KMYoung.com
An on-going testament to God's providence and goodness
tag base
archives
guestbook
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Four months = Season of Renewal
Four months + One Day = Old things are passed away, all things become new...
Mountaintop Community Church
Birmingham, Alabama
"Director of Video Arts, Communications,
and Special Assistant to the Pastor for Ministry Initiatives"
ETA = 3 Days
posted by Kevin at 7/29/2004 02:21:33 AM
Comments
[]
Friday, July 23, 2004
Epilogue
I've been on the road, as of late. You may have missed me here, you may have not. I have been gone for awhile, but I'm back now... for a season.
Over three weeks ago, almost on a moment's notice, I packed a few belongings and set out on a trip to destinations unknown. Little did I know that the Lord would use that rainy June morning to help close the door on my ministry in Dallas. I could not have imagined the experiences the days to come would bring, but each in their own way, they helped me put finality on the chapter of my life entitled "Dallas".
The Lord used some friends I had never met in person to draw me toward Birmingham first. The ten-hour drive that ended on a mountaintop in Alabama was truly cathartic. I laughed, I cried, I prayed, but mostly I sat silent before the Lord. The silence ended when I arrived and met one of my friends for the first time, a 16-year-old that is wired for sound and on fire for media ministry. It is amazing who God brings in to your life. I was immediately taken aback by his energy, knowledge, passion, and drive. He'll make a good Pastor someday. :)
I also met up with a young man (barely older than myself) who is making a good minister today. Though he does not have the title, nor the credentials, he is doing more ministry than most other media guys I know. I see God's hand all over his life and work. Admittedly, I spent several more days in Birmingham than I had intended, simply because of the force of his character. In him I ended up finding more than a friend or a brother in Christ, I believe that I found a compatriot in ministry... a guy who's drive, giftings, and passion closely mirror my own. The story of his personal journey with Christ both convicted and inspired me. He is doing phenomenal things for the Kingdom, and I excite to think of all the Lord is going to do through him in the years to come.
A trip to Atlanta brought two lessons: Wiffleball is not meant to be played in sandals and a mosquito infested back yard... but male bonding is meant to be done that way. Male bonding is also not possible unless a PS2 is involved, and I love that.
I also had the opportunity to talk a LOT of church polity on this trip. If there is one topic that gets my blood running, its ecclesiology. The Church. The Bride of Christ. God has placed a call on my life for the local church and it excites me to see its successes and motivates me when I see its struggles.
It was tough to leave Birmingham. Driving away, I felt there was so much more that I had left unturned, things left undone. There was a weight on my spirit that could not be explained. The drive to Indiana contained a lot of soul searching as I wrestled with God over topics that frankly cannot be explained. I would if I could. I wasn't sure exactly what he was trying to tell me... and I was afraid that the long road I had traveled, both literally and figuratively, had something to do with it.
Indiana. Home. Time there always recenters me. It brings me back to who I am in a way that no other place or experience can. I am always so... calm and subdued... after leaving Indiana. At Peace. Some might say that I am not myself. I rather like to think that I am more myself.
Almost as quickly as I made it to Indiana, I was off to Ohio. It had been a long time since I had driven this road or walked the campus of my alma mater, too long. It was just as a remembered it and being back there was a strangely spiritual experience. So much of who I am today is wrapped up in the lessons learned in this Ohio cornfield. It was almost as if these few hours spent at Cedarville peeled layers and layers of excess burden off of me. I had left this place four years ago looking forward to the adventures God had for me in Dallas. I came back to it four years later, now a weary traveler looking for what God had for me beyond Dallas.
Driving away from Cedarville was, again, cathartic. God used that afternoon with old friends to heal me a little more, help me move on to whatever the road ahead brings with it. I took a detour as I drove away, knowing exactly where it led... to a Young's Jersey Dairy in the middle-of-nowhere. Some people have Chicken Soup for the Soul... my soul requires a Coffee Bullshake.
Top down, stereo cranked, nothing but open road ahead. I found myself in the Bluegrass State. I have always had a love for this state. So much of my heritage is tied up in the winding backwood roads of its eastern mountain region. This day I was headed to Lexington to meet with half-a-dozen good friends I'd never seen before. The people in Applebee's that day probably did not know that they were witnessing a meeting of media ministers from across the country, Texas, Kentucky, and Jersey... but they were probably aware that we were good friends from the racket we made. On this trip, I was continually amazed to see (and hear) how God was moving in His church and in the lives of people who were giving their talents to be used in service to Him. Driving along dark Kentucky roads that night, I was convicted about how narrowminded I had become about God and His work. It is easy to lose focus and forget that God's work is happening across the world. How wrong of us to think that our ministries are the sole out-working of God's blessing to this generation.
The next couple weeks we spent on hiatus at the homestead in Indiana... preparing for a wedding. My sister's, in fact. It was so much fun and I am glad the Lord gave me the opportunity to be around for an extended period before the big day. It was so neat to watch her, and how she has grown up. Who woulda thought that I would end up marrying the girl that I slapped when mom brought her home. HA! It was so surreal, those last couple of days. Seeing the gowns... attending the rehearsal... seeing the cake... watching her walk the aisle with dad... leading them in their vows... saying "I now pronounce you husband and wife"... even telling him to kiss her! LOL. And then what a party it was!!
There wasn't much time to decompress from the event. Within 36 hours I was on the road again, this time headed back to Dallas by way of an interview along the road back. It was a tough couple of days... the stress of being on-display and the knowledge that my time in Dallas was short all combined for a pretty unrelaxing trip home. I still saw God though, even in the midst of so many unknowns.
I arrived back in Dallas in much the same way I left, under cover of darkness and without fanfare, three weeks later (almost to the hour). It wasn't really like returning home... it was like returning to a place that used to be home. God had used these last three weeks to help me write the Epilogue on Dallas. Blank pages lie before me, but I am glad to finally see the ink dry on the chapters past.
I am somewhat homeless now. A foreigner in a strange land. The road to here has not been easy, and the road ahead will not be either. But that does not scare me. There is no promise that the life lived for Christ be without trials. But He has promised to be right there with us along the way.
It took a road trip to remind me of that.
posted by Kevin at 7/23/2004 06:42:20 PM
Comments
[]
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
This song has meant a lot to me over the years...
Praise The Lord
When you're up against a struggle
That shatters all your dreams
And your hope has been cruelly crushed
By Satan's manifesting scheme
And you feel the urge within you
To submit to earthly fears
Don't let the faith you're standing in, seem to disappear
Praise the Lord
He can work with those who praise Him,
Praise the Lord
For our God inhabits praise,
Praise the Lord
For the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise him.
Now satan is a liar
And he wants to make us think
That we are paupers
When he knows himself
We're children of the King
So lift up the might shield of faith
For the battle has been won
We know that Jesus Christ has risen
So the work's already done
Praise the Lord
He can work with those who praise Him,
Praise the Lord
For our God inhabits praise,
Praise the Lord
For the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise him.
©Imperials' album HEED THE CALL released on Dayspring (Word) 1979. Words and Music by Brown Bannister and Mike Hudson
posted by Kevin at 7/14/2004 11:36:48 AM
Comments
[]
Friday, July 09, 2004
I typically do absolutely nothing like this, but when I came across this today... it simply blew me away. The last months have been so disappointing in some respects, and so exciting in others. Its good to read things like the following. I hope he won't mind me posting this (edited), and if he does I'll mark it private.
"I wish I could post the resume of Kevin Matthew Young, one of my close friends and quite honestly one of the few individuals I have met that possess both a Pastor's heart and a Media persons' technical ability. Unfortunately, I can't add attachments to this thread, so you'll have to contact Kevin directly and ask him to email it to you.
Kevin has served since October of 2000 at ______________ Church, which has over 14,000 in weekly attendance in their state-of-the-art 7,000 seat worship center. To be honest, Kevin tired of [the church] politics and just wanted to serve without the "junk" (my statement).
While on staff at ___________, Kevin developed an entire website just for his Media volunteers called www.____________.org, which is still used today. The volunteers loved Kevin.
He's a graduate of both Cedarville University (double major: Bachelor of Arts in Comprehensive bible and Bachelor of Arts in Video Media Production) and of Dallas Theological Seminary (Master of Arts, Christian Education: Church Educational Leadership).
His professional competencies include:
Avid Media Composer; Panasonic PostBox; Apple Final Cut Pro; Adobe After Effects; Pinnacle TypeDeko; ProTools audio editing; Mac and PC proficient; Adobe Photoshop; DVD Studio Pro; Microsoft Office (all).
It is my opinion that Kevin should work with a Pastor that understands the value of Media, and works with the staff to provide realistic timelines for quality results. His work is excellent (ask him for his amazing Demo Reel when you contact him), but it's his heart for empowering lay leadership for service that is his trademark gift.
For those of you who track this kind of stuff, Kevin's Myers-Brigg Temperament is INTJ/ISTJ and his DISC Indicator is High C. He's also single and currently lives in Plano, Texas (north Dallas).
I do not give my full endorsement of most media personnel; Kevin is one of the very few exceptions - he is quite simply incredible and humble.
- _____________ of ________________ Consulting, Inc."
posted by Kevin at 7/09/2004 03:09:37 PM
Comments
[]
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Happy 4th
For my compatriots in the Heartland, you will know what I mean when I wish you a Happy Independence Day by saying, "Knee high by the Fourth of July!"
posted by Kevin at 7/04/2004 11:05:43 AM
Comments
[]
back focus
convergence
of importance
links
Who Links Here