Running to the Darkness

Oh, Happy Day! Happy Day!

 April 25 Rachel Erin Mundt wed Joshua Luke Kendall and it was a glorious day! What fun we had celebrating! Now for the pictures that tell the story!

Gary and Luke await excitedly time for the wedding to start.

First the grandparents have their time to shine. We were glad to have them present. Rachel's great-grandmother who is 95 was the eldest to attend the wedding. She still  does her own hair.

Other family gathered were the four Barker sisters! We missed our brother but were delighted to be together to share the joy of Luke and Rachel!

 Now on with the wedding!

The radiant bride was overheard to say that she could hardly wait to get down the aisle and that she just wanted to RUN down the aisle! You gotta love it!

 Bridesmaids and groomsmen looked on as their brother, sister and friend declared their love for each other.

While Gary welcomed the guests, the bride's grandfather conducted the ceremony and tied the knot.

 The Kendall Krew expands. As the two families unite.

 

 

 Enough pictures here...it is on to the reception.

 

 

 More fun at the reception, family and friends.

 Let the adventure begin with a photo shoot.

Ahhhhhhhh, be careful...lots at stake there Luke...   Great picture...well worth the effort! Now to get back without soiling the dress! Great save Jeremy! What is a best man for after all!

 Safely on the other side! Thanks to Prince Charming!

 For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife and the two are united in to one.

Surrounded by Love and a Great Cloud of Witnesses

 

Rachel's mom, Tina did a great job creating a display with wedding pictures from Luke and Rachel's parents and grandparents and even great grandparents in the entryway of the church for the wedding.

 

 

Rachel's great-grandmother, Gladys was even able to attend today! She is a petite woman who still does her own hair and does her own laundry. She also just returned from traveling to the Holy Land.

What a beautiful bride and handsome groom! I don't know when I have seen a more elated bride! Rachel was so happy and smiling so broadly that she could hardly stop long enough to kiss Luke when they were pronounced man and wife by her grandfather, David Hall!

 

I now pronounce to you, Luke and Rachel Kendall!

More posts and pictures tomorrow and the next day!

Going to the Chapel of Love

Love is certainly in the air! Gary and I are really enjoying being with family in Edwardsville, Illinois for Luke and Rachel's wedding.  We are gathering as many as possible to celebrate. Kristen completed her some two day trek from China just in time to slip into the back of the rehearsal.

Thanks to Uncle Scott scooting to the St. Louis airport to pick her up while the rest of us got the rehearsal dinner fixins' ready! Paul and Ruthie were able to make it. We are missing some of the Barker crew: Mom and Dad, brother Chris, cousins Kayli, Jonathan, Andriane and Anna Lee but we are grateful every time we can gather whoever can make these celebrations! We just love to be together!

 

We have several in May that we all won't get to share: Kayli graduates from Anderson University, Lo and Bri, the youngest cousins (i.e. the little girls) graduate from high school, say it ain't so! How can that be? I guess we are all getting older!

Anyway back to the wedding, we enjoyed getting acquainted with Tina and Steve Mundt and Lucas (another Luke, how are we going to keep that straight? Maybe we will call them Thing 1 and Thing 2 :). Rachel's grandfather, David Hall will be conducting the wedding. Gary will welcome the people and brother, Lucas will open with prayer.

 

I think Rachel may be more like Luke's mom than Luke knows or realizes.

 

Thankful to be able to be surrounded by love and to surround them with love and to celebrate togethet!

Thankful God gives us family to have and to hold from this day forward! 

It's All Because Jesus Is Alive!!!

Craig Groetschal redefined success in the church and challenges the church to preach the dangerous message that Jesus preached--a life of surrender and sacrifice! Invite people to experience the holy presence of Jesus Christ! Not everyone who believes in Jesus is following Him. Are we?

He asked how many had lukewarm people in their churches. Nearly every hand went up in confession and frustration. Then Craig repeated something God had told him when he himself was frustrated with the mediocrity and complacency of some. He said that God quite clearly called him out saying, Craig, lukewarm pastors produce lukewarm churches. OUCH!!

A movement of God is never about our ministry or our church. It is about the Kingdom of God. I remember last January 2008 when Gary began to feel compelled to talk more about the Kingdom of God. I am so glad that God encouraged us to be inclusive of other churches in Olathe. Oh, there have been times that it has been difficult . Some of those have been when some longtime friends and co-workers choose to attend another church that is geting it right, feeding them.. That can be painful when we think it is only about us and our church. Surprise! Surprise! It is not all about us!

 

God reminded us about the unity God has for His Kingdom and that there is more that we can do together in our community than we can do as a lone church. I am so thankful for the mentality of Indian Creek to serve the community out of the love of Jesus Christ! We want to be a part of what God's doing in the city! Die to ourselves and live to Him!

Recently, I was whining and sad about the recent exodus of many people who have walked and worked alongside of us for years. I was standing in the back of the auditorium listening to our worship team proclaim, He is God of this city. Greater things are to come. Greater things have yet to be done in this city. During the song I heard God speak to my heart and He said, Belinda, focus on the ones who are here. I was surprised because I wasn't looking for God to speak. God repeated Himself so I wouldn't miss it. He said, Focus on the ones who are here, Belinda. Greater things are yet to be done HERE at Indian Creek.

I believe that God is doing greater things in Olathe through the churches being one.

@Home with the Kahres

What a joy to have friends that are friends forever! Friends that time and distance don't affect. Friends that love unconditionally and don't condemn. Friends that love no matter what. Friends that are easy to be with and encouraging. Friends that you know and know you.

Gary and I are delighted and honored to be guests in the home of the Kahres while we are in Orlando attending the Exponential Conference 09.  Dave and Cindy Kahre were a part of Indian Creek Community Church more than 20 years ago. Our hearts for Chirst and the world made us fast friends. Dave and Cindy were and still are missionaries for Campus Crusade for Christ. Cindy and I loved to go to a local restaurant late in the evening after getting our children settled and talked. I can still remember each time before we parted she would say, Now, let's see. How can I encourage you? 

She always found a way to encourage me. One time in particular I was extremely frustrated with my parenting with my oldest, confused and not understanding her behavior. Wisely and prophetically she said, What if this isn't who Kristen really is? 

I pondered that thought for..well even now and it encouraged me to be patient and let God be God in Kristen's life and encourage her. Just as God wasn't and isn't finished with me yet, neither was or is He finished with her and it is His work in us. He is the one who started the good work and it is His responsiblity to finish it in each of us! Thanks God it is His work!

Out of the Fish Bowl

Did you know that statistics say that 80% of young adults walk away from their Christian faith by the end of their freshman year in college? YIKES! Why? Why would youth who have been faithful to their youth groups walk away? Probably, lots of different reasons but Al Hirsch author of The Forgotten Ways had some ideas.

 He is from Australia and you have to get used to his accent when he speaks. I scooted in the back of the sanctuary toward the end of one of his breakout sessions.

He grabbed my attention with his statement about losing our youth from the faith. As I listened he explained it in a way that really made more sense to me than any other explanation I have heard. He talked about life in an aquarium and likened it to growing up in a youth group in a church. He said that we, the church, do a good job of raising our kids in the controlled environment of the youth group where we have the temperature just right, we feed them just right and we filter the aquarium to be certain to keep the bacteria out. And then when they go off to college or a career, it is like throwing them into the ocean where nothing is controlled and we wonder why they flounder and die. He said that leaders need to disrupt their equilibrium in the aquarium. We need to challenge them to think for themselves and own their faith for themselves.

He said that the middle class is mostly concerned with safety and security and that we will do anything within our power (influence) or money to keep our children safe. He suggested that something happens when we have children...all of our insecurities and fears come to the surface and we will do anything in the name of keeping our kids "safe."

Remember Finding Nemo? I laughed at Nemo's overprotective father who was Nemo's soul provider after the death of his mother but inside I knew that that was a bit of a picture of me as well.

Safe. What an illusion! Like we have total control and can! Like that is our job? I remember shortly after the death of our 21 month old daughter, a friend, actually told me that she was not going to let that happen to HER child. Really? Like I allowed that? Seriously!

I haven't learned much as a parent and the more I learn even with 20 something children, the more I know the less I know I know. But I do know that my children as adults are not my responsibility and hopefully that I have learned to trust God with them.

Living it out in Haiti

 

Way to go!!! Sheri living it out loving on orphan kids in Haiti! 

Without Vision People Perish

 

God's timing is so impeccible! He is so good to encourage us!Gary and I watched the movie, One Night with the King tonight. It is about the life of Esther. I have participated in a women's Bible study on Esther by Beth Moore subtitled, It's Tough to be a Woman and  have been amazed at the timing of these in my life! God's Word is living and always so applicable!

Destiny and crisis seemed to be linked...How can God use me, my life, this diseaster? How can God use this economy and my leadership?

Rev. Samuel Stephens is the President of the India Gospel League who finds himself facing some tough times. He penned these words to encourage and inspire his board. They certainly inspired me so I thought they might encourage you as well.

These are very challenging times looking at the ministry from different angles. I ask for your prayer for me as I provide leadership at this critical time. Several crucial decisions have to be made that will have implications for the future. They aren't easy to make from the vantage point of current uncertainties. Particularly so when we see the growth of God's work and the momentum that is building up. Pray for a greater measure of grace, courage, wisdom and faith for me and my team.

Yesterday, the 16th of April I stood beside my father's grave along with my extended family and IGL leaders. He was called Home on this day 21 years ago. We remembered his life and witness. The words from Proverbs 29:18 ("Where there is no vision the people perish") that served as a guiding light for his life continues to motivate IGL as an organization to move on with a clear vision and its team with commitment and dedication.

I heard two distinct voices yesterday. They weren't audible but they were very clear. One was that of my earthly father resounding his last words to me that I heard two decades ago but never forgot: 'Son, Don't lose the vision'.

The second voice was that of my Heavenly Father that came with incredible clarity and very timely as always. “If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan? Jer 12:5 - Jer 12:6 (NLTSE)

Those were words that came to the prophet Jeremiah as he contended with the Lord over the challenges he faced. True faith can never be at risk no matter what the circumstance. We must press on knowing that the Risen Lord goes before us and that the battle is indeed His.

To the Ends of the Earth! The Great Wall of China

Acts 1:8 (Amplified Bible)

⁸But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

Amazing! The Great Wall of China on Facebook! Imagine that!

I have a daughter in China and two girlfriends in Haiti spreading the Good News...I love it!

Read more about Judy and Sheri's Haiti trip on Lead pastor, Judy's brother-in-law, Troy McMahon's blog.   

What a joy to be His hands and feet; mouthpiece and heart around the world! It is so not all about us!

She Is in China--Again!

 She made it to China! This time her beloved mother-in-love is her traveling companion. They have spent the day and evening exploring Beiijing and discovered much that is interesting.

Kristen was born to do what she is doing with Project Partner and she loves it! What fun to watch her grow as God stretches and molds her into the leader He needs to connect His people to Himself! Absolutely amazing! 

Too big a job for her? Yes, that is why she knows it is God who is accomplishing the good work and it is He who gets the credit and the glory!