California and Back!

Last week went buy too quickly! Got caught up on the 42 voicemails!  That's good. Wednesday I got everything together so that I could leave on Thursday. Left Thursday for Aliso Viejo California to hang out with my friends, Bub, Charlie and Ian. (See below!)

They make up "The Veracity Project"! They do web design, short video's, graphics galore etc. Crazy talented.

They moved into their new office and I was able to be there to see it. They truly are a very talented group of guys. We are working on some new short video's called, Check This Out!. All of the scripts have been approved and Bub, (See below.), has recorded the voice on three of them. As soon as they are all approved they will start animating.

Just so you can see what kind of work they do let me share the most encouraging email I received this week with you. It's from a Pastor at one of the church's that I've spoken at recently. Here's what he had to say:

Hey Carl,

I just wanted to share a quick testimony regarding my use of the "deBunked".  The kids gave me their full attention - which does not always happen with Junior High! I'm wondering if this is the first time the story was real to them. It was a powerful lesson and it was clear that the Lord was speaking to them.

As cool as all that was, we went into the morning worship service and Pastor preached on Noah from Hebrews 11. (Neither of us knew what the other was teaching on that day!) He hit so many of the same points as our Sunday School lesson.

Again, it was so clear that the Lord was speaking. (I believe the point is made somewhere in the Demolishing Strongholds material that if God takes the time to repeat Himself, He must really want us to know something.)

I showed it to my Junior High Sunday School class. It lead into a discussion of what Noah must have gone through building the ark, the ridicule he likely faced from his neighbors, the faith it took tocomplete the task. We talked about the rain beginning, the people outside the ark crying for help, but it was too late.

We made the parallel to Judgement Day. Would their friends and family members be prepared or hear those horrible words, "depart from Me, I never knew you?" Would they risk ridicule to try to reach their friends and family with the Gospel?

Thanks for the work you do. Thanks for introducing me to that powerful little video clip. I believe it has planted a seed with my kids that will grow deep roots and serve them well in the future.

Blessings,

Dan

FYI, "deBunked" is a video that Bub and I worked on to reach the younger, more contemporary generation. I call it, "Dirty Jobs" meets "Myth Busters".  The premise is that there's a lot of "bunk" in the world. Some of that "bunk" is that Noah couldn't have fit all of the animals onto the ark!  In this 4.5 minute, fast paced video we deBunk, the bunk! I've had very good responses on this.

While in California we were able to brainstorm, encourage, pray for, laugh at each other etc. It really was a nice vacation. Please pray for Bub's daughter, she is recovering from a staff infection that was really bad.

I was in California until Saturday when I flew home. Saturday is when I turned 49! Ouch! Time is going much too quickly now. Enjoyed family time Saturday night.

Sunday I was able to go to my own church again and Pastor Mike drilled it again. He's such a powerful preacher. I genuinely appreciate his teaching. His Mother's Day message as I told you last week is one of the most powerful messages I've ever heard on that topic.

Monday I go into the office and work on skits that I'm writing for youth meetings, call a couple of Pastors to set up speaking, send a DVD of my presentation to a young man who is going to give a presentation in his school etc.

I shared my favorite emails of the week, but I got a couple others that really encouraged me as well. Here's the first:

Dear Mr. Carl Kerby,

My name is Sarah L. and I am 12 years old. I live in Michigan and came to hear you speak when you were in Jackson. I listened intently to all three of your speeches and I am glad that I could go. I wanted to thank you for coming to Michigan and talking. In class right now we are learning about evolution, fossils, and dinosaurs. I read some of the books that we bought at the presentation and God has helped me speak up for what I believe in. I would very much appreciate it if you would pray for me while I am in school and struggling spirituality in this science class. Again I wanted to thank you for coming to talk in Jackson Michigan. God bless your travels:)

Sarah

It gets no better than that! A 12 year old who is excited about their faith. Please pray for her though as she is under attack in her school. The next email is also VERY exciting:

Hello Mr. Kerby,

Thank you for the time you spent with us the other day. It was a timely encouragement, and I know we will be putting the resources you shared with us to good use! I'm anxious to start using the survey.

Bright Lights website.  (For clarification, “Tomorrow’s Forefathers” is the umbrella name we chose for our ministry, capturing the idea of equipping families and future generations to be strong in the Lord.)

We also have some pictures / reports from recent witnessing “adventures” on our blog: www.mallyjournal.com .

Thanks again!!

Grace Mally

This young lady, her sister and brother are some of the sweetest young folks you'll ever meet. Their Bright LIghts Ministry is just plain awesome! To see young folks starting ministries and sharing the Lord like this is fantastic. This last email is encouraging as well since this isn't a "young" person but a more mature person.
Here's Phil:

Good morning Carl,

I have worked with a friend to put together a "Creation Seminar" that we have presented a couple times to small groups (<40 people each time) at our church. These sessions are at no cost to the participants and for informational purposes only. In our presentation, we have used clips from various Answers In Genesis DVDs to help make points. Interest has grown due to a recent incident in a local high school biology class over the evolution/intelligent design issue, and we are being asked about doing the talks at other churches etc.

Thank you,
Phil D.

Wow! The fact that Christians are getting excited and sharing like this is what it's all about. I can't ask for anything more. One last email!:

First of all, I want to say thank you for coming to speak at Noonday Baptist! We loved having you:) After hearing you speak, you have me on the lookout for subliminal message every where I go. I was babysitting the other day and had Barney on for the kids, when I noticed something in the opening....It was not just the children following Barney, but rather a progression; an image that would condition young children to seeing the progression that evolution teaches. Here is the link to the video that caught my eye...The image
is at the beginning and end of every Barney & Friends episode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl5gy2TKO68

Sincerely,

Elizabeth R.

I leave for Tampa, Florida on Tuesday. This will be an interesting outreach. It's not your typical "church" ministry. I'm speaking in homes, with home school groups etc. God is in control. Stay bold and share the love of Christ with someone this week.

Blessings,

Carl Kerby