Have you ever watched "Extreme Home Makeover" before? This team goes out and finds the 'least of these' and the 'down trodden' and builds them a new place to live. You can see and learn so much by just watching this show.
This one in particular that I saw showed this single father raising 5 other kids. They showed the inside of the house, and the kids showed the host their rooms. Their rooms consisted of a worn out pillow and a sheet on the floor...this served as their beds. They had no mattresses...no covers...no blankets...
They were asked if they could have one thing, what would they want...
Their answer hit me hard. "I would just like my own bed."
They just want a bed. A place where they can sleep. They don't even have a bed...I mean to be honest, here I am around this holiday season with a newborn...worrying if I have money to buy Christmas gifts for my family. And wanting stuff I don't really even need.
At night when I am tired, I really don't even think twice, I just hop into bed. I have 2 pillows, a sheet, and a blanket. There I am a top a nice mattress. There they are on the floor.
There are so many things that I take for granite. Some people don't even have clean water, people in other countries drink the water that others have bathed and washed their clothes in. There are also some instances where either a person or animal has died and is floating in the water. So many diseases...and I can just turn on the faucet.
Some people don't have enough food to fill their fridge. Some don't have a/c in the summer and heat in the cold. Some don't even have a roof over their head.
Here I am complaining about having to work Monday morning, and there are people who would line up just to have a job. Rob Bell (pastor of Mars Hill Church) said that there are some people that try their best to survive on just $2 dollars. Trying to survive a week on $2 dollars, or even a month...
And to think this all thinking started when I went out when I went to Taco Bell.
There I was ordering some fine Mexican cuisine...the famous chicken quesidilla...and the cool sour cream for dipping. It does not get much better than this.
After I had placed my order the cashier asked a posing question "Would you like to give a dollar to help feed the children?"
We have all been there. Sad to say we all think it over, weighing out the pros and cons. Thinking about if we can really afford to be without that dollar. But there I am ordering food...and all I have to do is give one buck...
why is that such a hard decision?...why do I make that into such a hard decision?
Is the church reaching out to help others? Am I?
I encourage you to check out blood:water (a well building project), world vision (sponsoring children), and there are countless others. Even some around the Augusta area. Sometimes we forget about the ones in our backyards.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
shaela blog with pics
Hey
I have had some people ask me to share some photos. So what I did to make it easier to share is I made a blog especially for our new daughter Shaela's pics.
The adress is www.shaelakerr.blogspot.com
There is some photos already added and will add more as time goes on.
Love ya'll and God bless.
Trevor
I have had some people ask me to share some photos. So what I did to make it easier to share is I made a blog especially for our new daughter Shaela's pics.
The adress is www.shaelakerr.blogspot.com
There is some photos already added and will add more as time goes on.
Love ya'll and God bless.
Trevor
Saturday, November 3, 2007
left a bad taste
When I was 10, I had just returned home from this church summer camp for children, and I had woke up that night screaming because my ear was hurting. I mean it was throbbing. All I could feel was this stinging sensation on the left side of my ear. Come to find out I had gotten what they called "swimmers ear", b/c I logged lots of hours in the camp lake all week.
My Mom thought the best thing to do, was to put some drops of hydrogen peroxide, and maybe that would ease the pain. So she poured it into a glass and left it on the table. Though seeing that I am writhing in pain and screaming, she proceeds to give me some Tylenol as well. And in the midst of doing this she calls up our doctor (in the middle of the night) seeking advice on this situation. So you can see that she is a little distracted at the moment...So while still talking on the phone, she gives me the Tylenol and a glass of liquid to help it go down...and yep you guessed it...she gave me the glass of hydrogen peroxide to drink...I remember saying,"this water tastes funny...", with her saying,"Just drink it and take your medicine."
So after this she begins to look for the hydrogen peroxide to drop down my ears...coming to find out that her son had drank a good bit of it in a glass already...there she is calling the doctor back...ah good times...he said I would be fine (though some may disagree).
That stuff left a bad taste in my mouth...
I tell you that story because I think we as Christians can sometimes knowingly and unknowingly leave bad tastes in peoples mouths. Earlier this week, I saw on the news where this church was protesting at a gay fallen military funeral. They had signs like "God hates gays". The father sued the church and won for emotional and other damages. Come to find out that this "church" even has a website, that lists addresses of funerals for future protests. That upset me. I didn't know what to think. I mean I know sometimes we are wrong for not standing up for our beliefs and values. But is this what God wants?
There was also that incident with the Amish shootings last year. Where a "church" decided to protest because they said that the Amish don't serve the real God. It became so bad that host of a radio show on Fox news made a deal with the church, that if they didn't protest...they could have some radio air time to express their opinions about the issue. Maybe if they took time out of holding the picket signs and used their hands to help serve their fellow men, things would be better. Instead of taking that radio time to belittle others, they could give them words of comfort, hope, and even tell them about Jesus.
I mean aren't we supposed to hate the sin and love the sinner? Is it going to get to the point that when someone dies of drinking too much that we stand outside with a sign that says "God doesn't like drinkers!"? (and there goes half the church) When we get right down to it, we could all have signs at our funerals.
For to be honest none of us our perfect. It is only by the grace of God that we can find salvation. I even think about my brother in law, who is not a christian, and even the whole world, who look at this and say, "Where is God in this?...If this is what Christianity is... I don't want anything to do with it." What do you say to that?
We are leaving them not wanting more... We are leaving them with a bad taste in their mouth. The world has hurting people and instead of helping them, we find comfort in telling them what they are doing wrong. Probably because it makes us feel better. People are screaming in pain, like I was...
What are we doing?
My Mom thought the best thing to do, was to put some drops of hydrogen peroxide, and maybe that would ease the pain. So she poured it into a glass and left it on the table. Though seeing that I am writhing in pain and screaming, she proceeds to give me some Tylenol as well. And in the midst of doing this she calls up our doctor (in the middle of the night) seeking advice on this situation. So you can see that she is a little distracted at the moment...So while still talking on the phone, she gives me the Tylenol and a glass of liquid to help it go down...and yep you guessed it...she gave me the glass of hydrogen peroxide to drink...I remember saying,"this water tastes funny...", with her saying,"Just drink it and take your medicine."
So after this she begins to look for the hydrogen peroxide to drop down my ears...coming to find out that her son had drank a good bit of it in a glass already...there she is calling the doctor back...ah good times...he said I would be fine (though some may disagree).
That stuff left a bad taste in my mouth...
I tell you that story because I think we as Christians can sometimes knowingly and unknowingly leave bad tastes in peoples mouths. Earlier this week, I saw on the news where this church was protesting at a gay fallen military funeral. They had signs like "God hates gays". The father sued the church and won for emotional and other damages. Come to find out that this "church" even has a website, that lists addresses of funerals for future protests. That upset me. I didn't know what to think. I mean I know sometimes we are wrong for not standing up for our beliefs and values. But is this what God wants?
There was also that incident with the Amish shootings last year. Where a "church" decided to protest because they said that the Amish don't serve the real God. It became so bad that host of a radio show on Fox news made a deal with the church, that if they didn't protest...they could have some radio air time to express their opinions about the issue. Maybe if they took time out of holding the picket signs and used their hands to help serve their fellow men, things would be better. Instead of taking that radio time to belittle others, they could give them words of comfort, hope, and even tell them about Jesus.
I mean aren't we supposed to hate the sin and love the sinner? Is it going to get to the point that when someone dies of drinking too much that we stand outside with a sign that says "God doesn't like drinkers!"? (and there goes half the church) When we get right down to it, we could all have signs at our funerals.
For to be honest none of us our perfect. It is only by the grace of God that we can find salvation. I even think about my brother in law, who is not a christian, and even the whole world, who look at this and say, "Where is God in this?...If this is what Christianity is... I don't want anything to do with it." What do you say to that?
We are leaving them not wanting more... We are leaving them with a bad taste in their mouth. The world has hurting people and instead of helping them, we find comfort in telling them what they are doing wrong. Probably because it makes us feel better. People are screaming in pain, like I was...
What are we doing?
Saturday, October 20, 2007
pics of shaela
Here are a few of the pics. I feel we have taken so many already.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
there you are
in the cool morning breeze
and the before the sun rises
and after it falls and sets
there you are
in the traffic waiting at the light
in the few moments of silence
and in the other busy moments as well
there you are
as I tell my wife I love her
and watching as my newborn sleeps through the night
even as my cats run around our house into the early morning
there you are
in the moments
where I can't think
where I don't know what to say
when I fully miss the point that you are trying to make
and when I breathe
and when I sleep
and when I rise
and every moment in between that I blink my eyes
there you are
At no moment have you left my side
looking closely I can see you in it all
looking back telling of your greatness to my kids
I can say, "there you are"
when I feel I don't measure up
anxiety, doubt, worry, and fear show up
when I seem to have fallen too far and fast
when I have made a mockery of your name
there you are
thank you for being there
for being here
in the everyday moments I forget
that you are there
In the beginning...In the end
In the summer...In the winter
In the palace...In the prison
In the island...In the desert
In every moment there and every other in between
there you are
we do not have to look far
to see there you are
and the before the sun rises
and after it falls and sets
there you are
in the traffic waiting at the light
in the few moments of silence
and in the other busy moments as well
there you are
as I tell my wife I love her
and watching as my newborn sleeps through the night
even as my cats run around our house into the early morning
there you are
in the moments
where I can't think
where I don't know what to say
when I fully miss the point that you are trying to make
and when I breathe
and when I sleep
and when I rise
and every moment in between that I blink my eyes
there you are
At no moment have you left my side
looking closely I can see you in it all
looking back telling of your greatness to my kids
I can say, "there you are"
when I feel I don't measure up
anxiety, doubt, worry, and fear show up
when I seem to have fallen too far and fast
when I have made a mockery of your name
there you are
thank you for being there
for being here
in the everyday moments I forget
that you are there
In the beginning...In the end
In the summer...In the winter
In the palace...In the prison
In the island...In the desert
In every moment there and every other in between
there you are
we do not have to look far
to see there you are
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
barbarian's way and new love for books
As of right now I am reading a book that Billy let me borrow. It is called the "Barbarian's Way" by Erwin Mcmanus. This is really a great book. It just energizes you and you feel that you could start a church if you want to. It lights a fire in your heart. It just is a raw look at the call of Christ.
I find myself reading more books too. I usually never would really read a book, unless it was for school (even then...uh not so much...I loved cliff notes...) I am slowly starting to build my library of books. I tend to first go for those small books. You know the ones with the small pages and such. Example would be "the secrets of the vine", the small ones catch my eye. They do not seem so scary. I think "I can read this and I can read this really quick too"...or "maybe it could be read in one bathroom sitting". (Sometimes I even see if the book is available in audio format, to make it a little easier.)
Never the less I will say I have read some books that do have some volume to them. I admit though that I am not a quick reader. So it may take me a little while. I have gotten the occasional response from friends, " Are you still reading that?...or "Was it that good that you wanted to read it again?"
Maybe soon I will have read enough books to actually fill up a shelf on a bookcase.
I find myself reading more books too. I usually never would really read a book, unless it was for school (even then...uh not so much...I loved cliff notes...) I am slowly starting to build my library of books. I tend to first go for those small books. You know the ones with the small pages and such. Example would be "the secrets of the vine", the small ones catch my eye. They do not seem so scary. I think "I can read this and I can read this really quick too"...or "maybe it could be read in one bathroom sitting". (Sometimes I even see if the book is available in audio format, to make it a little easier.)
Never the less I will say I have read some books that do have some volume to them. I admit though that I am not a quick reader. So it may take me a little while. I have gotten the occasional response from friends, " Are you still reading that?...or "Was it that good that you wanted to read it again?"
Maybe soon I will have read enough books to actually fill up a shelf on a bookcase.
Monday, October 15, 2007
eat, sleep, cry and poop
Well just to do a quick update...here she is! Our new daughter "Shaela Takoda Kerr". With being in the hospital and forgetting what day it is, and learning her new schedule (so long sleeping in...) this days have gone by so quick.
Laura is doing good. She is just having to take it easy for a little while, b/c she had a c-section. Though we can both truly say that this little girl has stolen our hearts. It just amazes me...everytime I look at her...this is my daughter...this is one of God's greatest blessings!
To think that God lets us take part in His creation process...It really has not sunk in yet. I am a father now and I see some things differently now. How great the Father's love for us! I would give my life for my wife and this new daughter. I love her, and yet she can show no love in return. She can cry and believe you me she can poop with the best of them! (especially when you are changing and she just keeps going in her diaper...like someone struck oil...black gold...texas tea...)
The same is with us and God. God loves us! Even before we knew Him, before we even knew what love was. He gave His only son to die for us so that we might live. Times we cry and yes times we poop...cause we are helpless and we need our Father! Though with all the cries and the dirty diapers, He still loves us! I hope that makes sense...
God bless and thanks to everyone for the calls, the gifts, and the visits. It truly help make this a great time. Thank you again.
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