NEW PHIL KELLEY WEBSITE

I am attempting to create a new website with more bells and whistles (and more pictures so Papa and Ninny  / Wello and Wella) can stay more connected to Caroline and Madelyn!  

It has updated pictures from our Disney trip and of Living Grace.  

I think that you'll like it.  Tell me what you think!

Here it is... http://web.me.com/pmkelley3  

PK

Can't Sleep...

Okay, so I'm sitting in my in-law's house at 1:05 a.m. staring at a computer screen looking over my sermon that I am going to give at Fran's grandmother's funeral.  I can't sleep because the overwhelming thought of the brevity of LIFE is consuming my mind.  Pauline Doub (Nemaw as we called her) was 83 years old and lived a great life.  She was able to see 3 out of her 4 grandchildren get married and see 6 great grandchildren born.  Not bad.  But as I think over my life, I continually remind myself that although I am 27 years old, I am not guaranteed tomorrow - or my next breath for that matter.  

The Bible says that life is but a midst, a vapor here one second and gone the next.  So why do I spend so much of my time focused on THIS LIFE?  Not sure.  But here's one thing I DO know...I want to spend the rest of my life telling others about Jesus. 

"Only one life

Soon will be past, 

Only what's done for Christ, 

Will last."

If you are reading this and don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, simply stop whatever you are doing - really - and pray this from your heart to God's..."Dear Lord, Thank you for loving me unconditionally.  Thank you for loving me despite of me.  I recognize that I have failed your perfect standard and I humbly confess that before you.  I believe that Jesus is your Son and that He came into this world to be the perfect sacrifice for my sins.  I invite Him into my life to forgive me of my sins and help me live for You for the rest of my life.  I don't want religion.  I want a relationship with You!  Thank you, Father.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

If you prayed that prayer, and meant it with all of your heart, the Bible says that you are born again - you have crossed over from death to life and are a new person.  You are a new person!  You have not merely been renewed.  You have been transformed into what God wants you to be!  

Caroline is 3 today! (First day of school)

I can't believe that 3 years ago, my beautiful bundle of joy, Caroline Grace Kelley, entered the world 6 weeks before her due date on August 5, 2006.  Everyone says that "time flies."  But holy cow...3 years has seemed like 3 weeks!  Today Caroline went to her first day of school at Kentucky Christian School (KCS).  Her little uniform is precious (yes, I said precious - because it wouldn't be pastoral of me to say ugly - but she doesn't know the difference :))  

Frances and I have prayed this one prayer for Caroline every night - "Lord, use her magnetic personality to draw people to Your Son!"  I pray that this would be the case!  

Bold Leadership...Like Josiah

Reading the account of Josiah makes me pray and ask God for that kind of boldness.  When he finally heard the Word of the Lord from the scrolls he took serious action.  He applied what the Word of God was saying. 

He was a no-nonsense King who wouldn't settle for the status quo.  The adjectives used to describe his actions are filled with passion and conviction...

Words like…

-       “he had all things burned…”

-       “he did away with the idolatrous priests…”

-       “he removed the Asherah pole from the Lord’s temple…and burned it”

-       “he tore down the living quarters of the prostitutes who were inside the temple”

-       “he defiled the pagan shrines…”

-       “he removed…the statues…and burned the chariots dedicated to the sun”

-       “Josiah tore down the altars…and destroyed…and smashed them to bits…”

-       “The king desecrated the pagan shrines…”

-       “He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down…”

-       “he tore down…and burned down…and demolished…and executed the priests of the pagan shrines…”

-       “he got rid of the mediums and psychics…”

 

What was his legacy?  “Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses.  And there has never been a king like him since” (2 Kings 23:25).  

Father, I pray this boldness for my generation.  My I be your representative...

It's been too long...

It seems like FOREVER since I last wrote in this blog.  It's pretty bad when some of your closest friends and family are ask you "Is everything okay? You haven't written a blog in a while!"  So, for those of you out there...this one is for you!  

Much has happened over the last few weeks - 

My beautiful wife and girls have been in Florida for the last few days soaking up the sun and enjoying the beach without me!  However, I drive in morning to pick them up at the Nashville Airport!  Ready or not, here I come!  

Last weekend we saw over 3,000 people come through the Fourth of July Living Grace Church Family Fun Zone in downtown Campbellsville!  It was an amazing time of fun and ministry.  People from all over central KY came and commented how much they were amazed at what Living Grace was doing for the community!  It was a HUGE HOME RUN!  Thanks to all of the 100+ volunteers that made it happen!  We couldn't have done it without you!  

We started the "Don't Date" message series at Living Grace 3 weeks ago and I have seen people all over the community wearing your "Don't Date" t-shirts!  The theme of this this - Don't simply date Jesus and His church.  Determine to be a fully devoted follower of Christ!    We are going through the Old Testament book of Nehemiah and are actually building a wall on the stage each Sunday.  On the lower part of the stage, we have a 50 foot wall constructed where hundreds of people continue to write prayer requests and praises.  It's amazing to see what God continues to do in the life of our church week in and week out!  

Next week I'm giving a message entitled "Don't Listen to Stupid People!"  I hope you can make it out!  It's going to be great!  

See you then...

Phillip 

13 Youth Baptisms at Green River Lake - Amazing Time!

I just left a wonderful time at Green River Lake with our youth group.  Led by Youth Pastor, Jim Ward, we saw 13 students publicly declare their faith by being baptized!  It was a sweet time to hang out with the kids - at one time, my Pathfinder was jam packed with teenagers.  The only problem was that they were stuffed into the back and every time we hit a bump, my back door would come crashing down on their heads!  Great times!  

Back at Living Grace...We had a great service.  We tackled a very difficult topic - Winning the War on Prejudice.  Although it was a very difficult message to preach, I felt led to lead where most churches are silent.  We saw a great response and several give their lives to Jesus!  Even in the midst of the summer months, our church attendance is better than ever.  God is doing some great things.  

Things that REALLY set my heart on fire...

I often think in terms of "ideal."  With that in mind, I was just brainstorming at what really sets my heart ablaze...here's just the start of a list that is dying to get out of my head on onto paper...

What really lights my fire? 

-       Seeing people take ownership of their faith

-       Seeing people lead from their strengths

-       Seeing people move from one place to the next spiritually

-       Seeing dads become the spiritual leaders of their homes

-       Seeing members take pride in what we are doing and welcome people into the church with tearful passion because of what the church means to them

-       Creating resources that assist church members take the next step in their faith, maturity and leadership

-       Building a team of leaders who own the vision and work diligently for this common purpose

-       Being a flagship church of what “could be” and “should be” in a small community