A Leap Day Leap: My New Adventure

 

It's Leap Day, a good day to talk about my latest leap of faith. At the age of 54 I just quit my job and have taken a position that pays no salary. After 30 years of being a church pastor, I'm walking away for a new adventure. And I'm super excited!

I'm devoting my time, talent, and energy to an incredible organization called Iron Men's Ministry. I passionately believe God is going to use Iron Men to change the lives of 1000's of men, their families, and their churches - all for the sake of Jesus Christ.

For most of my life I've been committed to making a difference in God's Kingdom. By joining the Iron Men's Ministry team, I know God is going to use me to make a significant impact for Him in this world.

I invite you to be my partner in this adventure. As I mentioned earlier, my new position has no salary. I'm asking my friends, relatives, and acquaintances to consider helping support me financially in 2012. Over the years God has blessed me with incredible people who have shared some amazing faith and life adventures. Would you please consider helping me?

If you want to help, you can do so one of two ways. Email me at tallpastor@comcast.net and I'll send you a support letter along with more information about Iron Men's Ministry and a contribution commitment form.

Or, go to ironmensministry.com, click on financial support and make your donation. On the confirmation page be sure to click on "add special instructions to the seller" and type in "For support of Jim Kennon."

I covet your prayers for Sue and me. Keep an eye on this blog for regular updates on the great things God is going do through Iron Men's Ministry.

Please take a moment and leave a comment.

Thanks!

Jim

5 "Take-Aways" From A Fish Story

As a life-long fisherman, any fish story that could begin with "Fish catches man," catches my attention. I've been wrestling with the story of Jonah this week. Here are a few "take-aways" from the disobedient prophet and the big fish story.

1. Running away from God is usually my first response. Unfortunately, it's never a good idea.
2. God never gives up on us, even when we're off-track.
 3. Self-centered faith is off-centered faith. Jonah's prayer in chapter two is filled with the words "me and I". It appears 3 days in the belly of a fish wasn't a sufficient lesson for Jonah.
4. Doing the right thing for the wrong reason isn't any better than doing the wrong thing. The 3rd chapter reveals an obedient Jonah who does the right thing by preaching repentance to Nineveh, but does it for the wrong reasons - "I can't wait to see God stick it to those evil people of Nineveh!"
5. God is passionate for people. The real lesson of Jonah isn't about obedience or disobedience. It's not about whether or not a fish can swallow a man whole. The lesson of Jonah is about God's passion for people. His heart burns with compassion for all people, even those might live in a modern-day Nineveh.

As I stumble and bumble my way through life, I need to be sure to see people the way God sees people - with compassion, grace, and mercy.  Pastor Ed Young recently posted, "We've never locked eyes with someone who doesn't matter to God!"

 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

What are your "take-aways" from this fish story?

3 Reasons I Quit My Job For One Without A Salary

Well, I did it. I resigned yesterday as Lead Pastor at my church to take a job with an organization that can't pay me a salary. At the age of 54, I'm starting a new career without the assurance of a paycheck. I think I'm beginning to grasp how Peter felt when Jesus called him to get out of the boat and become a wave-walker. Those waves are starting to look big!
What makes a relatively level-headed and somewhat over-the-hill Baptist pastor attempt something so risky? I've been asking myself that question a lot. I think there are 3 reasons:

1. The truth is, I am level-headed and somewhat over-the-hill. In other words, my life has become a little boring. I need to experience the thrill of faith. Last week I heard Francis Chan ask, "Since when did the goal of life become to be safe and grow old?" I have a feeling things are going to be a little more exciting the next several months.
2. This is my chance to have major Kingdom influence for Jesus. My new position will allow me to impact perhaps thousands of men, their families, and churches for Jesus. The potential for Kingdom impact outweighs the need the need for financial guarantee.
3. If I'm really honest with myself, this change isn't as risky as it might first seem. The Lord has my back. He's been faithful in the past --- he'll be faithful tomorrow. When Peter began to sink under the waves, Jesus lifted him up to safety. When I do fail, and it's probably more of matter of when rather than if, Jesus will take care of me. Of this I'm certain.

I can't wait to start my new position in two weeks. I ask my friends to pray for me. I want to be bold for Jesus. I want to make a difference in the world. I want to get out of my boat walk on a few waves!

Have you ever done any wave-walking? Tell me your story.

To learn more about the organization I'm joining, go to Ironmensministry.com

Bill

"Hey, are you the Baptist minister?" The old man in the white pick-up stopped in the street in front of my church yesterday and asked me that question as I walked down the sidewalk. I wasn't sure whether to answer him or start running. Feeling like a trapped criminal, I fessed up and claimed ownership of my nefarious profession.

"I've been looking for you," he said, "We need to talk." I was starting to wish I had said I was the Presbyterian pastor.

The man pulled to the curb and introduced himself as Bill. Then he asked the last question I would ever expect. "How can I understand the Bible? I keep trying to read it but it makes no sense. Can you help me?" The tears in his eyes confirmed his sincerity.

It turns out God has been working in Bill's life, big time. I found out one of the men from our church had invited Bill to come and worship with him. This invitation, combined with Bill's desire to read the Bible, has led Bill to believe that just maybe God has a plan and purpose for his life.

I asked Bill to let me think about his question. I told him I'd gather up some resources that might help him. I told him I'd be in touch, that we would talk about the Bible together. And then I invited him to worship.

We shook hands and Bill the Seeker drove off. As I resumed my journey down the sidewalk I prayed. I asked God to continue to his pursuit of Bill. The Lord is a passionate Lover of the lost. God is pursuing Bill. Bill is seeking God. Bill's going to be just fine...forever.

Find Your Fit

I made an interesting scientific discover this weekend - 6'5" guys are NOT meant to fit under the kitchen sink. The evidence to support this discovery is found in the aching muscles in my shoulders, arms, and back.

In a moment of Sunday afternoon inspiration, I decided to replace our kitchen faucet. Sue was in K.C. visiting our daughter, so I thought I would surprise my wife, who considers her husband totally inept at home repairs. Next time, I'm just giving her flowers - much easier.

I emptied out the stuff under the kitchen sink and gathered up my tools - crescent wrench, screwdriver, channel lock, bucket, plumber's putty. I even made sure I had the mandatory plumber's crack. (Just kidding on that one. TMI.)

The box for the faucet said, "New, easy installation." Yeah, if you're one of those little dudes from Willy Wonka. I quickly discovered my 6'5" frame does not fit under a tiny kitchen sink cabinet filled with pipes and a garbage disposal. What should have been a fairly quick replacement turned into a three hour, frustration filled, body punishing, evening of torture.

I finally finished the job. There is both hot and cold water, there are no leaks, and the faucet actually looks great, much to my amazement. But the job was way too hard because I was not a good fit for the job.

Need a bulb changed in your ceiling light? I got it. Need your ceiling painted? No problem. Feeling a little short and need someone to grab something off the top shelf? I'm there for you. I'm great at those things - they fit me well.

As we walk through life it's important to find the right fit. God has created us with both potential and limitations. He has given us gifts and short-comings. Each of us has our strengths and weaknesses.

Wise people understand this. Wise people play to their strengths. Wise people spend the majority of their time and energy doing those things that fit.

By the way, the next time I have a job that involves crawling into a cabinet, I'm calling a plumber.

Dennis the Menace and God's Grace

It's Sunday night and another week has come to an end. It's been a good week. And I have no reason to believe the coming week will be any different. Day after day I receive blessings too numerous to count and blessings I know I certainly don't deserve. I wonder, am I just lucky or is there some other principle at work in my life?

Remember Dennis the Menace? Dennis and his little friend, Joey, are leaving Mrs. Wilson’s house with their hands full of cookies. As you may remember, Dennis is not always very considerate toward the Wilsons who are his next-door neighbors (especially Mr. Wilson).
But Joey says, "I wonder what we did to deserve this?"
Dennis answers, "Look, Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice."

Theologians speak of something called common grace - God's goodness to humanity because he is good. Through common grace we receive blessings (cookies), not because of who we are or what we have done, but because God is good and he loves us. In other words, I'm not lucky, I am blessed by the principle of common grace.

How should we respond to common grace? How should we respond to the blessings God so freely gives? How about we start by being thankful? If Mrs.Wilson gave me some fresh baked cookies I hope I would say thank you. It seems when God gives us blessings we should do the same thing.

Here's a simple idea. Start each morning by thanking God for the blessings you're going to receive. And then at night take some time to say thank you for the blessings you did receive.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4)