Keystone Thrive

Summary:

Day 1: (Our thoughts and prayers for Haiti)

As the death totals continue to rise, and the news continues to darken upon the poorest country in the western hemisphere, we must take a moment and consider how blessed we are in the United States. The statistics of Haiti are difficult to read: 80 percent live under the poverty line; 70 percent are unemployed; 50 percent are illiterate; the majority of fresh water sources have been polluted due to the poor sanitation systems; more than half the heaths in Haiti are do to water-borne diseases. They aren’t easy to read at all.

Often times, we forget that we are so blessed. We take for granted the basic things we have day in and day out. Many around the world cannot share in our luxuries of fresh water, warm clothing, proper meals on our tables, and a safe place to rest our heads at night. Some – like the people in Haiti – now sleep outside in large fields around brothers and sisters and other family members who have died in this horrible ordeal.

Therefore, I hope that we will take a moment and thank God for the many resources and blessings we have been given. Take some time during your day and write a prayer or two to the Lord, telling Him how thankful you are for His glorious blessings. As if we didn’t have enough examples a part from the Bible, here are a few Scriptures to guide your prayers of thankfulness. Make this a time of worship to the Lord and not a chore or an obligation. Get out a journal or a piece of paper and write down some things God is challenging you to remember as true gifts from the Lord. Review it often and be thankful.

Scripture verses: 1 Chronicles 16:8; Psalm 7:17, 50: 14, 75:1, 79:13; 1 Thessalonians
5:18; 1 Timothy 2: 1; Revelation 11:17

Day 2: (Restoration of Joy)

There is a significant difference between the word “happy” and the word “joy.” There are many people who display happiness, but have never displayed joy. True joy is something that only comes from the Lord. It is something that wells up within us and springs forth in our worship and our praise. It cannot be faked. Oh, there is truly something different about being joyful. Even through some of the most difficult times in our lives, we can display a joyful attitude – not because of our circumstances – but because God is with us through it all.

If we were honest, we are really missing the joy link in our personal lives, in our churches, and ultimately, in our world. Many of us try and brave a “happy face” for others to see, but it is simply a mask that hides our fear. We have so much to be joyful about though: Jesus is with us and will never leave us, the Word of God is true and faithful; the Holy Spirit lives inside of us and guides us in His ways, and we have the privilege in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world.

Today is the day we are going to seek God for His joy to grow in us. By reflecting on some passages of Scripture as our guide, let us pray together in agreement for the restoration of joy to occur in us once again. Let’s ask God to allow His joy to overflow into our families, our work places, and our local churches. Ask God to give you His joy that sustains through all circumstances and situations – easy or difficult to bear. As we continue to seek His joy, God will provide. Break out a journal or a piece of paper again and write down some thoughts – some things God is sharing with you regarding your need for joy in your life. As you continue to pray, seek His presence in your life and find the joy that only He can provide for you.

Scripture Verses: Psalm 5: 11, 118:24, 122: 1, 126: 3; 1 Chronicles 16: 27, 31; Isaiah 51:11; Zephaniah 3:17; John 15: 11; Romans 15:13;

Day 3: (The Great Commission)

It isn’t a choice or an obligation – it is a responsibility and a command from the Lord. We are called to go out and make disciples of all nations. We are called to be witnesses for Christ no matter where we are or how we feel. We are called to not look at people merely as individuals. Rather, we are to see those who are lost and without hope as our first priority every day.

For some of us, classes will begin this week. We have prepared for the school to the best of our abilities, shopped for the necessary books and other school-related materials, reviewed our syllabi, and perhaps even got a new haircut or a new outfit to show off to our friends we’ve been away from for the past month. Let us pray that we have not forgotten to put on Christ as our primary act – the thing we are all about for the spring of 2010.

As this three-day fast comes to a close and our minds begin to shift school-ward, let us begin to pray for those we will see this upcoming year. Let’s begin to pray for our teachers, our classmates, and those who do not know Jesus personally respectively. Let us be more concerned about one’s salvation rather than our egos, which normal cause us to remain silent in our seats and not share the Good News of Christ with others. Here are some verses to challenge us as we prepare to be salt and light in a very dark world in need of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and salvation. Get out your journal or a piece of paper and jot down a few thoughts regarding these passages and, if led, share them with someone you know well. You’ll be amazed what God might show you through your own writing or the writing of someone else’s.

Scripture Verses: Matthew 28: 19-20; Luke 10: 22; John 6: 28-29, 44,64: 14: 6; 17: 2,9; Acts 13: 48; Ephesians 1: 4-6, 11

Summary:

Summary:

Although I am unable to speak on behalf of 22,000 college students and leaders that attended Passion 2010, I believe I can safely say that it was truly an awakening many of us needed. When you combine biblical leaders like Louie Giglio, Francis Chan, Andy Stanley, John Piper and Beth Moore with some of the most electrifying worship leaders, I find it hard for anyone to not walk away unchanged. Now that many of us have returned home, the challenge will be to remain awake and not fall into the temptation of falling asleep. Thus, I asked myself, “How can I take the challenges I have received from the Passion 2010 conference and live them out intentionally, making them a part of my personal worship to God and to others?” It’s an honest question.

As I was contemplating my personal response, I came across Mark 13: 34-36, which reads, “It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake – for you don’t know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning – lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.”

I sometimes wonder if we take parables of Jesus seriously. In this parable, Jesus is the master of the house, while we are the servants, each with our own responsibility, and commanded to work hard while the master is away. There is so much work to be done and I fear that many of us will end up finding the “comfy spot” on our couches, flipping through the TV, and eating Ding Dongs as we fall asleep once again.

We cannot go back to our respective homes and fall asleep spiritually again. We must remain awake and begin to do the work we are called to do – every one of us has a responsibility and a job to do. As I am unable to speak for 22,000 + college students and leaders I am certainly unable to speak on behalf of Louie, yet I can almost be assured that his heart would break if Passion 2010 ended January 5^th. The Passion 2010 conference ended January 5^th, but Passion 2010 has just begun. There are 348 days left until the 2011. My question is: “What are you going to do with your 358 days?” Will they be spent doing things for you or for the work of the Kingdom in serving the Master of the house and others? So – I have decided to come up with a few ideas that can be implemented into your college, church, or ministry setting in order to remain awake in 2010 for Jesus.

1. Set your own, “DO SOMETHING NOW” goals: I still have my flip chart of ministry opportunities from the Do Something Now exhibit held in the GWCC building. In it are twelve amazing ministries that are in need of continual support. Take one of the twelve missions and commit to supporting them this year. How awesome would it be to find that a college group or a church family was challenged to build another ten wells in Guatemala or perhaps fund another 200 business loans for women in Haiti? There are twelve amazing opportunities to serve others.

2. Save $10.00 a week for a year: I’ve never been good at math, but simple math is just that – simple. If each individual committed to saving $10.00 a week for a year (using 22,000 as our number of people), we would raise $11, 440, 000 for Passion 2011.

3. Find a shelter near you and serve: One of the most well known shelters in my area is called Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission in Philadelphia, PA. It is the 3^rdoldest rescue mission in North America. It also happens to be a part of our family ministry. There are many opportunities to serve God and others right outside your front door. Contact your local police station or fire station and ask them for ideas as well. Share your stories/events/opportunities with others on the 268generation facebook fan page for others to read and respond.

4. Share it, live it, and own it: both Andy Stanley’s message and Francis Chan’s have challenged me. We must know who we are before we can be who we think we ultimately are. In order to do that, we must engage in the Word of God and learn to tremble at its words. We must then take that trembling word into the world and share it with others. We must be willing to carry our crosses all the time. We each have one to carry. As we take ownership of our faith, we will begin to see life change within us that others will see as well. Find some accountability – a person you can trust and speak honestly with – and begin a journey of life change that will change the lives of others around you.

5. Just do it: I find so many times we wait for a spiritual pistol to fire before we begin to run the race we are called to run faithfully. The problem is – the pistol has already been shot and the race has been going strong now for about 2,000 years. While some of us are on the sidelines stretching, there are many who are running their fifteenth lap around the track. For some of us, we feel as though we have wasted too much time waiting and believe starting now would be pointless. It isn’t though. Just do it. Do something now. Don’t allow 348 days to pass and wonder where all the time went.

As I conclude my thoughts and ideas, I can only provide one closing thought: We are in the presence of God and He looks at each one of us individually and says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter the joy of my Kingdom.” I so desperately desire to hear Jesus speak those words over me. If I receive no other compliment or praise, I will find complete joy to hear Jesus speak those words. If science is right, the average age of human life is roughly 77.2 years. Some of us will exceed that age while some of us will never see it at all. That’s reality. What matters though is what we do with the years and months, and days, and hours and moments we are given to serve God and serve others. To put it another way: It isn’t the quantity of time that matters most to God – it is the quality of the time we have had. I do not want to go back to Passion 2011 having done nothing during the 358 days of 2010. I hope you don’t either. I can only pray that the Passion and challenge you have been given will continue to grow within each of us; that we will take the message of the Gospel and put feet to it. Let us therefore go out and awaken the world with the love of Jesus Christ because He is so worthy of our praise. Amen.

(original post can be found here)

Summary:

As if buying gifts for family and friends are not tough enough, I was faced with a seemingly strange question proposed by a young girl while waiting in line at Borders. “Momma. What are we going to get Jesus for His birthday this year?” The question of the young girl caught my attention and I eavesdropped on their conversation. The mother’s response was quite unique; it almost floored me. “I don’t know honey. I think Jesus has everything He needs. If you want to make Him a card or something, we can do that.” The little girl was more persistent in her questioning. “But momma. We have everything we need, but we still buy presents. Maybe Jesus would like a present too.” The mother, looking around and smiling nervously as the young girl’s honest perception took the mother off guard. The mother replied, “Honey, we can talk about it later, okay?” The little girl just sighed and said nothing else. They quickly paid for their books and walked out the door, jumped in their car, and drove off.

I usually don’t voice my opinions regarding such things, but I felt the need to respond in some form or fashion. What are you giving Jesus this year for Christmas? How much thought have you put into it? Have you spent the time searching for something He would be glad to receive or have you simply picked something up hoping that He will be grateful? It’s the thought that counts anyway right? Christmas shopping for Jesus doesn’t have to be a pain. It can actually be a rewarding experience. Here are some ideas/suggestions for Jesus this year:

1. Your life: Jesus died so you can live. Giving Jesus your life is the ultimate gift we can give Him for all He has done for us!
2. Your mind: Philippians 4: 8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” This gift is an essential this year. It’s better than that sweater you’ve looked at and considered. When we give our mind to Christ, He blesses us with good things (relationships, opportunities, etc…)
3. Your mouth: Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Have you ever heard the phrase, “Big gifts come in small packages?” It is so true. When we consider the tongue, James says it is a “small rudder” that steers a “big ship.” The ship is unable to go anywhere without the rudder. Our tongue determines a lot about us. It has the power to bless people and curse people. It has the power to make people smile or cry.
4. Your money: I sure you knew we were going to go there. I’d be a miss if I didn’t though. If the little girl’s mother is right – That Jesus has everything He needs (and Psalms 51 tells us that God owns the cattle on a 1,000 hills) – why does God want our money? Simply put: It isn’t our money – it’s His! He wants to see how thankful we are for all He does in and through us; He wants us to give back to His work, His Kingdom, and His mission. How much does God want? Well – that’s different for each of us. The beginning place of giving is ten percent. As God gives more, we should, in return, give more. We can and will never out give God.
5. Your time-management: I don’t think I’ve ever remained friends – close friends – with someone I rarely saw or talked to on a regular basis. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t talk to “all my friends” all the time, but we stay connected through emails, phone calls, coffee shops, movie nights, Applebee’s late night appetizers, and settlers online. If we were really honest with ourselves, and I pray that we are, we give time for our friends. We probably do not give Jesus the time we should. We waste so much time doing pointless activities. Instead of watching the boob tube for another or so, why not give Jesus that time? Spend some time in prayer, reading the WORD or worship. Build your relationship with God, make it daily, and enjoy it. He wants to invest in you – we must be willing to invest in Him. If you don’t believe me, check out Revelation 3:10, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” This statement was given in a letter to believers, not unbelievers! Let’s open the door this year and fellowship with Jesus on a regular, dare I say daily basis.
6. Your job/occupation: You might be asking, “My job? How do I give Jesus my job?” It is a great question with an even better answer. No matter what your job may be, we can give Jesus our job/occupation. I work in a restaurant right now to supplement my income. I work nearly 40 hours a week for a reputable, multi-million dollar, family-owned company. Yet, I’ve decided that I’m not working for them anymore – I’m working for Jesus. My standards of work have been given to Jesus. When people see me in a black polo shirt with the company logo, I want them to see my face – a smiling face – that has the greatest boss known to man. No matter your job, you can give it over to Jesus. Instead of being a car salesman, be a car salesman that works for Jesus. Instead of being a Wal-Mart cashier, be a Wal-Mart cashier that works for Jesus. People will notice. Just because you might not be a pastor or a missionary, it does not mean we are off the hook representing Jesus in our occupations. Give Him a great gift this year: Give Him your job. He’ll bless you and thank you for your willingness to give it over to Him.
7. Your past: For some reason, our past seems to dictate how we will live the rest of our life. It doesn’t have to though. We can give Christ our failures and our successes. He will take it all. He will then show us how to move on, how to forgive those that are hard to forgive, how to recover from the mistakes we have made, how to love those that are hard to love, and how to take something that was intended for evil and show us how He can use it for good. Giving God our past is the most difficult gift many of us find impossible to give. We make such statements like, “He can never forgive me for my past; all the things I have done.” He can – and He will. All we need to do is give Him the mess of our past and allow Him to deal with it. It isn’t easy – believe me. He wants it though. We can be assured that Jesus will accept whatever we give Him. This year, give Jesus your past. Don’t carry it anymore.
8. Your present: What about now? What about right now? It’s 3:35 PM right now (as I am writing this paragraph anyway). Have I given Jesus my present? Have I taken this moment to thank Him for who He is and what He has done in my life? Have I decided to make my present His today? You might think I’m a little OCD about it all and perhaps I am. All I know is that I’m breathing, blinking, and thinking. God has given me way too much to be thankful for right now. Have I made a conscience effort to thank Him for the now moments in my life? Take a moment now and thank Him. It’s a great present He’ll accept immediately.
9. Your future: If giving the past was difficult, the future will be as equally difficult. The reason is because we never really know what the future holds. We can only learn from our past and make choices for the now. The future is uncertain though and that usually worries us. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Though the future might look blurry and unclear, we have the ability to give it over to Jesus who knows the end from the beginning of our lives. Instead of worrying about it all, we can give it to Jesus, who can actually do something with the things that have yet to happen. For me, this would include: My future job in ministry, a wife, and the repayment of school bills that never seem to end. Jesus knows how it’ll all be handled though. It just makes sense to give it over to Him to deal with. I’d rather live an ulcer-free life.
10. All the above – and then some: Just in case I didn’t hit the right present, I left number ten for you to fill in. Search the Bible, and your heart. Jesus will show you His wish list for your life this year. I remember asking for a pair of rollerblades one year – I got a tugboat that floats in the water. Though I was thankful for what I was given, I really wanted a pair of rollerblades. I understand that my parents couldn’t afford to buy them that year. They weren’t cheap. The following year though, for my birthday, I got a sweet pair of rollerblades. I worked around the house to earn some money for them and that made all the difference. I treated them with more respect than I probably would have if I had gotten them the year before. Jesus also has a wish list for us. It’ll take some effort on our end to present Jesus with a suitable gift, but it will make it all the more joyful when we give.

It always amazes me how much we are willing to spend on a loved-one each year for Christmas. The spirit of giving somehow finds a way to break our bank accounts. Somehow Jesus consistently gets missed on our gift list. I hope this year; Jesus will be at the top of our lists. With ten great gift ideas that cost nothing yet costs everything from us, we can give Jesus an awesome gift He’ll be proud of; one that will cause the response, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” It’s always a blessing to give to others. Let’s not forget the most important person on our list this year. Let’s give Jesus a proper gift this year. As we give, let’s give joyfully for all He has done for us. Amen.

(original post found here)

Summary:

This is a video from one of the main speakers of the Passion 2010 conference, Louie Giglio. The reason this video is being posted for you to view is to allow you to hear one of the voices of the passion conference. He is a dynamic speaker and communicator. As you are enjoying this video, please consider joining us for the passion 2010 conference this year. Right now, the conference cost is $179.00. If you are a student, the cost for your travel and stay is $99.00. If you aren’t a student, the cost is $149.00. If you have any questions, please contact pastor Brady at:  brady@kcfonlone.org. If you are at least 26 years old, you can volunteer to help out the conference and that $179.00 registration cost is $0.00. Not a bad deal. We also have scholarships for those that qualify – qualifications for scholarships are made on an individual basis (need/desire to go/etc…) When you sign up, under the “organization” section of your registration, put “Keystone THRIVE” – then let Tim Miekley know that you have signed up. Email him at: tmiekley@kcfonline.org as soon as possible. Spaces are filling fast and we want you to go. Don’t miss out on this amazing experience. See you there!

Summary:

Here’s the 2010 Passion Conference Promotional Video. Check it out!

Sign ups are happening now. $169 for the conference. $60 for a three-night stay in a hotel. We are still working on getting some vans for travel. We are trying to keep it cheap so you all can go. Please sign up ASAP. Remember: Put Keystone THRIVE under the ‘organization’ option. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Brady Rennix or Tim Miekley for more information. God bless!

Summary:

The Parable of the Small fish:

Once upon a time, there was a small goldfish that was put into a small fish bowl. The small goldfish enjoyed living in the small fish bowl until he looked across the room and saw a much bigger goldfish living in a much bigger fish bowl. Puzzled, the small goldfish asked the much bigger goldfish, “How are you so big?” The much bigger goldfish responded, “Don’t you know the bigger your fish bowl, the bigger you grow? You can only grow as big as the space you have been given to live. You are smaller because you live in a smaller fish bowl while I am much bigger because I live in a much bigger fish bowl.” The small goldfish understood the much bigger goldfish’s thinking. And, though he desired to grow much bigger like the much bigger goldfish, he could not because he remained in a small fish bowl his whole life until he died. The End.

Why we wrote this parable:

You know, THRIVE is more like the bigger goldfish that lives in the bigger fish bowl. We are constantly adding to our numbers and have the potential to grow in big ways. It isn’t about being the biggest – it’s about sending the message, equipping people, and loving the mission. Our mission is simple: Build relationships, provide a place of worship and equip twenty-somethings to clearly share the Good News of Jesus Christ on their campuses, in their communities and throughout the world. This is a big goal and we have a solid vision for this to happen. We are asking you to partner with Keystone THRIVE; to commit to coming, bringing people, and most importantly, getting involved. We have so many areas where you can be used. We are asking you to give up participating 2x a month to participate in an area of ministry within our THRIVE community. Every area is important to the vision of THRIVE and we cannot do it alone. We need to be in this together. Many of our areas of ministry are so simple a five-year-old could do it. It just takes time and a willing to serve God and others through your time and talents.

Areas to Serve:

Tech Team:

• (2) People to hit a ‘space bar’ to advance slides for the worship service

• (4) People to help in the sound booth – training will be provided.

(Contact Donna Dunlap if you are interested in serving in this much needed area)

Set-Up Team:

• (3) People to tear down chairs, set up sanctuary for THRIVE (i.e. sweep floors and worship center). This requires showing up early (6:15 PM).

(Contact Aaron Steadman if you are interested in serving in this much needed area)

Coffee Bar:

• (4) People to make coffee, tea, cut up soft pretzels, and clean up afterwards. This is a great opportunity to meet new comers while serving.

(Contact Beth Gabrielle or Nicole Adams if you are interested in serving in this much needed area)

LateNite THRIVE:

• (4) People to offer ideas for the themes of our LateNite gatherings, setting up the youth house, serving food, and cleaning up afterwards. Set-up happens during the last song and clean up starts 10:45 PM. You will be done by 11:00 PM. If you have the gift of hospitality, this is the ministry for you!

(Contact Nicole Adams or Ice Sheaff if you are interested in serving in this much needed area)

Greeters:

• (3) People to be available before THRIVE to meet visitors and welcome others to our worship service. If you are a people-person, this is the ministry for you!

(Contact Nik White or Robin Taubert if you are interested in serving in this much needed area)

Ushers:

• (4) People to help find seats at the beginning of the THRIVE service and take offering at the end of the service.

(Contact Brian Milakeve or Jeff Hirschoff if you are interested in serving in this much needed area)

Prayer Team:

• We are called to be passionate warriors for Christ. For us, prayer sets that tone at THRIVE. If you truly desire to grow in a passionate relationship with God and you care about the spiritual battles of individuals who come every week to THRIVE, we invite you to join us upstairs at 6:45 PM to seek the will of God and prepare our hearts to hear His voice.

(Contact Tim Miekley if you are interested in serving in this much needed area)

Worship Team:

(If you are interested in auditioning for the worship team, please contact Donna Dunlap)

With a vision like THRIVE’s, we cannot rely on only a few people to do the work. We are all called to live as examples by loving God and loving others. If you call THRIVE your home away from home and you love being in a place where God is lifted up and the Word is given, we need you to join those who already serving well in these ministries so that we can multiply for the sake of the Good News of Jesus. Thank you for taking the time to consider these ministry areas. It is our hope that you will partner with us for this great cause.

Grasping the Cross of Jesus,

Tim Miekley and Aaron Steadman.

Summary:

More than simply an event, Passion Twenty Ten is another step in a journey that is all about finding true meaning as we take our places in a story that is so much bigger than ourselves. It’s about trading in small dreams for a role in a grand epic that is shaping history and has no end. And it’s a rare chance for tens of thousands of university-aged young people to gather from across the US and around the world to celebrate their common faith and purpose.

We hope that you will join us for four days in Atlanta, GA January 2-5, 2010. The first payment due is $150.00 and is due September 14^th, 2009. To register, please click on the Passion banner and fill in your information. Under ‘ministry/organization,’ please fill in “Keystone THRIVE.” If you have any questions, please contact the church office or contact Brady Rennix. Time to sign up is short – sign up soon – sign up now!

More information about where we will stay and what you will need for the conference will be provided as soon as we get all the details in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for that information as it becomes available! Thanks.

Summary:

Hey Folks. We have some awesome t-shirts that represent Thrive. They are only $10. We have a variety of sizes (S-XL) and colors (Blue and Black). After Thrive, look for the box with the shirts. Don’t know who to give the money to? Ask around. Someone will be happy to take it for you (just make sure they are the right person(s) to take your money!) We hope to sell out of them soon. Buy one – sport one – give one as a present. We have plenty. Get one today!

If you own a Thrive t-shirt, how about giving a shout-out about it. Personal testimonies is the #1 reason people buy stuff anyway.