KyleGoen.com

A few months back I wrote about a “community garden” I was planting as an outreach to my neighborhood community. Well, I thought I would update you as to the progress. We are beginning to see some growth on the plants and in my life as well.

This has taught me a some patience and the need to let go of some control. I cannot make these things grow, I help set the environment (soil and weed control) and then let the sun, rain and the Lord do the rest. I hate the waiting part. I have even tried to speed things up by planting early (frost killed everything), and extra fertilizer. It still only grows at the rate the Lord has set forth. My kids have had a pretty good time helping with the “community garden”. We have been learning to watch for the weeds daily and pick rocks and sticks from the little garden so the roots can be unobstructed in growth. We have begun to talk about and pray for who we are going to give the “first fruits” of the planter to in honor of the Lord’s goodness.

I’m hoping that bugs and other forms of “pestilence” don’t destroy the plants! Who knows there may be a scarecrow in the near future.

Click on the Flickr link in the sidebar to view a few new pictures. Have a great weekend.

in·flu·ence  n
1. the effect of something on a person, thing, or event
2. the power that somebody has to affect other people’s thinking or actions by means of argument, example, or force of personality
3. the power or authority that comes from wealth, social status, or position
4. somebody or something able to affect the course of events or somebody’s thinking or action

verb tense
1. to persuade or sway somebody
2. to have the power to affect something

Have you spent much time thinking about influence? How do you get influence? Who do you influence? Why are we so easily influenced? What kind of influence do you have? Who are the people that have influenced you? Why is influence easily lost?

Thanks mom, Double D, Phil, George, Amy, Pat, Piper, Andy, Louie, Rick, Bill and all the others.

May I be to others what these have been to me…

Incredible day! These are the only words that come to mind right now about yesterday. Mother’s Day is pretty special at our Church. It is mom’s day but the kids make it special. We utilize our children’s ministry to lead out in worship as a way for the mothers to see what is going on in the children’s ministry on Sunday while they (moms) are worshipping. Our children’s pastor, Allen Bishop, and the Soul Station team did an incredible job of leading us in during worship. We learned that “true heroes never give up on doing good”. Our kids were very engaged during worship and the way Allen and the team involved everyone was really special.

We also had the opportunity to dedicate nearly 50 children to the Lord. Thirty-four families committed to lead their homes in a manner that would honor God and lead their children to faith in Christ. We know the kids will eventually have to submit their lives to Christ personally, but as parents we can help set the context for them to see Christ lived out daily in our homes. It was a great day for our body to see how God is moving in our preschool and children’s ministry.

We also got to be involved in the adoption process with our pastor, Pat Hood and his family. Go to this blog (thanks Alison) and see how that happened during our services. Wow, technology is amazing.

See you this week somewhere in Smyrna. 

Some of you are thinking “what is a terrible title”. The church is not about “you”, “me”, or “I”. Before you have a heart attack and quit reading I am talking about “international church”.

Last night after the Legacy service Amy told me about walking through the church and talking with one of our leaders about an upcoming trip to Brazil. He asked her if she had meet Marcos, a new person from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She went to meet him and talk for a few minutes. After finishing the conversation she proceeded to pick up our youngest from his class. As she was walking back to the office she stopped to have a discussion with Leon who is from the Dem. Republic of Congo. Nearing the office she realized that our partner from North India was standing at the welcome center, his name is Biju. She was relaying this story to me after we had finished having a video chat with Pat and Amy in Beijing, China. (courtesy of MacBook IChat)

We both were pretty amazed that the Lord has brought the nations to our doorstep in Smyrna, TN. He has also allowed us the opportunity to join him in his global plan. I have asked Tim Patterson to begin gathering the names of the people in our church who are from other countries so we can have a good picture of the nations who are represented in this body. Right now I can think of people from Myanmar, Laos, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Thailand, India, and Arkansas. (just kidding)

Thank you God for calling us to the nations and for bringing the nations to Smyrna. Help us to remain faithful to your task. God, thank you for making us an international church for your glory.

I want to invite you to the Legacy service on Wednesday evening @ 6:30 pm. We meet in the auditorium for worship and teaching. This week I will begin a series that will surely challenge you to grow in your faith and walk with God. We are calling the series, The Core, the fundamentals of our faith.

Throughout the summer we are going to look at some of the basics of our Christian faith. Many people do not know how we got the Bible we read today or why they even need to read the Bible. What is the Holy Spirit and should I be scared of a spirit? (psst…by the way, the Holy Spirit is a who not a what)

I am calling you out right now, be there this Wednesday evening as we launch out and talk about why this series is so important. Call your mom and your best friend and tell them to be there, don’t be afraid. I am asking you to call some folks in your small group and tell them you are saving them a some seats, in fact have them bring a quick meal and meet in the World Cup area and eat together. Just be in the auditorium by 6:30 pm on Wednesday evening.

Don’t Forget to Bring Your Bible and a Pen!

I would love for you to see a great picture of life change.