Leavener... it's a change agent. If I have chosen to name this ministry Leavener, then I most likely embrace the opportunity for change. But at the same time I am a loyalist. (i.e., I have served Jesus at Northside for the past 18 years and I am even still a Dallas Cowboy fan post-Landry era). So, as much as I respect loyalty and commitment, I also look forward to change and being on the cutting edge. Oh yeah... I even carry a picture of Michelle and me from when we were in high school (25 years ago)... ask me... I'll show it to you... We have changed a little!

Some people have referred to this new adventure in ministry as the biggest change in my life. I cannot agree with that statement. It was about seven years ago that I learned the greatest change in my life occurred when I was eight years old. That means it took me 27 years to come to that conclusion. You may be thinking I am a slow learner. No, I was a loyalist who didn't want to change my mind. I was churning out my life and ministry but never reaching my desires. Nothing was ever good enough... including myself.

It was about seven years ago that I realized the change God made through His Son that caused me to be changed when I was eight years old. Get this... In Acts, Stephen was accused of proclaiming that Jesus will change the customs that came from Moses. Thank God for that change. You see, it was that very change in God's plan that allowed me as a child to die from the law and be free as a child of God. The problem is, I never understood that change until seven years ago. I was a freebird who lived my life under many restrictions and yet, never knew it! I repeatedly tried to be the best I could be and would always fall short of even my own expectations (not to mention many other's expectations). It was at that point of understanding that I no longer felt the pressure of what other people thought about me or the things I was doing. God's Spirit changed my heart and allowed this truth (Romans 2:28-29) to be discovered. I will never be the same. I have been changed.

I truly believe this misunderstanding of the truth that I lived under for 27 years is prevelant in today's church. It is the evil one's way of keeping children of God bound up and even non-believers wanting nothing to do with Jesus. It has been that way for a long time. Even Paul tells the church in Rome they don't have to be bound up and fearful. They have the ability to see God as their "Daddy". It doesn't get any better than that. Truth that changes lives. It absolutely has changed mine and I can't do anything but be loyal to that transformation.

I don't want to hear any comments about that picture... I've changed!

Rusty

Happy Birthday Leavener Ministry, Inc.It's official... Leavener Ministry, Inc. Here is the birth certificate -->

This is just the first of many hoops you have to jump through to become a legal ministry in the state and federally.

It doesn't have anything to do with who I am. My identity is not in what I do. The funny thing is... I have an official ministry recognized by the state of Indiana but I still don't have a clue what that actual ministry will look like.

My last day at Northside is still May 20th. Until then, there is plenty to do. I even get to "preach" this Sunday at both locations. This is proving to be a difficult task because it looks like it will be my last time to share with my church family as a pastor of the church. There is so much to say in such a short amount of time.

It's all good. Gotta stay focused on Jesus.

Rusty

For the last year, three Duke lacrosse players have been fighting for their freedom. They have been proclaiming they are innocent of all charges that they sexually assaulted an exotic dancer. Millions of dollars have been spent on this case (through media alone). Their short lives (and others) have suffered greatly through this experience.

Can you imagine the emotions of these three young men (and their parents) when the attorney general says, "Based on the significant inconsistencies between the evidence and the various accounts given by the accusing witness, we believe these three individuals are innocent of these charges"? What an incredible burden lifted. What joy went throughout the individuals, the courtroom, the state, and the country, even the world. Absolute relief and joy!

On the same day, in another room across the country, I got to experience people discovering even a greater joy than the three Duke lacrosse players. I have the opportunity to teach a class on the book of Romans with my very good friends Keith & Terry. Our class each week consists of 10-15 people who desire to discover truth through God's Word. I can honestly say this group has been given a desire to learn... it is absolute fun each week.

I asked the question, "What is going to happen when you and your sin are standing at the Judgment Seat face to face with God?" There is always hesitancy with that question because most people have an idea but aren't really sure. Most everyone in the class was brought up (in the church and at home) believing that we will be held accountable for our sins at the Judgment Seat.

So look at these verses: Ephesians 4:32 Colossians 2:13 I John 2:12 Hebrews 9:26, 28 Jude 24 - Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy... Romans 4:7-8 - "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."

Are you kidding me? How in the world can this truth be more evident in the Word of God yet we have been taught differently?

The realization of this truth caused freedom and joy to run amuck in our class. The three Duke lacrosse players experienced a temporary relief and joy. Our class experienced joy they will reign throughout eternity! One student in our class proclaimed, "I had never heard or understood this thought until tonight!!" I can imagine that he is going to sleep incredibly well tonight.

This simple truth that is hidden even within the church makes God's Word to be incredible news.

Some day... I'll stand at God's Judgment Seat and Jesus (the attorney general) will stand before God on my behalf and say, "Based on the lack of evidence I declare Rusty innocent of any charges"!

WAAHHOOOOOO!!!! Does it get any better than that?

Rusty

Once a year we celebrate what God did. We call it Easter. In most homes, it looks like this: The children awake first to discover what the Easter Bunny had left them during the night. (According to USA Today, 42% of the people prefer solid chocolate bunnies.) We slam our coffee and dress ourselves in our Easter Bests... preferably NEW! Then we go to our local church and sit through a well produced one hour service that affirms that Jesus died on the cross and rose to life on Easter Sunday. We have no problem hearing or even agreeing with the message. Why not? Everyone else is... at least this Sunday. Then it is either home to a magnificent meal or our favorite restaurant that we called ahead with reservations. We accomplished Easter for another year.

For some, it is being with family. For others, it is that one hour worship service. To the faithful, it is remembering that Jesus was resurrected.

Is that as good as it gets? One day a year rituals?

Every day... Every day... Every day... True believers experience the resurrection of Jesus every day. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, that without the resurrection of Jesus, our faith and everything we do is useless. Why do we have to wait for Resurrection Sunday? or Easter? What if every day is Resurrection Sunday? What if every day we awoke realizing what Jesus has done for us? What if every day, we realize that we have life here on earth because Jesus overcame death? What if this one day holiday actually became an every day reality?

Paul tells the church in Philippi, that it gets much better than a one hour service once a year or even once a week. He spent the first part of his life doing the ritual things. Now all of a sudden, his life has been transformed by the Spirit of God and he wants to be a part of the resurrection of Jesus every day! And through the work of the Holy Spirit, he absolutely can! Paul gave up his self-righteousness of obeying the Law and now places his life in the resurrection of Jesus who makes him righteous. His every day relationship with Jesus, the resurrected, causes him to understand that it gets better than a one hour worship service. It is any every day, every breath experience.

Thank you Jesus for your death that absolutely leads to life... every day! That's way better than any chocolate bunny!

Rusty

Micah was a prophet with an objectionable message to his audience. The people of Judah thought that everything they were doing was exactly what God wanted them to do. Micah pointed a finger of "religion" at them. They were performing so well their duties as followers of God but... God could care less. Micah informed his peers that they were missing what God desired from them which was to act justly, love with mercy, faithfulness, kindness and walk humbly with your God.

In other words… Micah is saying it is not about you and your crusted rituals. It is about meeting the needs of others and your relationship with your God. (I actually have a friend named Micah and I imagine they are very similar… that is way cool!)

The one question that I have to deal with everyday during this adventure is, “So… what are you going to do after May 20th?” My favorite counselor even asked me that question today… that is pressure! For the very first time, I think I gave an answer besides, “I’m just not sure… whatever God has in store for me.”

I absolutely know that I am going to be in the “people” business. I know that is a “God-thing”. My personality is one that deals with tasks better than people (much like the people Micah was prophesying to.) But because of the Spirit that lives in me (Romans 8:11), I am interested about others. I want them to discover their identity in Christ. I want them to know exactly how the Spirit can change their life. I want them to know their faith makes them righteous. They are saints, not sinners. They are forgiven, redeemed and made new. Jesus has restored the believer and made them holy and blameless.

I am FREE… FREE INDEED!Understanding my relationship with God causes me to walk humbly. Understanding my relationship with God causes me to walk with confidence.

I can’t help but tell people about this FREEDOM with a humble confidence.

Thank you God for allowing me to be in the “people” business.

Rusty

In Ephesians 5:32, Paul states the way Christ treats the church is a mystery.
So why does everything have to be explained?
Can't God be God?
Can Truth spread without a formula?
Can we really peal away marketing and programs from "the church"?
Can the Word of God stand by itself?

Wouldn't it be incredible to be involved in something that just couldn't be explained? A true mystery! To say these questions are idealistic, utopian or impractical speaks to the size of your God. Paul tells us in Romans 4:17 that God calls into existence something that does not exist. That is incredible. That is something that people will clamor to be a part of when God is the only answer for results.

This chapter of my adventure began on Monday, December 4th at 2 AM. That was when God abruptly awoke me and clearly enlightened me that I was finished serving in a full-time ministry position at the church I have served in for the last 18 years. Are you kidding me? Are we really having this conversation at 2 AM? Surely this can wait! Then Michelle, my wife, was abruptly woken. This can't be happening! I informed her about the message. We discussed it briefly, prayed and went back to sleep.

The next morning, my pastor was the first person with which I shared this information. This news has absolutely consumed me. I am to leave my ministry position to go to what? Lord, I absolutely trust you in this adventure. I trust that You will paint the picture on this blank canvas.

Many will think this description has more to do about others. The truth is this is about a man whose personality and leadership has collided with his faith... and today... his faith has risen to the top.

I look forward to being a part of something I can't even explain. How long will that continue? I guess that is why it is an adventure!

Rusty

I did something I have never done in my life before today... I resigned.

Northside celebrated Rusty & Michelle Kennedy's 18th anniversary as a staff member. It was at that point that I shared with the church that God was moving us on from Northside. It is like turning 18 and time to move out of the house to start your own life.

In December, God spoke very clearly to Michelle and I that it was time to begin our own ministry/church. We have walked through this process very slowly at this point. We have shared every thought and meeting with our pastor and staff. We have met with friends, denominational workers and our own two children. We are not quite sure what ministry God is calling us to next. I feel as if it will be a personal ministry in the beginning and then move into a church plant. We hope to stay in our community were we currently live.

Our leaving has nothing to do with my relationship with our church or staff. I genuinely love them all and will continue to be a part of them. They are my family and friends. But this departure is purely based on the calling God has on my life.

Kind of scary, but it is a huge leap of faith... or else I am just stupid. The whole "leap of faith" thing makes it pretty exciting as well. We have no idea what God has in store for us. Our last day on staff at Northside is scheduled for Sunday, May 20th. After that, the door is wide open. I will keep you updated...

Until then, pray that God will give us clarity for future ministry.

Rusty