A Top 10!

This probably doesn't qualify as a top ten list.  Maybe it's 10 musings.  But they're all about the journey, the joys, the adventures, and the great people.  And in classic Jason Kennedy style, there are more than 10.  Go figure :-)

1. I almost have a clean desk!  It's my 6th week, starting today.  My desk has undergone several transformations.  Right now, it's almost clean.  But, I have a feeling it's going to go through another phase called the "brain hurricane."  Good luck desk...
   
2. Prayer, prayer, prayer.  Everybody's praying!  I've found myself praying more than I'm taking gulps from my water pitcher.  The staff keep talking about praying about things.  There's a whirlwind surge of prayers coming across the horizons for a Horizons man needing healing.  Jamie couldn't stop praying this last Sunday.  The only way the message came together last Sunday was through some deep knee-aching prayer.  Amen?
   
3. Bibles!  I love the startled look that I still get every once in a while when I say "open up your Bibles."  We're all getting used to this, but it's been a huge foundation for us all.  I see people with heads down getting deep into the word at hand during the service.  I see the pile of Bibles at the information center gradually going down.  People timidly come and ask if it's okay to use iPhones, Droids, or tablets during the service. Are you kidding me?  Go for it!
   
4. Shorts, sandals, t-shirts.  As cool, young, hip, energetic, etc. as I have pulled off looking up to this point, I've never preached in shorts, t-shirts, or sandals at a main service before Horizons without there being some "extra special reason."  It's a blast!  But wait until I put some robes on for fun.  Or not...
   
5. A van full of fun?  I had the chance to drive the second van to Schlitterbaun Water Park in KC this last Thursday.  I'm sure Nicole had that talk with the youth:  "look, you can't all ride in my van.  some of you are going to have to ride with Jason..."  Well, I think it went pretty well.  No one knows what to think of me the first time something blurps out of my mouth.  No one knows quite what is going on the first time I (safely) burst into dance to a Top 40 song on the radio I probably shouldn't know and/or like (being a pastor and all).  Not even my own, poor wife knew what to do with her husband.  "Who are you?"  She asked with a half-smile.  :-)  We talked; it's all good. 
   
6. A hallway full of MOVE.  Word got out that our sermon series was MOVE.  And then, word got loose and exploded all over the DZ and BOB hallways!  There is MOVE all over the walls and floors and ceilings!  I love it--wish we could do that to the entire building, and maybe individual's vehicles.
   
7. Bible studies, digging.  There is no doubt in my mind that Horizons is starving to go deeper.  I don't think anyone cares whether they are a seeker, a doubter, a seat-warmer, distracted youth, or builder.  Nearly every person I've talked to has expressed the need for us to go deeper!  I've started to see small groups and boys groups and other groups start going there. It's a beautiful thing.  My nickname in college used to be "Deep."  I think my friends were annoyed.  But here, it's okay to be me!
   
8. Never-ending button.  The button that showed up on my desk half way through VBS that says "Why yes, I am the Pastor.  Really."  Is now on display on my desk.  It's quite fitting, and continues to be.  Everyone once in a while I still get mistaken for a grandchild, youth, or recent college grad.  No worries.  I love it, and God can use it!  Really.
   
9. Startled faces with names!  For a new guy, there's nothing sweeter than a directory full of names and faces.  Thank you to all you participated in Horizons' last directory.  There's nothing more enjoyable for me than chasing after people I've never met and calling after them by name.  NOBODY knows what to say when that happens!  For the rest of you, keep me guessing.  By God's grace, we'll get it.
   
10. Grace and gumption.  No matter how God is blessing my memory right now with faces and names, I still make a lot of mistakes and have to keep asking again and again.  But GRACE, even in this rather superficial way, is alive!  Thank you all who have gracefully reminded, even though I should know by now.
    
11. Jesus prevails!  The funny thing about the cycles in a Pastor's week is that it never fails:  Monday is sluggish and sporadic, Tuesday is deep and intense, Wednesday is supper energized, Thursday is end of the office-week stroll, and Friday - Saturday begin the days of getting nervous, anxious, and curious about how Sunday is going to go.  But by Sunday afternoon, Sarah and I are reflecting, often in near tears, as we recall how beautiful God is and how much God is moving at Horizons, no matter the anxious doubts and moments of insecurity.  Jesus is walking, step by step, with us.  We just have to see it and TRUST it!
    
12. I forgot.  I had one more that I was going to jot down as I was typing the above list.  But now that I'm finally here, I've forgotten what it was.  Like most things I'd like to remember, I should have written it down.  
    
13. Thank You!  to all of you who are taking the time and effort to care for the Horizons building!!  You're beautiful people!