kevin wallace

PULVERIZED!

2012-02-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

While cleaning my house the other day, God laid a word on my heart that I wasn't quite ready to give a definition for. "Contrite", much like so many other words of the Old Testament, isn't used much in today's society. However, most of us have or will experience what it is to be contrite.

After a little research, I was made aware that there are actually two very similar definitions depending on context.Isaiah 57:13 "For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Twice in the same verse is this word mentioned each time carrying a little different meaning or level of degree.

"Contrite" is a derivitive of the Greek root word "daka" which actually means broken, bruised, crumbled, etc.. This is an indication that there is still life left in us. Why?

The second application of the word comes later in vs15, this time, with a little more intense. The Greek translation here is "dakka" which basically means pulverize. It's when our pride is obliterated that we are in a proper state of worship.

Being in a contrite (daka) physical state doesn't guarantee a contrite (dakka) spiritual state! We are simply given a choice of whether to react or respond. Job was most definitely in a broken physical state and, based on scripture (Job 1:20), he tore his clothes, shaved his head, dropped to his knees.... AND WORSHIPED. Wow! Suddenly, he was brought to the realization that, once the dust settles, only one thing remains. A holy God. It is this same holy God desires a relationship with us. It is the same holy God that desires to see his own reflection is us and, in spite of our perceived circumstances, offers another chance at life abundant.

Psalm 51:1-17 is a beautiful picture of a man who has been put under a microscope and exposed for who he is. In that state he recognizes that life without God is not only futile but not possible. The psalmist makes a choice in his broken state to receive the nourishment that he so desperately needs and so commits to the Lord's will.

When you find yourself crushed under an avalanche of desperation but not quite smothered, take that moment of silence to say goodbye to pride and bury it. What you'll find is, with proper nourishment, new fruit in the Spring.

Prepare The Way Of The Lord!

2011-12-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

Obviously, with Christmas around the corner, most of us are focused on the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Around the same time, also announced by the angel Gabriel, was the birth of John the Baptist. Maybe its just me, but some passages of scripture just make me laugh. There stood Zachariah as Gabriel told him that he and Elizabeth were to have a son and Zachariah says "How can I be sure?".... Gabriel's response? "I'm Gabriel." As if to say, "You crusty old man! Do you know who you're talking to?" Right then, God took away Zachariah's ability to speak. Not only would he eventually get his voice back, but he would witness the birth of his son John the Baptist.

I believe the birth of John was a result of righteous living going as far back as Aaron. A legacy of love, if you will. Luke 1:15-17 says John would be great in the sight of the Lord and that he would bring back many of the people of Israel back to the Lord. He would also turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous. He would, in fact, "Go and make disciples...".

Before any of this would happen, scripture tells us that John lived in the wilderness. I believe this to be a geographical fact. When applied to ourselves, it's probably in reference to a spiritual wilderness. Most of us have, at some point, experienced a state of spiritual funk when we are aware of the voice of God but find ourselves doubting/disobeying because we can't make sense of it. As I've said in one of my earlier blogs, it's not always for us to understand. It is absolutely for us to obey. Luke 1:80 says that John made his first step into ministry when he matured. Maturity begins with obedience. Maturity begins when we humble ourselves before a far superior being and a supernatural love. Typically, it's after we surrender that God reveals to us the reason behind the command.

My prayer this Christmas is that we would put ourselves in the shoes of John, intently take that first step of obedience so that we, too, can live a life worthy of the title "righteous". Prepare the way of the Lord!

VERUCA SALT

2011-12-04T19:31:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1EAl7jdIk

Even when I was a kid "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" creeped me out. I always thought it had some evil undertones. "Daddy, I WANT a squirrell!" demanded this vile little creature named Veruca Salt. I've always loved movies. Once in a while, you come across those characters that you love to hate. Veruca exemplifies the "spoiled little rich kid" that wants everything her way right now. As the story unfolds, the squirrel she wanted so badly wound up being alot more than she bargained for. You might say she got what she deserved. I think I disliked her so much because a part of me identified with her.

Numbers 11:4-34 tells of the Israelites, after they had been delivered from Egypt, complaining about being hungry. Mind you, this was after God had rained down manna from Heaven and provided everything they needed and then some. The cry going up from the Israelites was "We want meat! We should have stayed in Egypt!" Even Moses (much like Veruca's dad...) cried out "What did I do to deserve this?.... Why did you dump the responsibility of these people on me?" God got angry. So angry, in fact, that he gave them exactly what they asked for. Scripture tells us that he gave them so much meat that they choked on it. Some translations say it was coming out of their nostrils.

We always seem to think we have this life all figured out and, if we get what we desire, everything thing will be just fine. We always seem to want that which we don't need.. I happened to grow up with a father who loved me enough to let me lie in the bed I made. Sometimes those are the best learned lessons, painful as they are. It never occurred to me that I was damaging our relationship and driving a big wedge in between us. By the way, a good word to define separation from our father is "Death".

The Israelites found themselves buried, literally, in a plot of land that was named "Kibroth Hattaavah" which means "Graves of the Craving". If we continue to go through this life focused only on what we want rather than what our Father wants for us, we WILL get what we ask for and suffer for an eternity. Since when do we know what's best for us?

If we were to execute life with the pursuit of glorifying our Father rather than ourselves, we would find ourselves rewarded in ways we could never imagine. We would find ourselves.... well.... LIVING.

I think, when I pull out of the driveway in the morning, the squirrel better move.....

Hardened Heart; No Spine.....

2011-11-14T21:02:00.001-08:00

        How many times have you found yourself in the middle of a situation you tried desperately to get out of but, the harder you fought, the more difficult the situation became? Kind of like quick sand? After all, its in our human nature to go into survival mode when things get rough. Some people call it "fight or flight". Nobody wants to intentionally put themselves in harm's way, especially, when you don't have an idea of what the plan is. The exception to the rule is our military. They enlist, go through rigorous training and, at the end of the day, are prepared to go into battle no matter the cost. However, even they have an idea of what the plan is. They prepare because there is always a threat on the horizon and, if need be, they will fight. They will fight and they will follow their commander because he's been there and lived to tell about it.
       I've been talking with my wife who told me of a friend that is amazed that we are still going forward with our ministry in spite of certain set backs. Insubordination, lies, lack of support, lack of finances and even theft. Our friend said she would throw her hands in the air and use a few choice words as she did so. Where is the reward? Where is the appreciation.
      Mark 6:47-52 tells us that, after Jesus had fed the 5000, He sent his disciples across the lake in a boat where they quickly found themselves in the middle of a storm. They were so caught up, in fact, in the storm that they didn't even recognize Jesus when He came walking towards them on the water. They thought he was a ghost which further fueled their anxiety. They were so focused on their circumstances that they didn't factor in the possibility that the storm was ALLOWED to happen so the Father would be glorified. Scripture tells us that Jesus hadn't planned on walking TO them but BY them. Upon hearing their cries, he showed compassion and changed his direction and climbed into the same boat they thought was sinking. "Don't be afraid. Take courage! I am here!" There the disciples, Christ's followers, stood with their mouths hanging open in amazement because they STILL didn't get it. All this took place on the heels of Jesus feeding 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
     How many miracles does Jesus have to perform before we trust Him? When will we realize that He is leading us into a battle with forces that cannot be seen and, as a result, are much harder to fight? Again, I say, EVERY TIME Jesus told his disciples "Follow me.", He led them straight into a storm where they would be tested, tried, tempered and grown to be men of battle.

FOLLOW THE LEADER

2010-11-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

Personally, I believe God is always speaking to us. The question is, Are we listening? Over the past few days, I've been asked on several occasions about filling worship leader positions. Is it that time of year again where local churches are " cleaning house"? Is the fact that I've been asked repeatedly a clear indication that God is calling me into that position or is it Satan trying to distract me? I have to believe that part of that answer lies in whether or not I've been given the abilities to perform the duties specified. I know, I know! "God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called." I've heard that before and, yes, there is a certain amount of truth in that. However, along with walking by faith, we are also to make wise choices in life which indicates that we have to make the effort based on the knowledge we have. Faith without works is dead, right? Moses was given the task of leading Gods people out of Egypt. The only provision that Moses was given was a stick but, oh, look at the miracles that were performed when that provision was surrendered to God's will! Also, there is the fact that Moses was in constant conversation with God. Constant prayer. Prayer without ceasing.

God's word says "My sheep hear my voice and they do what I say."(John 10:27) It's when we don't listen that we find ourselves in peril and outside of God's will. What happens next is beautiful. It's a little known fact that, when a sheep goes astray, the shepherd goes out of his way to find the lost and bring them back into the fold. When He finds them, He breaks the leg of the one which prohibits the one from running off again. By the way, sanctification is always painful. At that point of brokenness, the Shepherd gently holds the wounded sheep close to his heart. There, the sheep hears and begins to get in sync with the Shepherd's heart and it is there that the healing begins. The broken bones are set and fused back together and, often times, stronger than before.

The kind of relationship that God wants with us is one where we follow Him so intently and passionately that we hear His voice speaking ever so quietly. When we don't hear Him, we still follow and we still pray. Why is He not answering? Did it ever occur to you that maybe He's waiting on you to start praying for the things that He wants for you instead of what you want for you? I recently heard Charles Stanley say that we begin to see action when our desires line up with God's will. Understand that God, like any good father, has a permissive will and will allow us to make choices ( good and bad ) and suffer the effects because experience is often the best teacher. If you're a parent then you know as well as I do that there are times when you can talk till you're blue and your kids are not going to listen because their desires are not yours. There are times when your kids will pester you to no end for something you know is not in their best interest and you don't respond because they aren't going to hear "No". At that point, the child makes a decision whether or not to follow through and it is usually determined by whether or not the child shares the same heart of the parent.

God has called us to abundant life. Try as we may, we cannot wrap our little, finite minds around the fact that with abundant life comes those "learning curves". Learning/growing involves struggles, discomfort and, sometimes, pain. All the while, God stands in our corner offering words of instruction and encouragement. We have one goal in life and that is to be like Him. Don't you think it best that we listen to the author and perfecter of our faith?

DO YOU LOVE ME?

2010-09-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

I've sat here and tried to find the words to explain what happens on a daily basis. We have been given the duty, the responsibility, the honor to pick up ridiculous amounts of food and to make sure that it ends up in the hands of those who need it. I got up today, Labor Day '10, and drove my blue Chevy pickup to the local grocery store only to have it filled completely with produce, breads, deli and dairy items. What happens next is even better. On Tuesday morning at 10:30, volunteers arrive at 15 Perry St. Newnan, Ga to sort out this food into family sized bags. People are singing. People are praying. People are laughing and people are crying. Some are believers. Some are just curious. At around 11:30, the food is loaded into several vehicles, at which point, we divide and show up at various locations around Coweta County to deliver relief to those in need.

Need is indiscriminate. It doesn't care how long you have been without. It doesn't care about skin color or age. Sometimes the food ends up in the hands of those who never had much. Sometimes it ends up in the hands of those who make bad choices. Sometimes it ends up in the hands of those who have been making six figure incomes but, due to a failing economy, are left without a job and stuck with a mountain of bills. Through this transfer of food from one hand to another, relationships are developed.

I remember one day in particular when most everything had been distributed except for a few loaves of bread. As a friend is engaged in conversation with a single mother who happens to be in an abusive relationship, I'm on the next block engaged in prayer with a single mom for her infant daughter who has been experiencing seizures. Its mind blowing, really.

"Who am I?" "Are you sure you have the right person, Lord?" These are questions raised throughout the bible by those who would go on to be soldiers for Christ simply because they obeyed. By our standards, it didn't make any sense for God to call someone who had been orphaned then raised by a pagan slave driving culture. It didn't make sense that God would call someone who had murdered another human being to be the one who would lead the exodus of God's people out of bondage. (By the way, bondage is also indiscriminate.) Exodus 4:2 Moses questioned God about the possible disbelief of the people he was to deliver. God responded "What is that in your hand?" This was not a case of God having a mental hick up and not knowing what was in Moses' hand. He wanted Moses to realize what was in his hand. In this case is it was a staff, a stick that, as the story progresses, would turn into a snake that would devour the snakes of the Egyptian magicians,be used to bring water from a rock, and even split the Red Sea. Talk about a serious miscalculation for Moses! In spite of Moses' doubts, the story goes on to say that God loved him.

In September '09, God called a couple of singers with no organizational skills and a very bad case of ADD (we still can't agree on who has it...) into a ministry that feeds His people physically as well as spiritually. We have been called to lead His people out of bondage. Some will follow. Some will find themselves wondering aimlessly in the desert. There will be impossible circumstances. There will be hardships. There will be victories. Will you accept the challenge? Will you answer to the call? John 21:15-17 God asked Peter repeatedly "Do you love me?" and, after Peter's struggles with his own flaws and failures, God still commissioned him to "Feed my sheep". God's question for you - "Do you love me?".....

LETTING GO

2010-05-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, I, along with four other guys in the worship arts ministry, have been going through a study on grace. Its been said you can't truly give grace until you've truly received grace. If I'm totally honest, I've had a real problem with receiving grace. Its the difference between a head knowledge and a heart knowledge. Just recently, I found myself engaged in a conversation with someone who, apparently, has been through some similar struggles. If we're honest, that's what most people want to hear. They want to hear something that relates to "real life". They want to hear about the difference that a relationship with Jesus Christ has made in my or your life. Not what we've heard about in someone else's.

The Bible says that its by grace we're saved through faith. Again, we have to understand that grace is defined as a gift that is given and is not attainable by any other way. We don't deserve it and there is nothing we can do to earn it. Its not something that is inherited or "grandfathered in". Based on those facts, we make a choice to trust God and receive the gift of salvation. That's where faith steps in.

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen." (Heb. 11:1) We hope for peace. We hope for wisdom. What happens is, when everything we do, say or think is driven by our desire to please the father, these things become ever closer and attainable. Gal. 5:6b says "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." God is the definition of love. When we obey God's command to "Love the Lord your God" and "Love your neighbor", the result is fruits of the spirit and there lies the substance. When people see someone led by the Spirit and displaying a supernatural love that's not based on investment returns, they see the evidence of an almighty, loving God.

Those "fruits" don't just appear without making the effort to follow. "I thought you just said there was nothing you could do to get to heaven. Why are you talking about effort?" Funny you should ask. James 2:17 says "..faith without works is dead." When mom used to tell me "Dinner's ready!", I didn't just lay there and expect to get full. I had to get up and get going to sit at the table where my nourishment was so freely given. Those "efforts" are based on obedience. Not on how good I may think I am or how hard I think I may be working. If my work is not the results of a direct order from God above, then its all in vain. This is where I've had a serious struggle. Letting go...

Losing your identity isn't something that comes without pain. After all, you worked hard to be who you are, right? People know you for who you are, right? Again, vanity... Upon the day of your salvation, you became a child of the King. You became a follower, a slave, a CHRISTIAN. The Bible says you have a new name in glory. (So much for my birth name...) A dear friend of mine once told me, when I was going through a troublesome time, that I was going through the crucible. I've never been a scholarly person so I asked her to explain. She began to tell me about the purification process. When the goldsmith begins to purify the gold, he turns up the heat and all the impurities float to the surface where the goldsmith is constantly removing the impurities. The goldsmith knows the gold is pure when the only reflection he sees is his own. How many times have you felt like God was telling you to do something or go somewhere and, because you trusted your own judgement, God got trumped. That's right. You trusted your own intellect over God's. That's when the friction began and it started getting hot.

For all the husbands reading this, God tells us in the book of Titus (2:5) that wives should be subject to their husbands. The problem is, we always seem to stop reading there. The very next verse basically tells us, as husbands, to live with self control, integrity, and live by a Godly example. In other words, MAN UP! Give your spouse a reason to be subject or submissive. When she sees that you are trust worthy and love her to the point of laying down your life, chances are she'll be prepared to live by the same standards.

Jesus was not only prepared to lay down his life for His bride (the church), He did! When we understand that the blood that was shed on the cross at Calvary has the power to cleanse us of EVERY sin, then we can get on with our Christian walk without hesitation or, in my case, false guilt. He accepted me when and where I was even with all my baggage. When Jesus layed down his life for me, He took all that baggage (past, present and future) and took it upon Himself. That leaves me with no choice but to be submissive to the Bridegroom.

I'll leave you with a quick story. I once heard a preacher tell a story about a hunting expedition and the method was simple. Place a banana in a cage with an opening just small enough for the monkey to get his hand in or out. Once the monkey reached for the banana, it became a real problem for him to get his hand back out of the cage while it was still wrapped around the banana. He was trapped by his own desires. Because he wanted the banana so badly, he remained there until the hunters came with the expected results. The moral of the story is this. The enemy is coming to steal, kill, and destroy. LET GO!

GRACE

2010-04-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

"When is the word 'Freely' not associated with the word 'Grace'?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I've been meeting with four other guys from the worship arts department at church and reading through "In The Grip of Grace" by Max Lucado. The topic, obviously, is Grace and its a walk through the book of Romans. During these meetings, in order for us to be able to better minister to each other through what God says about our issues, we've been pretty transparent and pretty much laying our darkest secrets on the table. What I've found is that, at some point, we've all experienced a state of spiritual paralysis. I was happy to learn I wasn't the only one. I was also encouraged by what God's word says.

I'll take this opportunity to share a little of my personal testimony. I was fifteen years old and accompanying my parents with our choir while singing at a revival at a little church in Alabama. I didn’t want to be there. I can't remember why. I just didn't. The evangelists bringing the message looked like he was going to drop dead of a heart attack; sweating profusely, red faced, neck bulging, gasping for breath with the signature "Haa!" at the end of every statement. I endured nevertheless. When the invitation was given, if I'm honest, I was praying that no one responded so I could go home. I looked up to find the evangelist standing right next to me (I was in the back of the church). "Are you ok?" he asked. "No" I responded. I still don't know why he singled me out but it was like God had placed me under a holy microscope and, at which point, everything was revealed. I asked God to come into my life and I was miraculously changed.

I would like to tell you that I immediately started living a saintly life and I was a soldier for Christ from then on. I wasn't. I was very excited and I knew I was different. I went to school the following day and proceeded to tell my friends that I was saved but the following years were much different. I have done things after the day of my salvation that, honestly, I'm embarrassed to talk about and it would make for a much longer book. Did I lose my salvation? No! That's not scriptural. I believe because I wasn't studying God's word daily I became preoccupied and the rest is history. Again, I was saved. However, I had no understanding of "Lordship". Fortunately, God allowed me to stay around long enough to learn that lesson and has allowed me to serve Him further while here on the earth.

I've been constantly reminded of my past. That's what Satan does. If he can't have your eternity, he'll have your today. He'll make you question your salvation, question your abilities, and even question God's abilities.

Let's get back to the question. "When is the word 'Freely' not associated with the word 'Grace?" When the application is "Receiving" grace. Grace; unmerited favor, given freely, paid for with a price. There is nothing you can do to earn or deserve it. If there was, then Jesus died for nothing.

John 11:32-44 tells us the story of Jesus was called to rescue his friend Lazarus from the dead. This account states that, according to Mary, Jesus was four days late. Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days and stunk. "Jesus wept." (vs 35) Did He weep because His friend, Lazarus, was dead? That doesn't make sense. Jesus raises the dead! I believe Jesus wept because of their lack of faith. As the story continues, Jesus yelled "Lazarus, Come out!" and Lazarus walked out of the grave. Why did Jesus yell? He whispered to the storm and it subsided. He spoke and the universe was created. Was it to show authority? I believe there's the possibility that he was a little mad with the fact that His people, His own followers, had just accused Him of being too late.

What's keeping you from stepping out of the grave, or rut, you're in? Is it disbelief? Lack of faith? Jesus is weeping because His people are constantly coming across the "next big thing" that He can't overcome. It is by grace, through FAITH, that we are saved. By the way, God's word says that we are BEING saved (1Cor 1:18). That's on a daily basis through a relationship with Him. We are going to mess up but, through grace, we are made holy in Him. Jesus is calling. Roll away the stone, lose the grave clothes and start living!

GIVE US THIS DAY......

2010-03-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

Trust. It seems its the one thing that's the hardest to come by. Once you gain it, its another thing, entirely, to retain it. It involves a number of issues. Compassion, understanding, patience and, above all, love.

As a child, it never occurred to me that my parents didn't love me. Because of that assurance, the thought of not eating or being clothed never crossed my mind. I got up everyday knowing that everything I needed would not only be provided but done so in such a way that I knew Mom and Dad took pride in what they were doing. They wanted the best for their kids. Does that mean that I always got what I wanted? Absolutely not! (That being said, I was a little spoiled!) What if I had gotten the Yamaha 80 I always wanted? What if I had gotten the endless supply of comic books I always wanted? I was so short sighted, at the time, to understand how much money went into acquiring these things not to mention how much money, time and effort went into maintaining these things. Does that mean that I stopped asking for them? Probably not. I was still learning valuable lessons.

Fast forward. Very similar situation but with a different perspective. Now as an adult with children of my own, I'm given the task of being the provider rather than the provided for. My wife and I get up everyday and immediately start addressing needs for that day. Meals, clothes, baths, school, recreation, clean beds, etc., all vital parts of our children's existence that they take advantage of without a second thought. Chances are, if we are any sort of parents, our kids never have to ask for it. They just have an inherent trust that they will have what they need. What comes next makes your heart melt. "Thank you" or "that meal was great" or "these clothes fit perfectly". Gratitude has a way of making you feel appreciated or complete as a parent. Its the icing on the cake. Next level stuff. It just makes you want to improve your game that much more.

Again, different perspective. I would LOVE to have a recording contract. What if its not in my best interest? Better yet. What if its not God's will for my life? Do I keep on asking until I get what I asked for? It kind of reminds me of Verruca from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" as she screams "I want a squirrel!" It sounds a bit hedonistic doesn't it? It makes me want to slap that spoiled little rich kid! How do you think God feels? I once heard Charles Stanley say "We start seeing action when our desires line up with God's will.". Ultimately, God's will for us is to be a reflection of His son Jesus Christ. Does He not know what we need exactly when we need it? Matthew 6:25-34 tells us to not worry about what we will eat or about our bodies or our clothes. (v26) "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

When was the last time you sat at your computer and said "Thank you, God, for this modern convenience....". (now for a moment of silence....) Do you get the picture? We get up everyday and begin our tasks as if we're the ones doing all the work. Seems a bit legalistic doesn't it?! You're not the one who grew the cotton that was used to make the underwear you're wearing! You're not the one who created the seed from which the apple you're eating was grown! Yes, we do a certain amount of work (you can thank Adam for that one!) but we're also given the strength to do that work not to mention the lessons we learn from that work. Again, you have to look at the imagery. Our heavenly Father puts us into parental roles (even though we're His children) so that we can teach our children (who are also His children) so that they can grow to be mature adults (still His children) and teach their children.

To get to the point, God wants us to communicate with Him, make our requests known and, when we get our answer (even if we don't like the answer we get) be thankful. He wants us to develop trust. We lack trust because we don't have a close enough relationship with Him and, as a result, have a lack of understanding. How do we expect to teach what we do not know? He is our father. He loves us. He will provide what we need for today.

GET REAL!

2010-03-02T05:01:00.000-08:00

If I'm being completely honest, my reasons for wanting to write this started with selfish and defensive motivations. Hopefully, as you read on, it'll become clear that those kind of motives lead to nothing but a vicious circle of arguments and a very ugly display of a life unbecoming a Christian. What I would like to do instead is take this as an opportunity to encourage those who desire to walk the footsteps of Jesus to stay focused on the author and perfecter of our faith and not be distracted by those who, even with the best of intentions, have been tricked by the deceiver into this facade of religion instead of a relationship with Jesus.

Don't get me wrong. One thing that we don't have enough of within the body of Christ is accountability. Alot of times, we may question the actions of a brother of sister but, because we lack knowledge, we fail to "call them out". That's not to say we should be hanging our dirty laundry out for the world to see. God's word plainly states how we should go to that person, in God's love, and show them what God's word says about the situation at hand and pray that their eyes are opened to the Truth. Jesus said,"If you know me, you will be my disciples and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) If a lack of knowledge is what's hindering you, the solution is easy. Pick up a copy of God's word, readily available, and begin to read. Personally, I've got several different translations. If I'm feeling scholarly, I'll pick up a KJV and try and decipher old testament lingo. Other times, I'll pick up a NAS or a copy of "The Message" and really enjoy the simplicity of it. Either way, Ask God to speak to you clearly. I believe He wants to.

Wisdom, however, is a different story. Wisdom is actually taking what we know and applying it properly. Sometimes its a lack of wisdom that compels us to speak what we have read but we lack the spiritual maturity to know when to shut up. I get all excited about something I've read or heard and, before you know it, I've opened my mouth and made a train wreck of things. Again, Jesus said,"If you KNOW me...". Not just His words but His heart! There's alot of Christians running around quoting what we all know to be true but, if our words aren't "delivered with grace, as though seasoned with salt" (Col 4:6) then it can have quite the opposite effect! Its like the "bull in a china shop" syndrome.
Wisdom is just one of those things that take time. You could memorize the Bible inside and out and, if you don't know the heart of the Master, you'll still mess up.

Finally, there's faith. Even if we had Solomon's wisdom, I believe God can and will ask us to do things that defies our finite understanding. Whether it be a command to build an ark or whether it be to follow Him straight into the heart of Samaria, as children of God, I believe we have a responsibility to obey first and ask questions later.

"Therefore as you have come to know Jesus Christ, SO WALK IN HIM, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." (Col 2:6-7)

I WILL

2010-02-23T15:19:00.001-08:00

Sunday morning started out the usual way. That was probably strike one! I started my day with my usual two cups of coffee and walked into church thinking about the usual order of service and how I was going to lead the choir as well as the congregation into the very presence of God. Problem was, I wasn't walking closely enough myself.

We started the service with "Our God Reigns" declaring "spirit of doubt, you have no place here!" Obviously, the enemy knew that I was spiritually deaf at the time because he attacked hard. I have been questioning "self worth" for a number of reasons. Am I being a good husband and father? Am I providing what my family needs? Should I go and take a "real" job for the sake of "taking a job" or do I continue pursuing what I believe is God's will for me? Often times our worship of an almighty God is determined by our circumstances. I think what happened next was based on the fact that I had failed the very test that I had been learning. I wept.

In the book of Luke (5:17-26) Jesus healed a paralytic that had been brought, through the roof, into the house where He was teaching. Jesus told the paralytic "Because of your faith, you are healed." and told him to get up. At that point, because of his faith in Jesus, he got up. When Jesus said "Get up", those words not only penetrated his ears but resignated within his soul!

I have been so paralyzed by a spirit of doubt and fear that I was useless! I hadn't taken into consideration the fact that, despite a failing economy, we haven't missed a meal, we haven't missed a bill and my family is clothed and fed! Last night, while thinking back to the song we finished Sunday's service with, it struck me. "Give us Clean Hands" kept referencing Jacob so I came home and did a little reading. Genesis 28:20-21 says "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God..."

He will give us exactly what we need according to His will. It may not always be comfortable (just ask John the Baptist!) but the end result is glory. Lift your head up and step out of the boat and onto the water. Just don't take your eyes off of Him. The next time God says to you "Get Up!" what will your response be? As for me, I will.

REVERBNATION

2010-02-22T06:32:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've started using ReverbNation which is a promotional site for independant artist. This site not only allows the user to hear my music, but has several applications that the listener can "click and grab" to help better promote the artists they support. Also, there are other features such as blogs and calendars to keep you better connected. Under "Links", click on ReverbNation and be sure and sign up for the mailing list. Thanks for your continued support. Kevin

Bridging The Gap

2009-11-20T06:59:00.000-08:00

As many are aware, my wife has recently started a non-profit organization that reaches out to those in need in our community and not only provides food but, displays the love of Jesus Christ. As people witness this application of service the obvious question is "Why are you doing this?". The answer is simply "Love". So many scriptures come to mind:
-"Love thy neighbor as thyself"....
-"For God so loved the world that He gave"....
-"Whatever you do to the least of these, you have done unto me"....
God's love transcends our understanding of the word.

Every day food that has reached its sale by date is culled from the isles of local grocery stores. This food is still good if only for a short while. These foods include produce, meats, deli and dairy items, as well as non-perishables and toiletries. Instead of these items going to waste or being destroyed, Bridging The Gap picks them up and delivers them to the needy. Right now BTG is supplying 14 different organizations around Coweta County that know better how to serve their demographic. Along the way there are still individual families who receive assistance. At present there are over 450 people a week being fed and BTG is only two months into existence! If you don't think that God is still in the miracle business, I challenge you to come along for the ride and experience it first hand.

I recently heard someone say "People will care about how much you know when they know how much you care". Do you care enough to volunteer a couple of hours out of the week if only to stock shelves or maybe even hand deliver food to someone in need? Maybe you have other resources without the luxury of time. Be aware of the platform God has given you to glorify Him and BE the hands and feet of Jesus.

If you are interested in supporting this ministry, you can respond by e-mail to apowderwallace@hotmail.com.

Any monetary donations are appreciated. Make checks payable to

Bridging the Gap
PO Box 223
Newnan, Ga. 30264

COVER ME

2009-10-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

Last year, about this same time, I was in middle of an uncomfortable situation. Unemployment. It was especially bothersome because I had lost my job as a worship leader. That's right. I got fired from a church. Not only had I been dismissed from what I do best, I felt like I had failed when it came to leading people into the presence of God. How was I going to face people and have them ask "What did he do to get fired from a church?"(Notice how many times the word "I" was just used?)

I came home that night, sat in my favorite recliner, and reached over for what would ordinarilly be the remote. Instead, there sat my Bible. It was as if God was saying "We really need to talk.". Fortunately, I had just heard an evangelist say something that corrected everything I was feeling. "We're so busy getting our prayers off the floor and through the roof. Make no mistake, if our prayers don't begin in the throne room of God, they aren't going anywhere!"

My ego had taken priority. Not intentionally, mind you. It never dawned on me that maybe God had placed a hurdle in my life to see how I was going to react. Was I going to stop and cower in fear? Was I going to recklessly barrell through it with no concern of how it might effect someone else? Wouldn't it have been better for me to pause, if only for a split second, to seek God's hand in His infinite wisdom to guide me?

Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, capillaries burst with grief, praying that this "cup" be passed from Him. He didn't want to be beaten, scourged, spit on, crucified, or anything of the sort. He did, however, have the wisdom to say "nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done" because he understood that what He was to do was to glorify the Father.

In Mark 10:32-45 Jesus mapped it out AGAIN for the desciples and the command still applied. FOLLOW ME. After Jesus explained what was to happen, James and John were quick to say that they wanted to share in His glory. I dare to think that they probably didn't put alot of thought into what it was going to cost them. By the way, James was beheaded and John starved to death alone on the isle of Patmos! That being said, I believe they went to their death confident in knowing that their trials on earth were temporary. It was their eternity with the God that sacrificed his only Son for them that mattered most.

"Cover Me" was given to me in the midst of a terrible storm. It was only when I looked to Him that the winds and waves stood still and I found peace. My prayer is that this song speaks to you as it has me.

May God bless and keep you,

Kevin

For Who's Glory?

2009-09-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

My wife and I donate alot of our time to a local organization that focuses on ministering to our community wether it be through finances, food, clothing, housing, etc. . Its especially humbling to see someone walk through the doors, who you know is used to making a six figure income, and ask for assistance. What makes it especially rewarding is when you make the effort to assist that person and, because they see a difference in the way you respond, they come back, this time, to volunteer their efforts to help others. Do you see a pattern?

Alot of times, when we are in a position of "giving a leg up", we elevate ourselves or lord it over the person who is in need of assistance thus revealing the true motivation behind our service. SELF GLORIFICATION. Ouch! Take a second and think about that. You may have, at some point, entered into a position of service with the best of intentions and, before you know it, someone walks through the door that looks or talks differently. You may not even agree with anything about them. The next thing you know, you're on a pedestal. After all, they came to you. Right? So how do we keep from being corrupted?

Colossians 3:22-24 (NAS) says "Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will recieve the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.". As Christians, we are not our own. In any culture where there is a king on the throne, no one does anything without the consent of the king for fear of death. Let the King guide your next word or deed. This requires constant prayer and devotion. Colassians 4:1-2 says "Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;....." vs 5 "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."

The world would be a much better place if our actions weren't motivated by our reputation but by God's love. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.

Meaningless!

2009-08-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

I once heard Chip Ingram define boredome as "The act of trying to scratch the eternal itch with temporal things". These "temporal things" have a way of embedding themselves into our minds and lifes and , ultimately, distracting us from what is most important; eternity. In the book of Ecclesiasties, Solomon sat on the throne as king and obviously had an abundance of stuff. With all that stuff, came additional care/maintenance of that stuff. At the end of it all, your focus becomes blurred and what suffers is your relationship with the loving God. I'm not saying that wealth is a sin. What I am saying is when that wealth, the pursuit of wealth, or whatever the case may be, interrupts your relationship with Jesus Christ then you have created for yourself another god. (By the way, do you remember the first commandment?) We are in troubled times. Everybody is feeling the crunch of the economy. How do you think Job felt? He lost EVERYTHING. Because he made a choice to remain faithful, God blessed him with more than he originally had. More importantly, at the end of it all, I believe Job will hear the words "Well done my good and faithful child." God sent His only son to die for our sins. I believe He's earned our trust.

Plan Ahead

2009-08-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

As summer draws to an end, pools will be covered till next year and we begin to prepare for the Fall and Winter festivities. Mike and I have already began to book events for Christmas. (Yes, already.) We have recieved calls from previous clients asking us to come back and play for their corporate or private party. Be sure to check out our calendar to help better plan for your specific needs. We have recently added three new venues to our schedule; Coweta Grill/Arbor Springs Golf Club Aug. 7th, LaParrilla Aug. 8th, Alamo Aug. 28th. We would really appreciate your support and I'm sure the business owners would as well. The demand for entertainment is larger during the holiday season due to the number of parties/gatherings so keep us in mind and, possibly, come see us at one of the local venues to see if we are the appropriate fit for your needs.