Men's Breakfast

I want to fill you men in on a great event. KFA'S Men's breakfast is this Saturday morning @ 8am. 

We will have a great breakfast served up by Chef Ruben. This will also be an opportunity for you to hear about the exciting things in store for you this year.

Our guest speaker will be Jason Hirsch. Jason is the lead Pastor @Northridge Church in Marshfield, Wi.

He was also an Assoicate Pastor here at KFA. He was the catalyst that started Ironmen Ministries back in 2000. Jason has a gift and a passion for developing men into the leaders they were called to be. 

I encourage you to come on out and bring a friend. It will be a worthwhile morning.

Till next time...

Grandma Rene Reassurance

I share this story with permission from my wife Terri.

Terri was able to visit with Grandma a couple weeks ago. She had fallen and was in the hospital. It was obvious that she was reflecting on her life. She talked about the good times and she talked about some regrets. I believe she was working thru these things to come to peace with them.

Here is what Terri and I find so exciting. Grandma Rene started telling Terri about her experience with Jesus. She saw Jesus in her room and Jesus spoke to her saying "I am coming back for you in a little while".

Jesus came as promised a couple weeks later. We could not ask for better assurance of where Grandma Rene is today. With Jesus in heaven!

It seems to me that Jesus has made this promise before. To all of us. Are you ready? Am I ready?

Jesus keeps his promises.

Till next time...

Grandma Rene

Grandma Rene went home to be with the Lord last week Monday. She was 97.

Rene was Terri's Grandmother. Many years ago Rene accepted me right into the family. She always made me feel welcome and a part of the family.

So many memories. She loved to talk baseball. She was a Brewers fan and I was a White Sox fan. That created some lively debates. We agreed on one thing in baseball. Neither one of us were Reggie Jackson fans. She would always say "he makes me so mad I could just spit"

She came to visit and help when each of our children were born. What a huge blessing that was.

She taught us how to can, make salsa, and the like. We had a mulberry tree in our front yard. I could not stand the mess it made in the yard. One day I came home to some homemade mulberry jam. I liked that tree after that.

I had heard that she was very good at the polka. I was blessed to watch her dance at the nursing home a few years ago. Still as smooth and graceful as ever.

She loved the marble game aggravation. She always had to have the white marbles and had a unique ability to roll box cars. She would play that game for hours. Of course so did we and we loved it.

We would always stop by the nursing home to see her on our way out of town. I really missed making that stop this time.

We are going to miss you Grandma but someday soon we will see you again. Wonder what it will be like to play marbles in heaven? Can't wait!

Till next time...

Day 90

On May 1st a number of men from KFA embarked on a challenge to read the Bible in 90 days. Today is day 90. I have read the Bible in 90 days.... Thank You men for the support and encouragement. It was an honor to go on this journey with you. I would love to hear from you regarding your experiences.

So, what did I learn?

I learned that God is faithful! OK, I had head knowledge of his faithfullness. After reading example after example of God's faithfullness I believe that understanding has moved into my heart.

I have so many thoughts running through my head right now that I can't figure out what to write. Totally lost right now. Who knows, maybe they will come out in future blogs. There is so much that I have read and learned.  

Here is what really excites me now. I know that God's word does not return void. What is God doing in my heart right now that I cannot see or feel? What is God doing that I don't know about yet? The knowledge is great but I am looking for heart transformation. And since our Gois faithfull I am sure he will oblige.

By God's grace I was able to conquer this challenge. I think most men love to beat a good challenge.

So what is next?

• Jump out of a perfectly good airplane?
• Climb Mount Kilamanjaro?
• P90X?
• Run a marathon?

Till next time...

Doubting Thomas

When I think of Thomas (Didymus) I recall him doubting the resurrection of Jesus. Then I read John 11:16.

Jesus had received word that Lazarus was sick. Yet Jesus waited  2 days before he said to the disciples, "let us go back to Judea" verse 7.

 Now Judea was the place where they wanted him dead so this was a huge risk to Jesus and his disciples. After a bit of discussion Thomas speaks up in verse 16. Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, Let us also go, so that we may die with him. 

Even faced with death he remained loyal to Jesus. Even though he did not fully understand he remained loyal to Jesus. 

Here Thomas is loyal to Jesus but later he doubts. How often do I go back and forth between loyalty, obedience and then doubt or not understanding. How about you? 

Till next time...  

#B90X Day 74

To all of you KFA men who took the #B90X challenge I applaud you! This has been an exciting and revealing journey so far. We are coming down the home stretch with only 16 days left.

I encourage you to finish strong. If you are behind, that is OK. But finish, no matter whether it is 90 days or 120.

I have been blessed beyond measure by this challenge. By meeting with you men on Sunday mornings and discussing what we have read. You have helped me understand things I did not get. You have brought to my attention things that I missed. I Thank all of you for that.

I really believe that this challenge will be a springboard to furthur Bible study for many men including myself.

So again, I encourage you to finish strong.

Till next time...  

Hosea

² When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

Obedience can be difficult. Could you or would you marry a women who was an adulteress or you knew in advance she would be unfaithful?  

How about the comparison of an adulteress woman and the people's unfaithfullness to the Lord. Do you think our land is any different today? Does this comparison still apply?

3 The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes. ”

² So I bought her for fifteen shekels^[a] of silver and about a homer and a lethek^[b] of barley. ³ Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.”

OK God! You want me to what? Buy her back from the man she is fooling around with? And I am supposed to love her? Are you serious? OK, I don't get it but OK.

Back to the comparison, Love her as the Lord loves the Iraelites! Even though they turn to other Gods.

This speaks volumes to me. First of all I am guilty! I am guilty of sin, of allowing other idols into my life. But the Lord loves me (you) in spite of that. He loves me (you) so much he wants me (you) to turn back to him. It does not mean there will not be consequences for my (your) sin. What more can I ask for than to have a God (the Alpha and Omega, the one true God) who loves me and wants to have relationship with me.

What do you think?

Till next time...