Seriously!

Where has time gone?! We have been having such an incredible time ... it feels like we just got back from New Orleans and still have summer left - each wonderful day has flown by, and we are praising God for all that we have and all that we are learning about Him. We know for sure that our precious little boy gets sweeter with each passing day and we are so thankful for the gift of him!

Here's where we have been, starting with our most recent activities ...

Halloween: Hayden was an "engine guy" because he "likes to fix cars" ...

We went to our church's AWANA Harvest Party this evening and had a blast! We decorated pumpkins, made silly-putty, went "fishing" for candy, and got loads of treats! Instead of the normal "Trick or Treat" during the candy collection, he insisted on telling people that "I'm an engine guy ... can I fix your car?"











Playing with Uncle Pete ...

These two have so much fun together! They even made up their own game of baseball with a stick and a soccer ball!

Pumpkins and Train Rides with Papa ...

We could not forget our yearly tradition ( 4 years strong) of going to Eastside Market to find the PERFECT pumpkins! Later that week Hayden and Daddy went back with Papa Kerby to ride a train while mommy and Grandma Kerby were shopping!

University of Kansas: Late Night in the PHOG
We made another yearly tradition happen ... our annual pilgrammage to Lawrence for LATE NIGHT IN THE PHOG! It makes for a great date night since we're both fans of KU and basketball, and it's always so much fun! We seem to manage to get some great pictures with players and coaches and meet a lot of great fellow fans!

Birthday #4: Trains, Race Cars, and DRUMS!

Hayden hit his fourth year on the ground running, and we had a blast! He seemed to enoy the thought of moving from 3 to 4, and loved having so many people there to celebrate him ... but the cake and presents seemed to be the ultimate confirmation that birthday's definitely ROCK!

Catalyst

Last week was a very refreshing week for me. I, along with 3 other buddies on our church staff, traveled to Atlanta for a leadership conference. Over 11,000 other people joined us for an incredible event. As an exercise for me, I reviewed the key pieces I brought home with me. Maybe they'll speak to your heart just as they did mine:


Andy Stanley:
Q - What do you do when it dawns on you that you're the leader?
A - Take the position of servant...just as Christ did (washing his disciples feet)

If we don't take the position of servant, we declare that we are greater than our Master because He chose to leverage His power.

Q - Who benefits from your leadership power?
Q - How can I leverage my power for the benefit of others?

Patrick Lencioni:
"People need to be reminded more than they need instructed"

Signs of Being in a Bad Job -
- Anonymity...Nobody acts like they care about you.
- Irrelevance...What you do has very little value or influence.
- Immeasurement...You have no idea where you stand or how well you're doing

"The impact you have on the people you manage is much greater than the impact you'll have on volunteers."

Panel Speaking About the Word's Perspective of Christians:
91% see Christians as "Anti-homesexual"
87% see Christians as "Judgemental"
78% see Christians as "Sheltered"

"We're not hated for righteousness; we're hated for self-righteousness."

"People must have a way to act on what they know."

Rick Warren:
Moses' staff represented his...
- Identity (Shepherd)
- Income (That of a shepherd)
- Influence (Moves sheep from A to B)

God asked Moses to lay down his staff and God did the impossible by changing it into a snake. Once Moses picked it back up, it changed back to a stick.

"What is in your hand?"
"What needs to be laid down?"

John Maxwell:
"Intentionally add value to the people around you."
"Don't worry about the reaping...just sow."

To add value to people, you must...
- Value people
- Make yourself more valuable
- Know and relate to what others value
- Do what God values (See and Touch as God would)

Craig Groeschel (MY FAVORITE):
Practical Atheist - "Someone who believes God exists but does ministry/life as if He does not exist."

"Our lips sometimes stay close to God, but our heart is elsewhere."

"The way you're doing the work of God can destroy the work of God in you."

Practical Atheism...
- We believe our effort is better than God's power.
- We believe our private life doesn't affect our ministry.
- We believe we must please people more than we please God.

Dave Ramsey:
How to create waves...
- Have a written financial plan.
- Get out of debt.
- Act your wage.
- Save and invest.
- Give (Invest in Heaven)

Erwin McManus:
Even when Adam had a perfect relationship with God and he lived in a perfect place, he still needed.
- God understood Adam's needs more than Adam understood them.
- God intends His creation to be creative.

Andy Stanley (2nd Message):
"There are organizational systems that are conducive to ministry and organizational systems that impede ministry."

"There are organizational systems that free leaders to lead and organizational systems that obstruct leaders."

"System = Your organization's approach to getting things done"

"Systems create behaviors."

Components of a system...
- Expectations/Rules
- Rewards (or lack of)
- Consequences (or lack of)
- Communication (content and style)
- Behavior (of those in charge)

"Systems have a greater impact on organizational culture than do mission statements."

System Imperatives...
- Your system should allow you (lead pastor) to involve and hire the BEST person for the job.
- Your system should provide you with the flexibility to get the right people to the table.
- Your system should allow you to make complex decisions within the context of a small group of empowered individuals
- Your system should ensure that only one person answers to "THEY".

"If you go into an exisiting system w/out knowing there is a system issue, you will spin your wheels."

"Talks don't create behaviors...systems do."

"The CONGREGATIONAL VIEW is not found in the Bible."

Steps to creating a system...
- Get a group of no more than 5-6 people.
- List 3 behaviors you wished characterized your church.
- List 1 thing that you're to encourage for each of the 3 behaviors you listed.
- List the things you're doing to encourage any wrong behaviors.

I highly recommend this conference. We also met with Kevin Myers who pastors the largest Wesleyan Church in the world. That meeting was probably the most valuable experience, but I don't have my notes with me. I'll share them later.

It's Fall?

Seriously...it's Fall?

We're here. I promise.

Summer Update

4 Degrees...
Two of us have finished and two of us have practically just begun our degrees. Heather (David's sister) completed her M.A. in Christian Education and Tom (David's dad) completed his Doctorate in Ministry...both from Nazarene Theological Seminary. Graduation was a blast!

We, Katy and I, are at the beginning of our graduate work. Katy (M.A. in Educational Leadership) has finished up two classes while I'm just beginning my second class (M.A. in Ministry). We're both learning a ton and enjoying it despite the reorganization of our lives so homework could be given quality time. I'm scheduled to finish in April, 2009 and Katy should finish up soon after.

New Orleans...
At the very beginning of June, our church took 23 hard-working people to provide aid to Hurricane Katrina victims through World Hope. It was a special trip where we all bonded and the obvious need was seen by all. Parts of the area look like a ghost town, while others are filled with people grasping for hope as they begin the rebuilding process (if they can afford it).



It was a great trip...one that we'll probably do again next summer. Pray for the people in New Orleans...they are incredibly open to hearing just how much God cares for them.

Vacation...
It was only 5 days. Every year we do our best to make it down to Florida to enjoy the beach. We are going back to normal life tomorrow which proves we should have taken a longer vacation. Last year, we enjoyed the Florida sun for 8 days...this year, it amazing how much of a different three days can make. Along with my parents and the Semple Family (David's sister's family), we went down to the Clearwater Beach, Florida for some great family time.

We had a blast and we are currently going through withdraw although we're
excited to reconnect with our friends in Manhattan.

Vacation daily schedule:
1. Get up (doesn't matter when)
2. Drink coffee and have breakfast
3. Face toughest decision of the day (Beach or Pool?)
4. Swim or Layout
5. Eat
6. Swim or Layout
7. Take a nap (because of the extremely difficult day)
8. Eat
9. Lounge around the big screen HDTV
10. Sleep

(The nap was sometimes substituted for a time of shopping or movie watching. Please note the gigantic prime rib dinner I am giving my approval of...this is the restaurant that Katy and I ate at on the first night of our honeymoon.)

We finished up our vacation with a visit to see Katy's parents and her grandpa...they're always a ton of fun!




































Coming up...
Katy has about a month left in her summer vacation before she reports back to her school. She'll also be starting her third graduate course pretty soon which I know she's really excited about.

Hayden is in vacation mode...I think he's long-forgotten any memory of preschool. He'll be at a different school this year but he'll have the same teacher. She moved to a different school, so we moved with her because she's that good!

As I said earlier, I'm preparing for some messages I'll be presenting in the next four weeks. God has blessed me with several opportunities lately to speak at other churches which is something I really enjoy while I also am privileged to preach in our home church.

We've got our church's "Family Camp" and our District's "Family Reunion" coming up during this month...so, Good-bye Vacation!

We love you all!

- The Kinnans

Greensburg, Kansas

Here is a note I sent out to our church body and others who support us. A town in our state was obliterated by a tornado and this is an account of a team we sent (me included) to the town:

This past weekend, 18 members of the RLC community drove down to devastated Greensburg, Kansas. Our purpose was to represent Christ to whomever we encountered as we helped complete whatever tasks they needed accomplished. As we drove into the town, it seemed as though a major windstorm has wiped out the supporting beams of several structures. It didn’t look as bad as expected. We stopped at a volunteer tent where various agencies were helping facilitate incoming volunteers. Sadly, it didn’t take us long to check-in as few people were coming into the city. After we broke up into teams and received our assignments…some were going to patch a roof and others went to sort debris. We got into our cars and drove to the sites.

As I said earlier, it didn’t look as bad as I’d pictured…until we drove deeper into the town. At what you would see as a definitive line, the tornado made its presence known. As we drove further into the town, it looked as though a bomb had exploded and completely erased any remnant of organized life. Greensburg, Kansas literally looked like Bosnia during its wars. We saw piles of debris, brick buildings completely toppled over. Cars, trucks and trailers were thrown around like they weighed 10 pounds. One phrase seemed to come out of everyone’s mouth in unison: This is shocking. Nobody could describe what we were seeing. Nothing seemed adequate to explain our emotions. It looked like everything has been run through a mulcher.

Our work was simple…go to a pile (formally known as a house) and begin to sort through the debris. Metal would go in one pile and everything else in another pile. Eventually, everything will be carted out in dump trucks to be burned. The memories of each household will be soon be physically erased with only the homeowner knowing how special these places really are. In talking with the residents, we learned that most had little desire to keep what the storm had destroyed.

Every one of our 18 member crew members worked with incredible tenacity and energy. I never heard a complaint. We had one injury involving a nail’s desire to enter someone’s foot. God really protected us in the midst of pretty dangerous situations. We debriefed later that evening and it was humbling to hear about the emotions others were feeling as we dug through personal belongings.

I tell you all of this for the purpose of asking you to pray. Real Life Church is a group of people who pray and believe in prayer. The people of Greensburg need us to ask God to intervene in their lives. I believe they’re searching for hope and understanding and I’m 100% confident they can find both in our Creator. Below, you will see a couple of pictures taken by our own Layne Stafford. The purpose of these pictures is not to shock you, but rather, encourage you to pray. Pray as though you needed the prayers.

We're Back!

So much has gone on in the last several months, and we have finally sat down long enough to post some pictures! Sorry for the delay! :-) We'll start from the most recent and work our way back!

Easter: We had an incredible Easter, spending time at church and with family! As Hayden grows it is such an amazing experience to have the privilege of sharing the story of God's love for us!The pictures include Hayden's happy face after Great-Grandma Bush sent him a new stuffed pal ... then decorating eggs ... and the hunt for goodies!

Family Time: We've had a blast at home (before the recent freeze!) practicing our tee-ball skills, riding our bike, and even sliding at the park with cousin Ailee!

Bass Pro Shop: There's a new Bass Pro Shop in Olathe, so during our last visit we spent quite awhile there - it was such fun, and we have some beautiful boats on our wish list now! :-)

KEEN Conference: This was by far one of the most memorable moments in my very short professional career! It was two days of meeting and sharing with educators from across the state, and I even got to meet the Lt. Governor!

Graduate School Update!: David has thrown his hat in the ring of graduate school students, so we have been hanging out on the couch with laptops after our little guy goes to bed. By the time we're through, I think both of us should earn two degrees, as we look to one another to "spark" ideas when we're having writers block! It's going to be exciting to go through the experience together, going to two schools in two different states from our own home! We LOVE online classes!

Wow!

The past few months have flown by, and we have so much to share! We promise to post new pictures and stories soon! :-)

We pray that today and always you are resting in God's presence and blessed by His peace in your life!

Happy Friday!
Kate

How Sweet It Is!

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK, KU!

Life Update.

Our winter has been very full, and we're anticipating more exciting and busy times as we rapidly approach the spring (we are SO READY for sunshine and warm temperatures!). Thank you for your prayers ... not only for us, but for mom and dad Kinnan as well. It is amazing the healing and peace that come from the Lord, and we are so thankful for such faithful friends and family!

RLC is going great ... God continues to bless us with people willing to serve, and it is such an enormous blessing for us to be a part of this incredible body of believers! David is enjoying his full-time office hours, and has been taking turns with Pastor Eric preaching at a nearby church while they search for a pastor. That's been a lot of fun, too!

Hayden is talking and talking and talking, and growing and growing and growing! His favorite word now is "Why." We'll say something like, "Hayden, let's pick up your toys and get ready for bed." He'll say "Why?" This starts a whole process that's fun and exhausting at the same time. If you've ever read the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" book, you know what we're talking about. His Matchbox collection grows all the time ... we find some under the couch or in the pantry, and now that it's been warm we discovered that many have been hibernating in the backyard over the winter. Ha!

I love school more than anyone I know, both teaching and being a student myself. I had the privilege of going to the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network Conference last week to accept my HORIZON award, and really had a great time of discussion and networking with the incredible educators and leaders of Kansas education. It was so much fun, and I even got to meet the Lt. Governor!

As alway this time of year, we're closely watching both KU and KSU, and will be glued to the TV during games for the next month or so. KU is taking it to the top this year, we can feel it!

Have a BLESSED Day!

Please pray ...

These last few months have been filled with tremendous joy ... and quite a lot of pain. It's only through God's grace that we are able to get through this beautiful and painful journey of life, and we are experiencing that full well right now.

We have prayed for and sought to have another child for quite some time now, and due to medical reasons had to go through a little more than with Hayden. About 5 weeks ago we found out that our second baby was on the way. As of Friday, we were just under 2 months into the pregnancy. On Saturday, I began to feel cramps and other symptoms characteristic of a miscarriage. Yesterday, the thought of a miscarriage became a reality. I know miscarriage is a part of life...I know God is completely in control and His sovereignty is far superior than I can imagine. We know our little baby is in a better place and will have a life more perfect than we could ever dream of with his/her Heavenly Father ... and we will meet our little one someday.

We ask for your prayers as we grieve this event. We have never felt such extreme emotions; from the thrill of a new life and planning and discussing and dreaming of this little person every moment of the day ... and then it's just gone. It will take time and God's grace to help us heal. I'm sure many of you who read this have probably experienced the same thing, and I do know we will look back at this and value how God was moving in this situation, and what an incredible ministry opportunity we are so privileged to share.

God Bless You,
Kate