Kevin Beers’ Blog

Things Are Not Always As They Seem!  
Check out this video from Stargate Studios and how they 
use a Green Screen affect.

This reminds me of a passage of scripture that says, 
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it 
leads to death." - Proverbs 16:25.

Don't be fooled by the schemes of the world.  

Know the Truth (Jesus) and the Truth (Jesus) will set you Free.

For the last 2 years, I have had the privilege to serve on a team of directors dreaming, planning and executing the latest Northeast Area Wesleyan Youth Convention.  It was an honor to be chosen to be apart of the team that lead this powerful three day event in Baltimore called LoveMercy.  In a recent post, I mentioned how I personally was called into the ministry through an event just like this in Cincinnati almost 20 years ago.  The event was a smashing success as many students and leaders met God and were challenged & encouraged to live our their faith as mentioned in Micah 6:8.

“To do Justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.” – Micah 6:8

Here is a recap video that we quickly produced during the convention that we showed during the last rally at LoveMercy09 Baltimore.

Ever ask yourself and God, “Why” or “How”?  For example, WHY do bad things have to happen to good people?  Or, HOW are we ever going to see the promise of ‘Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven’?  These questions often are the very things that cause people to turn there back on God.  But, what if…  What IF God is still in control of everything and all that we see and know and question is really a part of The BIGGER, MORE PERFECT PICTURE and PLAN than we can see in our human mental capacity?  What if… This is the plan?  And more specifically, YOU and I are the plan that He has and will continue to use to see HIS PERFECT WILL BE DONE.

Wanna see what I’m talking about illustrated?  Here is an incredible video we showed at Love Mercy Baltimore a week ago.  Check it out…  (it is well worth the time and effort)

“Here am I, send me.”  Will you say the same?

Happy New Year 2010!!!

Here are my message notes for this past weekends message entitled, “525,600 Mins.”  Feel free to leave your comments and questions to this message.  I hope it was encouraging and challenging for you in the year ahead.

- “How will you spend your time in 2010?”

- “Don’t get busier than God.”  (Ill. – Starving Baker)

Luke 10:38-42

Jesus – was speaking – loving (v.39)

Mary – was listening – being/spending time with God (v.39)

Martha – was distracted – doing (v.40)

Q – Is there anything in your life that is causing you to take your eyes of Jesus?

Jesus is saying, – “Spending time with me, is most important.”

Our intimacy with God, is more important than our activity for God.

(Ill. – bringing home flowers to my wife)

“The best use of our life is love.  The best expression of our love is time.  The best time to love is now.” – Rick Warren

Matthew 7:21-23/John 15:5 – This is a very serious issue – knowing God vs. knowing a lot about God.

Stop doing and start listening.

I’m sitting here in my hotel room in Baltimore, MD, a day and a half before nearly 1,000 students and leaders will converge on this city and hotel, reflecting & praying about the upcoming youth convention- ‘Love Mercy Baltimore’.  It was 19 years ago, that I as a 12 year old was deeply moved at a conference just like this one (Cincy ‘90), where God spoke to me and planted the seed for my call into full time ministry.  As a middle school student at the time, I had no idea what to expect or what I was getting myself into.  All I knew was that I would be traveling to another city with my youth pastor & middle school friends, we would get to hang out in our own hotel room for 3 nights and I had a pocket full of cash for food and whatever else my 12 yr old soul desired in the moment.   What I didn’t realize, was that God had something so much more grand and indescribable than I could have ever dreamed waiting for me… a life changing encounter with Him.

It was 19 years ago almost to the day, then I was radically moved and called to live my life, from that point on, in undying devotion and service to Christ, my Lord and Savior.  It is my prayer that there are many students and leaders, who will be traveling and arriving in the next 36 hours, who will experience an awakening and encounter with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords here in this very hotel, unique in its own way, that would forever change and transform those in attendance, to lead their generation passionately to Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with God everyday of their lives.

And to think, I have an opportunity to serve on a team of leaders/directors who Love God & Love Others, in leading this conference here in Baltimore, to impact students, who are in the same position I was in, 19 years ago.

To Him, who is able to do, immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Your will be done.  May YOU INCREASE and i decrease.  May we be your hands and feet.  In Jesus name, Amen.

(Check out this song we will be singing throughout the convention.  It is my prayer personally and for the each person in attendance.)

One of my favorite times of the year is Christmas.  The snow, the gifts, the tree, Christmas music and Christmas movies bring back fond memories of Christmas past.  One of my favorite Christmas movies of all time is A Christmas Story.  I think every family in America can relate in some way with the scenes and emotions emulated in that Christmas classic.  Gifts (Red Rider BB-Gun), shopping, visiting Santa and even being totally exhausted after all the gifts under the tree have been opened.

But when I think about the story of Christmas, as written in the Bible,  I read a story of  God becoming flesh, being born in a feeding trough, born in weakness and selflessness.  A king, Jesus, that chose, that chose to be born different than the world of the day.  He showed up as a baby.

What if we look at these two stories… and really wrestle with what story we are to enter this Christmas

What if… we spent less, by giving more.  More of ourselves relationally, just as Jesus did for us.

Check out theses videos…

Check out this amazing video that speaks so clearly about how we as a Church and a culture can do our part to Change the World.

Lets do our part in bringing people dignity, hope and purpose.

Where Are You Cheating?

This is an excerpt taken from a book I read a while back entitled, ‘Choosing to Cheat’ by Andy Stanley.  I hope that is challenges you to evaluate how you spend your time as much as it has me.

“Everybody cheats. We have to. You have several important calls on your life. You have career potential to fulfill, a spouse to love, a family to raise, a ministry to perform. The list goes on. Each of these things has tremendous merit in your life and for the world at large. None of them should be neglected.

However, when you consider the limited number of hours in a day, there’s no way you can reach your full potential in all of those areas. There’s just not enough time.

Your situation isn’t that different from mine. If you stayed at work until everything was finished . . . if you took advantage of every opportunity that came your way . . . if you sought out every angle to maximize your abilities, improve your skills, and advance your career . . . you would never go home.

Likewise, if you stayed at home until every ounce of affection was poured out in all the appropriate places . . . if you kept giving until every emotional need was met . . . if you did every chore, finished the “honey do” list, and did everything necessary to ensure that everyone felt loved . . . you would never make it to work.

In fact, if you are a parent, you know that your kids alone could command every waking hour if you let them. Add to that your fitness goals, hobbies, and friendships. The list is endless and so are the time requirements.

So let me take some pressure off you. Your problem is not discipline. Your problem is not organization. Your problem is not that you have yet to stumble onto the perfect schedule. And your problem is not that the folks at home demand too much of your time. The problem is there is not enough time to get everything done that you are convinced—or others have convinced you—needs to get done.

As a result, someone or something is not going to get what they want from you, what they need from you, what they deserve from you . . . certainly not what they expect from you. There is no way around it. There is just not enough time in your day to be all things to all people. You are going to have to cheat somewhere. Our knee-jerk reaction to this dilemma is to answer the call of the squeakiest wheel. Whoever creates the biggest mess ends up with the lion’s share of our time and attention. We run from fire to fire, troubleshooting our way through life, rescuing the needy, and rewarding those who can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

But that certainly isn’t strategic and it doesn’t solve anything. Over time, our families learn that the only way to get our attention is to create a crisis. And let’s face it. It is amazing how much time we can steal from work when our kids are in crisis. Men and women become incredibly bold with their managers, company presidents, and boards when there is a crisis at home. What was unthinkable becomes non-negotiable.

I know a CEO who just spent twenty-nine days with his wife at a detox center six hundred miles from their home. Twenty-nine days. Yet over the past three years, he has done almost nothing in terms of investing in what he would tell you now is his most important relationship. And if anyone had suggested he take a twenty-nine-day vacation in order to invest in his marriage, he would have laughed. But he did—only when he had to.

I know a contractor who almost had to shut down his business in order to attend to his daughter’s drug addiction. He escorted her from one rehab center to another, trying to find her “the best medical treatment in the country.” This is the same guy who could never find the time to complete an entire week of vacation with his family. They left on Saturday; he joined them on Wednesday. But suddenly, he has the time.

Wouldn’t you do the same for your wife, your husband, and your kids? Of course you would. So why wait? Why cheat at work when you have no choice? Instead of allowing the most recent crisis to dictate where you cheat, why not allow your cheating to be governed by the greatest purpose? Why not cheat by design?

But how? How does someone cheat at work without destroying her career? And if you cheat your career goals, won’t that end up cheating your family in the long run? Can a homemaker cheat her ‘to do’ list without cheating her family?

These are complex issues. On paper, there seems to be no solution. But all is not as it appears. For as we will see, when we are willing to reprioritize in a way that honors our heavenly Father, he is willing to touch down in the midst of our personal chaos and bring the order and balance we so desperately desire.”

I had the opportunity to attend this incredible leadership conference in Atlanta, GA called Catalyst. Throughout my life this conference has been one of the biggest influences on who I am as a person and a leader. I hope you enjoy this highlight video as much as I did attending the event. I’ll blog about what I learned and walked away with over the next few posts.