20th Anniversary at The Vine Fellowship

Today marks a Vine Fellowship sponsored celebration of my pastoring here for 20 years. Little did I know when God called me to ‘pastor the people he would send me’ here in Arlington that I would be here 20 years. I am a plodder, long termer, and a finisher (probably from my marathon running days)!

As I reflected this week on this milestone accomplishment in my life and ministry, I thought of the many joys, a few heartaches, and numerous accomplishments. I do have regrets and if I had it to do over would be much wiser in my decisions and pastoring skills.

For instance, one do over was during a time when the church was packed out with new people attending every Sunday. I had been healed of ‘spinal stenosis’ in both my upper neck and lower back. I had been told I needed surgery and would never run again nor play tennis, etc. My wife had to dress me, sleep escaped me, and the pain was excruciating! But, it was the Sunday after my healing and in an overwhelming emotional response I went down to a visiting guest speaker and danced a little jig with him. The next week, a lot of those visitors were gone never to return. Guess I offended people with my celebration. (So did David when he danced before the Lord!) Go figure!

Another time was when I was talking to a member who was upset with me. I asked him to come in to see me and let’s not have this discussion over the phone. He declined and then I did a big piece of stupid by saying ‘If you were a man you would come in to see me!’ I lost both he and his wife and finally experienced their unbridled anger in my office. Ouch! (Only share these openly so you Pastors won’t do them!)

There have been heartaches that besides my loving faithful wife Debi standing by my side, I endured alone. The funeral of one of the men instrumental in my coming here, a loyal supporter and constant encourager was very hard for me. None knew of my heartache as I said goodbye to him and felt alone and now very vulnerable. Another time was when a leader moved away. He was the best encourager that I had and ‘had my back.’ It was a dark day for me when he left.

Disappointing was the fact that the church never grew to be a mega church (after all success is built on the attendance of your church, right?) I endured others who felt they could pastor the members of The Vine better than I could and unwittingly help establish other churches in the area.  Members that I had cared for through the years decided that they could find a better Pastor or church, and again I help make other churches ‘successful’ by sowing people to them.

But, God has given me many more glorious memories than regrets! I have led many people to Christ, seen marriages restored even in the devastation of adultery and bitterness, seen families healed and restored, seen members mature in their faith, helped many through the loss of loved ones, sat at the bedside of dying members, seen members pursue a calling in the ministry, seen countless verifiable healings by the power of God, have received much encouragement and support from the Vine members, and seen many volunteers serve God and this church.

He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. Ps 78:70-72 NIV

Would I serve here had I to do it all over again even knowing what I was going to experience these 20 years. You betcha! I would do it without a second thought! 

Thank you Vine Fellowship for making these the best years of my life. I love you all!

(I also want to thank the love of my life, my greatest encourager, my soul mate, my faithful wife Debi for helping along this journey. I love you dear, you’re absolutely wonderful! Yes she is!)

Atheist Song - First hymnal for Atheists

Poor atheist, they really don't have anything (or anybody) to sing about!

Too funny, hahahaha!

Click here to view video.

Church Planting Made Easy!

this is a great parody of our times!

 Hope you enjoy this, I did! hahaha

click here to view video

Your Yankee Bias is Showing!

(this email sent to TBS Sports on their coverage of the playoffs)

Yep, I'm from Texas. And yes, I love the Texas Rangers and I am so very proud they are in the playoffs.

What I don't like is having to listen to the obvious bias of your sports announcers towards the New York Yankees. For the last 4 games we have been subject to disdaining remarks and no confidence on your part towards Texas as a contender for the World Series. It is as if we are not a legitimate team in comparison to the Yankees. Why can't you guys just say something positive about the Rangers without one of you making a follow up remark questioning our ability! We wouldn't be here if we weren't good and a serious contender!

One of my friends posted this comment, "These (TBS) announcers sure do sound depressed, I'm not sure who wants the Yankees to win more the announcers or the Yankees themselves!"

Another friend states concerning the bias, '"We listened to the radio announcers while we watched the game. Much better coverage." Another friend tried that but said the time lag made it hard to watch TV and listen to the radio.

So you have the coverage tied up and we have to watch you. But please, spare us the bias and cover the game and the teams fairly. You will help the game and your future as a network that we here in Texas will choose to watch or not.

Your call, please make the right one on this!

Go Rangers,
David Kerr

Texas Room

Texas Room

Debi and I are in Scotland. We came over on Sept 27, 2010 to spend a late vacation with friends and a ministry we support here in Scotland.

The picture above is the Texas Room at the Overtoun House in Dumbarton, Scotland. It is run by our friends Bob and Melissa Hill. We decorated this room with things we brought over from Texas.

The Texas Room along with other rooms will help in the vision for the ministry:

Care for Young Mothers

Specifically we will be providing care for young mothers in crisis with a residential facility, which
will include nurturing, and training for life. These services will be comprised of training in life skills such as mothering and childcare, health and hygiene, job training, conflict management, and social responsibility. Our hope is to prepare them for their future life within the broader community and equip them to be responsible citizens. Local churches will help provide caring structures to ease their transition back into the community.

Women in Crisis

We will also provide for the short term care of abused women within our community in support of the current social work programmes. This would, in effect, be an emergency based provision
of love and care, as well as protection for these women while they await sheltered accommodation provided by the local authority. These facilities will house both the women and their children. It is our hope to work alongside local churches and social work to provide continuing support for these women within our communities.

The Vine Fellowship is delighted to fund and equip this room to be a place where the needs of women and young mothers can be provided.

Thanks to Bob and Melissa for the opportunity to provide for and serve this great ministry.

It is not the critic who counts...

It is not the critic who counts,

nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,

or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the Arena,

whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood,

who strives valiantly…

who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions,

who spends himself in a worthy cause,

who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,

and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails

while daring greatly,

so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls

who have known neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt



Count your...

Count your blessings instead of your crosses,

Count your gains instead of your losses,

Count your joys instead of your woes,

Count your friends instead of your foes,

Count your smiles instead of your tears,

Count your courage instead of your fears,

Count your full years instead of your lean,

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean,

Count your health instead of your wealth,

Count on God instead of yourself.

What I Learned From Weight Watchers

"But you don’t look like you need to lose weight," said Kay as she sized up the man she had just hesitantly and cautiously let in the door to the Weight Watchers center so early on that January morning. I had arrived early for my first meeting and registration only to find that the meeting time had changed and I was way too early. Kay was in the process of opening for the day when I surprised her by knocking on the locked door.

I responded to her, "I have some weight that I want to lose but more significantly I want to get control over my out of control eating." I was out of control because of a series of events that had occurred in years past. I found I was a compulsive eater without self-control. I ate too large of portions. I ate to handle stress in my life. And I had a ‘pastry demon’ that I didn’t want to live without!

So Kay signed me up! That was January 29, 2010. I am now 30 lbs lighter and have achieved my goals of self-control and portion control. I am now at the weight that I want to maintain for the rest of my life! I am also now a lifetime member of Weight Watchers!

Here’s what attending Weight Watchers did for me:
1.It gave me the tools, instruction and accountability to achieve my goals.
2.I learned portion control and the valued ‘point system.’
3.I was accepted into a group that had common goals. (Even though I was a man! ‘Men!’ I heard often as my weight declined almost every meeting!!!!)
4.I stayed with my points daily.
5.I rarely used any of my weekly bonus points.
6.I used the WW iPhone app continuously with nothing going in my mouth, bought at the store, or ordered at a restaurant without first checking the points beforehand.
7.Followed guidelines in ‘Eat This Not That’ books, website and app to help make food choices.
8.Restaurant meals were preplanned. Most of the time I determined what I was going to eat in advance of going. As a pastor, I eat out a lot. For instance during last year’s Mission Conference I ate in restaurants 7 days in a row, twice on a couple of days and gained no weight!
9.I have a ‘pastry demon’ meaning I love desserts. I limited my eating of them and followed the ‘3 bites rule’ to be satisfied. I used WW Ice-Cream sandwiches often as a reward.
10.94% Fat Free Kettle Pop-Corn saved me many a night before bedtime so that I didn’t go to bed hungry. Mini Caramel Rice Cakes helped also.
11.I found a new appreciation and delight in eating fruits, especially oranges.
12.My exercise included treadmill work and weight training.
13.I had an encouraging, fully engaged spouse to walk through this with me, thank you Debi!

What I am doing now is maintaining the weight I lost! It has become a lifetime goal to stay at this weight. I still follow the portion control, only eat when I am hungry, and have the ‘points system’ in my mind at all times. It has reminded me that I am in control of what I eat; not my spouse, not the cook, not the restaurant.

‘A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.’ (Pro. 25.28 ESV)

I have finally rebuilt my walls destroyed by years of a lack of self-control!

Are You Obdurate?

I came across a great word the other day. It was used in reference to current politicians who are out of touch with the voters and refuse to acknowledge and respond to their wishes. People currently are rejecting obdurate politicians and voting against them!

ob•du•rate
1. unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding.
2. stubbornly resistant to moral influence; persistently impenitent: an obdurate sinner.

Synonyms 1. hard, obstinate, callous, unbending, inflexible. 2. unregenerate, reprobate, shameless.
Antonyms 1. soft, tractable. 2. humble, repentant.

It is a word that can define pastors, church members, staff members, employers and employees, children and parents, husband and wives, and those who fail to respond to constant pleas to change their lives and behavior.

I twittered this thought the other day, ‘If God doesn't fit your lifestyle maybe you ought to change your lifestyle to fit His Word!' One who would reject this and scoff at it is being obdurate!

This word really captures the atmosphere of our present society and how we relate to each other and to authority in general.

"God gives grace to the humble. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall exalt you." Jas. 4:10.

How does one keep from obduracy?
1.Refuse to be stubborn.
2.Realize you can be wrong.
3.Admit when you are wrong.
4.Stay humble.
5.Stay repentant.
6.Ask for forgiveness.
7.And above all, approach life with flexibility instead of rigidity.

Your choice- obduracy or humility!

Law of the Garbage Truck

Today is take out the trash day at our house- how significant is that you might ask? Read on...

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ... Love the people who treat you right.

Pray for the ones who don't.

If God Started Tweeting-

Great comic about God tweeting!

A Rant by David W Kerr

Why Don't Liberals Get It? I am so tired of  the Liberals (politicians, hollywood, president Obama, etc) just ignoring plain simple facts as if they can close their eyes/ears and pretend these things aren't happening.

The picture below is not pretty, it's tragic. Read Alisha's story! (I generally don't read Time, but thanks to them and Jodi Bieber for the truth!)

Aisha, 18, was dragged from her home by the Taliban after running away from her husband. Despite her pleas that her in-laws had been abusive, that they had treated her like a slave, that she had no choice but to escape, a Taliban commander said she must be punished, lest other girls in the village try to do the same thing. Aisha's family members carried out the punishment: her brother-in-law held her down while her husband sliced off her ears and nose, then left her to die. She is now hidden in a secret women's shelter, where she was taken after receiving care from U.S. forces. Read more: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2007161_2170316,00.html#ixzz0vdb2xa3a

Are Liberals really that stupid? The Taliban are atrocious in their ways, defeat them! Illegal aliens are just that, illegal, deport them and don't make laws supporting them! Mosque (a Muslim temple) near site of 911 is an affront to human decency, don't let it happen! Arizona has a right to fight illegal immigration and shouldn't have to fight it's own liberal government and the liberal courts! Abortion IS the killing of a human life, not a fetus, stop the genocide in our own great country! Hamas is a terrorist organization; and you will not make 'peace' with Muslims unless it is on their own terms, totally subjugated and defeated! Practicing sharia law in the US is an affront to our Constitution!

These things are self evident and so easy to understand that even a caveman can! Hey Liberal, what's your excuse?

(this is my personal rant and does not reflect the opinions of my staff, church, family, fellowship, etc.)

Can You Take a Break From the Lord’s Work?

The findings have surfaced with ominous regularity over the last few years, and with little notice: Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could.

read article here

What do you think?

True Meaningful Lasting Friendships

We hear a lot about friendships- What is BFF? (Best Friends Forever) How do we establish long lasting friends? How many friends do you have on Facebook (can you really have 4,000 friends!)? How many really true friends can one have? Why isn’t this a friendly church? Plus there are many more questions regarding friendships.

The subject came up at an emerging leaders meeting at the Liberty Fellowship conference a few weeks ago. How does LF help one to establish true lifelong friendships? It was evident to those there that many in LF had true lasting friendships. That is a fact but how they were formed became the topic of discussion. I will use Debi and me as an example.

Some felt that the strong friendships we had were formed in a later era (can’t believe I wrote that) when many of LF were in Liberty Bible College. It is true that we began many great friendships there. We all had many things in common as we were going through the same difficult times going to school and trying to make a living. Many of us shared meals and helped each other; so it was during these testing times we became friends.

But, as Debi pointed out to the group, the true lasting friendships were developed after we left Bible School. We made an effort even though separated by distance to develop those friendships to what they are today!

Yes, ‘to have friends one must show himself friendly,’ but to have deep lasting friendship one must sacrifice to develop it. It costs time, money, blood, sweat and tears! If you are not willing to go after it, it will not happen! No one can help you make friends. It is up to you and you alone!

Debi said that developing a friendship is like courting. You have to select someone to develop that friendship with and then spend time with them to see if it is a fit. You may click together, you may not! Admit it, you may not have the same DNA fit! No condemnation! Just keep trying until you feel it is a fit. Then, pursue it at all costs!

Hints,

Find someone that you can relate to, it may be same interests, same age children, sports, etc.
Find someone that will be concerned for your soul!

Find someone that will stick closer than a brother!

Find someone that will invest sacrificially in the relationship.

Find someone that will be there for you. 24/7 availability!

Find someone that you can pick up with at the same spot as the last time you were together even though separated by time and distance.

Do fun things together. For instance, after a LF Summer Conference some of us would go to the Smoky Mtns. to camp together. Yep, sit around a camp fire, eat smores, play card games, and see each as we really are i.e., without makeup, smelly, etc.

And, then you be that someone for others!

Remember, at best, you may be only able to develop 2 or 3 deep personally satisfying friendships (friendships that are not hampered by time, distance, etc). If you are married, this will be in addition to your spouse (that is to be your first most important and satisfying true friendship period; click here for previous blog on your spouse being your best friend).

Photographer Wedding Hazards!

can't see video- click here.

For My Sweetheart on Our Anniversary...

I know I'm a blessed man

every time I look at you...

After all, how many men

                            have the joy of starting

and ending each day

by holding their sweetheart

             in their arms?

How many men

                          get to go through life

with a woman by their side

who is as strong, capable, and intelligent

as she is beautiful,

                inside and out?

How many men

know in their hearts

that they have the sweetest, most loyal,

most wonderful wife

                                in the whole wide world?

I'll tell you how many...

just one.

ME.

Happy 39th Anniversary my dear Debi, I love you!

Too Good Not to Share!

Samar Hajj, who is coordinating the trip was quoted as saying; “We are all independent women who believe in breaking the siege on Gaza.”

Good food for thought! They better think about that or lose their dependant heads!

--

Where 2% Milk Comes From!

Well, that clears that up!

Tough Love

"Most people nowadays think it improper to discipline children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have had one of 'those moments.'

Since I'm a pilot, one thing that I have found very effective is for me to just take the child for a flight during which I say nothing and give the child the opportunity to reflect on his or her behavior.

I don't know whether it's the steady vibration from the engines, or just the time away from any distractions such as TV, video games, computer, IPod, etc.

Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our flight together. I believe that eye to eye contact during these sessions is an important element in achieving the desired results.

I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique............. "

Memorial Day- A Time to Remember!

This Memorial Day please remember those that gave of themselves so that you could have a day off and party with friends.

After all, that is what this day is all about - remember!