My last official act as a Northside staffer was to baptize my friend Andy Deo. What an incredible testimony this man shares. We quickly reminisced over the last 18 months about him coming to understand his own identity in Christ. Having his boys, Ben and Nick, looking over the glass into the baptistery was a special moment. 
My friends at Northside planned the perfect party for my exit. It was all about baseball! It started with the National Anthem and my mom throwing out the first pitch. There was plenty of food (brats, sausage & dogs, cotton candy, nachos and of course Cracker Jacks). We split up teams and played some good ole boy softball.
One of the cool things they did was produce a set of "Rusty Kennedy" baseball cards and t-shirts. So the whole field was full of fun, food and memories. It was great to hang out with friends and family (some that I hadn't seen for quite some time). What had been forecasted as a chance of thunderstorms turned out to be a perfect day of weather with bright sunshine and a cool 75 degrees.
Perfect... That is a word that drives many. For others, it is unfathomable. It is an adjective that can be good or bad depending on the noun. It is a description that I have come to embrace about myself. It is not my opinion. It is clearly stated in the Word of God. Have you ever considered yourself perfect? If you know Jesus as your Savior... God views you as perfect! Oh my! That is greater news than any perfect party!
Coming to the understanding of perfection in Jesus could cause others to view that as an arrogant claim. Absolutely NOT! It is because of my weakness that Jesus' grace makes me perfect. Once again, it is nothing that I have done but everything God did.
It was perfect... It is perfect... It is finished.
Rusty
5 comments:
We're really gonna miss you around here. I'm glad the Lord blessed you with such a perfect send off. Send us a postcard from the edge whenever you get there.
I just logged on for the first time. I am so excited for your ministry! These last weeks in the Roman's study have changed my life and those around me! I can't get enough scripture. I know I am still an infant in my journey --- but I feel so complete and so FREE and so JOYFUL --- and I know that is how Christ wants us to all feel!! I know God is doing incredible things through you and your family as you rely on Him to guide you.
When we going to Cincy??
Thanks, Rusty, Michelle, Chloe and Cory, for being obedient.
You know what I like best about you Rusty? You challenge me, make me look at what I believe and why. Just when I think I have it ALL figured out you give a question that pokes at another area of my mind. Just what this world needs-glad you (and Michelle) are ready to take that first step of faith into the UNKNOWN to help lead the way for all of us scaredy-cats! Thanks! ("If you build it they will come...Field of Dreams")
Your "Big Inning" last Sunday was a blast! You're just on vacation this week, right? ;)
still looking forward to seeing how God is gonna use you...eagerly anticipating the opportuntiy to serve with you...kudos to you for your obedience...
btw...speaking of perfect beginnings and endings...how is that you are posting perfectly to the minute at 11:59 a.m. or 11:59 p.m.? is there significance to that?
grace...
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