Physics tells is that life is made of 3 basic types energy:
(1)      Dynamic – this looks like a seed growing.
(2)      Static – this is the flower already grown & now maintaining.
(3)      Entropic or chaotic – this is the flower wilting & in the process of dying.

Which stage do you feel your marriage is in?

What would you say if I told you that you can stay in the DYNAMIC stage perpetually?  You can have (and keep) a dynamic marriage! So, the $64,000 question is – HOW?

You see, the great LIE is that a “static” or dying marriage is normal.  Dying of cancer is normal but not good.  “The-honeymoon-is-over-syndrome” is not a comforting experience but one most of us have endured.  Nobody likes it.

We are made in the image of God and He is passionate.  No one but a passionate God would send His son to die a cruel death on a tree… I don’t know how you feel about God today, but let me tell you how He feels about you:
-     God was so heart broken over you that He did whatever it took to get you back!

-     The day He formed you He was enraptured by you and He fell in love with you!
-     On the day you came to Christ the angels had a party!

Because we are in God’s image, you will be passionate about something. You will even be judged one day on where you set your passions.  Some people are passionate about the dumbest things like TRIVIA, Football or the Home Shopping Net-work!

Rule #1:  If you’re going to be passionate, be passionate about something that matters.

You were designed for passion!  So I know you’re passionate about something.  Be honest: what is it… really?
It’s subtle – you begin to give your time and attention to the kids or to work or to hobbies or the TV.

We get distracted by good things.
I hear ladies say, “He’s with me but he’s not ‘there’.”  Emotional Detachment – how do we “be in the moment.”  How do you keep the passion alive or get it back?

Where ever you invest your time and energy THERE your passion will be.

How?  Boundaries.  Even God takes a day off.  Gen 2:2 ‘God ENDED His Work.’
How do kids spell love?  T-I-M-E. (That’s how God spells it too.)  “Remember the Sabbath…”  (That’s how your spouse spells it too!)

When you are passionate about someone you give them time and energy without any resentment.  When our heart gets distracted, our time and energies follow, and we take from our spouse what belongs to them and give it to someone or something else.  Then we resent our spouse’s demands.  REALITY CHECK:  All spouses have demands.   If you don’t like it then don’t get married. If you’re already married – ADJUST.

Hello Friends,

The GREATEST obstacle to fulfilling the great commission is still a shortage of laborers. The SOLUTION is painfully obvious: pray for, train up and send out gospel workers!

I have been afforded an opportunity, in the grace of God, and I’m writing to invite you to be a part of it. We are partnering with another ministry to launch yet another Bible School to train up GOSPEL LABORERS! We will plant this minister’s training center in Kathmandu, Nepal!!!

For those of you who know me well, you will remember that this has been in my heart for YEARS. I even took a “Prayer and Scouting” trip almost 2 years ago when the Lord gave us the go-ahead. This new base will begin THIS AUGUST when I plan to fly over and get things kicked off.

Nepal is a nation in GREAT NEED. The door is WIDE-OPEN to the gospel. If you would like more information on how you can give to this mission please call 251.471.2914 or email us at nationshakers@kevincooley.com.

Blessings,

Kevin W. Cooley

People with a  “victim mentality” convince themselves that they have been abused, but it’s really just aged pain filtering their current events.  I’m not saying that they were not abused or that there is not at least a perceived (or actual) transgression, but the original offense is coloring everything else that happens to them – whether abuse or not.  It makes these folks very hard to build a (long-term) relationship with.  If you are this person (or know them) then here are some pointers from Jesus:  “Judge not, less you be judged… the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you… press down, shaken together, & running over.”  If you presume to know WHY someone does what they do or the motives behind what they did then you have just measured out judgment & Jesus said you can count on criticism coming back to you multiplied!  You want to stop being criticized?  Stop doing it to others.  Quit wearing your feelings on your sleeve.

Deal with the offense in your past so it can stop coloring your relationships today.

Jesus was a busy man. His “to-do” list was quite extensive: Heal every sickness, harass the religious crowd, split time & history in twain, and – oh yeah – SAVE THE WORLD & redeem mankind!

Jesus, in-spite of His busy calendar, never lost sight of His prime directive: to seek & save them that are lost. (Luke 19:10)

When I get busy, I tend to forget the main reason I’m here: to love & care for the people He has entrusted to me & help them discover their destiny! In fact, the busier I become the more long lines become obstacles instead of opportunities & the more I lose my compassion for lost people.

Compassion is not a common virtue today. It’s hard to imagine how we can be literally surrounded by lost & drowning souls & not care! But it happens. Maybe because we see so much violence each night on t.v. their suffering doesn’t sink in. Perhaps we justify our inaction, thinking it’s not our responsibility to care for the needs of lost people. Perhaps we leave it to people more gifted, more trained, more professional… more compassionate.

Today I’m challenging MYSELF to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n & notice people… those I work with, shop with. You do the same… those you go to school with, live next to. Drowning people are everwhere… if we will only look.

If you look you will see.

Jesus, open our eyes – today – and help us to SEE PEOPLE the way YOU see them. Amen.

Matt. 9:35-38 – Read this brief passage; it will encourage you!

Luke 5:37-39
1. Wine is timeless… people are always going to drink it.
2. Wine-skins don’t last forever.
3. New wine requires new skins.
More tomorrow morning at Harvest Church as we launch the new 3 part series: Harvest 10.0 (The Upgrade.)

Yep, today is the official day that the Groups semester begins at Harvest Church.  If you haven’t joined a Group do so this week!  This is the week that all the fun begins! 

If you need help deciding which Group fits you the best then give our Groups Coach, Pastor Trent Massey, a call in the office some time this week at 251-471-2914!  He’s great at helping folks find the right Group that fits them.

Have a Connected Week!  And remember: BIG things happen in small Groups!

Pastor Kevin

I’ll post the “7 Baskets” blog in the morning! Then over the next several days we will break it down for ya. Stay tuned…

And remember – It’s always too soon to quit!

Make it a GREAT Year!
Live All In in 2010!
pkc

Spend time with your family this weekend and go to a church of His choice!

No time spent with your family is wasted time… in fact it’s INVESTED time that brings a GREAT return!

pk

Peace & Love,
pkc

One of my prayers for 2010 for our church & my own life is this:

“God give us in 2010 a new perspective, a new position, a new presence, a new prosperity & a new power!

May this year be the BEST year of your life… so far!

Kevin

Gal. 5:22

All of these are an attribute of a person. (a tree can’t love. Only a person can love.) Ever seen a happy fish? JOY!  Anyways…
Eph. 4:30 The HS can have grief.  What grieves the Holy Spirit? (back up a few verses.)  Ephesians 4:25-32 Lying… SIN grieves the Holy Spirit! WHY?  Sin hurts people & the He loves people.
Grief – sadness you feel at the loss of intimacy with someone.  When someone dies we grieve because we have lost intimacy with them for a season. When a believer SINS the Holy Spirit grieves because He has lost intimacy with them for a season.

Two Sins that are particularly grievous to the Holy Spirit:
In Acts 8 Simeon tried to make the Holy Spirit something a force you buy instead of a person you know.  Interesting story – read it & see the passionate emotions that were expressed via Peter.
Acts 8:23
Iniquity – the bondage that causes you to sin.
Sin is an act; iniquity if a habit. I.e.: Sexual sin: the iniquity can be lust (or the root could be rejection.) When there’s an iniquity then there’s a bondage.
Many of God’s precious people confess time after time & repent again & again for the same thing.  This grieves the Holy Spirit… You can be a very mature believer that loves God & you can have a problem.  When the Holy Spirit convicts you but you go ahead & do it anyway it’s like stiff-arming Him!  But if you will humble yourself, & cooperate, He will set you free!  If you have a dirty, shameful sin then He wants to give you freedom.  You can’t go any farther unless you deal with iniquity. The Holy Spirit is GENTLE.  If you humble yourself today He will set you free!

Personal Testimony:  I have been set free from iniquity in my life, & let me tell you: it’s GOOD to be free!

If you are struggling in your walk with Christ because of sin or iniquity, Pray this Prayer:  “Holy Spirt I pray that you will DRAW me to Yourself today.   Draw me by Your GOODNESS to repentance & to freedom – once and for all!  Break the power of iniquity in my life: dig out the root; destroy the bondage!  I ask you today to FALL on me!  In Jesus Name!  Amen.”

That prayer was just to get you talking to God.  Keep going.  He’s not done… yet.

pkc