. I was on the path to becoming a career staff person with CCC. But I remember C.W. very vividly planting the seed in my mind, "You know, Ken, the world needs some good pastors." The second sermon I ever preached was in his church on a Sunday night. It was on 1 Timothy 4. Later that night I remember him sitting down with me and critiquing the message. The next day he took me to Columbia where we stayed a couple of days for the state evangelism conference. He was one of the two pastors who officiated our wedding back in 1976.

Who has mentored you through the years? Maybe a better question is: Who are you mentoring?

Graduation Day

2009-06-07T20:46:00.000-04:00

Hallelujah! What a great day Saturday was as our whole family gathered at Carolina Coliseum (no Gamecock snides, please) for Tyler's graduation. Needless to say Anita and I are very proud of our honor graduate. Tyler will be attending Midlands Tech next year as he continues to explore God's calling in his life. He certainly wants to stay in the area right now because he's excited about being a part of the REFUGE band. Here are some shots from Saturday. (As you can tell I haven't invested a lot of money into camera equipment. Mine is the kind you carry in your pocket)

T-Man with his two beautiful parents

My mom Doris, Anita, Tyler, me, my sister Bess, and my nephew Ross

Tyler and his girlfried Laurel

We enjoyed a trip to Texas Roadhouse after the ceremony.

My how the time does fly. It seems only yesterday that we were trekking down to Baptist Hospital where Tyler was born about fifteen minutes after arrival. Enjoy your family to the fullest.

"For our email subscribers, please visit Ken's full blog page at http://www.pastorkenkelly.com/ to view previous blogs and many other helpful links."

Church Vitality

2009-06-03T16:14:00.002-04:00

The most recent issue of Outreach magazine focuses on church health and vitality. One of my favorite writers, Bill Easum (Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers; Go Big: Leading Your Church to Explosive Growth) wrote an article called "Vital Signs." I try to read anything Bill writes. Whether he's writing a book or a brief article, he never sugar coats stuff. That's why I like him.

He states that church health boils down to six traits: biblically grounded, culturally relevant, exists to transform lives, mobilizes and equips the laity; a community built on trust; structured to grow disciples.

Ouch! The problem, he cites, in most churches is that one or more of these traits is lacking or absent. Or it could be that the church doesn't know how to measure these traits. Easum takes each trait and offers a brief synopsis of how a church can measure it. Ouch again!

I'll mention the first two in this blog, then finish it up in a second one.

1. Biblically grounded: I thought of the six that maybe we did pretty good on this one. But the measuring question Easum poses got me wondering if we do a good job of this or not. He says the way this trait is measured is by observing how decisions are made. Here is the measuring rod: "Do prayer, discernment, and the scriptures guide your leaders in their decision making?"

2. Culturally relevant: CBC tries to be. But then again do we? Easum talks about the importance of exegeting the community and then making sure that all ministries evolve out of that exegesis. Here is the measuring rod for this trait: "Do all of your ministries have their origin in the hopes, dreams and needs of the surrounding community of nonbelievers?"

3-6 next time.

Church Vitality (2)

2009-06-03T15:49:00.004-04:00

Bill Easum states that good church health boils down to six traits. I posted the first two in a previous blog (biblically grounded, culturally relevant). Here is the continuation of his thoughts.

3. Exists to transform lives: Easum notes that this is the easiest trait to measure. How many adults are getting baptized, and how many spiritual giants are being discipled and sent into significant arenas of ministry? Also, are leaders disappointed if a week goes by without someone giving his/her life to Christ?

4. Mobilizes and equips the laity: Is 80 percent of the congregation engaged in some type of weekly or monthly ministry? And, is the staff's role primarily to equip others for ministry versus doing ministry? Then Easum asks a couple of probing questions. "Who does most of the ministry at your church--the staff or the laity? When people need their spiritual needs met, do they go to their small group instead of the pastor?"

5. A community built on trust: To measure this trait, observe how quickly, without much fuss, decisions can be made; new ministries can be established; and the expected behavior of the leadership. "Can any one or two people in the congregation derail something that most people want to see happen? Do you trust your leaders when they make a decision, even if it is controversial?" (Admittedly, we have digressed in this trait. And our staff pastors are determined to regain a high level of trust with the congregation.)

6. Structured to grow disciples: Mormons grow so rapidly because they are structured for growth. "Does your church eat, sleep, and dream about making disciples?"

I firmly believe we are in the beginning stages of a new day. We all long for a vitally, healthy church. These six traits provide us with a helpful measuring stick as we move forward.

JOURNEY THROUGH PROVERBS (CONT'D)

2009-05-28T14:22:00.004-04:00

Here are the rest of my learnings from the book of Proverbs.

16. Verse 13--I'm grateful that God has placed some men in my life who love me enough to tell me the truth.
17. The "acceptable" sin in church seems to be gossip. But Proverbs would beg to differ.
18. Amen and amen to verse 22. "Find a good spouse, you find a good life...." I hit the jackpot with the spouse I found. Anita is the best!
19. Helping the poor is a value taught all through the Bible. Verse 17 teaches that helping the needy is like loaning to God. He will repay. So helping those on the margins of society is a kingdom investment.
20. Verse 18 is a great leadership verse. The leader needs to seek counsel from others, set the agenda, and get all the help he can get.
21. More good leadership principles: Make sure God is controlling the direction of the vision (v. 1). Always be ready for the worst, and trust God to bring the victory (v. 31).
22. This chapter introduces thirty "sterling principles" to live by. I've never tried counting them out, but The Message Bible separates and numbers them. They go through Chapter 24. Examples: Don't take advantage of the poor. Don't hang out with angry people; don't gamble.
23. Anita and I are extremely proud of how our three sons have turned out. All three are uniquely gifted and they love Jesus--that's the main thing. And we pray they stay on the "straight and narrow." (verses 22-25)
24. To work through a church crisis requires strategic planning. To be victorious requires a lot of good counsel.
25. There is a lot of value in doing positive things to your enemies (verse 21-22).
26. More picturesque truths about gossip. Listening to it is like eating cheap candy (v. 22)
27. Proverbs has a lot to say about friendship. Verse 10 tells me not to bail on a friend when things are tough for him. The corollary is important too. If I'm going through tough times, I trust my friends won't bail on me.
28. My prayer--Lord, help me lead your people down the right path (v. 10).
29. The effective leader always reports the good things God is doing. If the people can't see the positive things, they will stumble (v. 18).
30. The leader must never allow emotions to get the best of him (verses 32-33).
31. Yes, a good woman is hard to find. But, thank God, I found one...and the best one at that!

JOURNEY THROUGH PROVERBS

2009-05-28T11:29:00.004-04:00

The book of Proverbs is a reminder that the Bible is not just about how to get to heaven. It is also a book on how we're supposed to live on earth. Wisdom, which goes beyond knowledge, is the word used to describe how we should live on earth. Below are nuggets from my recent read through Proverbs (one per chapter--hard to narrow it to one).

Verse 7--Living right always starts with God, bowing to Him and learning from Him

Verses 20-22--It is the one who walks straight that will be on the receiving end of God's maximum blessings.

Verses 5-6--Two of my most favorite verses. How I need to practice what they teach! How I need to listen for God's voice in everything I do and everywhere I go.

Verse 23--Another of my favorite verses--So many of the problems I face in life are my own heart problems. I need to keep vigilant watch over my heart.

Verse 18--The key to a healthy marriage is to enjoy to the fullest the one you married.

Verses 32-33--Adultery is a brainless act and self-destroying. It will ruin your reputation.

Verse 25--After vividly describing how a man falls into the trap of lust and adultery, the writer provides a solution that protects the man from falling--don't even stroll into her neighborhood. Stay away, run away from even getting close to a compromising situation.

Verse 17--If I earnestly seek wisdom, I will find it.

Verses 9-10--If I want to live the life God designed me to live, it begins with fearing Him.

The storms of life expose the difference between good and wicked people. One is not fazed, the other is destroyed.

My favorite chapter so far. Filled with practical, godly advice: integrity, generosity, character, hard work, kindness, self-control, servanthood. Read it for yourself.

Lots of stuff on the tongue. Verse 18 is my favorite. "Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise."

Verse 24 is excellent wisdom for parents. Failure to discipline children is the same as failure to love them.

Two reminders stuck out to me: (1) The mark of a good leader is loyal followers. (2) What makes a country strong is devotion to God. Avoiding God makes a nation weak.

I'm grateful for leaders who provide wise counsel for me. They help lead me to success.

God Was Moving!

2009-05-28T11:12:00.002-04:00

The short week (Memorial Day) put me behind in all the things I needed to accomplish. I should have posted this earlier, but I can't let it pass. Last Sunday was an awesome day of worship.

God blessed my socks off before the service even started when one of our senior members called me over to where she was seated. Then she began to tell me how when she was a teenager, she couldn't go to camp because her family didn't have the money to send her. Then she told me how she had a piggy bank where she always inserted pocket change. After a while those piggy banks can accumulate a good bit of money. So she was ready to break hers open. And guess what she said she was going to do with the money. She was going to give it to the student ministry so that she could help someone go to camp. That is absolutely awesome!

And I could sense a great spirit in our worship services. The tribute to our veterans was fabulous. I wish you could have been seated at the front to see the many tears dripping down the faces of the men and women. Many thanks to Woody Wagers for helping plan this service.

I appreciate the many positive feedbacks I've received from my message. I believe the people of Chapin Baptist are ready for a new day. It is time to put the past behind us. We will learn from our mistakes and failures. But we press on. God has great things in store for us. Let's focus on how we can excel in our love for one another as we strive together to impact our city for Christ.

God was moving. May that be our experience every Sunday!

JOURNEY THROUGH HEBREWS

2009-05-21T14:24:00.002-04:00

Here is my chapter by chapter journal through the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews reminds us that "religion" is a bad thing. Back then the problem with religion was that it was Jesus-and-Moses or Jesus-and-angels. Today the problem is Jesus-and-education or Jesus-and-Buddha.

We often forget that Jesus has always existed. Through Him, God created the world. He perfectly mirrors God. He is God.
When Jesus died, He destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed us from the fear of death.
The people of God were not allowed to enter the Promise Land because they turned a deaf ear to God. God, may that not ever be today. May we always listen and follow.
When I go through difficult seasons, it sure is comforting and encouraging to know that Jesus walked the same roads. And I can go straight to God's throne and know I can talk to Him.
One of my onging prayers is that every CBC member will become mature, solid-food Christians.
God expects every Christian to move out of the shallow waters and get out into the deep waters of spiritual maturity.
What makes Jesus different from all the other priests? His priesthood is eternal. He doesn't have to offer sacrifices for His own sin. He gave Himself as a sacrifice, once and for all.
The new covenant through Jesus Christ makes it evident that God is not after religious duty and behavior. He's after the heart.
9:23-28--among the most powerful verses in the Bible. Excellent explanation of the sacrifice of Jesus and why He died on the cross. What makes Jesus different from all the rest? Just read it for yourself.
Eugene Peterson (The Message Bible) gets an A+ for his explanation of what Jesus did on the cross. In the verses 11-18 paragraph, he writes, "It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people."
In the "heroes of the faith" chapter, I want it to be true of my faith what is said about Moses. His faith wasn't detracted by obstacles. Instead, "He had his eye on the one no eye can see, and kept right on going."
Great section on God's discipline. Never fun. But if you let God do His work, there is a handsome payoff.
12:18 hit home with me. I have no doubts about the direction I'm going and why. But it's hard. And I need as many praying for me as possible. My greatest desire is to live well before God.
"For our email subscribers, please visit Ken's full blog page at http://www.pastorkenkelly.com/ to view previous blogs and many other helpful links."

Million Dollar Quotes

2009-05-20T16:39:00.002-04:00

Here are some thought-provoking quotes I've come across recently in my reading. No comments. Just chew on them.

"If you study the statistics, the typical modern American is much more likely to be exposed to a new religious insight or doctrine at the mall or the movie multiplex than in a traditional sanctuary. This is how modern Americans spend their time, spend their money and make their decisions. Day by day, they have evolved into mass-media disciples." (Terry Mattingly in Pop Goes Religion.
The world of entertainment and mass communications--through television, radio, contemporary music, movies, magazines, art, video games and pop literature--is indisputably the most extensive and influential theological training system in the world." (George Barna & Mark Hatch, Boiling Point)
"The church is only the church when it exists for others." (Mark Buchanan)
"We stop thinking about the lyrics of a song after hearing it thirty times. That has profound implications when it comes to worship. If we aren't careful, we stop worshiping in spirit and in truth and start lip syncing. Maybe that's why the Psalmist exhorts us eight times to sing a new song." (Mark Batterson)
"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." (George Bernard Shaw)
"Give me a person who knows little theology but wants to learn as he or she goes. A person who wants to live it, a person who wants to make a difference in society--and that person will change the world." (Bob Roberts, Jr., Glocalization)

Are Matthew and Levi the Same Person?

2009-05-12T15:45:00.002-04:00

When I started the sermon series on the Gospel of Mark, I indicated I would blog about some of my learnings that don't make it into the Sunday messages. I have always "heard" that Levi and Matthew are the same person. But are they? Was Levi one of the twelve disciples?

Here is the issue. In Mark 2, Jesus calls a tax collector named Levi, son of Alphaeus, to follow Him. In the next chapter, Mark lists the twelve disciples by name; but he doesn't mention Levi (3:17-18). Matthew 9:9 mentions that someone named Matthew was called by Jesus from his tax-collecting booth. And his name appears in the list of disciples in all four gospels.

There is also a James listed in all four gospel lists, and he is identified as the son of Alphaeus (same Dad's name as Levi's). The father's name was listed probably to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee.

So what's the solution? We can't be certain because the evidence is not definitive. One explanation is that the tax collector was known by two names--Matthew and Levi, much like Simon was also known as Peter. If this is the case, then Mark uses the name Levi, and Matthew uses the name Matthew.

Another solution is that James and Levi were brothers--sons of Alphaeus. Or maybe there are two dads named Alphaeus. (See how this can get confusing?) Or maybe James and Levi are the same person since they both have Dads named Alphaeus. If that is the case, then both Matthew and Levi were tax collectors. This is not a far-fetched explanation. In fact, some ancient texts use the name James instead of Levi in Mark 2:13-17. If this is the case, then Levi was a Christ-follower but just not one of the Twelve.

So, are you utterly confused? What do I think? Just my opinion...but I believe Levi and Matthew are the same person (although I don't understand why Mark would call him Levi in chapter 2 and Matthew in chapter 3. The joys of digging into God's Word. We may not know all the answers. But the Bible is an endless treasure hunt. I love it!

JOURNEY THROUGH PSALMS (FINALE!)

2009-05-07T16:40:00.003-04:00

Drum roll...Here is my last entry on my journey through Psalms.

136. Your love, O Lord, never quits. Your love for me has been evident from my earliest childhood memories through today. And I know You will love me tomorrow too. Thank You.

137. Lord, I long for the days when CBC was clicking on all cylinders. The body was unified. Great things were happening. Restore us, please.

138. I echo David's prayer--Keep me alive in the angry turmoil. Finish what You started in me. Don't quit on me now.

139. God, You are all-knowing, all powerful, and everywhere present. Search my heart through and through. Point out anywhere in my life that I have gotten off track. Break me in any area where I need to be broken. And lead me exactly where I need to go.

140. God of mercy, Strong Savior, protect me during any conflict I face. Minimize and squelch anyone who stands in the way of Your kingdom advancement.

141. Father, may my times alone with You and may my times of corporate worship always be like sweet incense rising to You.

142. What a beautiful picture this psalm portrays when David was at one of his lowest points. Father, I long for the day soon when "your people will form a circle around me and you'll bring me showers of blessing!"

143. Father, wake me up each morning with the sound of Your loving voice, and may I go to sleep each night trusting in You. Teach me how to live to please You.

144. Lord, send a great harvest at Chapin Baptist. Fill our church with huge flocks.

145. God, You are great and most worthy of praise. You are the God who does what He says, who answers my prayers, who gives me a fresh start, and who is super-generous.

146. Lord, when we face budget cuts, it is very easy to focus on praying for You to send those with financial means to our church. But, Lord, remind me also that You are the God who takes the side of orphans and widows.

147. God, I know You are not impressed with big churches, titles, square footage, and portfolios. But You are impressed with those who fear You. They are the ones who can depend on Your strength.

148. Almighty God, You spoke and the world came into existence. Through Your word You set everything in its place.

149. Hallelujah! What an awesome way to start off a psalm. Lord, I need to introduce more aspects of my life with Hallelujahs--when I begin to write a sermon, before a meeting, when I get out of bed, when I get into bed, when I step into the door from work. May all of my life be one big Hallelujah!

150. What a great way to end this marvelous book of the Bible--Praise! May all my worship, may all our worship result in genuine, vibrant praise.

Do All Dogs Go to Heaven?

2009-05-07T16:11:00.002-04:00

Last Saturday night Anita and I had the awful experience of deciding to put to sleep one of our dogs. Friendly, our Brittany Spaniel, was 14. We came home from shopping on Saturday and noticed that she couldn't get her breath. She had short spells like this before. But this one she couldn't overcome. We took her to the emergency clinic, and after hearing various options of procedures that may or may not work and seeing the huge price tag just for the first stage, we both decided it was time to euthanize.

Kenny and Tyler came down and saw the shape she was in and agreed that she was suffering too much. Anita, Jamie, and I stayed in the room and watched the procedure and cried our hearts out.

If you've owned dogs, you know they become a part of the family, don't they? We knew this day would come; but we still weren't prepared for it.

Believe it or not, one of the common questions I'm asked is: Do dogs go to heaven? According to the movie, all dogs go to heaven. But my official response can be summarized in three words: I don't know. On the other hand, my personal opinion says there will be dogs in heaven simply because heaven is such a wonderful place. And dogs provide us so much joy on earth. So, why wouldn't God allow them to be in heaven?

If our pet dogs go to heaven, I believe Friendly will be there. She had her salvation experience very early. When we installed Invisible Fence...well, let's just say it was a drastic, overnight conversion experience for her. Before Invisible Fence, she was headed toward the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" place. But after the Fence, she was a changed dog. She was low key and never bothered anybody. She'd bark at passersby and dig up flowers and knock the gutter extensions off the main units. But to my knowledge she never bit anyone or attacked other dogs and she was very easy to get along with. So, maybe she will be in heaven. I hope so.

Do dogs go to heaven? Will there be sex in heaven? Are the streets really made of gold? Will heaven actually be on earth? Will we see loved ones in heaven? Let me close by telling you the best book on heaven I've ever read is by Randy Alcorn. It's called...Heaven. Read it for yourself. I promise you it will change some of your long-held perceptions. It answers all these questions and a bunch more. In fact, after reading it, you may even say, "God, why do you still have me here? I'm ready to go!" Check it out.

A Stunning Senior Moment

2009-04-30T16:40:00.004-04:00

Senior adults are special people. Their love for Jesus and their faithfulness to His church teach us a lot about what it means to be a follower of Christ. This morning our deacon wives fed them breakfast as one way to say thanks for all they do. Also our senior adult pastor Philip Vaughn did a great job preaching from Mark 2, the story of the men who brought their paralytic friend to Jesus. It was a great day of worship.

One of our former members who moved back to California, Matt Westlake, sent me this email last fall. It's called "Stunning Senior Moment." Here's how it goes.

A very self-important college freshman, attending a recent football game, took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen sitting next to him why it was impossible for the older generation to understand his generation. "You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one," the student said, loud enough for many of those nearby to hear.

He continued, "The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with DSL, BPS, light-speed processing...and," he paused to take another drink of beer.

The Senior took advantage of the break in the student's litany and said, "You're right, son. We didn't have those things when we were young, so we invented them. Now, you arrogant young man, what are you doing for the next generation?" The applause was resounding.

I love senior adults.

JOURNEY THROUGH PSALMS (10)

2009-04-30T14:48:00.002-04:00

This one and one more....I believe!

121. God remind me that strength and help do not come from the church. It comes from You. You are my guardian, my strength, and my protector.

122. May every Sunday at Chapin Baptist be a day filled with joy among Your people.

123. Lord, sometimes I feel that we have been kicked around. God, display your mercy. To You alone do we look for help.

124. Father, thank You for not abandoning us. I long for the grip that has been on Chapin Baptist to be broken. Set us free like birds in flight.

125. Lord, may my trust in You be like a rock-solid mountain that will not move.

126. God, restore happiness to Your people. Bring rain to our drought-stricken lives. May we once again be the positive talk of the community.

127. Lord, thank You for Kenny, Kevin, and Tyler. You have given Anita and me three special gifts. Watch over them. Use them for Your kingdom. May they always walk with God.

128. Lord, You have given me a good life. You've blessed me with an excellent wife and three wonderful sons. Now You've added two beautiful daughters-in-law. May I enjoy these blessings to the fullest.

129. Lord, recently I have felt kicked around. But with Your power and presence I know that these circumstances cannot keep me down.

130. Lord, there have been points in my recent journey that I feel the bottom has fallen out of my life. Forgiving God, God who redeems, I wait upon You. Have mercy.

131. Lord, thank You for the quiet You provide my soul when the waters are troubled. I know I need to be content in good times and bad. But, Lord, I'm not content with where Chapin Baptist is today. And I don't believe You are either. Stir among us, O God.

132. Father, there may be no greater promise than the one You gave to David when You told him one of his blood line will always sit on the throne. But your promises to me are just as true and valid.

133. Unity is a beautiful thing that brings great honor to You. God, please restore this unity to Your church at Chapin Baptist.

134. Lord, it is hard to imagine the way we bless You could ever match how You bless us. But elevate our worship to the point that every participant is bringing a blessing to You.

135. Lord, each morning as I walk outside to get the paper, I look up and witness Your greatness. Whether clouds or a sky full of stars, they all testify just how magnificent You are.

Getaways at Home

2009-04-29T16:46:00.002-04:00

Every staff pastor loves to get away for a few days in a retreat/conference setting just to get refreshed, challenged, and re-ignited. The conferences I have attended through the years have been life-changing for me. But when the economy spirals downward and budgets shortfall, we're not able to get away as much as we'd like.

Thankfully, technology allows us to tap into learning environments from our home base. Don't get me wrong...there is something special about experiencing a conference in the flesh. There is something special about literally getting away for a few days of learning and growth.

Anyway, let me share a few quotes from the recent Innovation conference in Dallas (quotes gathered in my office getaway conference).

"I've noticed an interesting quality in leaders...that is, they are absolutely, completely, willing to fail....They're willing to try things that others have never tried."
"The only thing standing between you and the next level of ministry success might be a failure, where you learn something. Don't be afraid." (Craig Groeschel)
"We've pimped the second commandment. We define neighbor as 'someone like us'...When Jesus said to love your neighbor, He wasn't saying to love someone just like you." (Dave Gibbons)
"When you look at your church...how much [money] goes toward innovation?" (Dave Gibbons)
"If the church doesn't change, we are going to die. All over the country, churches are closing their doors because their people are unwilling to change." (John Jenkins)
"If we continue to do what we've always done, we will never get what we've never had." (John Jenkins)
"First Baptist Glenarden has grown from 500 to 10,000 people since they made the switch from 'doing church work' to 'doing the work of the church.'" (John Jenkins)
"Innovation is not a sound bit, is not a gimmick, is not a stroke of luck. Sustainable innovation is imperative because of the Gospel. It's a reflection of the nature of God, who from the very beginning has been about creation and renewal." (Nancy Ortberg)
"We have to get better at inviting the next generation [leaders] onto our team." (Nancy Ortberg)

JOURNEY THROUGH PSALMS (9)

2009-04-23T09:43:00.004-04:00

I know you're ready for me to get out of the Psalms blogs. I understand. But I want the journey transcribed from my terrible handwritten pages. So, I may as well pass the journal on to you as well. Bear with me for just a few more.

106. Lord, may I never forget how your hand has been upon my life all through the years. When my pathway is difficult, remind me that Your presence which stayed with me in the past will sustain me now and in the future.

107. God, I call out to you with a heavy and desperate heart. Bring my ship to safe harbor. Heal me up so that I can once again go out into the deep waters where significant kingdom growth happens.

108. "Every cloud's a flag to Your faithfulness." Lord, remind me of your faithfulness every time I look into the sky.

109. Lord, please step in and do a miracle. Demonstrate that You are at work.

110. Father, I praise you for your Son Jesus. I lean on the promise that You are always true to Your word.

111. Lord, I give you praise for Your great works, Your splendor and beauty, Your generosity, and Your miracles.

112. May my home be filled with those who live upright lives. And may my home be filled with Your favor and blessings. And may we show our thanks to You by demonstrating generosity to others.

113. Everywhere I go may praise be on my lips from the time I get up till the time I go to bed.

114. Lord, keep me ever mindful of Your presence around me. Remind me that You are in charge.

115. Lord, this psalm reminds me of Warren's words that begin The Purpose Driven Life--"It's not about you." Lord, it's all about You, not me. May my life be a 24/7 sacrifice of worship to You.

116. God, I know that in spite of difficult circumstances, You are gracious and compassionate. You shower me with blessings.

117. Lord, You are always faithful. I give You praise. May I allow Your love to take over my life.

118. God, You are my only refuge. I feel hemmed in from every side. Grab me, O Lord. Rescue me with Your everlasting love.

119. Lord, in Your great love revive me, so I can alertly obey Your every word. I'm your servant--help me understand what that means. Invigorate my soul so I can praise You well. Use Your decrees to put iron in my soul.

120. In the midst of trouble I cry out to You, O God. Give me discernment with those who smile on the outside, yet whose hearts are divided.

Risk and Change

2009-04-23T09:09:00.002-04:00

True story--Church consultant Bob told how he had spent the previous 15 years at one of the largest and most innovative churches in the country. He noted now open to change the church was in its early days. But when the church grew to multiple thousands in a short period of time, it became almost impossible to get them to consider any big change. Everything was too risky or too expensive. Or there was too great a chance of losing a lot of members. The result? They talked issues to death and just made incremental changes, never considering anything significant.

Just the opposite of this mentality is a church that I have followed for a few years. Outreach Magazine has classified Granger Community Church as one of the most innovative and fastest growing churches in America. Their mantra has become, "What does God want?" before asking how much it costs or how many people they will lose.

I love the following statements their senior staff team composed. These statements reflect their approach to decision-making and long-range planning.

We will not be the team that is afraid of risk.
We will not be the team that doesn't listen to the voice of God because we are too tuned in to the whining of people.
We will not be the team that leads a church so big and flabby that it is impossible to move.
We will not be the team that misses the wave of God's Spirit because we are conducting a risk management assessment ad nauseum.
We will not be the team that keeps waiting for the right time to lead the church to the next challenge.

Admittedly, our staff team is a little gun shy right now. But my prayer is that God will give us this kind of courage while at the same time be caring shepherds that will lead the church family on the journey.

"For our email subscribers, please visit Ken's full blog page at http://www.pastorkenkelly.com to view previous blogs and many other helpful links."

Sick Preaching

2009-04-07T16:49:00.002-04:00

These days you never know what the word "sick" means. Sick usually is not a good thing. However, if a student or 20-something says, "Pastor Ken, your message was sick today," I'm going to hug him because that was a huge compliment.

But going back to the traditional definition, last Sunday I woke up sick. I tossed and turned all night. I just figured it was all my muscle aches from practicing softball on Saturday because, believe me, I was in pain. But I got up Sunday morning and was going over my message and began to wonder if I was running a fever. Sure enough it was 100 on the button.

What to do? I don't recall ever having to call in sick on a Sunday morning in all my years of ministry. (I think maybe I had to carry my in-labor wife to the hospital on a Sunday morning.) I wasn't about to do so Sunday. Anita tried to convince me otherwise. I alerted Pastor Rick just in case. So, yes, I showed up for church on Sunday sick.

It never ceases to amaze me how God works. When I feel the worst or when I know I'm not as prepared as I should be, that's when God seems to work the best. There's a word for that--it's called grace.

Sunday was an awesome day of worship. Yes, the resurrection of our Lord sure makes a tremendous impact on the past. My past is forgiven. And I believe Sunday, the Spirit was truly moving as people moved forward to lay their past, their hurts, habits, and hangups at the foot of the cross.

I love it when God shows up. May it be every single time we gather.