Mike King

You Converted Me

You Converted Me is out.  Here is a review I wrote on the book for The Journal of Student Ministries.

Tony Jones’ sets the tone for reading the Confessions with an informative introduction, inviting the reader to listen in to the classic conversation Saint Augustine has with God – a passionate authentic dialogue – about guilt, sin, relationships, faith, life, and love.  Jones’ annotations - comments, suggestions, and clarifications throughout You Converted Me are very informative and will help those who may be intimidated by the thought of reading a 1,600 year old classic. You Converted Me contains the first eight books of the Confessions which cover Augustine’s birth through his conversion. Reading the Confessions again has reminded me that the more things change the more they stay the same.  The issues raised by the Confessions are as relevant today as they were in Augustine’s world.  Jones’ guidance through the text provides clarity concerning references made to Fourth Century current events, literature and personalities from Augustine’s world and contextual analysis thereby adding to the depth of the readers understanding.  The book is translated by Robert J. Edmonson, CJ into contemporary language enabling Tony to spend very little energy helping the person reading understand things lost in translation and more room to focus on important and relevant content making Augustine’s quest extremely relevant for today’s reader. Whether you are a parent, husband, youth pastor, friend, homemaker, lover, teacher or student – there is so much in the Confessions that speak to the heart of what it means to be human and what it means to really know God. My hope is that You Converted Me will expose more people, young and old, to this classic work by Augustine, undoubtedly one the most prolific and important theologians in Christianity.

Shawn McDonald

Shawn McDonald and friends were at our YouthFront Auditorium last night.  Although I am not really into "Christian Concerts" l really enjoyed the music.  Shawn has a bit of a Damien Rice thing going on which works for me.  The folk/acoustic/soul/blues mix of Shawn's music connected with thoughtful lyrics and performed by musicians who are real artists made for a great night.

Shawn's latest project titled Ripen is currently in the top ten of all itune downloads.

Life to the Full...

Life is overflowing at Jacob's Well.  We love our church.  During Lent we have been fasting on Tuesday and Wednesday and breaking the fast together with a meal of Soup and Bread on Wednesday nights.  This has been a very meaningful practice and time of fellowship.

Life to the full seems to be the best description I can think of right now for Jacob's Well.  We have been going through a process of preparing to add a third service later this Spring.  Two nights ago we met with around 50 leaders within the Jacob's Well community.  Tim Keel led a time of Story Telling.  This was an opportunity for people to share what God is doing in their lives and the lives of those around them at Jacob's Well.  This was a confirmation of the Holy Spirit's work of transformation.  The stories were as amazing as the ones I read in Scripture through the Gospels and the Book of Acts.  Ahhhh, life in the advancing Kingdom of God - the movement toward Shalom and the tears of joy flowing out of hearts of gratitude and transformation were in full demonstration during our time together.  This is the life to the full Jesus promises in John 10:10.

Big LIFE Event # 2

Vicki and I experienced two big LIFE events last week.  (Big LIFE Event # 1 below)

Big LIFE Event # 2 - I wrote a post last week about Daniel picking up the bill when we ate in a Restaraunt and joked about wondering if Daniel and Lindsay were going to announce that we were going to be grandparents.  Well, a couple of days later we (Vicki, Jessica and I) were in Mexico when the cell phone rang.  Daniel couldn't wait until we got home to inform us that a new baby King was on the way.  Wow.  Not only are we no longer parents of teenagers, we are going to be Grandparents.  Very Cool - to get it done before we turn 50.  Due date - the middle of October.

Big LIFE Event # 1

Vicki and I experienced two big LIFE events last week. 

Big LIFE Event # 1 - Jessica turned 20 years old.  Jessica accompanied our staff to Croc.  We celebrated the departure from her teen years in Mexico.  It is really weird not having teenagers living at home.  I wonder - how will this effect my role as a youth worker?  The last night Jessica shared in a very adult like, yet passionate way her desire to serve Jesus in some type of International Cross-Cultural endeavor.  She has felt this way for some time but the way she articulated it as a 20 year old woman was very special.  BIG LIFE EVENT # 2 coming later...

Croc Rocks

  Last week was a phenomenal week spent with 35 YouthFront Staff at the YouthFront Mission Site in Croc outside of Monterrey, Mexico.  Only a small percentage of our staff has actually been there.  Even though most of our staff can articulate the basic story of what is happening in Croc the depth of what is really going on there was quite overwhelming to those visiting for the first time.  We built two houses.  We have now built more than 30 homes along with our home base and Community Center.  We worked on several other projects like setting up the After School Program in the new home we recently purchased.  We are feeding 150 kids a day who are in our After School Program.  Those of us who travel frequently to Croc have been able to watch a group of young people grow up and become young adults who are now taking responsibility within the community of Croc.  This trip was a wonderful experience for our staff, a time of intense team building.  We laughed, played, talked, worked, cried, ate, celebrated, and prayed together.  Dedicating a home and turning the keys over to a family in need (a home that you have constructed, through blood, sweat and tears) is an amazing and emotional experience.  Our staff living in Kansas City has a new appreciation for our staff who resides in Croc for a significant part of the year.  We had several long conversations about the complexity of ministry and effective community development in a place like Croc.  We examined the typical short-term mission experience for North American teenagers and its effect on their Christian Formation compared to the continuity of community building and the long term impact this has, not only on our youth but also the people we are serving in Croc. We held a huge community fiesta filled with games, music and dancing.  The opportunity to have fun and celebrate in a Christian context is something very foreign but extremely compelling for the people of Croc.  Most of the churches in Croc embrace a legalism that would make Bob Jones look permissive.  I am so blessed and fulfilled with what God has allowed us to participate in and accomplish in Croc.  Kurt and Emily Rietema have done such a great job of leading this program for the last several years.  It is so cool that our staff now fully comprehends how awesome Croc, the Rietema’s and the rest of our staff there is.  Here are a couple more pictures followed by a link to a lot more pictures.

Croc Photo Album

Croc

Away from technology at our YouthFront Site in Croc, Mexico with our YouthFront staff until Monday, March 27th.

Peace and Joy.

"I'll pay for that."

Vicki and I were working late to make-up for a morning spent at the St. Patrick's Day Parade when we got a call from Daniel, our son.  "Come join Lindsay and me for dinner at 54th Street Restaurant, its St. Patrick's Day."  When the check came Daniel reached for the bill, "We will pick it up."  Wow.  That is awesome.  Thanks.  I joked about my son being a man.  Paying for your parent's meal is a definite proof of major league adult hood.  I thought maybe they were going to announce that we were going to become Grandparents.  Nope, however they did invite us over to their house to see their new puppy.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Jessica arrrived home for Spring Break Thursday night.  Vicki and Jessica have always loved parades so they talked me into the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade.  Dustin Angell, Jessica's "special" friend came with Jessica to spend a couple of days at our house.  Jessica and Dustin have been friends since meeting each other as teen staff at YouthFront camp.  Anyway, we all attended the big parade.  Kansas City goes all out for St. Patrick's Day.  Eighty percent of the city is Irish on March 17th, ninety percent when the holiday falls on a Friday.  Other than getting a little cold it was quite entertaining.  Pictures

 

A Funeral

Three days before Carrie and Sean's wedding the King Family gathered for another of life's big events - a funeral.  We buried my mom's sister. Aunt Shirley was a wonderful person.  She was one who lived to serve God and others. 

Death is always sad, after all death is an enemy of God.  But for those who have the hope of resurrection through faith in Jesus Christ the Risen Lord, the ultimate defeat of death is eliminated. 

I appreciate weddings and funerals - both are times that create exclamation points for the real stuff of life.  Weddings and funerals provide something truly unique and special that add to what it means to be friends and family.  We walked around the cemetery visiting grave sites of many family members and remembering. 

As I was getting ready to leave the family meal after the graveside service my cousin Rita, who is a few years older than me (she even lived with our family for six months when I was a child), called me over and asked if I would officiate at her funeral ceremony.  Rita has terminal cancer and a very short time left to live.  "Yes Rita, it would be a privilege."  We talked, hugged and prayed.  I am honored that she asked me to do this, but it will be one of the harder things I have ever done.