The Azusa Pacific Blog

Basics

The power fails. Lights turn off, computer screens go dark, music stops, copiers freeze and the AC stops functioning. It seems that nothing can go forward. All of a sudden you begin to think about what you can do with your time. And you realize that much of your activity is based upon the external systems that make us task-oriented. Silence – and your world becomes what’s immediately around you. People, words, and reflection. Those become the only things available when the power goes off. Yet those very things can be the most formative exercises you can engage in. And Christ will meet you in the unplugged, centeredness of the basics of your life. So don’t be frightened, frustrated, or confused. Let the basics be the meeting ground between you and the Friend of your soul.

If you have any prayer requests, send me a note and I’ll be sure our Prayer Partners lift you in prayer this last week before the summer break. And please have a good summer!

Blessings

Kevin

Undoing the Knots

Who in the world really wants an endless knot? Whether it refers to the fact that there is no beginning or end to the knot itself or to the fact that there is a perpetual knot in the circumstances is not important. In either case, the idea of an endless knot doesn’t seem to make sense. I know there are historic connections in the Celtic tradition, but practically it is hard to see the reason. Knots tend to be those things we cannot undo; or that cause us pain in the neck; or that are the result of anxiety tying up our stomachs. Those are all knots that Jesus would like to help us undo! Unsolvable problems that seem to be ever-present; tension of unfinished work or stress; anxiety over whether we will succeed or measure up – those are all the things that Christ stands ready to address in your life. Undoing knots is the reason he offers his grace and presence – “My grace is sufficient for all your needs.” “I am with you always.” Don’t assume the knots are endless, perpetual, and unsolvable. A loving God cares and watches over you. Rest in Him and see if He might just help in undoing some of those knots.

If you have requests for prayer, we are really happy to pray for you. Just let me know.

Blessings

Kevin

Drawing from the Deep

I hope you can find a quiet moment of reflection and centeredness in your schedule. Noise is like a layer of clay that keeps your roots from pushing deep to draw from the richness of the soil. Running from one meeting to another, cell phone calls while you drive, the TV always on, and the rush of traffic — it shallows your life and eventually causes malnutrition. Allow your heart to quietly probe the deep rivers that run beneath the surface of your days. Drink from that flow and let its deep richness nourish the deep places of your life. That deep river runs from God. It nourishes you and sustains you. Blessings on your week.

Drop me a note if you have prayer requests. Our Prayer Partners are happy to pray for you personally.

God be with you,

Kevin

No Time Zones

You can’t just call somebody at 7:00am without thinking. It’s early. Maybe they’re still in bed – especially if they are in a different time zone. On the east coast, that would make it 4:00am! How inconvenient that would be. Or on the other side of the world, it would be dinner time. We are locked in to the limitations of our time zone. And that causes some big issues when you’re trying to meet deadlines or coordinate schedules. It would be kind of nice if time were not a factor.

When you turn to God through Jesus in prayer, it’s nice to know He’s not limited by any time zone. In fact you may be praying for someone whose crisis was yesterday – and God still hears your prayer. God is always in the present – no time zones. And even though you think you messed up big time last week, or month, God remains willing to help you. What you did back then may have consequences but He can still bring good out of it; because He works with no time zones. What a comfort. What an encouragement – that it’s never too late with God!

Return To Basics

A simple request for a favor escalates to a confrontation. At first it was just a question to help out. But the resisting response suddenly infused the dialogue with tension then it escalated to offense and sarcasm. Finally the last exchange is one of disdain and cynical retorts. Wow, that jumped fast. Like going from 0-60 in just a few email or texting exchanges. And both persons feel angry, offended and defensive. So now what? Does the relationship simply break? Hopefully not but it is awkward. Both are now much more defensive.

Jesus has a way of cutting through our defenses and our layered motives that seem to escalate beyond what we ever intended. He quietly but effectively returns to basics to remind us who we are and how he loves us. You are a child of God and loved by Him. Suddenly the sarcasm, defensiveness, and offense dissolve.

If you have any prayer requests, let me know and I’ll have our Prayer Partners pray for you.

Blessings

Kevin

Reflecting on the Journey

By Kristine Cody

This May marks the end of my graduate assistantship in the Service-Learning office. It is a bittersweet season as I look back with gratitude on the experiences I have had and prepare to move forward into new positions. Service-Learning has come to take on a new meaning for me – it signifies citizenship and stewardship of resources for the overall benefit of a community. It shifts the aim of education from betterment of self to the betterment of society in a reciprocal, results-based manner. More than that though, Service-Learning means intentional application of learning that produces transformation of mind, heart, and spirit for students and community members alike.

Read more on Reflecting on the Journey…

Inside Out

It was the best Italian restaurant in town. The couple stopped for dinner and he ordered a pasta plate with olive oil and extra garlic. It sure tasted great! But later as he gave his wife a hug, she pushed away and wrinkled her nose. “Pew!” she said. “You smell! It’s like garlic fumes are coming out of your skin!”

Everything we put into our hearts will find its way out through our lives. You may assume you have no control over the things you see, the experiences that happen to you, the pressures from your boss, or the expectations of your job. But you are the gatekeeper of your heart. You determine what will lodge there and take root, and what will simply fly by like a shadow. What you allow into your heart will form you, influence you, and will find its way into your disposition. Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Whether for saving faith or formation, He seeks to be so much a part of your life that Christ-likeness will literally “leak” out of the very pores of your life. Choose well what you allow in!

If you have prayer requests, please let me know. Our Prayer Partners love to pray for you.

And I hope you will find a connection at: www.facebook.com/groups/apusoulquest.

Blessings,

Kevin

Peace Be With You!

A lot of times you hear people say “peace be with you.” You may even pray or wish for peace in your own life or someone who is a close friend. Of course it’s easy to assume that the peace you hope for is simply a smooth day or a week without trouble. In fact, peace is a whole lot more than the absence of hardship or hurt. In reality peace at its best and fullest is the presence of Christ. Where Christ is, there is perspective, there is wholeness, there is fullness. There still may be hardship, but you still are able to live in peace — because Christ is with you. So, my prayer for you this week is simple — peace be with you!

If you have prayer requests, please feel free to send them to me. Our Prayer Partners are praying for you each week. I will include your request for them.

Blessings and Peace!

Kevin

Response

The patterns that you set in motion for your academic program are now well underway and in most cases cannot be substantially changed. Like a lot of things in your daily life, it requires more response than direction. You respond to the expectations of your professor, other students, and the syllabus. So while you are walking through your day today and your week, be reminded that one way or the other, you will pass through the events that are occurring. The question is, how will you respond? You can chafe and strain, or you can release and absorb. One will raise your anxiety, lower your tolerance, and close your life down. The other will reduce frustration, increase learning, and open you to deep growth. Embrace the moments and allow the quiet peace of Jesus Christ to settle your own heart and salt the moments as they approach.

If you have any prayer requests, please feel free to send them and I will share them with our Prayer Partners who pray daily for you. And join other graduate/adult students at: www.facebook.com/groups/apusoulquest.

Blessings on your day and week,

Kevin

One Piece at a Time

The homeowner began his project. He was putting trim molding around the ceiling of his family room. He had to measure and cut small pieces to fit around the large beams, corners, and angles of the room. He began with one piece that fit just right into a small space and nailed it in place. Then he cut the next, and the next all around the room. Each piece was cut to fit perfectly and nailed in place connected to the previous piece. One piece at a time he worked his way around the room until it was complete. And it looked great. Can you imagine what would have happened if he had tried cutting all the pieces at once? What a mess it would have been.

Every experience you have is like a piece of molding that is being fit to frame your life. You can’t jump ahead. Tomorrow’s experiences will be based upon today. If you let Christ measure your attitude and fill your behavior with His grace, one moment will build on the next. One piece at a time the Master Carpenter will frame your life in grace, kindness, effectiveness and wholeness so that you will reflect His vision for you!

If you have any prayer requests, please send them to me and I’ll ask our Prayer Partners to pray. And feel free to check in with other students at: www.facebook.com/groups/apusoulquest.

Blessings,

Kevin