Pastor Kevin

What do I do when?

Look at CHRISTIANITY a whole new way.

Tonight at Oneighty I'm going to help our students take a totally different look at Christianity.  

We have this view of life that if we want to reach the top in sports, dating, school or money that all we need to do is do the right stuff and step by step we will get where we want to go.  This view trickles into our view of faith as well.  If we want to reach the top with God (go to heaven someday) we need to do the right things, go to church, be a nice person, don't cuss, read the bible and step by step we will climb the religious ladder and be good with God.

However, that is a totally wrong view.  In Luke 18:10-15 Jesus shows us thru the parable of the Religious Leader and the Tax Collector that what you do, all our right motives, and religious deeds you accomplish will never make you "justified" or in right standing with God. Only thru Christ death on the cross will we ever be saved...and right with God.

Going to use a 15' tall ladder as my prop tonight.

Should be a lot of fun and a big eye opener for some of our students.

You can download this message on iTunes at "Oneighty Message Audio"

To much of a good thing is not a good thing.

About a month ago my parents and a few family members came down to spend a few days with us at our home.  It was a ton of fun, we stayed up late every night talking and playing cards, we loved it.  My Uncle makes killer egg rolls, so one night we decided to have him make them for dinner.  There was only 10 of us total and Uncle Jim made 75 egg rolls, a monster bowl of fried rice, and a huge pot of egg drop soup.  

We ate and ate and ate and ate some more.  It was all good, but it was a little to much.  By the time it was over I had had my fill of egg rolls to such the extent that even the sight of chinese food or egg rolls, make me a little queasy. I have no interest in having them....at all.

Sometimes we can have to much of a good thing.  This is true not only with food but also in youth ministry.  Think about it for a minutes, your worship might be good but do you really need to sing the same song 8 times in a row.  Your message might be really good but do you really need dive into all 15 points of faith in the same night.  Dodgeball may be a lot of fun and a really good game for the students, but do you have to play it every single week?  I don't think so.

Pace yourself.  Leave them wanting more and who knows they just might come back next week.

God is Back - how the global revival of faith is changing the world

Was listening to a podcast from Mathew Chandler of The Village Church in Dallas the other day and he was talking about the book "God is Back".  The premise of the book is that Europe, China and other "secular" nations are very quickly becoming Christian at the 20 something and worker levels of their communities.  Sounds very interesting to me, so I decided to grab it and make it my reading for the month. 

All in all I guess it's good to know that God is back.....but I didn't know that he had really went anywhere.  

"Service" is giving people what they need.

On a recent flight to go speak at a youth leadership conference, I was asked by the stewardess, if I was thirsty and if I would like anything to drink.  I said yes, I would like some orange juice (orange juice is my new drink of choice since I have stopped drinking pop).  

To my surprise she handed me a tiny little cup, with hardly enough liquid in it to even be called an actual drink.  To tell you the truth I wasn't really shocked because my entire experience from the ticketing agent, the workers in the terminal, to now the tiny little orange juice packet was actually very bad.  

When I arrived at the airlines terminal, I needed directions and no one was there to help me.  This one lady had a question about her flight and it was obvious that the assistant at the desk was way to busy to answer her questions, the airplane was not cleaned very well between flights and now when I say I'd like an orange juice I'm given less liquid than I would give my 2 year old daughter when she asks for her sippy cup.  I guess this particular airline is so big that they no longer need to worry about offering good service. They are so big, they no longer need to strive to give people what they need, when they need it.

As I took my one sip of orange juice I started to think about Oneighty.  We are a very large ministry. Like this airline we have a lot of people come thru our doors each week.  But, what is our "service" to each student like?  From the parking attendants, outdoor host team, registration desk, pre-service seating, to the worship set and evenings message...are we offering good service...are we giving teenagers what they need...when they need it?

Are we giving kids a smile, a hug, a clear message of Christ, a person to pray with?  To be honest I think we are, but on the other hand I'm sure the "higher ups" in this airline company think they are giving good service to their customers as well.  

The only way to find out is to get involved.  So since getting back from this speaking trip, myself and my staff have really started taking a good long look at our systems, programs, and staff to make sure each and every student that comes to Oneighty is getting what they need. 

Tour of Oneighty Junior High

Oneighty Junior High from kevin moore on Vimeo.

Life is short - get to it.

Today there is a funeral taking place at Oneighty.  A gentleman from our church passed away.  

As I sit in my office and watch our amazing pastors talk with and pray with the family I am reminded of how short life really is. You are born - you live - and then you go onto eternity. It all goes by way to quickly.  

There are so many things I want to do with the time I have on this planet and I'm sure you are the same way.  With all the things I want to do, enjoy and accomplish during my years here on earth, this funeral has reminded me that life is short...I better get to it.

Talking about SEX at Oneighty.

Wednesday night I am going to be talking about SEX at Oneighty.

This is always a very interesting topic to discuss with teenagers because sex is something they are all very interested but aren't suppose to have.  And for those who are having sex, I have to try and talk them into stopping something they enjoy doing....not the easiest topic to delve into that is for sure.

Here is how I'm hitting the sex talk this week.

Sex is viewed by people in three different ways.  To some it is GOD to others it is GROSS and to a select few it is considered a GIFT.  

First sex can be a GOD.  Through their thoughts, addictions and actions many people daily and weekly bow to the golden god of SEX. (I am going to have a 9 foot tall golden statue that says SEX on stage - this should get their attention).

Second sex can be GROSS. To many teenagers that have been abused the thought of physical touch and becoming intimate with someone is a very harmful and disgusting thing.  To other students that have been taught by parents that sexual intimacy is a dirty thing that should never be thought of or openly discussed ...sex is also considered gross.

Third sex is a GIFT. The correct way to view sex is how God views it.  Sex is a gift.  It is for pleasure, comfort and reproduction.  This is a very holy and sacred thing that God himself thought up.  Because of that sex outside of the marriage relationship can very quickly become gross and worshipped as a god.

This message is going to be very illustrated.  For GOD - I will have a 9 foot golden god of sex on stage. For GROSS - I will call a student up on the platform and pour chocolate all over them.  And for GIFT - I will have a giant box wrapped up with a bow on top.  

I'm really looking forward to giving this message to the students.  I think it is something they need to hear.  My prayer is that we will keep those who have not started down the road of sex, sexually pure.  And possibly talk some of those that have the wrong view of sex into putting the physical stuff on hold until they get married.

I'll have some photos for you in my next blog.

Eight Marks of a great Leader

1) Unwavering Courage.

A great leader understands who he is in Christ, because of this he never lacks courage to act.

2) Self Control.

One cannot expect to control others, if he/she is not able to control themselves.

3) Planning Ahead.

No one will follow a person if they do not know where they are going.  A great leader takes time to set a course for the future.

4) Doing more than expected.

A leader in any field sets the bar for excellence.  The leader in any office, ministry or business sets the bar for what he/she expects the people around them to do.  If a leader expects their employees / volunteers to excel…then they should show them how.

5) People Personality.

A leaders greatest asset is not money, facilities, or programs.  His greatest asset is people.  A great leader knows how to communicate, with respect, enthusiasm and love for people.

6) Compass Communications.

A great leader communicates well to the people above them, beside them as well as under them.  He / She knows that without others, they will never fulfill their life’s purpose.

7) Attention to Details.

Successful leaders do not let the details of any operation go unnoticed.

8) Willingness to Assume Responsibility

The successful leader must be willing to accept responsibility not only for his own mistakes and shortcomings, but also for those of the people under him.

Three Key Ingredients in Marketing.

A successful marketing campaign must have these three essential ingredients.

1) Excitement - is whatever your going exiting?

2)  News - what story do you have to tell?

3) A compelling call to action - what role can your students and workers play?

Just some food for thought for the next program, event or ministry you want people to find out about.