I am melting!

February 5, 2009

Yes. It is my goal for the people around me to see me melt in 2009!Over the last year I have broken my left foot twice, yes twice, and my right foot once. Due to these wonderful occurrences I began to wonder if my weight had anything to do with it, and I had let it go way to long. I began to make plans for a healthier 2009, and decided to begin as soon as I got back from my vacation to Texas.

While in Texas on vacation, I got up each morning between 5:30 and 6 AM and went to a local coffee shop to read and pray. That is when God began to speak to me about my weight and eating habits. One morning God took me to I Corinthians 6:12. With this verse, Father really took me to the woodshed for some discipline.

If your not familiar with it, here is what I Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

You see God began to speak to me that by His command all foods were lawful, but not all were helpful. SLAM!

Through a little discipline God was basically explaining to me during my prayer time that it was okay for me to eat fried foods, fast food, queso, and all the things I loved, but none of them were helpful. In my battle with my weight the last year or two I have lost some weight and then gained back after maintaining for a while.

God continued to speak to me about my drive to see people bring discipline to their lives, and get things in order in their finances, marriages, and lives.  In all my great Godly counsel and wisdom for their situations, I failed to apply it to my life in the area of food.

In the passage above from Corinthians it states that all things are lawful, but not all things are helpful.  Paul then states that he will not be brought under the power of any. To be honest with you, food had power over me! It honestly was an area of sin in my life that I allowed to get out of order. If I was stressed out or worried about something, then food was my quick release. If I was bored, yep…food was something to do with my time.

On that chilly, windy Texas morning, God released me from the addiction of food. The food had power over me in many ways.

Is there anything in your life that is lawful, but not helpful?
Are you under the power of anything that you should not be under?

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Posted by kevinjbradford

Lessons from a Brazilian Streakhouse

January 23, 2009

A couple of weeks ago Ashlee and I were in San Antonio, Texas visiting some great friends of ours. We had a wonderful time, but one of the experiences we enjoyed was going to the Brazilian Steakhouse.

When arriving at the Brazilian Steakhouse (Chama Gaucha) we realized quickly everyone except Pastor Brandon was way under dressed. We were quickly shuffled in to a nice waiting area with a end-tables and chairs. Moments later we were informed our table had been prepared for us.

Our table was arranged for 12 people (9 of us) with water glasses, utensils, fancy napkins, and candles. The server came and explained the concept and salad bar to us. The salad bar was an experience in itself with smoked peppers, portabello mushrooms, different lettuces, cheeses, and meats. After a few moments of eating our salad the red&green cards on our table were explained to us.

When you turned the card from red (stop) to the green (service) the Gaucha’s (brazilian cowboy waiters)  pounced quickly on you with one of 14 different selections of meat from lamb, beef, chicken and pork. As long as your card was on green there was a continuous flow of meat from various waiters. It was like they roamed the room with meat on these skewers just waiting to provide pursue you with service. It was almost like they were relentlessly pursuing you. One time I left my card on green and turned to speak with Ashlee for a moment and turned back around to find that 2 different waiters had dropped of meats while my head was turned.

About halfway through our meal Brandon made a statement that I have focused on several times since that meal. He said “this brings a whole new light to the Lord preparing a table before me in the presence of our enemy.” We kind of laughed about it that night, but I agreed.

In the last two weeks during my prayer time this has come to me several times, and God has really used it to minister to me along with some other things spoken and discussed during that trip to San Antonio.

The enemy in many ways tried to deceive, trick, and force Pastor Brandon and myself from ministry. I know Brandon went through rough times over the last few years, and is now planting a life giving Kingdom-minded church in San Antonio. When I moved from Texas to Wisconsin I went through a two (2) year wilderness experience where I felt like I was cut off from a lot, but God it used to shape and mold me. The enemy was working hard at ending my pursuit of ministry.

Based on discussions we had in San Antonio and me seeking God over the last two weeks, I have come to the following revelation in my spirit.

The Lord is preparing a table before me at the feet of my enemies. That night in San Antonio was a picture of God’s grace. For all the hardship and struggle in Brandon’s and my life (ministries) we were now sitting at a wonderful feast in a beautiful atmosphere enjoying the company of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Brandon and Holli are doing great in San Antonio with a beautiful house, healthy kids, joyful lives. In the same way Ashlee and I are enjoying our beautiful house, loving kiddos, and experiencing the joy of advancing His Kingdom.

I believe the reason that Brandon/Holli and Ashlee/I are experiencing this is because of all the years where we were willing to do what no one else was willing to do. We laid our lives down for the Kingdom.  Matthew 16:25 states ” whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

For years we have been laying down our lives and relentlessly pursuing the Kingdom of God. In those years we were losing our lives, and now both of us (Brandon/Holli & Ashlee/I) are finding it. Please do not get me wrong. I am still relentlessly pursuing God’s blessings, His presence, and His Kingdom. The difference is that I am understanding His Kingdom a little better than I did, and He is pouring out His blessings on us in amazing ways, because of the years we poured out our lives to see His Kingdom advance.

Is there something that God is asking you to sacrifice that no-one else around you is wiling to do?

Do you feel like you are doing all of the pursuing? (like a one sided relationship)

Share with me some of your thoughts!

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Posted by kevinjbradford

Tuesday Night Reflections

January 21, 2009

What an exciting week the last seven days have been.

  • Ashlee and I went out on a date Friday Night. It was a lot of fun. We went to the Texas Roadhouse for steak, and then over to Family Christian to order the 2 books release by Alan Vincent.
  • Saturday was crazy. I met Pastor Landon for coffee at 8:00, attended 2 birthday parties in the afternoon, dealt with 3 phone calls after the parties, and then went to Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) to watch the UFC.
  • Sunday truly was awesome! I obeyed God and invited several people to our Vision Sunday Service. Even though I did not preach and I laid out the vision for 2009 and long term vision for Overflow, people were touched. (That never gets old)
  • Then both teams I was rooting for on Sunday won! I am so excited to see my Steelers in the big show once again!
  • God has been challenging me the week in several ways. One way is in my eating. (check back later this week for a blog on food and health)
  • The Wii Fit has been dealing me some exhausting workouts. Who knew a video game could make me loose 2 lbs in 4 days.
  • In Matthew 18:19-21 Jesus tells us that if two people agree to anything on Earth that it will be done for them by God. How awesome is that? (I do believe it  must still line up with Scripture)
  • God has been challenging me to understand this reality in a new way. In Alan Vincent’s new book Heaven on Earth he states that two people can change a city, 20 can change a region.
  • Can you imagine that the Kingdom of God is powerful that just two believers coming to a Kingdom-Minded Faith that says just two people can change Appleton, Wisconsin (Insert Your City)?
  • I am excited about our 2009 Life Groups kicking off tomorrow.
  • In the next few days I will be blogging about Dora, food, Social Clubs, and San Antonio’s Brazilian Steakhouse so check back often for some of these interesting topics.

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Posted by kevinjbradford

Vision Sunday January 18th

January 16, 2009

I am so excited about this coming Sunday’s Vision Sunday. I have been away from blogging this week, so I could spend extra time preparing and seeking God for this service.

I finished up last night. I will still go over it I am sure before Sunday, but I am done!

Invite

I wanted to invite everyone in the Appleton area to come to this Sunday’s Vision Sunday Service at 10 AM. We will be having a discussion time concerning our 2009 Vision and Strategy at our Life Group on Wednesday January 21st at 6:30 PM. The vision Sunday is designed to communicate what we are developing for 2009 here at Overflow Church. We have spent many hours in prayer and begging God for wisdom for this up coming year.

We will kick our year off with a winter/spring semester called Renovate. The definition of renovate is to make new again, to restore to freshness, to give new life to, to rejuvenate, to reinvigorate, and recreate. I personally believe that renovation is what many people need in their life to feel refreshed and full of joy.

Most people I meet are searching for happiness, but that fluctuates so much based on what is happening. I believe most of them are actually searching for an overriding JOY that comes from a relationship with Jesus.

During our Renovation Semester it is my prayer that people begin to tap into the JOY of a deeper or new relationship with Jesus Christ.

I believe Romans 8:28 when it says that all things work together for good to those who love God. In these struggling times of our country God is still relentlessly pursuing you! I hope to help you pursue Him in 2009

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Posted by kevinjbradford

Tuesday Night Reflections!

January 14, 2009

I am very thankful to be back in Appleton after 12 wonderful days in Texas.

  • I am so excited that my Steelers are in the AFC championship game this weekend!
  • I really enjoyed my time in Texas with my family. It was a wonderful time to reconnect with my brother and sister-in-law.  My sister was off the entire time, which was great.
  • God’s favor was on our travels. We did not see any rain or snow the entire drive down, and only for about 50 miles on the drive home.
  • I had some amazing times in the word while we were in Texas. I will share some of the things in the coming days and weeks. God is so good! I was up at 5:30 to 6:00 each morning and ran out to a different coffee shop each morning with the IPOD to do some reading.
  • I honestly thought I would spend at least an hour a day working on some church stuff, but the time in the Word and prayer was so powerful, I never actually got to work on anything.
  • We ended our trip with a quick 4 1/2 hour drive south (yes the wrong direction) to San Antonio. It was wonderful reconnecting with my pastor. It had been 3 years since I had seen him. I talk with him regularly, but had not hung out in a while.
  • We had dinner at an amazing place, the Brazilian Steakhouse. (I will post about it soon)
  • After dinner Thursday Night I found out that I had an opportunity to speak at the Believer’s Academy on Friday morning. I discussed the Post Modern and Secular Humanism word views that most of our culture has embraced with a passion. I discussed the differences between the Texas culture and Wisconsin Culture.
  • I went into detail about intellectualism and atheistic viewpoints that state that Christianity is a man-made agenda. I also was able to discuss the difficulties in church planting, and the things I have found surprising a long the way. It was a great experience. I got to speak in a Sophomore and Senior class.
  • My wife had an amazing opportunity to speak at the Women’s ministry meeting for All Nations Church on Friday Night.  It was a last minute opportunity, because their speaker fell through, and we just happen to be in town.
  • The reports I got were that my wife spoke a word that touched many of the women in the meeting. I am so proud of her.
  • Several people have asked me what I have been reading, studying, preparing lately. To be honest, I have spent the majority of my time the last 2 weeks preparing for our Vision Sunday Service this Sunday. (See Invite on yesterday’s blog entry)
  • I am so excited about what is going to do here in the Fox Valley and here at Overflow. 2009 is going to be a year of extraordinary fun and fruit.

Nothing too deep tonight, sorry. In the coming days I will blog about the Brazilian Steakhouse, Social Clubs, and the things God has been speaking to me about during my preparations for 2009.

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Posted by kevinjbradford

I am so excited for Vision Sunday!

January 13, 2009

I wanted to invite everyone in the Appleton area to come to this Sunday’s Vision Sunday Service at 10 AM. We will be having a discussion time concerning our 2009 Vision and Strategy at our Life Group on Wednesday January 21st at 6:30 PM. The vision Sunday is designed to communicate what we are developing for 2009 here at Overflow Church. We have spent many hours in prayer and begging God for wisdom for this up coming year.

We will kick our year off with a winter/spring semester called Renovate. The definition of renovate is to make new again, to restore to freshness, to give new life to, to rejuvenate, to reinvigorate, and recreate. I personally believe that renovation is what many people need in their life to feel refreshed and full of joy.

Most people I meet are searching for happiness, but that fluctuates so much based on what is happening. I believe most of them are actually searching for an overriding JOY that comes from a relationship with Jesus.

During our Renovation Semester it is my prayer that people begin to tap into the JOY of a deeper or new relationship with Jesus Christ.

I believe Romans 8:28 when it says that all things work together for good to those who love God. In these struggling times of our country God is still relentlessly pursuing you! I hope to help you pursue Him in 2009.

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Posted by kevinjbradford