tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131699202011-11-27T03:25:55.144-05:00Ken's thoughts on God and lifeKen DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.comBlogger2001100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-61326198354861145892011-10-28T07:09:00.003-04:002011-10-28T07:23:07.287-04:00

Luke 13:11, "and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all."From looking at several other translations, this was clearly a situation where an EVIL SPIRIT had crippled this woman for EIGHTEEN years. The enemy is STILL crippling people through demonic oppression and possession today. Evil spirits are not fun and

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-81983519294377052702011-10-27T12:27:00.002-04:002011-10-27T12:35:45.932-04:00

Luke 12:16, "Jesus began to speak first to His disciples, saying, 'Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.'" (NIV)Jesus is telling His closest followers to stay alert... keep watch! There is a subtle enemy that starts out extremely small, but if you allow it, will eventually take over and influence everything about you. He is talking about HYPOCRISY. Hypocrisy

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-59485216867225232092011-05-04T12:38:00.001-04:002011-05-04T12:38:48.161-04:00

Psalm 104:29b-30 states, "When You take away their breath [ruah/spirit], they die and turn again to dust. When You give them Your breath [or send Your Spirit] life is created, and You renew the face of the earth." (NLT)As a follower of Jesus, how much do I desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit? The Bible tells us that the Spirit was given to Jesus "without limit" (John 3:34). In Jesus' last

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-84108609734405060062011-03-24T15:36:00.003-04:002011-03-24T16:53:24.589-04:00

I've had some interesting Facebook discussions today, so I figured it might be helpful for me to copy, paste, and edit some of what I've been saying... A majority of Americans probably agree with a common statement that goes something like this: "good people go to heaven and bad people should go to hell." But few of us really take the time to think about the next logical question, “HOW GOOD is

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-74767298011921792012011-03-18T08:57:00.004-04:002011-03-18T09:08:26.257-04:00

Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a lot of buzz about the love of God. But sometimes I wonder if our western version of Christianity hasn't preached God's love so much that we have forgotten about His holiness and justice--characteristics of God that (like God's love) are also on display throughout the Word of God.For instance, in Leviticus 10, we see a "Rated R" example of God's

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-51602513302116124922011-03-11T16:27:00.003-05:002011-03-11T16:40:03.814-05:00

Mark 14:4-5, "...Pilate asked [Jesus], 'Aren't you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against You?' But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate's surprise." (NLT)Two thousand years later, I think we are all STILL surprised! In fact, this whole chapter (Mark 14) is absolutely overwhelming, as Jesus' trial, torture, and execution are vividly described. But I'm with

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-63032788415306564102011-02-28T22:15:00.002-05:002011-02-28T22:45:36.615-05:00

"In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise Your name forever." (Psalm 44:8, NIV)The Psalmist has been acknowledging the sovereignty and might of God in the victories that Israel had experienced. He remembers..."what YOU did" (44:1)"with YOUR hand YOU drove out the nations" (44:2a)"YOU planted our fathers" (44:2b)"YOU crushed the peoples" (44:2c)"YOU made our fathers flourish" (

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-85703526229265108612011-02-04T14:17:00.002-05:002011-02-04T14:30:12.370-05:00

I love what God says to Moses, regarding the people of Israel, in Exodus 6:I have heard the groans of the people (6:5)I am well aware of my covenant with them (6:5)I am the LORD (YHWH) (6:2-3, 6)I will free you from your oppression (6:6)I will rescue you from your slavery (6:6)I will redeem you (6:6)I will claim you as my own people (6:7)I will be your God (6:7)I will bring you into the land of

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-22549287947472924102011-01-31T08:20:00.002-05:002011-01-31T08:34:22.435-05:00

It has been so exciting to see what God is doing through Journey Church (not because of how smart we are, but simply because of His grace--remember grace is never deserved)! In fact, 6 of the past 9 Sundays, we have had attendances over 100. Which really doesn't sound like a big deal, until you see the building that we rent and discover that our maximum occupancy is only 120. That means that

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-26323257555916590832011-01-27T16:46:00.004-05:002011-01-27T17:01:16.296-05:00

What do you do when you are in a war and your superior has entrusted you with the nation's most valuable and sought after asset? You guard it! Courageously and ferociously, you keep watch... You do everything in your power to safeguard and shield it, knowing that your enemy will be just as vigilant."Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (Proverbs 4:23, NLT

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-31360692569228586672011-01-26T09:23:00.004-05:002011-01-26T09:41:15.670-05:00

I am so excited about what God is doing in the lives of our Journey peeps! Several weeks ago, I challenged our attenders to read God's Word every day, and to ask God to show them ONE verse that they could carry around with them throughout that day. In fact, I asked them to take it a step further by purchasing a notebook and writing the following each day:S cripture - Actually hand-write the one

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-65374723047300201362011-01-25T11:54:00.003-05:002011-01-25T12:04:24.186-05:00

After Jesus began telling His disciples about the suffering and death that He would endure, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Jesus for His negative confessions. I can just hear Peter, "Come on Jesus, what's up with all of this negativity... All You ever talk about anymore is sacrifice!"Jesus' response is pretty intriguing. After telling the devil to get behind Him, Jesus says:"You are a

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-63107253330548551812011-01-24T12:55:00.002-05:002011-01-24T13:05:18.509-05:00

There is a law or principle that is true of any discipline. Whether you are seeking to become better at a musical instrument, a sport, academics, or business practices, the following principle holds true: "the more I exercise or practice something, the stronger and more improved I will become." It's just one of those laws that can't be side-stepped, and its a principle that we all instinctively

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-45223768628786884482011-01-21T11:11:00.005-05:002011-01-21T13:36:01.786-05:00

I'm always interested in how people can experience God's activity in their lives, and then just walk away from Him.Matthew records an example of this in chapter 13. Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth, and has been given the opportunity to teach in the synagogue. It is interesting to see the people's response:First, everyone was "amazed" and "astonished" at Jesus' teaching. Eugene

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-54489175433057551072011-01-20T13:59:00.002-05:002011-01-20T14:09:39.280-05:00

Do you need some strength? Stability? Security? Do you feel like you need to be rescued? Saved? Do you need the strong hands of a protector? Do you need to be shielded from all of the shrapnel of life? Do you need a place of safety?God longs to provide ALL OF THAT for you! Look at these words from the warrior poet, David:"I love You, LORD; You are my strength.The LORD is my rock, my

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-15513717866029399842011-01-19T13:55:00.002-05:002011-01-19T14:06:11.630-05:00

I was reading in the One Year Bible today, and came across an incredible statement that Joseph made in response to Pharoah's request that Joseph interpret a dream. Here it is..."'It is beyond my power to do this,' Joseph replied. 'But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.'" (Genesis 41:16, NLT)Wow! I love that line: "It is beyond my power to do this." I think God loves to get us

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-50450906305388218442011-01-13T20:45:00.002-05:002011-01-13T21:00:40.070-05:00

"Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely, the Lord is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it.'" (Genesis 28:16, NLT)Never much of an outdoorsman, Jacob was on the run from his extremely jealous and angry brother, Esau. You can just imagine how emotionally drained Jacob must have been. After saying goodbye to his parents (probably for the last time) and running all day, he now

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-49039000942192097342011-01-07T08:44:00.002-05:002011-01-07T08:52:44.589-05:00

Today, Kyle turns SIX years old! With this in mind, I've been reading some counsel that Solomon recorded for his sons, and I've been trying to really engage with the advice that Solomon was passing along. This morning, I was struck by the following challenge:"Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-25724050888070712952011-01-05T12:27:00.004-05:002011-01-05T12:36:06.899-05:00

This morning I was reading Matthew 5 in my One Year Bible, and I was struck by the word picture that Jesus uses to describe the relationship of His followers to the world. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-8446614621057857922011-01-04T14:36:00.002-05:002011-01-04T14:57:53.413-05:00

In his book, The Next Christians, Gabe Lyons briefly talks about the difference between first and second things. He explains it like this: "If I want my children to have beautiful imaginations (a second thing), I must first turn off the television, read them descriptive, fantastical books, and give them experiences that let their minds wander and dream (a first thing)... You hardly ever achieve

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-26882047602211873592010-12-31T13:32:00.001-05:002010-12-31T13:35:08.323-05:00

I stumbled across a paragraph that Lewis Smedes once wrote, and just thought that it was really profound, especially on the eve of a new year:I bought a brand-new date book yesterday, the kind I use every year--spiral bound, black imitation leather covers wrapped around pages and pages of blank boxes. Every square has a number to tell me which day of the month I'm in at the moment. Every

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-43485006680010584102010-12-30T09:27:00.002-05:002010-12-30T09:42:28.977-05:00

I've been reading Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, and I ran across a couple of paragraphs that speak to God's expectations for Israel's spiritual leaders:"The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This required reverence from them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name. They passed on to the people the

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-74900907150057844942010-08-24T15:38:00.002-04:002010-08-24T15:42:45.825-04:00

I'm really liking this verse from 1 Corinthians 15:58..."So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." (NLT)I want to live a life that is STEADFAST and IMMOVABLE... STRONG and STEADY. I don't need to be the fastest guy on the block, but I do want to have what Eugene Peterson

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-42980398601189833982010-04-23T13:40:00.002-04:002010-04-23T13:53:46.048-04:00

In reading what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit, I think that I have been a bit backwards in my understanding of Him. Growing up in a Pentecostal church, I always equated the Holy Spirit with "the baptism of the Holy Spirit" and "speaking in tongues." While I don't want to discount those experiences, I've come to realize that the Holy Spirit is SO MUCH MORE than that!I've really been

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-30157415540676564122010-04-21T15:54:00.003-04:002010-04-21T16:09:29.853-04:00

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been challenged by something that Jesus said to His followers just hours before He would be arrested, beaten and executed. He said this:John 16:7, "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor [obviously referring to the Holy Spirit, see 14:16-17, 26; 15:26] will not come to You; but if I go, I will send

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-51066370115963288392010-02-10T11:43:00.003-05:002010-02-10T11:59:29.074-05:00

Several months ago, I was reading David McCullough's 1776, and I was struck by George Washington's ability to infect others with the passion that he had for independence.At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, a lawyer named Joseph Reed had a successful Philadelphia law practice. McCullough writes that Reed "had intended to ride only as far as New York [to accompany General Washington], but

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-10552960119062628032009-12-21T15:25:00.002-05:002009-12-21T18:13:11.177-05:00

One of the ways that the Holy Spirit has been messing with my "bent toward comfort" lately is through Mark Batterson's new book, Primal (officially hits the shelves on Tuesday). As I've been reading Batterson's book, I've been reminded of the God-given passions and dreams in my life that have remained dormant and unfulfilled.In the opening pages, Batterson describes an opportunity that he had to

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-88078520855373985412009-11-13T10:35:00.002-05:002009-11-13T11:34:21.360-05:00

This morning I was reading Hebrews 11:3..."All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it from a distance and welcomed it..."I'm humbled when I read about these incredible men and women of God who risked everything, putting it ALL on the line because they were absolutely confident that they had heard God's voice. What is

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-66045612756632115272009-10-19T21:57:00.002-04:002009-10-19T22:08:51.174-04:00

Today, I stumbled across a verse that I've read many times before, but this time it really struck me. Paul is coaching a younger pastor named Timothy, and in the midst of giving him instruction, Paul states:"Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-31407464345444671752009-08-27T14:37:00.003-04:002009-08-27T14:49:35.367-04:00

An older gentleman from our church loaned me an old, out-of-print book on Sunday. Honestly, I have so many books stacked on my desk waiting to be read, that the chances were pretty slim that I'd get to it anytime soon. But yesterday, I picked it up and started reading. It has been such a life-giving book! Written by an old pastor named Malcolm Smith, the book is entitled, Turn Your Back on

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-15435197776285632062009-08-20T09:03:00.004-04:002009-08-20T09:08:34.166-04:00

This morning, we had the final weigh-in for our ten week health challenge (sponsored by the Fremont YMCA). I'm happy to report that I lost 22 pounds over the course of the past 10 weeks. (I was really hoping to be able to lose 30 pounds, but that probably wasn't too realistic!) I'm going to stay on the plan and hopefully in the next several weeks, I'll be able to get down to my goal weight.

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-52574463304990765032009-08-19T21:38:00.002-04:002009-08-19T21:50:42.476-04:00

Tonight, at our small group, we had our third Wednesday night of doing something called 20-20-20. I totally stole this from Wayne Cordeiro (if you haven't read his book, Divine Mentor, you really need to). Anyhow, we had our small group members spend 20 minutes reading the passages from today's entry of the One Year Bible. We then asked the participants to spend 20 minutes journaling on just

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-79772334444279627572009-07-15T13:40:00.003-04:002009-07-15T13:58:45.583-04:00

Ephesians 3:17b-18, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." (NIV)Several years ago I was talking to a construction worker who was digging in order to pour some footers. He made a statement that still impacts me: "If you don't go deep, you can't go high." So

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-29933645261658496252009-07-14T09:50:00.003-04:002009-07-14T10:31:45.463-04:00

Ephesians 3:16-17a, "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (NIV)This is the first part of an incredible prayer that Paul prayed for Jesus-followers in Ephesus. Paul prays that these men and women would have a strength to overcome resistance. He knows that as they

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-14169649022473078422009-06-16T21:17:00.003-04:002009-06-16T21:28:03.029-04:00

Tonight, Keri and I weighed in at the YMCA for the start of our "Fit for Fun" challenge. We are part of a 5-person team that is competing against other teams from our community to see which can lose the greatest percentage of body weight. So, anyhow, they had me step up to ascale and I about gasped when I saw that I weighed 195 pounds. (In my mind, I weighed MAYBE 178 lbs--give or take a few

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-16628208854234138222009-06-13T18:11:00.001-04:002009-06-13T22:53:47.562-04:00

The fifth and final principle that Dave Ramsey presented last Sunday was "Give." Back in January, I made the following statement in one of my posts:"...the mere fact that I drive a car (it could be any car--even a 1990 Ford Tempo with 179,000 miles), automatically places me in the top 8% of the world when it comes to wealth. Do you have running water? Are you reading this blog on your own

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-79322840174425731252009-06-13T07:59:00.002-04:002009-06-13T08:10:49.875-04:00

Dave Ramsey's fourth principle from last Sunday morning was "Save and Invest." Proverbs 21:20 states, "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil."This principle is really primary for improving your financial picture. If you don't have anything in savings than you will be constantly drawn back to debt. After getting married almost nine years ago, the first financial goal that

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-82644499594542674382009-06-12T23:00:00.002-04:002009-06-12T23:09:44.294-04:00

The third principle that Dave Ramsey talked about on Sunday was "Get on a Budget." While most of us automatically recoil when we hear the word "budget," if we're going to be wise stewards of the money that God has entrusted to us, we MUST have a spending-plan.In Luke 14:20, Jesus stated, "Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-39701262258949557292009-06-11T22:03:00.002-04:002009-06-11T22:24:43.846-04:00

This past Sunday, Dave Ramsey's second point was "Act Your Wage."  The basic premise is that Americans desperately need to learn how to spend LESS than they make.For six years I had the opportunity of serving a large church as their young adults pastor.  One of the great perks about the job was getting to officiate at a lot of marriages.  As I would talk about money issues with the couples during

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-69808031322090859462009-06-10T13:08:00.002-04:002009-06-10T13:44:42.284-04:00

This past Sunday at Journey, Dave Ramsey taught us some great basics of biblical finances.  The first point that he made was the need to GET OUT OF DEBT.  According to Proverbs 22:7, "... the borrower is the slave of the lender."  Have you ever felt that way?  Ever felt like you were a slave to the bills that were flooding into your mailbox?One of the reasons why debt is so dangerous is because

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-18085084998827799712009-06-08T08:16:00.002-04:002009-06-08T08:26:42.153-04:00

I was just reading a friend's blog, and he had a great quote from Francis Chan:"Worry and stress reek of arrogance."How true!  When I think of the greatness of God and really dwell on WHO He is and what He has done in my life, how dare I spend so much time stressing and worrying?!  Yet, I find myself stuck in that rut on so many different occasions.  Not proud of that."God, give me a view of YOU

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-32123135512872149672009-06-05T23:36:00.002-04:002009-06-05T23:43:51.011-04:00

As followers of Jesus, we're commanded to do one simple thing... Love.  Jesus said that the most important thing in life is to love God and to love other people.  Think about it... what if life is really all about learning how to love?  And I'm not just talking about loving the people who love us back.Personally, I feel like God is challenging me more and more to love the strangers that I

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-18165002296312510732009-03-03T21:39:00.002-05:002009-03-03T21:58:08.947-05:00

I've gotta give props to Roger Hart for facilitating our Community Garden meeting tonight.  As I've posted before, our vision is two-pronged: (1) To grow, harvest and distribute fresh produce to benefit local food-banks, shelters and other community residents needing assistance; and (2) to offer a sort of "on-the-job-training" education for those who are in need.We had a better attendance at

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-83008503520380159182009-02-12T15:23:00.003-05:002009-02-13T09:36:05.556-05:00

I just read a quote by youth culture expert, Jim Burns, who states that by the year 2011 (just two years from now), cell phones will be the greatest providers of pornography.  I had posted avideo of Jim Burns talking about this subject, but found that when the video was completed, Youtube was recommending videos that were totally inappropriate, serving as a horrible reinforcement of the point

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-26188741080649385792009-02-08T21:36:00.002-05:002009-02-08T21:59:38.914-05:00

This evening, our family joined another church family to stuff our faces at a Fremont pizza buffet.  Unknowingly, seated at the back of the restaurant at some pushed-together tables was a sizable group of skinheads.  How do I know?  They made themselves obvious with tattoos and leather jackets consisting of swastikas, confederate flags, and other related symbols.  We didn't notice the group until

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-36324733350772795332009-02-05T16:09:00.002-05:002009-02-05T16:16:36.979-05:00

This morning, I went to a funeral for a guy who was 44 years old when he died. And so I've spent some time this afternoon thinking about the fragile nature of life. I'm not promised tomorrow! So, what am I doing TODAY to take advantage of the opportunities that God has given to me? How do I make sure that my relationships are given the prime-time when it comes to my availability, rather than

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-24654754261615920712009-02-04T14:36:00.002-05:002009-02-04T14:43:29.133-05:00

I'm spending a bit of time this afternoon prepping for Sunday's first "official" message of our 40 Days of Love series. (If you're interested in last Sunday's sermon previewing the new series, you can listen to it for free by clicking here.)  Anyhow, in the midst of preparing, I came across the following quotes about busyness as it relates to the depth of our relationships...Dr. Richard Swenson

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-5266244418544559432009-02-03T13:45:00.002-05:002009-02-03T14:03:06.467-05:00

Several weeks ago I had the chance to read Predictably Irrational, written by MIT professor, Dan Ariely.  Several of Ariely's studies have particularly interested me, including the following:The power of "free."  You can sell something for mere cents, but the minute you offer it for "free," get out of the way and wait for the stampede.  Implication for the church?  Stop nickel and diming

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-29934874053459211752009-02-02T16:32:00.003-05:002009-02-02T16:36:47.686-05:00

I've been a huge fan of xxxchurch.com for some time... Now the guys who started the website, are starting a church in Las Vegas.  Check out the following website to find out more details... Click here.  I absolutely love their vision.  These guys are going to make a huge difference.

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-43731179325126896732009-02-02T13:55:00.002-05:002009-02-02T14:43:37.409-05:00

In an article that I was reading this morning, I was reminded that, in Chinese, the word for "crisis" is actually a combination of two words--danger and opportunity.  Think about that!  So, here's my question, "Why are we so good at seeing the danger in a crisis, but so poor at realizing any opportunity in the same crisis?"Today's Old Testament reading from the One Year Bible focuses on Moses, an

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-23021601278489881802009-02-01T14:38:00.002-05:002009-02-01T14:44:41.419-05:00

NBC has rejected the following Super Bowl commercial by catholicvote, a pro-life Catholic group.  An NBC representative in Chicago told  the group this past Wednesday (the 28th) that NBC and the NFL are not interested in advertisements involving "political advocacy or issues."  I guess they'd rather air ads that show tight shirts and advocate getting plastered.  Anyhow, check out the ad below and

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-27440423815834005322009-01-31T17:04:00.003-05:002009-01-31T17:14:19.512-05:00

In November of 2007, I posted a video called "Shift Happens" (click here to view it).  Yesterday, LifeChurch.tv's blog posted the following updated video:"So, what are the implications for those of us who are consumed with the Kingdom of God?"  I asked this question back in 2007, and as you can tell, it is a question that continues to grow in importance.  How do we harness technology?  How are we

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-37578595964108078762009-01-31T16:41:00.005-05:002009-01-31T16:57:31.520-05:00

The third way that we're going to be partnering with you in sharing your faith is through a major media blitz.  Two weeks before Easter, we will begin airing 30 second television spots on local cable.  In addition, we will be utilizing billboards, radio, and personal invitation cards.  The theme?  NOTHINGS TOO HARD FOR GOD!  The actual ads were developed by the network of churches that we're

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-50049038479323021322009-01-30T11:24:00.002-05:002009-01-30T11:43:06.103-05:00

I'm so excited about a second way that Journey can partner with you in sharing your faith this spring... through a COMMUNITY GARDEN.  Journey owns seven acres of property on the corner of Route 20 and Route 19 South.  Eventually, we'll build a mninistry facility on the site, but in the mean time, we feel a responsibility to benefit our community with the acreage.  Thus, the idea of creating a

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-52354216500673549262009-01-29T15:12:00.005-05:002009-01-29T15:30:28.435-05:00

In my last post, I mentioned that the church is meant to be a partner in our efforts to share our faith.  As you take the time to really listen to the people around you, you'll find that quite a few are seriously lacking in relationship skills (often because of hurts growing up).  In the process of listening, I hope that you'll invite your friend to Journey for the new series that we're launching

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-82813758847227581292009-01-27T08:28:00.002-05:002009-01-27T08:43:59.929-05:00

Sunday morning, we finished our series "Every One" with a challenge to reach the "every one" in OUR city and county.  I talked about the need to really LISTEN!When we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and we really listen to the folks that we rub shoulders with everyday, we find opportunities that never seemed to exist.  Instead of coming at people with canned speeches and memorized

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-76317410466965050522009-01-22T07:52:00.005-05:002009-01-22T07:57:31.748-05:00

I was looking through my phone this morning, and found these images of my kids after a yummy Arby's lunch of chicken tenders and french fries (yes, we are a very nutritious family).  I love my family!

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-30197536788536470232009-01-22T07:20:00.002-05:002009-01-22T07:40:13.061-05:00

"Elijah was a man just like us.  He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.  Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."  (James 5:16-18)This is certainly an interesting verse, isn't it?!  Why do you think that James stresses that Elijah was a man just like us?  John Eldredge (see past two posts)

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-9888814067380011952009-01-21T09:25:00.003-05:002009-01-21T21:09:14.584-05:00

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." Ephesians 1:17In my last post, I mentioned that I've been reading John Eldredge's Walking with God and I promised to share a bit of what I've been chewing on.  Let's begin with a comment that Eldredge makes based on the above passage from

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-54169843799869067632009-01-19T16:57:00.003-05:002009-01-21T10:22:50.354-05:00

Today has been such a relaxing day off... A real gift from God! While the kids were napping, I picked up John Eldredge's Walking with God, a book that I actually began several months ago. Even now, the gears are turning, and I have the sense that I'm stumbling upon some truths that really have the potential to change the trajectory of things in my life. I'll have to chew some more, but I'm

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-38379288000921191632009-01-17T14:19:00.002-05:002009-01-17T14:34:33.295-05:00

Last year, I read a great book entitled, A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders by Reggie McNeal.  This morning, I picked it up and was leafing through to see what I had marked up (I'm a firm believer in writing all over a book--that's why you should never let me borrow your book!).  Anyhow, I stumbled upon a passage that has really been working on me.  McNeal writes:Many

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-38629194832050298912009-01-16T22:29:00.003-05:002009-01-16T22:48:06.088-05:00

If you're following along in the One-Year Bible (a great strategy for reading through the Bible), you'll know that we looked at several interesting Old Testament accounts today.  Genesis 32:22-32 is especially profound.On the eve of preparing to meet Esau (a long-estranged brother), Jacob is naturally scared and frightened.  He sends everyone else foward so that he can be alone to "experience" or

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-41857560127574673582009-01-15T12:29:00.003-05:002009-01-15T12:35:44.699-05:00

This video clip features Penn Jillette of the duo, Penn and Teller.  While Penn is an outspoken atheist, he is visibly emotional after receiving a Bible as a gift.  I'm challenged by his commentary... I've got to do more for the Kingdom of God!

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-70639378903733640602009-01-14T16:05:00.003-05:002009-01-14T16:25:43.028-05:00

I'm sure that a lot of you have probably already seen iamsecond.com .  If not, you really need to take some time and explore it.  I'm blown away by the excellence AND the actual impact of what they are doing.

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-68663525902909163432009-01-14T12:48:00.002-05:002009-01-14T12:59:22.080-05:00

Several years ago, I got to see Louie Giglio give a talk while he was on Chris Tomlin's Indescribable tour.  It was an absolutely incredible evening.  Anyhow, this morning I saw the following video clip on Jeff Leake's blog... This is from a talk that Louie gave on the How Great is Our God tour.Our God is absolutely AMAZING!

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-83496253175079104792009-01-13T21:20:00.002-05:002009-01-13T21:30:59.888-05:00

Earlier, I blogged about Awaken, a 21 day emphasis of prayer and fasting that now includes over 300 churches.  One of the things that I'm fasting is the boob tube (as my grandpa called it).We're only a few days into this three week emphasis, and yet the television fast is probably going to be the most worthwhile part.  I find that I'm reading more, spending more quality time with Keri and the

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-68658534944696738492009-01-13T13:46:00.003-05:002009-01-13T13:53:09.678-05:00

Roger Hart emailed me an article today that highlights a brand new survey released by the Barna Group.  Here are some of the statistics that I found to be most noteworthy:Among individuals who describe themselves as Christian, for instance, close to half believe that Satan does not exist, one-third contend that Jesus sinned while He was on earth, two-fifths say they do not have a responsibility

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-5175773500540346672009-01-12T10:25:00.003-05:002009-01-12T10:34:10.845-05:00

Last Wednesday night, I found myself in a bar for the first time in probably ten years.  No, I didn't go to throw back some Miller Lights... I went to help somebody that simply needed my help.  Honestly, I've been thinking about that experience for the last several days.  If our church is about seeing (1) lives changed, (2) a spiritual awakening, and (3) community impact... then why aren't we

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-50769452728489779622009-01-10T15:55:00.004-05:002009-01-10T16:00:57.101-05:00

Over the past 24+ hours, we've received our first major snow fall of the winter (up until now, we've just had a lot of freezing rain).  So, it was fun to bundle up the kids and take them outside for a time of romping in the snow.

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-59895018149487339012009-01-10T07:46:00.002-05:002009-01-10T07:54:08.990-05:00

Back in November, Brian Mosley from over at Bluefish TV penned the following on his blog:This past weekend I was rocked by something that Francis Chan said. He told a room of 1000 pastors and church leaders that much of our ministry might be powered by our own efforts and not the power of the Holy Spirit. Francis said that he knew how to grow a church — he’s a pretty good speaker, he can lead a

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-10403384658440528912009-01-09T16:01:00.003-05:002009-01-09T16:24:41.224-05:00

"My name is Ken and I am rich."Why is it so hard for us to admit to being rich?  Studies have shown that when people are asked how much it takes to be rich, they almost always give a figure that is twice their current income.  Yet, the mere fact that I drive a car (it could be any car--even a 1990 Ford Tempo with 179,000 miles), automatically places me in the top 8% of the world when it comes to

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-82532566347856216802009-01-08T14:31:00.004-05:002009-01-08T18:03:10.732-05:00

This Sunday, Journey will be joining Awakening, a movement of over 200 churches that are calling for a 21 day fast.  So, in preparation, last night's Bible study group spent the evening discussing fasting.  Specifically, we looked at Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14-15; and Isaiah 58:3-11.In Isaiah 58, God tells His people that He doesn't want an empty routine that merely abstains from food.  Rather, a

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-81036861226855566472009-01-07T16:20:00.002-05:002009-01-07T16:24:37.680-05:00

Crazy to think that Kyle turned 4 today!  Keri made him a tray of cupcakes (complete with chocolate frosting and sprinkles) to take to preschool.  I picked him up and we made the obligatory stop at McDonalds before heading home.  Tonight, Kyle has requested to go to Fort Ball Pizza Palace for dinner (a boy after my own heart).  Happy Birthday, Bud!

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-15462368914709138702009-01-06T21:26:00.002-05:002009-01-06T21:50:06.526-05:00

As I reflect on the leadership books that I read in 2008, there is one book that stands out as being the most helpful: Bill Hybel's Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs.  Concise and incredibly readable, Hybels presents 76 leadership principles from his 30+ years of pastoring (founder and lead pastor at Willow Creek Community Church.As I read Axiom, I zeroed in on 20 of the principles that I feel

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-3760007766981552202009-01-06T07:32:00.001-05:002009-01-06T07:32:01.022-05:00

Sunday morning, Journey had the privilege of hosting Ben and Kami Heilman, new missionaries to Cambodia.  I've got SOO much respect for young families, such as the Heilmans, who are willing to GO wherever God wants them to go and DO whatever God wants them to do.These guys are going to an area that is less than 1% Christian and is part of what missiologists call the "10/40 window."  The 10/40

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-37697386709640242892009-01-05T15:41:00.003-05:002009-01-05T15:55:03.650-05:00

Alright, the last time I posted something on this blog was LAST year, so I guess I need to get back up on the horse!One of my "goals" for 2009 is to read a book a week, and I've just finished my first: No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green.  This is the most "out of the blue" selection, but it's a book that really impacted me in a positive way when I first read it in

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-12595898273714207282008-11-25T13:13:00.001-05:002008-11-25T13:15:39.156-05:00

Saw this on Paul Grabill's blog, and think it's an excellent video... we may use this on a Sunday at Journey...

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-41118279379664705192008-11-12T15:16:00.002-05:002008-11-12T15:35:28.502-05:00

Back in October, I read a passage from 1 Timothy that has stuck with me.1 Timothy 6:11-14, "But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so RUN from all these evil things. PURSUE righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. FIGHT the good fight for the true faith. HOLD TIGHTLY to the eternal life to which God has called you... Then no man can find fault with you

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-89538570114562322122008-11-11T12:04:00.003-05:002008-11-11T12:16:19.463-05:00

This past Sunday, our church began a 6 week examination of some of the cages that keep us from realizing the adventurous life that Jesus really has for us. We made available a simple, little book that has really amped up my desire to more fully follow Christ. Written by Mark Batterson, the book is entitled, Wild Goose Chase. On the first page, Mark writes the following as a way of introduction:

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-70054253037395317002008-11-06T16:47:00.004-05:002008-11-06T16:58:32.081-05:00

Click here to find out just how rich you are. I just found out that, when it comes to the world's average personal income, I'm in the top 3%. In other words, I have no basis for EVER complaining about my lack... Rather, I need to determine to give as never before. How rich are you?

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-40849219540496482132008-11-06T14:39:00.003-05:002008-11-06T14:53:29.483-05:00

Back in February, our Wednesday night small group began a verse-by-verse study of the book of Romans. Interestingly enough, last night we landed in the beginning of Romans 13. This passage is especially timely for the evangelical community in light of Mr. Obama's election to the presidency on Tuesday night. There are three major takeaways (props to my district superintendent, Pastor John

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-82459949692636414922008-09-26T08:03:00.003-04:002008-09-26T08:08:12.648-04:00

Paul Grabill from State College Assembly in Pennsylvania recently wrote a great post about patriotism. I'm certainly chewing on what he has to say...http://scassembly.blogspot.com/2008/09/can-patriotism-go-too-far.htmlCheck it out and then come back over here and let me know what YOU think!

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-61251088704228670002008-09-25T13:17:00.002-04:002008-09-25T13:26:45.711-04:00

I was reading an article about the presidential election, and the author stated that one of the candidates needed more "red cell" thinking. According to Lynn Sweet of The Chicago Sun-Times, "Red cell is a term used by the intelligence community to describe wild, out-of-the-box approaches to potential situations."At the Willow Creek Leadership Summit back in August, Craig Groeschel challenged

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-5782112123075859192008-09-21T22:51:00.002-04:002008-09-21T22:57:30.298-04:00

Every 2-3 months, we're committed to doing a service called "Family Day." The idea is pretty simple... We combine our kids church with the "big people's service" and just have a lot of fun! The kids love it (and I've been told that the adults secretly enjoy it, as well). Keri and I team-teach and today's teaching on "The Full Armor of God" even included a guest-appearance by local fireman,

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-31718989461868053552008-09-15T07:46:00.002-04:002008-09-15T13:46:30.946-04:00

This wasn't the best weekend to be a Buckeyes/Browns fan... Not the best week at all! I'm just glad that there is more to life than football!Here are some things that have cheered me up today:Check out our video from the baptism service that we held a week ago... http://www.vimeo.com/1725684Friday night we hosted our very first Fifth Quarter event after the local football games. We were excited

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-33120914021724750522008-09-07T21:36:00.002-04:002008-09-07T21:40:52.891-04:00

This afternoon I had the PRIVILEGE of baptizing six of our folks over at White Star Beach in Gibsonburg. We had an absolutey beautiful day and I was really pleased with the number of famiy members and Journey attenders who came out to support those who were being baptized. We celebrated afterward with an incredible cookout and potluck! In the next few days, I'll try to post a video and some

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-7473755959818242992008-08-24T22:50:00.005-04:002008-08-25T06:48:02.678-04:00

Tonight, our car driven by Robert, won his heat at the Sandusky County Fair's Demolition Derby! How cool is that! Between this past Tuesday and today, our folks at Journey gave out over 2,400 bottles of ice cold water. I love the fact that we are able to serve our community in such a tangible way... and winning the Demolition Derby isn't too shabby, either!

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-91624036047630866432008-08-13T09:16:00.002-04:002008-08-13T09:26:21.495-04:00

Keri and I have TWO weeks left to go in our Ten Week Challenge, and I've got to tell you that I'm SO glad that we committed to this. I've lost about 15 pounds so far, and even greater, I've put on some muscle (not enough to be bustin through any of my shirts, but enough to be noticed). In addition, I've gotten back in the habit of running... I've been trying to run at least 3 miles at least 3

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-16048147809780671952008-08-03T23:12:00.003-04:002008-08-03T23:16:37.891-04:00

As a lot of you know, Keri and I are huge fans of ABC's Monday night show, The Mole. I had planned on giving you updates each week on who we think the Mole actually is, but life has been busy. So, in anticipation of tomorrow night's finale where the Mole will finally be identified, my prediction is that the Mole is Craig. And I'll go a step further in predicting that Mark will win the whole

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-86199030553612231142008-07-29T14:51:00.003-04:002008-07-29T14:54:50.725-04:00

I found this to be of huge interest. Rick Warren has certainly emerged as an extremely influential evangelical leader... His influence is demonstrated in his ability to get Barak Obama and John McCain to sit down TOGETHER at his church for a discussion between the three. I'm interested to hear what you think!

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-20859477949915951512008-07-27T14:57:00.002-04:002008-07-27T15:02:33.668-04:00

Yesterday, I was praying and I just really got the sense that God was going to do something uniquely special in this morning's service. Boy, did He! Not only did we have a record-breaking attendance this morning (that's not hard to do when your church has only been around 1 1/2 years!!), but I really felt like God did some major work in the hearts of people. Most importantly, two people made

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-23395594427909112982008-07-23T13:47:00.002-04:002008-07-23T13:56:09.590-04:00

Sunday afternoon, Keri and I were able to get away for two days in Amish Country to celebrate our Eighth Wedding Anniversary. We had the opportunity to spend each of our nights at two completely different Bed and Breakfast inns (we thoroughly enjoyed them both)! Incidentally, it was our first time doing the B&B experience!One of the many things that I appreciate about Amish Country is that all

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-21058873053875814312008-07-18T09:50:00.003-04:002008-07-18T09:57:41.985-04:00

Last night, I went to a birthday party for Judy Schauder, an incredible woman in our church who turned 70 yesterday! Of course, we enjoyed eating birthday cake and making the obligatory jokes about her age, but the highlight was when everyone sat down and began, one-by-one, sharing about the spiritual difference that Judy has made in their lives (I had never met most of these people). For

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-18084116578126114432008-07-08T13:02:00.002-04:002008-07-08T13:15:05.724-04:00

We had such a great weekend! Friday we had some family members over for a 4th of July cookout and then, afterward, went to Fremont's fireworks.On Sunday morning, we had a special "Family Service" at Journey that combined the Kids Church and the "Big People's" church services. Keri and I tag-teamed the teaching and SHE really did a phenomenal job! I think it was good for the kids to actually

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-77920975867455092112008-07-04T15:08:00.004-04:002008-07-04T15:12:09.802-04:00

Mark Batterson wrote this on his blog today (http://www.evotional.com/), I really thought that it was incredible post. Enjoy!"I love history. And I love America! Thought I'd share a little of both as we celebrate Independence Day.We live in a a day and age where we almost have to defend our patriotism. I'm certainly not suggesting that America is above reproach. Far from it. But a few years ago I

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-25026461253884100382008-06-27T16:50:00.007-04:002008-07-04T15:13:08.651-04:00

Last night was our Schools Out Bash, an outreach event for the kids in our community. Despite some bad weather, we still had a great turnout. Pastor Keith and the team from Toledo's Calvary Assembly did a great job! They brought a group of their kids who ministered through human videos and dramas. They also brought an awesome slip 'n slide, cotton candy machine, popcorn machine, and a great big

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-71138209344683419532008-06-16T07:46:00.003-04:002008-06-16T07:53:36.566-04:00

Yesterday, Keri and I got "weighed-in" at our YMCA for the launch of the 10 Week Challenge. We're part of a 6 person team that is competing against 100 other teams to see who can lose the largest percentage of weight. I've got to tell you that I'm actually really excited about this! I weighed in at 186 pounds, and my goal is to lose 20-25 pounds... Anyhow, I'll try to give you weekly updates!

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-42391284357825065802008-06-13T14:33:00.002-04:002008-06-13T14:44:19.739-04:00

No, I'm not about to start speculating about Obama and McCain's running mates (we'll save that for another posting)! This afternoon, I was elected vice-president of Fremont's premier service organization, the Exchange Club. This means that I spend the next two years preparing to become president in July, 2010. (Before you start congratulating me, you should know that nobody else wanted the job!)

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-14540811289758745002008-05-28T14:02:00.003-04:002008-05-28T14:20:28.413-04:00

This past Sunday, I launched our Knowing God's Will sermon series (I am borrowing heavily from a similar series by Andy Stanley). In our first week, we looked at the three different ways that "the will of God" is used in the Bible: (1) the Providential Will of God, (2) the Moral Will of God, and (3) the Personal Will of God.The Providential Will of God is the stuff that God is going to do no

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169920.post-78988002205837518622008-05-27T16:44:00.002-04:002008-05-27T16:53:58.544-04:00

Last week, while we were on our drive to North Carolina for vacation (let me just tell you THAT drive is an eternity when you've got two kids under the age of 3 in the back seat), ANYHOW, we stopped for an hour to let the kids walk around Colonial Williamsburg. On our way back from the colonial village to the visitor's center, I noticed that the walkway had bricks that were engraved with

Ken DeChanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652471419662597579noreply@blogger.com0