Speaking in Kansas City Area!

What's up brothers, for those of you who live in the Kansas City area Ashley and I will be speaking at a Youth Retreat at Lee Summit Community Church. There are three sessions that you are more than welcome to attend.

3:00 Worship Session: Shay speaks "Live Deeply" media message

4:15 Breakout Session: Shay and Ashley purity "Live Pure"

7:00 Worship Session: Shay speaks "Take a Stand"

I would love to see you guys if you live in the area! Come check it out at LSCC's youth facility "Element". Directions are on link below: http://www.students.lsccnet.com/

Joyful Noise: FLAME feat: Lecrae & John Reilly

This video is Sick! If you are looking for some edifying music to fill your iPods Flame and Lecrae are a killer option. Remember this: The thoughts in your mind will eventually become the beliefs in your heart. Fill you mind with things of God brothers!

DON'T GET RIPPED OFF!

I want to encourage you to take a moment today and reflect on your relationship with Christ. As I talk to our brothers throughout the country I hear over and over again how their relationship with Christ is being squashed with the business of life. I want to challenge you today: Set your alarm 30-60 minutes early every morning and start your day by investing in your relationship with Christ. DON'T GET RIPPED OFF! Keith Chancey told me for years that I needed to have a quiet time first thing in the morning. I always resisted him because I am by nature a "night owl". Not only that I was consistently meeting with the Lord before bed. I remained stubborn and proud of my routine however the Lord kept nudging me to discipline myself in this way. Last year I finally made a rock solid commitment that I would get up 1 hour early for the rest of my life. I decided at the very least that I could honor the Lord by disciplining myself on His behalf. The product of this decision has been priceless. With each morning that goes by our relationship gets sweeter and sweeter.

Here is the biggest change I have seen. For the last week my time with the Lord has been "dry". I was getting lazy with my prayer and realized that I need to focus on connecting with the Spirit before digging into the Word. So yesterday morning I bared down and had and UNBELIEVABLE time with the Lord. I was so fired up that I wrote a talk that I can't wait to give. In the wee hours of the morning Christ lit a fire in my life and I walked out my door ready to Kill My Day For Christ (you know what I mean-spiritually speaking) ...don't just do it...kill it! What good is a quiet time like that if you are just headed to bed once you are done?!

This kind of commitment equals some early mornings-5am on Mondays for me. I don't tell you this to blow sunshine on my face-I am as afflicted as the next guy. My hope is that I can encourage you through the lessons I am learning. Understand this, mornings are the only time of your day where nothing can infringe on your time. He died for us, it's the least we can do for Him. Let me know how it goes!

Bears Bandwagon

Ashley and I are in Memphis, Tennessee staying with the Folk family. We just watched plays of the week on ESPN and it reminded me how fantastically awesome the Bears/Vikings game was this weekend. I would like to take a moment to reach out to those of you whose team loyalty is currently wavering. Now is the time to abandon the Patriots, Colts and Cowboys and join the Bears bandwagon. I stand here with arms open wide. Come forth my child, embrace your ditka mustache.

Lecrae Rebel

"I love rap and I am an atheist. I noticed that Lecrae's music was in the top 10 on iTunes and after sampling all of the tracks, I've purchased the album. Even though I don't believe in God, I enjoy listening to someone who believes so strongly about something and is able to convey it with such passion through his music. Great job, looking forward to more albums."

This is a customer review quote from iTunes regarding Lecrae's new album "Rebel". This is a phenomenal example of a passionate man impacting the world for Christ. Congratulations to Lecrae on such a fantastic testimony, we are proud of you. Lecrae is currently #5 on the top ten Hip Hop Albums on iTunes ahead of Dr Dre and Kanye West.

Ashley and I just bought his album and I can't wait to hear it!!

SMU Mustangs: Blake McJunkin

We are proud of you Blake! Former Kamper Blake McJunkin is starting for the SMU Mustangs as a Freshman. Blake is quite possibly the most dangerous Warball player in K2 history. He has taken the skills he learned on the warball court and is applying them to the gridiron! Just joking, but seriously. Below Blake's Dad, Kirk, gave us an update.

"As of this weekend he will have started his 6th straight game for SMU. In the week prior to playing Texas Tech the starting center broke his finger. As result Blake got his opportunity to step up and fill the position. This photo represents his first start, and first plays, in Division 1 football against Texas Tech, a top ten rated team.

According to his coaches he is doing a great job and consistently receives high grades for his performance. More importantly, after last week’s game an assistant coach approached me to compliment Blake’s contribution to the team and how proud he is of Blake to have him on the team. I said thank you for the compliment. He responded, “and I am not talking about him as a football player.” As his Dad I know that God has used Kanakuk as a tool to build, in Blake, character that honors the Lord."

Blake you are a beast. Thanks for representing Christ in D1 football. We are proud of you.

K2 Musical: Episode #4

Fellas this video is probably my favorite. It is very "random" and somewhat ridiculous. So I would love to know what you all think. Leave a comment below to let me know!

Shay

Poor economy: The Ingredients for a Revolution

There is so much unrest in our country right now. The state of our economy is dire straits. I don't pay to much attention to what is taking place in the media because I feel like every bit of news has spin on it. Either spin from man's opinion or worse from man's intention. This morning the state of our economy hit me right in the heart-no spin. One of my best friends called me and told me his company was making cut backs that would affect him. This is a guy who is tremendously successful and even his job is in limbo.

How do we look at the situation of our country as Christians? I suppose there are a number of things to do: love our neighbors, comfort those in distress, provide for those who suffer financially, etc. If we allow ourselves to dream I think there is greater possibility in the state of our nation.

When David was declared on Israel’s most wanted list he hid from Saul in the Cave of Adullam. David was in complete despair (Psalm 142). Deep in the recesses of this cave David cried out for deliverance from his God. His family and friends heard of Davids situation and gathered to him. Not only that, scripture tells us that, "everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him." 1 Sam 22:2.

How many people are in distress, in debt and discontented in our country today as a result of our economic burdens? Allow me to shift your perspective on our lowly economy. Israel was coming off of it's darkest days when the cave of Adullam birthed David's Mighty Men. This group of men eventually made David king and King David lead an entire nation back to God. And thus you have the ingredients for a revolution: those in debt, distressed and discontented.

I pray that our economic challenges we face would result in a group of Men who unite together to deliver a lost nation back to the One True God. My prayers also go out to those who have lost homes, investments and jobs in recent days. May your hope rest in the Almighty.

KMT:K2 Represent Get Krunk

Houston and Dallas KMT last week was awesome. Pictured above are my K2 peeps representing Dallas.

And here is the Houston crew. It was so awesome hanging with you guys.

KMT: Kid Movie Tour in Houston and Dallas

The Kanakuk Movie tour has officially been kicked off. We had our first show of the year in Houston. We had over 300 people at 2nd Baptist Church...it was Awesome!! I performed as "Dancing Irish Janitors" which was a life changing experience for the crowd no doubt. Then I had ice cream with a bunch of K2 Houston Studs pictured above!!

Yesterday I went to Highland Park school lunches in Dallas. It is so fun for me to hang out with you guys in your neck of the woods. Last night we did our Dallas show at Watermark Church and topped the Houston attendance with 350 people strong. Pictures of that event to come...

I love seeing you guys. Proud of your for standing for Christ.

K2 Musical Episode 3

Clean Team in Highland Park!

Mohicans of K2,

I am pumped to imform you that I have evidently struck gold in Highland Park, HP Clean Team opened the faceboook group on Sunday September 28, 2008 with 16 representatives as members and as of the lastest check we are at 227 members and its only Tuesday September 30, 2008. I am so lucky to have guys like you that poured into me for 25 days and light me ablaze to spread Jesus like fire through Highland Park. Nothing was more of a life changing event than taking K-Equip this year, from that i am now about to help lead a bible study for my little brother David's friends and I am getting poured into by two wonderful ex K-2 leadership guys, Ryan Nixon and Jordan Hamilton. I just wanted to say thank you for truly putting me where I needed to be to make a difference back home. You guys are wonderful and I hope all is going well with Kamp and your families. I am constantly praying for yall.

Your brother in Christ, Benjamin Parke

Kanakuk Movie Tour: Houston and Dallas

Kanakuk Kamps is bringing Klife to you! We are coming to 2nd Baptist in Houston next Wednesday October 8th from 7-8:30. You will see all of your favorite Kamp Directors: Joe White, Matt Houston, Todd Rapp, myself and many others.

And we aren't stopping there. We will be in Dallas on Thursday October 9th from 7-8:30 at Watermark Church.

Each event will be a Klife Kolaboration from all of our Kanakuk Kamps. Bring your family and friends! We will be pulling out all the stops. I want to see YOU next week!!

Mighty Men: What are men fighting for? Part 2 of 2

“I read somewhere you said that you are fighting now for peace. Fighting against racism. Fighting for literacy. This means all the boxing was just a prelude to what you do now.”
-Quote from Juan Williams interview with Muhammad Ali-

Brothers, I apologize for failing to follow up yesterday as I promised. Forgive me for not following through on my word.

On Tuesday we talked about the how the fall of man concieved the curse of man and the curse gave birth to "the fight" we experience everyday as men. Men are fighting for women, sports and everything in between. We are fighting for a promotion, some credit, a good cause, or maybe the first seat in the jazz band. We desire authority, control, respect, applause and popularity. Our goals are security, success, power and advancement. This desire to fight is universal and I believe that God created this instinct at the core of a man. This desire is a driving force in our actions as men therefore we must understand how and why God built us this way. Our instinct to fight is a powerful force and quite honestly it is scary how easily we can be swayed to fight for the enemy.

Scripture thoroughly addresses our desire to fight. The origin of this desire is seeded in man’s forfeit of stewardship to Satan. After the fall of man we are left with the desire to manage God’s creation yet we have been left inadequate to do the job. The blessing of stewardship has now become a fight. The good news is that God crafted scripture to appeal and teach men to wage a spiritual battle. God sent His son, Jesus, to bridge the gap of our inadequacy and thus reinstate man’s rule over His creation in the future millennial kingdom (Heb 2:5-9).

Our society is full of men who are starved to fight for something worthwhile. The signs of our times illustrate how far off we are from God’s good purpose. Our fight culture is a manifestation of a spiritually starved generation of men. Men are engaged in fights that fail to fill the spiritual void that God has placed in each of our hearts. But here is the good news: God has engineered us this way for a purpose. A generation of men who are committed to engaging in the Lord’s battle will change the face of this nation forever. He has given us the blueprints to follow in His Word. Join me in this journey.