Reverb: Let’s Create It

When I started at Kinetic I wanted help create and build a student ministry that was creative, authentic, helped students connect to God, to each other and to serve, and one that would impact students for years after they leave the group.

So we named the student ministry: Reverb

Reverb (reverberation) is the continuation of sound after the original source of the sound is removed, and a large number of echoes build up and continue to build and build creating a lasting effect even after the original source of sound ceases.

Reverb is a creative name and it is unlike some other youth group names (i won’t mention any), but that’s not the vital part. The vital part is that we can create reverb with our lives. Jesus came to earth and began the original source of the reverb that we can create. Unlike natural reverb where the original source fades thus causing the reverb effect to end we can maintain and build upon the reverb that has existed for 2,000 plus years!

Reverb has began! We have had four weeks of small group and have been going through the NOOMA video series by Rob Bell. It has been amazing to see new students showing up! IT’S FLIPPIN SWEET! Keep it up… The students at Kinetic are going to create a Reverb effect like no other. But, I do hope that everyone will create a reverb effect within their own lives.

Reverb Rafting Trip
This past Saturday some of the students and adults went to the White Water Center in Charlotte to go White Water Rafting. All I can say is that it was awesome! You have to go! It’s open all year long and they even have wet suits for you to wear. So in December and January if we get snow you can slap on your wet suit and go rafting! Below are a few pictures of the trip…

Reverb Rafting Trip

Past, Present, Past, Past, Present, Future

Past, Present, Past, Past, Present, Future. I get consumed in this way of feeling and thinking a whole lot. I really don’t know why, but I just do. How many times do we let our past affect the present reality and future hope? Man, we hold onto stuff and we can’t let it go to, and to the point of where we let crap that happened three, four, twenty years ago keep us from truly and fully living today.

I know that God is moving in the lives of his children, i know God is moving in the world, in North Carolina, in Charlotte, and at Kinetic. I got back from Catalyst conference yesterday and what kept hitting me is that God is gripping the hearts of so many church leaders in a way that I have never seen. Isaiah 43 paints a beautiful picture of how God reassures His people that He is creator, redeemer, and savior right before He leads them into something HUUUUGEEEE.

What is amazing is this line: “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See…I am doing a NEW THING.”

We can’t get hung up on the past, even if it’s a good past! Like, if I constantly dwelt and desired to still stay up SUPER late at night and talk to Jenna like we did when we first started dating, or like when I couldn’t eat because the butterflies in my stomach seemed to eat everything! Man, I would be a mess. God has moved us into a NEW and special place where I love her more and at the same time I desire more and look forward to the future. Both awesome and not so awesome pasts can keep us from moving forward with the new things that God is doing.

I am so grateful to be a part of this moment in history.

~Justin

PS: Kinetic is moving locations tomorrow to the AMC @ CONCORD MILLS.

Entering Into a New and Wonderful Season

First off…for those of you who read my blog you have probably noticed that I haven’t written in a while. Sorry! I wanted the engagement story/pics to be the first thing people saw when they signed on to my blog. However, I guess it’s time to write again. I’m back…

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement, excitement, and support following the proposal. Things have been in turbo speed since that very night. Immediately after that night Jenna and I set forth the relentless pursuit of finding a place to have our ceremony, reception, and honeymoon. These were the three BIG details to flesh out before moving on. Oh yeah…and the DATE/TIME. That was a biggy.
We have all but the reception place figured out, and for that I am grateful!

I am ready to be married…I am not so much into the planning and details of everything, but they are important. So this new season of my life is going to rock! There are so many great things happening. I know it. One thing is for certain that when great things are happening the attacks come harder and i have experienced those in the past few weeks.

Kinetic Student Ministry is about to blow up! We just started our first small group after some roadblocks and I cannot wait to see what God has planned for the students at Kinetic. All the road blocks that have happened lately have reminded me of the story right before the fall in Genesis. For some reason Satan, in the form of a serpent, decided to go on an all out attack on the two humans that God had designed for each other. WHY? Why did he attack them? Well the first thing that you are probably saying is “well, they were the only people for him to mess with.” Satan knew that Adam and Eve were in complete fellowship and union with their creator, God, and they walked with God. Satan wanted to interrupt that and so he set out to destroy that beautiful picture that God created.

Satan isn’t going to waste his time messing with people who aren’t walking with God. He loves to destroy the good, he loves to mess up the picture, and most of all he loves to see God’s children become distracted and lose union with Christ.

Take joy in your attacks and know there is hope.

~Justin