Would love to share a wonderful parable from the late Paul Harvey!
"If I were the devil, I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world; I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's effort, instead of God's blessings; I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around; I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue; I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership; I would make it legal to kill unborn babies; I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent machines to make it convenient; I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that the life of animals is valued more than human beings; I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit; I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them; I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the mind of every family member with my agenda; I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation. I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation; I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movie screens, and call it art; I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted; I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agenda as politically correct; I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and the Bible is for the naive; I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional; Hmmm... I guess if I were the devil, I'd leave things pretty much the way they are...... Good day."
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
There's nothing like a Vacation!
We just got back from an entire week of vacating the premises in Sand Springs. And, may I say, I recommend it to everyone! Sure, it cost us some shekels but we made many memories together as a family. However, what I appreciated most was just getting off of the week by week grind that make up most pastor's weeks.
Don't get me wrong. It's not that I mind the "grind" but after a while you begin to wonder if this is all there is. Your brain tells you that it's not but when you face the stresses and strains week by week and the pressure to deliver God's Word effectively each week, I need a break to get recharged.
The recharging happened for me and it was just what the doctor ordered for my psyche and emotions. I'm so proud of our church and our people and what God is up to in all of our lives but it was so good to just separate for a little while so that I could appreciate them more.
I had been out of my pulpit 1 time since last June and it was beginning to get to me. As I was back in the pulpit today, I could tell the difference and a new enthusiasm for fulfilling the call that God has placed upon me.
Hey, all you workaholics out there! Take a break...get out of town and vacate the premises! You'll be glad you did.
Don't get me wrong. It's not that I mind the "grind" but after a while you begin to wonder if this is all there is. Your brain tells you that it's not but when you face the stresses and strains week by week and the pressure to deliver God's Word effectively each week, I need a break to get recharged.
The recharging happened for me and it was just what the doctor ordered for my psyche and emotions. I'm so proud of our church and our people and what God is up to in all of our lives but it was so good to just separate for a little while so that I could appreciate them more.
I had been out of my pulpit 1 time since last June and it was beginning to get to me. As I was back in the pulpit today, I could tell the difference and a new enthusiasm for fulfilling the call that God has placed upon me.
Hey, all you workaholics out there! Take a break...get out of town and vacate the premises! You'll be glad you did.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
American Icons
We lost a great American icon this last weekend that helped shape radio and television as we know it today. One of my favorites, Paul Harvey, went home to be with Jesus at the age of 90 years young in Phoenix, AZ. He was famous for his news and commentary that he delivered with a voice that was so recognizable. Paul Harvey was known for phrases like, “Good day!”; “The rest of the story…”; and “In a moment, news!”
Paul Harvey was born and raised in Tulsa and went on to become one of the most decorated and award winning broadcasters this nation has ever known. It is the close of an era with his passing but one thing stands out to me about Mr. Harvey. He had an incredible faith in God and a great love for his family.
Another person who is an American Icon is Dr. Billy Graham. I’ve been reading a book lately regarding last crusade in New York City in 2005. It has served to be such a blessing and an inspiration to see a man who has preached the gospel for so long continue to keep it simple for simple minded people like me. Dr. Graham should inspire all of us. He has always been so true to the Word of God for more than 60 years of preaching.
Here’s a quote from this great man that has challenged me:
"It is time for the church to use technology to make a statement that in the midst of chaos, emptiness, and despair, there is hope in the person of Jesus Christ.
The destiny of men and nations is always being decided. Every generation is crucial;
every generation is strategic. But we are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one. However, we do have our generation! God will hold us responsible ...for how well we fulfilled our responsibilities and took advantage of opportunities."
Dr. Graham continues to speak to all of our hearts with these words. What is God doing in your life to express hope to the nations and this generation? God is working all around you. Are you aware of it? Are you joining Him in His work? My hope is that you will be a great American icon…not so much for what accolades you have but for the lives that were changed because of a life lived before others that reflected Christ. The Kingdom of God is what is at stake. God invites you to be a part of it! He will hold us responsible.
Hopefully given,
Dr. Kent
Paul Harvey was born and raised in Tulsa and went on to become one of the most decorated and award winning broadcasters this nation has ever known. It is the close of an era with his passing but one thing stands out to me about Mr. Harvey. He had an incredible faith in God and a great love for his family.
Another person who is an American Icon is Dr. Billy Graham. I’ve been reading a book lately regarding last crusade in New York City in 2005. It has served to be such a blessing and an inspiration to see a man who has preached the gospel for so long continue to keep it simple for simple minded people like me. Dr. Graham should inspire all of us. He has always been so true to the Word of God for more than 60 years of preaching.
Here’s a quote from this great man that has challenged me:
"It is time for the church to use technology to make a statement that in the midst of chaos, emptiness, and despair, there is hope in the person of Jesus Christ.
The destiny of men and nations is always being decided. Every generation is crucial;
every generation is strategic. But we are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one. However, we do have our generation! God will hold us responsible ...for how well we fulfilled our responsibilities and took advantage of opportunities."
Dr. Graham continues to speak to all of our hearts with these words. What is God doing in your life to express hope to the nations and this generation? God is working all around you. Are you aware of it? Are you joining Him in His work? My hope is that you will be a great American icon…not so much for what accolades you have but for the lives that were changed because of a life lived before others that reflected Christ. The Kingdom of God is what is at stake. God invites you to be a part of it! He will hold us responsible.
Hopefully given,
Dr. Kent
Friday, February 27, 2009
Billy Graham's Prayer for the Nation
'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics.. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'
Goin' Through the Motions
This past Sunday, I was especially proud of my son, Kevin, who settled things with the Lord regarding his salvation. He wanted to get his baptism after his salvation rather than the other way around. Kevin wanted his church family to know that his faith was authentic. He was tired of “faking it”
As I thought about this moment for our family, I wondered how many of you have made a decision when you were a child. Were you like Kevin, and responded because your friends were doing it? My hope is that your baptism was genuine and that you just didn’t get wet. So many believers never settle this with the Lord and the one thing that holds them back in being all God wants them to be is their pride or a fear of what others might think.
Kevin’s greatest fear was wondering what others would say about him. I reassured him that it really doesn’t matter what people say. What really matters is that you drive down the stake with the Lord and settle it with Him. Maybe it’s the same way with you.
God doesn’t want us to fake our faith. It does more harm to God’s Kingdom work than anything else. Be who you say you are. Proclaim the name of Jesus and someone whom you trust daily with every event and decision you make in your life. Jesus should never be along for the ride…He should be the one driving.
If you try real hard with your faith or you take a swing with this Jesus thing each day, chances are you are faking it. It’s not real and alive in your life. When you live for Jesus, it is different than inviting Him to just bless your life.
I have a new favorite song that is playing on Christian radio right now. The chorus goes:
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,
“What if I had given everything,
Instead of going through the motions?”
Matthew West – “The Motions”
The world is tired of plastic and fake Christianity. They are looking for people who are alive and vibrant living out a faith that matters. Is that you? Are you going through the motions? What would your life be like if it wasn’t?
Transparently,
Dr. Kent
As I thought about this moment for our family, I wondered how many of you have made a decision when you were a child. Were you like Kevin, and responded because your friends were doing it? My hope is that your baptism was genuine and that you just didn’t get wet. So many believers never settle this with the Lord and the one thing that holds them back in being all God wants them to be is their pride or a fear of what others might think.
Kevin’s greatest fear was wondering what others would say about him. I reassured him that it really doesn’t matter what people say. What really matters is that you drive down the stake with the Lord and settle it with Him. Maybe it’s the same way with you.
God doesn’t want us to fake our faith. It does more harm to God’s Kingdom work than anything else. Be who you say you are. Proclaim the name of Jesus and someone whom you trust daily with every event and decision you make in your life. Jesus should never be along for the ride…He should be the one driving.
If you try real hard with your faith or you take a swing with this Jesus thing each day, chances are you are faking it. It’s not real and alive in your life. When you live for Jesus, it is different than inviting Him to just bless your life.
I have a new favorite song that is playing on Christian radio right now. The chorus goes:
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,
“What if I had given everything,
Instead of going through the motions?”
Matthew West – “The Motions”
The world is tired of plastic and fake Christianity. They are looking for people who are alive and vibrant living out a faith that matters. Is that you? Are you going through the motions? What would your life be like if it wasn’t?
Transparently,
Dr. Kent
Monday, October 6, 2008
Our Church is a Trash Dump
I'm just beside myself right now. As I was coming in the church parking lot this morning, I noticed something at the back of our church property. Someone had the audacity to bring a couch and chair and dump it near our drainage area. I was livid. Who do I call about this?? What can we do to report this to the authorities? Better yet, what could they do?
Last spring, we had the same trouble with a builder dumping some of his trash down the ramp but come on. This was ridiculous! In fact, last spring Keith Carpenter went to the trouble to put a chain up with a sign that said "no trespassing" so nothing more would be "dumped" down the ramp. Apparently, that did not stop this offender. So, if you are looking for a semi-leather chair and couch that has been rained on, come to the church parking lot for a great deal!
Now as much as this makes me seethe inside, I stop and wonder how many of us "dump" our junk off at church. You know...stuff we don't want anymore. Now, maybe it's not a chair and couch but other stuff. Stuff like anger and frustrations and anything less than our best. Perhaps it's dumping what's left over from paying all the bills. Whatever the case, if we were really honest, my guess would be that we do a lot of "dumping" at the church ourselves.
Don't get me wrong. If anyone can handle it, our Lord can. In fact, He wants us to lay all of our burdens at His feet because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. However, how many of us have become just a creature of habit not expecting that God could change us and transform us into something we aren't right now? Our attitude can be, "If we don't like something, instead of being like Jesus we can just "dump" on someone." YIKES!!
Anyone lose a chair and couch?
Dr. Kent
Last spring, we had the same trouble with a builder dumping some of his trash down the ramp but come on. This was ridiculous! In fact, last spring Keith Carpenter went to the trouble to put a chain up with a sign that said "no trespassing" so nothing more would be "dumped" down the ramp. Apparently, that did not stop this offender. So, if you are looking for a semi-leather chair and couch that has been rained on, come to the church parking lot for a great deal!
Now as much as this makes me seethe inside, I stop and wonder how many of us "dump" our junk off at church. You know...stuff we don't want anymore. Now, maybe it's not a chair and couch but other stuff. Stuff like anger and frustrations and anything less than our best. Perhaps it's dumping what's left over from paying all the bills. Whatever the case, if we were really honest, my guess would be that we do a lot of "dumping" at the church ourselves.
Don't get me wrong. If anyone can handle it, our Lord can. In fact, He wants us to lay all of our burdens at His feet because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. However, how many of us have become just a creature of habit not expecting that God could change us and transform us into something we aren't right now? Our attitude can be, "If we don't like something, instead of being like Jesus we can just "dump" on someone." YIKES!!
Anyone lose a chair and couch?
Dr. Kent
Thursday, October 2, 2008
I Forgot My Password!
It's really embarrassing to not have updated this page in such a long time but I wanted everyone to know that I forgot my password and I couldn't get in. (Isn't that such a sorry excuse?!) I just didn't take the time to figure out how to get into this thing and reset my password. The truth is I didn't think it was that important.
However, isn't that the way we all are? If we don't think something is important enough in our lives, we just won't do it. In the case of this blog, I'm thinking who cares if I couldn't get in? It only DATES the website! I just never put a priority on it.
So, today, I had had enough...I wanted to get this off my "to do" list and get this bloggin' party started. So, I took the time to reset my password. We'll see how good I will be at keeping up the posts. My hope is that you will help me by responding and making sure that I do.
The point I want to make about all this is that if we aren't intentional about our lives, they will not make a difference in the Kingdom work that we do. Look, it is a conscious decision to update this blog. Likewise, it should be a conscious decision to be a Christ follower led by the Spirit of God today. If you don't think it's important, you won't follow Him.
So, if you have forgotten your password when it comes to living a life that honors the one you serve, go get the stinkin' password. Don't wait around for your life to become dated in living a life for our Saviour. Go get the password and be intentional about updating your life every day for His glory.
Updating,
Dr. Kent
However, isn't that the way we all are? If we don't think something is important enough in our lives, we just won't do it. In the case of this blog, I'm thinking who cares if I couldn't get in? It only DATES the website! I just never put a priority on it.
So, today, I had had enough...I wanted to get this off my "to do" list and get this bloggin' party started. So, I took the time to reset my password. We'll see how good I will be at keeping up the posts. My hope is that you will help me by responding and making sure that I do.
The point I want to make about all this is that if we aren't intentional about our lives, they will not make a difference in the Kingdom work that we do. Look, it is a conscious decision to update this blog. Likewise, it should be a conscious decision to be a Christ follower led by the Spirit of God today. If you don't think it's important, you won't follow Him.
So, if you have forgotten your password when it comes to living a life that honors the one you serve, go get the stinkin' password. Don't wait around for your life to become dated in living a life for our Saviour. Go get the password and be intentional about updating your life every day for His glory.
Updating,
Dr. Kent
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Shook My Head Today
Carmen and I are in Atlanta for a conference together. However, there were some things today that we encountered that I just don't get.
One, we got to the airport an hour before we were to leave and went through the usual "shakedown" to enter the gate area. After putting everything back on our feet, into our bags, and into our pockets, we made our way to the gate only to find that the plane was there but was not going to leave for another half hour! We wondered if we would even make our connection in Dallas. No explanation from the airline...we just had to deal with it.
Two, we get to Dallas and rush to another terminal to make it in time to board our next plane. However, we had a mechanical issue and had to sit in the plane for about another 40 minutes before we could leave the gate. Holy smokes! What I can't figure is why major airlines can't keep their planes on time. I think it's because we just keep flying with them no matter what.
Lastly, on the way to the hotel we passed a sign I just didn't get! The sign at an intersection said: "Spiritual Advisor: Tarot Card Reading". Now, that was just crazy! How can someone who makes a living turning over cards be considered a "spiritual advisor"? I just shook my head and told Carmen that I guess that anyone who calls on the "spirit world" can be called a spiritual advisor now.
I shook my head today at a major airline who couldn't be on time for it's customers and a sign of someone who had no more advice for someone about spiritual things than the man in the moon.
Remember, people are important and many of them are interested in having spiritual conversations!
One, we got to the airport an hour before we were to leave and went through the usual "shakedown" to enter the gate area. After putting everything back on our feet, into our bags, and into our pockets, we made our way to the gate only to find that the plane was there but was not going to leave for another half hour! We wondered if we would even make our connection in Dallas. No explanation from the airline...we just had to deal with it.
Two, we get to Dallas and rush to another terminal to make it in time to board our next plane. However, we had a mechanical issue and had to sit in the plane for about another 40 minutes before we could leave the gate. Holy smokes! What I can't figure is why major airlines can't keep their planes on time. I think it's because we just keep flying with them no matter what.
Lastly, on the way to the hotel we passed a sign I just didn't get! The sign at an intersection said: "Spiritual Advisor: Tarot Card Reading". Now, that was just crazy! How can someone who makes a living turning over cards be considered a "spiritual advisor"? I just shook my head and told Carmen that I guess that anyone who calls on the "spirit world" can be called a spiritual advisor now.
I shook my head today at a major airline who couldn't be on time for it's customers and a sign of someone who had no more advice for someone about spiritual things than the man in the moon.
Remember, people are important and many of them are interested in having spiritual conversations!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Will Rogers and You
One of the most famous Oklahomans that has ever lived was Will Rogers. Will was a Cherokee (I'm sure Gary Bushyhead appreciates that!), actor, and cowboy philosopher who was offered the nomination for the governor of Oklahoma but declined. I loved Will because of his thought provoking quotes. Here are a few:
"The Lord constituted everybody that no matter what color you are, you require the same amount of nourishment."
"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip."
"The trouble with our praying is, we just do it as a means of last resort"
"Lord, let me live until I die."
I hope that we all live in such a way that we treat everyone equally, our words are guarded and our praying is sustained and not last resort. There's a lot of wisdom in Ol' Will's quips!
Dr. Kent
"The Lord constituted everybody that no matter what color you are, you require the same amount of nourishment."
"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip."
"The trouble with our praying is, we just do it as a means of last resort"
"Lord, let me live until I die."
I hope that we all live in such a way that we treat everyone equally, our words are guarded and our praying is sustained and not last resort. There's a lot of wisdom in Ol' Will's quips!
Dr. Kent
Our New Site
Well, it is finally here. Broadway has a new website: http://www.broadwaybaptistchurch.com/
It has taken hard work by our staff and the communications committee but I think you will be pleased by the results. It is still a work in progress and in the coming weeks we will be working hard on adding sermons, videos and many other great features.
We want to serve you so please let us know what we can do to serve you better not only with our Church but within our new website.
It has taken hard work by our staff and the communications committee but I think you will be pleased by the results. It is still a work in progress and in the coming weeks we will be working hard on adding sermons, videos and many other great features.
We want to serve you so please let us know what we can do to serve you better not only with our Church but within our new website.
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