**Mustard Seed Distributed**

After this weekend, I have a great appreciation for the folks that trekked across America (or any other continent wherever) before things like roads and vehicles were produced and utilized. To give the superstar a Christmas break that is so well deserved, mg and I took our kids up to his dad's cabin this weekend. We have done this a couple of times, and it has always been great. The cabin actually sits in the middle of nowhere, literally. You have to park your vehicle, and go down a hill, over a very large creek, then up a hill, then about a half mile into the woods to get to it. No electricity. Woodstove for heat. Usually this is not that much work, as mg has a Kawasaki Mule. You park at the end of the road, load your things into the mule, then drive back to the cabin. But when we got there, the road was blocked about a mile before the place you usually park with snow. No problem, we'll take the mule. No. We'll get the mule stuck. Then try to pull it out with ...

  The greatest Christmas present I ever (or evar) received came 2000 years ago, before any of my predecessors were even born. Thank you God for being the Creator of the Universe, and humbling yourself to human form in order to come here to earth and provide us a route to Salvation. What a prize you have given us. Thanks to shoeless mike for helping me to realize the great joy I get to experience by living free during this Christmas season. Thanks to all who provided hope in many ways, shapes, and forms to people that I have come to love in the D. Thanks to my wife for loving me so and for my God giving me the gift of breath and the gift of free grace through his Son, which is the reason we even have Christmas. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. God bless us everyone. Thank you Jesus, for loving me still, and for loving me even when I don't deserve it. Thank you to all my incredible friends and family that have supported the kkft over the last year and a half ...

Jesus was very great friends with Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus. So close, that Jesus indeed loved them. Perhaps one of the shortest verses in the bible hit me this morning as I ponder my journey with Christ in me. John 11:35- "Jesus wept." This is what happened when Jesus went to Bethany, as he already knew Lazarus was dead, and that he would go there to raise him from the dead in order to glorify God the father. No one else knew that, but Jesus did. So they go there, and Jesus meets with Mary and Martha, and Jesus sees Martha 'weeping', and the other Jews that had come along are 'also weeping'. What happens? 'He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.' So they take him to see where Lazarus was laid four days ago upon his death and then: "JESUS WEPT." At times, I am overwhelmed with the love of God in this life. Ask cdubs, at times I can weep at the drop of a pin if the right thing tugs at my heart. I think this is...

Christmas is near. If you sit quiet and still, you can hear it. It starts way off in the distance, and you think to yourself-what is that noise? Then you realize it is the quiet hum of Christmas Carols, and as Christmas nears, it gets louder, and more well defined. It brings joy to your heart as you gain insight into Christmas past, revel in the Christmas present, and look forward to the Christmases of the future. Yesterday, I experienced all three of these. I use this analogy because I had the fortune of spending an evening with my nephew-jojo-on Thursday night. It was his birthday present to spend an evening out with 'Uncle T$'. It always sounds nice when you tell them it is their gift, but really for the last several years, those evenings with my nephews have been gifts to me. Pickle Head and Spanky have raised beautiful young men and ladies in their quest to 'teach them in the ways of the Lord'. What an honor it is for me to be able to spend time with any a...

I don't recall who, but I think it was sick mother, sick pete, my adida and I having a conversation at the park in the D last month. Sick mother mentioned the 100 bibles they had. We talked about doing something special for Christmas for the inordinate amount of men (most homeless) that come to our monthly gatherings for food and friendship. In one way or another, we came up with the 'bags of hope' idea. Include a bible, pants, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, shoes, gloves, hat, whatever. Call it a bag of hope. Even last week, I thought, this just isn't going to come together. This being the last week of school, I was jammed with my schedule, and couldn't do any organizing, etc. But the kkft did get to do some shopping together and put 10 bags together. I got a post on my facebook yesterday from shoeless mike that with our 10 bags, we are up over 100. I doubted we would get fifty. Heck, I doubted we would get to 30! But I did learn something. To lean on ...

Today I received an email from the Chair of my Dissertation Committee. Doesn't seem like that is monumental in any way, shape, or form, but it is. The email basically said you are at a point that is very good for the most part, and we will go to the committee. That means a meeting in early January to basically get feedback and move on in submitting my proposal to Human Subjects. That is a rubber stamp situation, and after that happens, I will be able to complete my doctoral study in the spring. That is HUGE. I started in the fall of 2003 down this road, and God has given me courage and strength to move to where I am now. It sucks many days sitting in front of a computer screen, or an article, or a dissertation, or a book alone and sometimes for many hours in a row. But the light is now at the end of the tunnel, and I am starting to see it and can't wait to get out into the beautiful fervent valley of doctorhood where my studies are completed for a long time. There is a...

Superstar coordinated everything for our dinner Friday, and mattsy t and tracy t took the girls for a big sleepover party at their house with Colin, you can see and read more here . So the star and I went shopping. We didn't need to buy anything for our family (although we may have bought a couple things :)), but we did get to go out and buy a bunch of stuff for a family that is much in need in Detroit. The funds came from some men that I am doing life with, and their generous hearts and pocketbooks. I have never enjoyed Christmas shopping so much in my life. Even buying things for my own kids I don't think was that much fun. It was really cool getting things for people that you know can't get things. Really cool. And I got to do it with the superstar at my side. Very cool. Then we got to go to one of our favorite restaurants in LO-thanks gerdies-to eat some of our favorite things. Fish tacos rule. Then this morning, I was the superstar that got to be the Grinch...

Here are the pics....

Last night marked the kkft's second year of celebrating Christmas time with friends in Communitas . It is an honor to be part of this group of crazies that are willing to sacrifice their lives, their comfortable lifestyles, and their careers in order to follow Jesus. That is the ultimate group of people that I want to be a part of. The thought that I have is the fact that it is not just communitas that is doing that, it is the group of indians that have created CEM , it is the men and women that spend their lives providing hope for Detroiters at CDC , it is people in China or other countries that hold church in their homes, even if it is illegal. These people are the same crazies that live the life they are called to live. What an honor to be in such an incredible group of people. Just some short fat white guy from the sticks that God feels is worth more than anything to send His son to die for, and use me to glorify Himself among the nations. That is a phrase that keeps com...

Why does it feel like there are no leaders in the world? Why does it seem that no one else will step up and lead no matter what the context? Is this the result of our self-serving capitalistic consumer driven society? If so, I want my world back. I want a world where a GROUP of people will come together and serve each other and those that are not in the group, and take on leadership roles within and outside of said group. Why is it always the same people leading? As a person with leadership skills and abilities, I get tired of seemingly always having to take the reigns. Perhaps I am just in a foul mood (which doesn't even make sense if you realize that I don't have school today because the sewer backed up into our school's basement). I know that I need to utilize those leadership skills and abilities to glorify God, because He is the one that gave me said skills and abilities. It is just a challenge to watch others that have the same skills and abilities sit idle a...

Today was the day the kkft celebrated and put up the tree. Listening to christmas music, unpacking decorations, etc., putting the nativity scene out, you know the drill. We all do it every year. Since last year, and engaging in the nyc team, we have gone with the 'scaled down' version of decorations. Miniature built in lights on the fake tree, put this and that on the table, red and green light bulbs instead of icicle lights surrounding the entire k ranch. All in all it is WAY less than what we used to, and that is just fine with me. The tree still looks fantastic, and we had a great time doing it all.....I love decorating for the navidad. Feliz one to you and yours. Enjoy the minimalist decorating season.....

Friday night out with the superstar. What more can a man ask for? Nothing. Had a great night at the staff Christmas shindig last night. A real live DJ mixing vinyl, that is what I call a DJ. Not everyone else at the party thought the same as I did, but he was mixin sick jams. Then it was on to the Milner Hotel downtown where we stayed for the evening. Oh, but wait, there's more-we took a taxi over to the Motor City Casino . Our long time friends of more than 12 years were celebrating Berman's 46th Bday. Man is he old. He and Gailee had a suite, so we went hung out, got to see the barn ettes, went gaming, suiting, dancing, watching the band play, and finally got a cab at 3am. Good times. Plus on the last dollar of Berman's end of our bets, he hit and that meant T$ got a share in the winnings. So if you include the gift from the staff, we are up $35 for the entire evening, including hotal, food, drinks, games, and accommodations. Not too shabby. The greatest part...

So here is a link to the photos of the trip. I know, what's up with so many of myself? I hate taking pictures. I think sleep deprivation psychosis had a lot to do with it. Sure did have a grand time. PHOTOS HERE.

Well, this whole blogging thing started in my head over one year ago, but my first live post was December 3rd, 2007. The last year has been overwhelming at times, but the comfort of my Creator that He so often promises us in the bible continues to fill my heart in those times when I am overwhelmed. The last year has taken me many different places physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally that I probably have not explored fully in the past. I continue to feel honored that God chose me to be on this journey, and that His grace and peace are sufficient for me to live my life. Last week marked my 39th birthday-not a milestone by any means in our society. But personally for me, it was a milestone. Why, you ask? Because I am a 'new creation' that lives a different life than I did two years ago. I am not perfect, by any means. I sin each day, and I ask God to forgive me. Because he sent His one and only Son to die, I know in my heart that I am forgiven. But because ...

So for November, me and my boyz read proverbs each day (and two books on the 30th). That book is filled with delicious bits of knowledge through and through, but here are a couple of key things that I learned: 1) keep your mouth shut and you won't be a fool 2) money doesn't mean much 3) justice is something God cares about 4) God loves us more than we know It was a great way to wrap up Proverbs at my brother's house enjoying the blessings (not to be said like Christmas Vacation in this sentence) that have been heaped on me and my family.

It is true, my birfday was yesterday. A turkey born on turkey day. Every so often, I get to enjoy my birthday with my family when it lands on Thanksgiving, kind of a cool added bonus gift. I don't recall ever getting so many birthday wishes from friends before on my birthday, so thanks to each of you who made my day special. I also got to enjoy some of dkny's incredible pecan pie. I didn't eat sweets/treats for the last two months. That was a challenge for me, but I did it, and I mean that because I LOVE sweets. But yesterday, I had a piece of pecan pie for breakfast. And it was awesome. And week two of couch to 5k was easier today, and it was SO nice out, I got to run outside-that's a first. Also got to eat great food, enjoy a great margarita, play Wii golf, watch Christmas Vacation, and fall asleep on the floor. Thanks to all who made my birfday special. Much love.

I have so many things to be thankful for. The sunshine, my lovely wife, my healthy children, a job that pays well, food to eat, a family that loves me even when I'm dumb, friends and partners in my journey, Jesus Christ dying for ME, Laughter, joy, pleasure, hope, health, happiness, experiences around the world, people that encourage me, children, love, courage, shoes, clothing, warm showers, heat, a vehicle, and on and on. As I sit near Phatlanta with my family, I am so thankful that I have parents that cared enough for me to show me the way, the truth, and the life. Spending time with them reminds me of how I can cope with the world around us on a day to day basis. Because I have hope in the world, and hope in other humans. I love them dearly, and I am thankful that God has blessed me with their love. We all really need to have thanksgiving each day we live and breath, not just one day a year when we have turkey. Thank you always God, for all good things come from you. I a...

Week two of potato to 5k is a lot harder than week one. It hurts to stretch yourself-physically, mentally, and spiritually. I have been challenged for the last year with all three areas, if not more. It is painful to realize just how much we all could grow in any one of these areas. It hurts. But after it hurts, the scabs fall off, the area heals, and it even may be stronger as a result of the stretching. This is certainly true in all three areas. I am enjoying the stretching and the hurt, and I enjoy watching the 'healing' that is taking place in all three areas of my life. As Thanksgiving comes tomorrow, I am so thankful that God continues to push my thinking and stretch all three of these areas for me. I am thankful that Jesus lived and died so that I could have a connection and a covenant with the Creator of the universe. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is here as a result, and guides me even when I don't want to listen. I am thankful for so many things, I ...

Today I finished week one of Couch potato to 5k. It is getting easier as I go. But I had many thoughts as I ran today. Jesus is my work out partner. Why, because physically I couldn't run a mile. But I just keep going, and ask Jesus to help me run, and it gets easier. Why am I running? Because I was always the guy that said "I hate running. I don't even get people who run." But I do know that I have not been taking care of my body. But because of my pursuit of a relationship with God that is more intense than I have worked in the past, I continue to see God work on my physical body. I am not smoking (38 days mg!), I don't drink as much, I am eating healthy, and I am losing weight. Here's why: 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. I know I have not honored God with my body in the past, and...

Today we went to Citadel of Faith in Detroit to try to help load/unload prep/pack baskets to get to families in need in Detroit. It was a great day in Detroit-beautiful day with sun shining, got to see people that I haven't seen in many months, and got to see God today. I really engaged with people that were there today. It wasn't the homeless. It wasn't necessarily those in need, but I served the people that were there serving. First off, it was my honor to watch tmp showing her given talents and showing the joy in her heart. It was great to see people working together. It was clear that the devil did not want things to happen. But because people are faithful to him, it came to pass. I wish that every single person that came to serve today could have heard what Harvey Carey said when we were there putting tables away. He went through the story of Jesus multiplying food, even though the disciples wanted to 'send them away'-that being the people that were c...

Who are you?

Next week, we will be caravanning down to Phat (or is it Hot) lanta to my brother's house for Thanksgiving. It is going to be great fun for the girls, as their cousins are the same age, and we celebrate Christmas with the family together. There will be much screaming and consternation (see dictionary.com) as the excitement overwhelms most of us. But it will be great to be together. The girls get to ride down with mom, kt, tracy t wacy, and wonderboy on Tuesday. But having school on Wednesday, I get to ride down with my nugget cousin , mattsy t wattsy, and grma lizzy. Oh yes, there are three non-negotiable stops that will happen young grasshoppers: 1: Starbucks. Probably multiple times if we are to make it driving through the night. 2: Waffle House. Most likely an early morning Thanksgiving Day feast that will put us into coma mode soon after arrival. 3: Chick -Fil - A. I am still amazed when I mention the fil-a (sarcastically announced file-uh), and people have never he...

I continue to find myself in today. God continues to remind me that tomorrow is in His hands, and that I need to focus on fighting to be counter-culture thinking and follow Jesus today. Today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not for Christmas. Not when we get to NYC. Today. Now. Where are you at? I am here, and I am now. Tomorrow may never come for us, but by the grace of God we will live to see another day. Only by His grace and if He chooses to bless us with another day. So Today I try to follow Him. But people around you try to drag you to the bottom of the lake. Sin and darkness surround us in every moment of every day-even when we are with our 'church friends'. So today I try to follow Jesus. It is not easy. It is a narrow gate. See Matthew 7: 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few fin...

Today is the first day of the new nine week program to get my big butt into a regular regimen of running. It seems odd that I am even saying that at all. I used to be the guy that would say "I hate running" , "I don't get it", and when the superstar would say 'I'm going to go for a run', I would think in my head: "Well, you're stupid." But mg mentioned the couch potato to 5k regimen, and that is laid out over nine weeks. So that is what I'm doing. To get more info, click here . Today was day one. Like I have said, I feel like I need to get my body prepared for the city life. Lots of walking, lots of walking, lots of walking. And considering the fact that I ran three miles last week, I am pretty sure I can do this. (Although I don't suggest a two hour raquetball session during the same week that you run three miles for the first time in twenty years) Just a suggestion. So today I started my running program. Crazy, I...

Today is the superstar's birthday, and as I sat across the table from her last night at dinner, I realized once again just how much I love her. A LOT. She is a gift from God to me. There is no other woman on earth that I would want to be married to. Her work ethic, her smile, her laughter, her desire to follow Christ, her beautiful eyes, (as well as some other bodily attributes), the joy that flows out of her, the way she fits into my arms. I could go on, but I know you want to call me schmoopy right now. As I sat and thanked God for the beauty of this gift in my life this morning, I realized that we have been together for more than fifteen years, and that both of us are near the age of forty now. Doesn't seem like we are that old, but the star said: "well, when you are healthy and taking care of yourself, and you are in a good place, it doesn't feel like you are that old." Amen and Amen. I love my superstar yesterday, today, and always.

Just want to give a shout out to my boys to men group. Cay-uh and sick pete. Thanks for pushing me up when I fall down. Thanks for encouraging me to follow Jesus, and live the way God wants me to live. Thanks for being real and sharing your struggles. Thanks for giving me the honor in sharing in your celebrations of God working in your life. As we met Friday morning, I realized how much I missed meeting with pastor to focus my boydom to manhood walk. Having a christian man to pour into my life is something that I have always needed, especially with how stupid I usually am. Pretzel used to do that, and for years I asked for someone. Then came along pastor. That was an incredible spring board in my spirituality, my listening to Jesus, and my personal growth. Then pastor goes and leaves me-just kidding-he moves on to serve others and follow Jesus. So, my own dumbness kicks in without having a set time to meet with him. I can't wait to get to nyc so that we can pick up wher...

That word can be so powerful, and if you don't know how to do it, you are dead. If you can't learn continuously for a lifetime, you are going to go down, and hard. You have to be able to learn how to eat, how to use the bathroom, how to speak. You have to learn how to 'behave appropriately'. You have to learn at the bare minimum some basic skills in order to be able to acquire a job and pay for food and rent. But let's move on to adulthood. The average person today will transfer between 12 jobs in their lifetime. For my dad's generation, it was one change. I heard the other day that the kids that graduate from high school this year will change at least 17 times in their work career. You can't do that without new learning. Not to mention the complexities of life in general as an adult, and learning and relearning, and new learning on how to live in this society. Then take into account the mobility of people in the world today. Which brings me to tod...

Yesterday marked the first snowfall of the year that I have witnessed. I knew it was coming, but walking in gr at night getting hit by snow, sitting in the lobby watching snow go by the glass walls in a horizontal line. Just doesn't seem like it is that time yet. All that and when I wake up and look out the window (if I am lucky enough to stay in bed until after the sun is up....) there are no leaves on the trees. As superstar often states..........everything is brown.......but for not at least the grass is still green...hooray! Falling. Falling. Falling. I understand that Satan is the enemy. He attacks like a lion sneaking around you. So if we all know that, why do we not fight mightily? Why do we serve ourselves and not try to at least punch the lion in the mouth? I am struggling with maitaining the focus on Jesus. And the more I let my focus wander, the more I slip and fall. So I need to step up my focus on Christ, and my commitment to Him being the center of my lif...

I am not only the PIR at my school where I 'work', but I consider myself the educational leader of the Casa de Kelly Academy on Woodside. Today, I had the privilege of attending the morning session at CdKA. I can tell you that I could not be prouder of my chicas bonitas. Olivia is such a smart kid, and she just trucks along with math and other tasks like there is nothing hard in the world. Alli knocked my boots off with her incredible writing about a book they are reading with the star. All this, and the dancing to start the day, and in between activities, and snuggling on the couch while we read, and the smiles and love that is demonstrated in our 'classroom'. Life is good, and I couldn't be more proud of all my girls, star included, and I can't wait to see what great benefits all three of them gain from the 2008/2009 school year at CdKA.

Today is the first day that reality set in for me during the darkest part of the year. Don't read some deep spiritual meaning in the previous sentence, but take it literally for what it says. You see, for much of the school year, educators leave their house in the morning, and the sun is not yet up in the air (air, air a a air air a a a). So you leave your home, you arrive at work, and if you are lucky enough to have a window near you at some point during the day, you can see out and look at the brightness of the sunlight. Then you get caught up in your daily gig, you learn a new handshake, you high five someone, you have a kid named Demarkus read you a book. Suddenly, you have a bunch of things you need to get done, but if you don't leave the building soon, and get home to see your girls, you will literally go insane. So you finish something, you think about what you need to do tomorrow, you shut down, you make your way to the exit. You do seven more things and get caug...

It's not smart. Running away. You need to listen. Blame game? No blame in silence. Break the chains. Confess to your maker. Live free like you were meant to do. Wisdom is magnificent. But your heart is the end game. Without love, there is no wisdom. Fear not loving for the one. Don't be a simpleton. Be a champion. Jesus lives in your pursuit. First your heart, then you learn wisdom.

So Saturday, I went for a bike ride. I went a route I don't normally travel on, not sure why, I just did. So I'm riding along, and I have my ipod kicking it, and I see a parent that used to volunteer at my old school, and run our fundraisers, help out, and we had some great laughs over the last few years. So the easy thing to do is to keep riding my bike, and wave, and take care of myself and ride on. But she was standing there looking up at the guy on the roof of a house. So I stop, talk to her for a while, and she tells me about her husband doing the roof for their friends. They are struggling with their business, the wife found out a month ago she has cancer, and the 13 year old daughter is going in for back surgery on Monday. She says that her usband is going to do it for free, but the 10 people that were supposed to show up to help did not actually show up. It just so happens that I had about that many people coming to Rtown to clean up an area of the school ground...

It is hard to believe that it is November today. As I grow older, each year seems to go faster and faster. I love November-fall colors, Thanksgiving, superstar and my birthday, getting closer to Christmas. What's not to love? To finish October off, my nugget cousin , mg, the donald, cdubs, hammy and mrs. hammy all came over to hang out. Star, the nugget, and the girls and grma went trick or treating. It was so nice out, we sat out on the porch and handed out candy. It has been quite a few years (not sure I remember ?) since I was able to sit outside in shorts and hand out candy. Usually, you need to put winter coats on under the kids costumes...so we hung out and played loaded questions until 1 am. It was a riot. Thanks to all my peeps for the laughs. So for November, sick pete, cay-uh and I are reading a book of Proverbs each day. (Why don't you join us?) There is so much wisdom packed into this part of the bible. Today in 1, I read in verse 33: 'but whoever li...

I have been in constant prayer for people in communitas-for jobs for people on our team. A lot of team members thought they would already have jobs in the city by now, but don't. No one on the team is on plan A-most are not on plan B-and a lot are past plan C. It has been a trust building event for everyone on the team that is truly engaged in the process. I feel very fortunate in my position being brought to my doorstep by God, and it is not even close to what I thought would happen. But this post is a shout of praise for my boy briggsy. He sold his stuff, packed up, and moved to nyc for a temp job. He finished the temp job, and searched for more work. God has been testing his trust for sure, and I have enjoyed the conversations with briggsy along the way. He will be the first to tell you that this has not been easy. He will also tell you about the days he was going to throw in the towel and bail on the city. But now, he has found a place that is in an intentional commun...

A long time ago, my very best friend, the fish man, was in a verbal altercation. I don't even know if it was an altercation. Matter of fact, I don't even know who it was with. But I will never forget his comeback in the conversation: "You're running." How can you have a comeback to that? You can't. All of that to get to the running-today, I ran a half mile. I do realize that people run marathons that are 26 some miles. Big whoop. I ran a half mile. For some reason, God has really pushed me to excercise more in taking better care of my body. Well, I think I may know the reason-if you are going to live in NYC, you are going to have to walk more than other cities. Especially more than R-town. (PS to mg-it has been 304 days since my last cigarette-61 days and you owe me some cash) I worked less than a mile from work for the last four years, and I drove my car. That is nuts. That is assnine. Everyone in communitas has talked about the physical drain....

So after a week in Cinci, I was back in our building today. I did get razzed quite a bit about how much 'vacation' I get. HA HA. I am glad that I have been welcomed into the staff, and people enjoy joking around as much as I do. It was great to see the smiles, and get the hugs from my chillens at our school. What joy they bring to my heart. Unbelievable really that I missed them as much as I did this week. And then next week I will be out for two days attending the leadership academy-but I'm looking forward to learning opportunities once again. So the pastor was at our house tonight-miss him more than I knew. He drove away tonight, and my heart realized how much our weekly meetings have meant to my spiritual growth the last year. I don't recall if I have blogged this, but I know I have told a few people-before the nyc call happened, I longed to find a mature christian man that could mentor me, guide me, hold me accountable, etc. I was even in the midst of purs...

I have been reading Peter again this week-it is packed full of juicy delicious bits of God's plan for how He wants us to live. If you haven't spent serious time reading it, get you a napkin and plate, fork and knife out of the kitchen, sit down, and devour all the morsels in there. It will last you through breakfast, lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Here is the revelation that came to me this morning through reading Peter-He calls us to be self-controlled and alert, to humble ourselves(1 Peter 5). He warns us to stand firm in the faith and resist the devil-because he 'prowls around you like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.' If that isn't a picture that puts a little bit of fear in your heart, then you have something wrong with you. A lion prowling around you? Have you seen one up close when it roars? There are a lot of teeth up in there. But stop the music-insert soundbite of record scratching-cue the revelation music-when you stand firm in knowing...

I'm just saying that I LOVE barbecued ribs. Love them. But I am pretty particular about them and how they are made, the sauce, etc. I am in Cincinnati for work this week, and I got to eat dinner last night at Montgomery Inn's Boathouse: www.montgomeryinn.com They absolutely have the best ribs I have ever eaten in my life. I LOVE THEM. I might go back again this week just to eat them again. The sauce is so sweet and delectible. I am also really enjoying what I am learning on this trip, and the people that I am working with. That certainly makes being away from the KKFT a lot easier. But I do miss those darn Kelly girls. I haven't mentioned lately how much I love the superstar. I have realized the past two days how much I long to spend time with her, even if we are in the same house doing different things. Plus, she's HOT, so that doesn't suck. Shout out to my boys sick pete and cay-uh for being my wing men in my whole approach to life. If you are a man (...

Couple of observations for today from my bible reading. First off, I am proud of myself for getting all the way through the old testament in less than a year. Whippee! There is a lot to chew on there, and when I finished this morning, I was literally excited about what I learned and getting through it. Ok, so I'm a geek. I get it. Otherwise-I am in 1 Timothy right now, and I was seriously convicted on how we are called to live if we are truly following God. From 1 Timothy 6: 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Look at verse 8-if we have ...

There is good reason to call him sick pete. And how did she get so cute? And what is up with the crazy driver?

It is sad to not be in the city for now, but God continues to give me gifts of joy to fill my heart. Today, a girl in first grade read me the book Walter, the Farting Dog. If you haven't read it, you might want to pick up a copy. It was great to be back at school this week with my new place of employment. I'm helping a kindergarten boy to get his lunch today, and as he walks away from me, he says "Thanks, homey". That is something special I say. Benzr also started a new game this week at our school where she takes a picture of me, and posts it somewhere in the school. Whoever finds it gets a point, and at the end of the game, the person with the most points gets a prize. Who knew it would create so much excitement? I have always loved kids-fo sho as sick pete would say. The smile and the laugh and the eyes that look up to you as if to show you how much joy is in their body that wants to come out from those eyes and lift the world up and make it smile. Whatev...

I am back in our fair state of Michigan. But my heart aches. I know what God created me to do, and a piece of that puzzle is NYC. It was hard to get a nibble of communitas while I was there, and then to leave that and return to this place. My heart longs for my friends and brothers and sisters there that are wrestling with life in the city. I loved being with them there. I am NOT claiming anything more than the longing to be there, and I am doing my best to focus on today, and what God has laid at my feet for now. I am going to be patient and prudent in the journey to be there, and hope that God will show me some ripe fruit along the path. I praise Him for the fruit I have already eaten. PS-Here are the pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/timmkellynyc/NYC03#

If you do ever read my post titles, the one above is to be sung in your best Jim Morrison voice with doom and gloom overtones. If you can't do that, then you fogetabodit. So we come to the last night of our visit to nyc. I sit on the balcony on the 20th floor at 33rd and 1st. I know that God has changed my heart and my soul and my mind to prepare to come here to live and to serve. I know that He has offered me many experiences in my lifetime to prepare me for this. I am certain that when His time arrives, He will open the right doors to move the kkft into the right building in the right neighborhood, on the right timeline. I am certain that though I am a sinner, Jesus cleanses my sins and offers me redemption in my life so that others might see Him. I am certain that this may well be the most incredible city in the world, barnone. I am also certain that the lines of disparity in this city may very well be the greatest in the world. I have made many new friends here on th...

Tonight marks a monumental occasion for the entire KKFT-October 12, 2008. Tonight we attended our first official Communitas Sunday night meeting in New York City. Really, it was nothing monumental, no large fanfare, no ticker tape parade, no flamethrowers. Just a group of people meeting in an odd shaped office space with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Talking about the group continuing to meet weekly to discuss the following of Jesus they are trying to take care of during each week they live here in the city. Just a group of people praying together, eating pizza together, talking about opportunities that they face each day in a city of millions. I have to be honest, I did feel a bit odd sitting in this room with the kallens, with the pastor's family, with my family, and others on the team, and new friends from the city that have joined in. It was real. It was visceral. It was palpable. The flavor of Jesus overwhelms me at times. People on this team still seeking employ...

So today, the superstar and I spent most of the day in 'the village'. That's what people call it here, you know. The East Village is the more technical term, but who's counting. First, we went to the farmer's market type thing in Union Square. I sware I had the best Honeycrisp apple I have ever had in my life today. We went with the pastor's wife. I love that woman. Her sense of humor is so hi-larious. Anywho-then we went to the village and walked around. I just knew the superstar would like it. The only way I know how to describe it is it is 'without pretense'. Not that nyc people are uppity, but the village is earthy, real, gritty, cultural diverse, and a splash of artsy fartsy. Perhaps a slice of eccentric on the side. But we went to Tompkins park, which I never saw before. Sweet. We also spent hours at an orthodox church fundraiser that was in the streets, including food from Romania, Georgia, and maybe other places, a 'garage sale...

It is right for me to be in this city. I am certain that God has called me to be here. I don't just mean for this weekend, I mean for communitas-permanently. Not yet as far as His timeline goes, but soon enough. 'You are but a mist' means that time may seem long to us, but it is so short. Here are a few monumental items from the past few days: I got to hang with the pastor and pastor's wife, and the kids too. Funny how you miss being around people. I got to make fun of the Yankee again, too-always fun. We met at a bar last night with some people that are interested in being involved with communitas. We met there b/c a guy told pastor he would never attend a church service, but if he was going to meet in a bar he would come. So pastor said let's do it. So people came. I'm not sure how many biblical conversations were monumental, but pastor had never been to a bar before, so this was a key moment. Pastor and yankee are realizing that doing things li...

So spending time in the city shows me a lot of things-particularly how difficult this 'church plant' effort can be. Physically, mentally, socially, economically, strategically. It is not what pastor and wife thought it was going to be like. Funny, that is how my life has gone since I signed the covenant to be on the launch team. That term is now dead in my opinion-the church is launched here. That does not mean having a service, thank you very little. It means when I walked to the donut store after dinner with the Yankee and pastor, inviting Square to come and get a tea with us. It means knowing the kind of donut the parking structure guy prefers. It meant inviting Square to come up for a few minutes on his break working security on a job site to meet people on the team, and take dinner back to work with him. I love how Yankee knows all that stuff already. Serving others along the way. The test pattern continues, and life is not easy here on the island. The economy h...

So my 'baby' turns nine this week. Thanks to the berman, we had a "Dance Dance Party" up in our garage last night with some of alli's buds. It was a LOT of fun to play HS musical songs, soldja boy, and low low low low low low low low. Not to mention the hokey pokey, the hamster dance, macarena, and the limbo.... Even 'DJ Daddy' got into it as you can see above. Nothing like a black light, sparkle lights, loud music, and a smoke machine to get a group of pre-adolescent children pumped up with. You can check out the rest of the session here: http://picasaweb.google.com/timmkellynyc/DanceDanceRevolution# On top of all that, I got to hang out for the evening with my boy berman, who was my friend from the first time we walked into a room together back in the summer of 1996. It doesn't matter where we go or what we do, when we are together, or we are apart, we are always friends. I have greatly appreciated his honesty, his sense of humor that kills me...

Colors invade my soul. Oranges and blues. Reds and browns. Green grass contrasts. I see the world slowing down To taste the hesitations. My trees show me the time. The time passes slowly by. The maple falls even more red now. As the helmet and pads crack. Birds of all kinds group and flock. As if to tell you goodbye for now. Another day dawns pink. The coolness of the morning rises to meet the sun in his path. The piles captivate each child's wonder. As play gives way to something new. Soon, the leaves will be a memory. As we long for warm sunshine. Bur for now, as the colors blast my rods and cones--I enjoy the Autumnal Bliss.

First-I went to a funeral home visitation tonight. A parent of two young ladies (still in hs) I had as students at my old school. This woman was working on her teaching degree and was supposed to student teach last year at our school. Months before she was to begin, she found out she had a tumor in her brain. The long and short is that she never got to student teach, as she went through keimo, treatments, etc. The doctors gave her three weeks to live about six weeks ago. Here are a couple of things that I learned from this wonderful woman- A) No matter what, always maintain a positive attitude-even in her darkest points, she would smile and warm your heart, she would talk about when she got through it, etc. Her positive attitude and her smile were all I could think about in looking at her face tonight. B) Life is short. You have today-and that might be it. So live today as if it were your last, and do it with a positive attitude. The last thing I want to say on this topic-I kn...

As my brothers and sisters struggle in the face of attacks from satan, including myself, my heart longs for releif, and for encouragement from God. It is heartbreaking to see others being attacked in their effort to follow Jesus, physically, spiritually, and financially. Acts 2 has hit me hard, and pastor and his wife have brought it to me this week. Acts 2:44-45 is particularly helpful in times like this-being part of a church plant: 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. So if we are REALLY going to be a 'community' in 'communitas' on this dangerous mission of following Jesus, then we need to sell it all, and give to those in need. In particular, my brothers brick and briggsy, and my sister eve are all hurting in multiple ways. ...