Rest is good

Rest is a good thing. My wife and I enjoyed each others company on Columbus day last week. I tend to be a person that has to get up and go. I have to accomplish something. I have to be productive. I made up my mind to take time to breathe in the day. I didn't do work. I didn't even engage in making music. After our daughter went to school we hung out and went from place to place and even had time for a nice sit down lunch at a local restaurant. I went back to work the next day ready to engage because I had been refreshed. I engaged in ministry with new found energy. I accomplished everything that needed to be accomplished outside of my home because I focused on being in the moment with my wife while I was inside of our home. Thank you Lord for rest.

Just What I Needed!

Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. – 2 Peter 1:3

I have recently gotten back into the work out process thanks to the guidance of a wonderful friend. I have been faithfully working out chest, arms, back, and shoulders during the week before going to work and feeling great! As I prepared for “shoulders-day” I felt a severe pain in my lower back and my upper leg. The pain became more pronounced with every stretch.

After completing my first exercise I felt the pain decrease significantly. By the completion of the second exercise the pain was completely gone. I felt better than I had felt after my most successful chiropractic care visits. I was amazed! It was just what I needed.

God gives us everything we need to live the life that he has called us to live. Our Bible, prayer, family, skills, employment, dreams & visions, and even our work out routines play a part. Open your eyes and take advantage of the plans that God has for you and you may just find yourself in love with life.

In Christ,

Elder Kenan

Thank you. Come again.

For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God. - 1 Thessalonians 1:9

Paul commended the Thessalonians for the warm reception they provided to him. He explained that the reception had been noted by those in the surrounding area. The news had spread in such a way that Paul had no need to tell others about it, because they already knew.

Reception travels. The way we receive a teacher, an Elder, a saint, a colleague, a child, anyone, leaves an imprint with that person and the news travels. My friend came into town for a brief visit and left an indelible imprint on those he encountered. He spoke of the things of the Lord, he embraced new friends and family with a welcoming spirit, and news traveled quickly. Those who encountered my friend made mention of their desire for him to stay, to come back, and the inspiration that his short visit spurred on. Receive others with warmth, love, and sincerity and watch the Kingdom of God be advanced.

In Christ,

Elder Kenan

"HE DON'T EAT NO MEAT?!!"

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

I distributed a plethora of junk food at work this morning because I recently adjusted my diet to maximize my energy and effectiveness in daily tasks. I was amazed to experience the positive physical changes that occured over just a few days of eating only fruits and vegetables. While I have not sworn off meat, I no longer desire it as the main staple of my meals and snack foods no longer appeal to me.

I became accountable for maintaining this new lifestyle at work by sharing my rationale for giving the food away. I will now be considered crazy if I come in to the office devouring a hoagie! The body of believers holds the Christian accountable in much the same way. Sharing our victories, new found commitments to Christ, and lifestyle changes will ensure the "crazy eye" from individuals when we behave contrary to what we have shared. Acountability promotes success!

Be verbal, be accountable, be successful. God bless you.


In Christ,

Elder Kenan

Smoking for breakfast

As I walked toward my office building this morning I spied two professional women in the adjacent alley smoking cigarettes while holding a conversation. While I have seen this before, it stuck out to me today. These women were smoking for breakfast. The drive to start ones day off with a smoke must be a powerful one.

The drive to read the Bible each morning has become very powerful for me and I highly recommend it to everyone. As a younger married man, I would tell my wife that reading the Bible set the tone for my day. If I didn’t get an opportunity to do so, I may not function in my best capacity. My understanding wife has helped to ensure that I have time to read and pray each morning prior to any noise being made around the house by the sounds of morning preparation.

I may be a Bible addict because I need the Word of God to start me on my day. Consider sharing this addiction and having a regular intake of the Bible each morning.

In Christ,

Elder Kenan

Can you hear God?

Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

This past Saturday brought the first dry day of the week and gave me the opportunity to mow the lawn at my home. I finished working on some music that I had promised to a friend. I still had one more song to complete for another young man but it was time to cut the grass. As I prepared to go outside, I had a desire to sit back down (for just a couple of minutes) to work a on track 2 for a little while longer. I suddenly felt as though I should go outside immediately without sitting back down. I listened to this internal voice and I went outside and began mowing the lawn. I completed the task just before the floodgates of Heaven opened up and rain rushed down. My task was complete! A couple of minutes would have been the difference between completing the task and being completely soaked! Good thing I listened...

God desires to speak to his children in large and small areas. Things that may seem insignificant are often our opportunities to show God that we can be trusted to follow His lead. Take advantage of the still soft voice that urges you on. Follow His direction in the small things and you just may be exicted with the large things He begins to trust you with.

In Christ,
Elder Kenan

Tony Toni Tone' has done it again...

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not recieve? And if you did recieve it, why do you boast as if you had not recieved it?

"I couldn't keep it to myself" was the refrain of a popular song in the 90's by R&B group Tony Toni Tone. In the Kingdom of God we are to be like Tony Toni Tone with the skills and areas of expertise afforded to us by God.

As a teenager I had the opportunity to speak with the owner of his own recording studio. When he asked me what my goals were, I told him that I wanted to make good music my friends could listen to. Nothing came of that interaction because the owner quickly dismissed my naivety in thinking that music could be made without the desire for status or monetary gain.

I have had several opportunities since that interaction to experience and grow musically because talented individuals freely gave me that which was theirs. As an adult, I am now enthusiastic about the opportunity to give away that which I recieved.

Has God given you an ability that could bring worldly gain to you? Are you willing to freely give it away as you have freely recieved? I challenge you to give your ability to others who can benefit from it. If you "cant keep it to yourself" you may just be given something much greater.

In Christ,
Elder Kenan Bishop

"F-R-E-S-H... Fresh, fresh, fresh, that's fresh"

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.

Have you ever felt like a weight has been lifted? When we repent to God, He removes the weight of guilt, and the feeling of heaviness that we carry around. Conviction is not guilt. While conviction leads us to God & calls us to look within ourselves to make heart adjustments, guilt leads us toward stagnation and ineffectiveness.

After recently acknowledging the need for a heart change, I took my heavy heartedness to God. I journaled my feelings and my desire to reconnect with God in that special way that lifts me above my own ability to think and do things. After journaling, I opened my Bible and picked up reading where I had last left off. Within the text, I read a verse that helped me to cleary see the root cause of my shortcoming in the way that God saw it. I earnestly repented for my misgiving and I felt lighter.

I have had this experience of restoration before but it has never become common. This feeling of "new mercies" is inspiring.

Be empowered by repentance, understanding that Christ who lives within you will refresh you rather than allowing yourself to be bound up by guilt.

What's in your house?

2 Timothy 2:21 shows us that large houses have objects within their walls that are for both noble and ignoble purposes. Paul uses this imagery to call believers to rid themselves of objects that exist within themselves that serve negative purposes. When a believer is able to get rid of the negative items within them, they become objects for noble purposes who are useful to the Master and who are prepared to do every good work.

As a college student I hid the insecurities that existed within me by becoming a "big man on campus." As a leader within student government and a musical artist, I had several opportunities to be in the lime light. I was also popular among students of the opposite sex. Although popular, I did not engage in immoral relationships.

I eventually gave away my priveleged status after I was forced to realize that I was not the relational prize that I had grown to believe I was. As the recipient of a silent-dump, I got back in touch with the insecurities that I had felt as a child. I fought a feeling of rejection with anger, blame, and silence.

As a believer, I have learned to give my insecurities to the Lord my God. This object of insecurity that existed in my "large house" for ignoble purposes kept me from giving my all to the Kingdom of God. I appreciate the feeling of effectiveness that comes from being useful to the master. I encourage you to look into your own "large house" and work a plan to rid yourself of those objects that exist for ignoble purposes.

In Christ,
Elder Kenan