Kenneth Olson.org

What's On My Mind

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas is just a few weeks away! There's something about this time of year that always causes me to reflect and be thankful. Here are a few things I've been thinking about today: 

• Grateful beyond words to be marked by God's presence and have the opportunity to serve such a great church family!

• Thankful that Authentic Life Church was able to bless 8 families and individuals for Thanksgiving through the Poultry Project!

• Amazed and inspired at how faithful our ministry teams are! From setup teams to the kid's ministry team and every area in between, they define servant hood and faithfulness to me and I'm honored to be a part of a journey with them. A journey that is without a doubt impacting people's lives every week. You guys are awesome!

• Honored to be praying over the many prayer requests we received Sunday at ALc. If you submitted one, expect and get ready for answers and change!

• Lastly, I'm excited and looking forward to 2012! I'm convinced it's going to be an awesome and outstanding year. The law of leaving and entering states that how you leave a place (or year) will determine how you enter the next (place or year). The best way to position yourself for an outstanding and blessed 2012 is to begin reflecting, praying, preparing and expecting now! 

• Your best year is ahead of you in 2012 - get ready!!

 

California Dreamin'

We're on the home stretch of our spring vacation in California and have been having a great time. It's been priceless spending time with my kids, enjoying the outdoors and making memories. We've soaked up the local scene in Hollywood, enjoyed the beach in Santa Monica, great scenery and seafood in Santa Barbara and currently relaxing in the high desert of Palm Springs. So therapeutic to unhook and be refreshed spirit, soul and Body.

     

Biggest Storm of the Season?

 Uuugh! say it's not so?

Monday's Reflection

Really enjoyed this past week. Lot's of stuff happening. Somehow, God's grace makes it all exciting and satisfying. One of my goals for 2009 is to enjoy the journey of life more. To purposely schedule time to have fun, laugh and take in the goodness of God (what a concept). 

As I think most people are, I'm painfully aware of my weaknesses. One of those for me is to be task oriented to a fault. It's easy for me to get caught up in the "grind" of accomplishment and the next thing that needs to be done without appreciating the success and wins of the present. I need to take more time enjoying the moment, reveling in the Goodness of God and and truly enjoying my relationships.

To that end, this year, I'm looking forward to more time alone with my wife, more memories made with my kids, time to get out and appreciate God's creation, to read books for ejoyment's sake, to relax and yes, a few pick up games on the basketball court.

With the kind of world we live in, it's necessary to be daily aware of the many ways God has provided us to experience a rich, full, satisfying, enjoyable life. If we don't recognize and take advantage of them we're only giving the enemy another avenue to steal, preventing us from experiencing a fully abundant and blessed life.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  - John 10:10 NLT

Pondering Steps of Faith

Just winding down and doing a little reflecting at the end of the day. Without a doubt there's been much to think about recently. My first son, Samuel turned five today! Oh how fast five years goes by. Just thinking about that has sobered me regarding how precious these years really are. It's challenged me to take every opportunity to impart to, interact with and enjoy my kids.

Also have been pondering the transition to full-time ministry Sara and I will be taking later this spring and what that means for our future. It's definitely exciting to think about the possibilities and the opportunity to follow God's vision for our lives and Authentic Life Church. However, it's definitely stepping outside the confines of a predictable "boat" onto an unknown and untested sea.  

Already, I've been reminded and re-grounded in my walk of faith. Oh yea, the Bible does say, the just shall live by faith. Pretty simple truth, but it's easy to fall into a comfortable and predictable pattern of life made possible by our gained experience and human effort, instead of an active and increasing reliance in our creator. 

In my experience, whenever I've asked God to use me or to increase my capacity it has been answered with a clear and undeniable step of faith. A step that takes me out of the boat and onto the water and demands His power, His ability, and His economy to keep from sinking.

Spiritual Hunger

It's end of day one of a 21 day fast for Authentic Life Church and I am hungry. Sara and I together are doing a Daniel fast which requires you to eat fruits, vegetables and juices. Let me tell you, they don't fill you up like carbs or proteins, but I'm sure they're much healthier.

Being physically hungry reminds me of the power of hunger in general. John Lake once said, Hunger is the greatest persuader I know of. It is a marvelous mover. Nations have learned that you can do most anything with a populace until they get hungry. But when they get hungry you watch out. There is a certain spirit of desperation that accompanies hunger.

The Romans over 2,000 years ago understood the power of hunger and built amphitheaters and coliseum like structures to hold gladiatorial combats, chariot races, navel battle re-enactments and numerous other forms of entertainment. Every far-flung city under Roman rule had some kind of venue for entertainment to satiate and pacify the masses.

In way, this strategy is still operating in our world today. We are bombarded with things that can satiate true spiritual hunger. These are things that give you the feeling of be full, but your not. You're actually spiritually starving and malnourished. They're like junk food that gives you the illusion of being full masking your bodies hunger for healthy, nutritional food.

Someone once said, anything that entertains your soul or stimulates your intellect, but does not impart the life of God is spiritual junk food. I wonder how many things in our lives could be categorized as such? Things that mask desire for God, neutralize our effectiveness for Him and ultimately limit our experience of His purpose and blessing.

New Year's Eve

New Years Eve for me was a guys only night. Samuel, John and me enjoyed a pizza and pasta dinner at Cossetta's then went over to the Science Museum to take in the exhibits and the Omni Theater show. I was amazed at how inquisitive they both are at such an early age.

I was surprised to find myself answering questions like, "was is shale", "why is there blood in our body" and "what happened to the dinosaurs". I've always loved to learn, so it's a treat to impart one of my life's joys to my sons whenever I get the chance. For the record, I never "dumb down" my descriptions and explanations of things to them.

The key is to make learning fun, hands on and inspiring. At this age, there minds pathways are forming rapidly and they learn so easily, why not take advantage of it I believe one of the great joys God has given us in this life is that of perpetually discovering and seeking to understand the wonders of His creation. According to the Bible, that in turn helps us to understand Him more clearly and fully. I always try to remember when you stop learning, you stop growing.

An Intentional Christmas

After another busy week I'm really looking forward to a short Christmas break. My strategy for the holidays this year is to simplify and be intentional. To deliberately do the things that pay the greatest spiritual, emotional and family dividends.

To not get caught going through the motions instead, to have game plan for a peaceful, refreshing, and memorable 2008 Christmas. My intention is to foster and impart a healthy spiritual perspective of Christmas to my children, to spend focused, quality time with them, to connect on deeper spiritual and emotional level with my wife, and create memories we'll fondly think of in the years to come.

My kids are still young (5, 3, 1), yet I can already sense a strong desire and need to relate to their dad on a deeper level. I've learned much as a fairly new parent, but what stands out to me is their need for relationships. I see them as primary building blocks for their growth and development. Kids crave attention, feedback, affirmation and love and whether they know it or not - correction. 

I guess that's how God's has wired us. To grow into healthy, productive, well-adjusted adults we crave meanful relationships with our parents. When we don't experience it, we go looking for love, affirmation and attention in all the wrong places and end up spending much of our adult lives wondering where we went wrong and how to fix it.

I could expound and draw a few spiritual analogies from this, but I'll resist :) 

Merry Christmas 

12 Days to Christmas

As I sit at Caribou finishing up some preparation for our weekend service, I can't believe it's only 12 days to Christmas. I have yet to buy one gift, put up one string of lights or do anything to prepare for this most sacred time of the year. 

Better late than never right? Tonight I'm going to take my boys and go on our annual hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. It's one of the few times my horticultural background comes in handy.

Once the tree is up, I feel like we're officially a part of the season. Buying gifts, well, that's for another day. I've got to be in the right mood for Christmas shopping, otherwise it's unproductive and not pretty. 

Turkey Day!

 

I guess my bird wasn't as smart? He's currently brining and it's T - 6 hours before we all enjoy.

Eventhough our house will be a hive of much preparation and activity today, I always take time to reflect, appreciate and thank God for His goodness in my life.

Invariably, when I think about what I'm most grateful for, it's not 21st century coconveniences or material ojects, but my relationship with the Lord and His faithfulness to me through the many years. My wife, who is the absolute greatest! Seldom does a day go by when I'm not thankful she's my best friend and partner in life. My children who are the apple of my eye and have made my life unendingly eventful. I adore and love each of them more than words can express.

Happy Thanksgiving!