Tip of the Iceberg.. that' s a New Found Glory sound that really kicks..
The Power is back on.. word..
The year 2009 is already getting pretty interesting and its only month 2 of 12..
Whats in store for Kevin Catt...
Chill out.. sip that drink and enjoy the ride..
As of lately I have been getting various signs..
These signs at up to one thing..
Gods will and were I am going..
It has taken awhile but everything is aligning and making sense.. meaning I was right the first time around.. So what was a right about?
Not saying yet..
My game plan is not complicated by any means.. The Census Bureau is looking for a CNS consultant to join the staff.. So I am giving it a shot.. I believe God has thrown that opportunity my way for a reason.. Probably to work my way out of this HUGE debt I have with ITT and St Marys Medical Center..
I have a bad shoulder.. the left one dislocates and when that happens its off to the ER I go.. really sucks especially when you don't have health insurance..
So if I get that job.. I am still staying here.. paying off my stuff.. and GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!
I'm going to Bible College.. its settled..
I can go to Trinity where my uncle teaches for 50% off!
Or
I can look around at other colleges..
so you want to know what I am going for?
My attributes do the talking.. Once you know who I am and what I am all about its quite clear where I need to be I feel..
One thing I tend to do.. is go into areas you would not.. think to see me and tell people about God.. what God likes.. what God does not like.. The Reality of the world.. Spiritual Warfare.. I slip these things into conversation at times.. sometimes its direct.. sometimes its indirect..
Lately everywhere I go.. I pay extra close attention to what is going on around me.. what situations I myself come into close rage with.. I never know when God is going to use me.. so I almost try to be ready for it..
A few times I have missed windows.. I can't be doing that.. God is telling me to do stuff and sometimes I think its just me.. This factor will change in time.. I feel.. as I continue on this path...
Honestly I have grown more then i have ever expected in the amount of time I have been a serious Christan.. The Lord is really doing a number on me.. but I still fail in quite a few areas.. I am here to tell you that failure is normal.. we can't learn anything if we don't fall first.. be strong.. get up and know that God is a forgiving God..
If I had a mindset of just giving up after failing.. I would not have the relationship I have with God that I have now..
also, God often discipline us because he loves us.. discipline is a blessing.. Just like when a mom disciplines her child.. I know a few people being disciplined by God as I type this message.. Surely God will get through to them..
Something bad happens to you.. think about it before you jump the gun and bail on God.. not everything is going to be perfect.. we still live in a world that has fallen.. Satan runs this place.. Think about that..
Getting the message across is key.. and its what I am all about..
You know Matthew 28:18-20 : Then Jesus came to them and said "All authority on Heaven and Earth has been given to Me. Therefore go make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you. And surly I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
One of the first bible verses I memorized..
Everyday I wake up with that goal in mind..
Who can I bring forth to God?
Where is God going to take me today?
Kind of reminds me of Stephen Baldwins story, if you have not read The Unusual Suspect, its a very inspiring book..
Its only the tip of iceberg.. Things are going to get heavy.. God and I are on a road trip and I am riding shotgun..
Who is driving the car for you.. is it you? or is it God?
Pray about it ;-)
Grace and Peace
Lately around the Indiana area we have been going though some tough times. A huge Ice Storm recently attacked the Tri-State.. 70 thousand of us are left without power.. me included.. In fact I am updating via Notebook on my battery.. so I don’t know how long I got.. About two hours I suppose..
Most businesses closed there doors today.. its just a big mess.. a tree limb actually fell on my fence out back and that portion of the fence is not standing.. pretty wild ey? Well that’s the story everywhere from what I encountered on my drive into the aftermath of what Evansville looks like.. Estimated time for power for some people is about a week.. some sooner.. we will see what happens.. Right now its okay.. I got light.. a warm fire to keep me warm.. Right now I am blessed.. Thanks again God ;-)
How bout that story? Not the two min testimony before I got Baptized.. Although that is a very strong testimony and it came straight from my heart.. I got the extended version.. all up in my head.. so its about to come down on this blog.. get comfy and relaxed.. I am taking you back exactly a year from ago..
January 2008, a brand new year for Kevin Catt this year would be the year I change my life.. on more then one occasion..
I had been hanging out with Dustin .. He was a friend I met in high school.. we actually became really good skating friends in high school.. Skating and smoking weed was our thing.. we developed a bond and were considered ALMOST best friends.. we both got away from skating eventually though.. he followed football.. and I followed the Hardcore Scene.. we were still friends but not as strong as before..
Fast forward back to college years I would start hanging out with Dustin.. and little by little we developed that friendship we used to have.. It was pretty awesome.. our personalities together were pure entertainment for anyone else in the room.. if anyone could bring humor.. it was Dustin and I.. we made sure we had something to talk about..
Well.. I saw something different in Dustin.. I couldn’t put my finger on it.. all I could see was he was being a REAL JERK to girls.. Especially the hot ones.. I was baffled at his behavior and I couldn’t understand were he was going with his behavior.. One night we were playing Beer Pong at my buddy John Lins and Dustin was with a girl he was trying to get with.. you wouldn’t think that though because he was being a complete jerk to this girl… I would act opposite to her.. complete nice guy right… Dustin got the girl with the way he was acting..
I was completely confused.. I didn’t understand what was happening.. By the end of January he would finally spill the beans to me.. He was doing something that they call GAMING.. I was completely intrigued by it.. and had to find out what this crap was all about.. I had always played the nice guy card.. and it really didn’t get me as far as I wanted with Ladies.. I was just the funny good friend or something..
Anyway so I got this stuff down.. The thing about me is I can talk.. no doubt.. you get in a conversation with me I won’t shut up.. and that’s what this material was all about.. talking and getting the girl to jump through your hoops.. not hers.. Confidence and Cocky Funny attitude was key to Gaming.. and eventually I made it click for me.. it took some time and practice.. but I was on a social high.. that was way better then any weed I was smoking at the time..
Dustin was just funny.. and he def used that to his advantage when it came to gaming.. he was good .. no he was great.. and when we were both together at a party.. watch out.. you would think guys would get angry at us.. but no.. they loved us.. one reason because they didn’t see us as a threat.. The book walks you through how to handle any situation..
I knew what to say and when to say it.. I knew how to make myself appear to be a social butterfly.. which I believe I did become at one point in this game.. I was popular.. and everyone knew me.. Everyone liked me for the most part .. and I was just living it up.. strong.. Me and Dustin were a great duo.. There were a few other people that were gaming and loved us.. I actually had people coming to me for advice on how to do this or that..
So my social life went through the roof.. I was in love with this lifestyle.. it was grand.. I was being a cocky funny cute jerk.. and people loved it.. I eventually knew when a girl was interested in me and when she wasn’t…. it was awesome to know when a girl was into you.. and when she wasn’t.. I used all the tools and I didn’t hold back.. Drugs Social Life.. Beer Pong.. A best friend to share all my stories and come up with new tag team routines.. it was a glorious four months..
Then something started to happen.. It probably came about mid April.. def was there by June.. I started getting nervous.. Like I was thinking to much about this crap and that was a big no no.. you go with the flow.. you don’t think.. you just go.. it wasn’t a problem at first.. but that wasn’t all..
I went back and got new routines.. but something was holding me back.. I was having trouble being a cocky funny jerk.. up to this point my EGO was huge so I really wasn’t thinking about anyone’s feelings but my own.. I figured.. if they don’t like me whatever.. Plenty of fish in the sea.. they don’t know what they are missing but whatever.. I am over it..
Guess what? here comes my conscience condemning me for what I am doing.. it actually brought me pretty low.. and eventually I just had trouble doing what I was so good at doing before.. I didn’t give up though.. I still went at it.. and usually I would hit home when I comitted to the routine.. I was so angry at myself.. I kept telling myself what is the problem Kevin?.. you know this stuff like the back of your head!.. seriously?
I was still getting high and that was always fun.. but that started to wear out too.. like I just didn’t feel as good as I used too.. by June something was seriously up with me.. I wasn’t the Kevin everyone knew.. I kept it on the DL and played it off.. I was still cussing like a sailor and being a cocky big shot but what was happening was a work of the Holy Spirit..
I believe July 4th was the last night.. I would get stone cold drunk and stoned.. Me, Dustin and Shawn decided we were going out.. and me and Dustin had a solid routine that night for a party that was going on at Normandy Arms Apartments.. Shawn drove my car and took us to my Cousin Jeff Lipko’s girlfriends house in Mt Vernon.. We went up there and watched fireworks.. and I drank Yeager. I know that’s not how you spell it.. but you know what I am talking about.. the Black liquorish tasting stuff.. has a Deer on the front of it..
So he ran game.. I won’t go into details but it didn’t work out to well for him.. so from there we went to my house I think.. and then back to his apartment..
Finally we get to the party.. I ran into some people I knew.. old skater friends Mike and Myles Barnett.. some other peeps.. it was a kegger and beer pong.. very nice.. but for me.. I didn’t run one routine.. could not get myself too.. it was like I was a little wusss.. it wasn’t happening.. I couldn’t get the momentum to do anything.. plus I was a little messed up still.. after that party.. I went back to Dustins.. and me and Shawn stayed up and had a long conversation about his family.. it was intense..
I was so upset at myself.. I let myself down and Dustin I felt.. it sucked..
Two or three days later… I was just chilling at my house.. I was all alone.. in my room I remember it was raining.. I was just browsing YouTube.. nothing big.. until something caught my eye..
I don’t know remember how it caught my eye… or how I even found it.. but this was a video that kind of pertained to the end times.. like the end of the world. .. ask me and I will be more specific on what I am talking about.. but the point is.. I was watching this video.. and during it.. I started to get freaking scared.. Someone was telling me.. something..
”Where do you stand?”
”Don’t you think its time to change Kevin?”
I was incredibly moved .. at that point I was terrified.. like I was peaking out the window and everything making sure I wasn’t going to die.. at that point..
I said out loud..
”I have to change”
”I have to come to terms”
My life depended on it.. And that’s exactly what the Holy Spirit said that day.. God tends to work in ways that you can’t describe until way later down the road..
I called my Grandma.. I knew she walked with the Lord.. and I just told her I needed to come over and talk to her.. she said okay that will be fine.. so I got over there..
I started talking about stuff I saw.. and I told her I was scared.. I need to do something.. My Uncle Frank Shane was there.. they told me what I needed to do..
I didn’t hesitate I knew the Holy Spirit came to me to do this.. not at the time.. but now I realize that is what it was..
So I was lead in Prayer..
And from that moment on..
I immediately felt revived.. my fear was gone.. everything was okay.. just like that.. Uncle Frank gave me a Bible.. it was a New Living Translation.. I started reading the Gospels.. John, then Matthew, then Mark I think.. then Luke..
At one point my Grandma said something I will never forget
”Beau, I knew what you wanted to talk about when you called, I had been praying that the Lord put a burden on your heart for a long time to come to him, and you did just that”
You got cold chills now don’t you?.. Praise GOD!
I stopped smoking weed.. Prayed about it.. and I was tempted to do it.. once.. I passed it up.. after that it was a breeze to give up.. Smoking cigs was different.. I knew that would be a challenge.. In my walk I realized that I am harming the Holy Temple inside me were Christ lives.. towards the end of July.. I burned a pack and claimed in prayer I am done.. I quit.. this is it..
That didn’t work I bought another pack.. but I didn’t finish that pack.. I gave it away.. then I bought another pack.. that would be my last pack.. I smoked about 7 or 8 of them.. and they HURT ME.. I was like daaaang.. so I burned that pack.. just to make a statement to myself and to God.. I am done this time.. FOR GOOD!
That was July 30th.. It wasn’t easy but God helped.. and August 18th I was Baptized in the Lake right behind my church, Christian Fellowship Church..
I believe it was a day later.. I did smoke one more Cig.. but have not had one since then.. and don’t plan on smoking anytime soon.. it isn’t worth it..
I sacrificed my old life to serve Christ.. and He has been blessing me ever since.. My prayers are being answered.. and my life is completely changed.. Thank you Jesus for showing me the way to you!
Q&A
Q: But Kevin what about your friends? Don’t you still kick it with them?
A: Unfortunately I have grown apart from my past friends before I came to know Christ, Dustin doesn’t game to much I don’t think now.. his Ego kind of got the better of him.. We don’t talk to much anymore.. him and the other bros I used to kick it with found it very strange how I was suddenly changed by Christ.. They are still running after what the World has to offer.. but I pray for them..
Q: You used to be the partier back in the day how about Hammerheads, still a good time right?
A: Just not my scene anymore.. I can barley get myself to go into a Bar these days.. Why do something that leads you vulnerable for attack by the enemy anyway?
1Peter 4:8-9 Be Sober! Be on the Alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. – Holman Christian Standard Bible
Q: Sounds like there is a God.. I remember you Kevin.. and you LOVED to party and smoke that weed!
A: YES! There is a God.. and if my story showed you that then praise God for working through me and getting another believer into the Family of Christ! I could of never did what I did without Christ.. He truly does fill your heart with what SHOULD be there.. I tried to find it through drugs, social status, and alcohol.. thing is NOTHING THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER CAN FILL THAT HOLE IN YOUR HEART.. ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN!
Q: This is intense Kevin, what do I have to do to get the life you have?
A: That’s the best thing about it.. Salvation is free all you have to do is confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you have eternal life.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – New International Bible
We were born with this thing called sin.. Sin.. is disobiedence to God.. to do something morally wrong.. Everyone does it.. Except Christ.. Christ never sinned not one time.. and what did he do? He gave his life on a cross for YOUR sins.. thats right.. if you so believe in him.. then he takes your sin.. Christ is the bridge for a relationship with our Heavenly Father..
So how about it? Confess your sins to Christ and accept him as your Savior.. You got nothing to lose.. in fact you have everything to gain!
If you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39
Q: Well Kevin I prayed about it last night and God didn’t change me..
A: Do you have faith? It takes faith for the Lord to work in your life, think about it.. Go and read the book of Matthew.. Jesus performed the miracles of healing through people’s faith in him. Hebrews 11:1 Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. –NIV
Remember this friend, pray for the desire to seek the Lord and he will deliver it to you.. It took more then a day to get where I am now in the relationship I have with Christ, trust the Lord and he will answer you day by day..
God acts on His watch.. not yours be patient and God will change your life for the better.. if that is what you so choose. He will fill that gap in your heart.. that you desperatly try to fill yourself.. This I know.
I feel I am being called to do something..
You know what..
So are you..
When will you act on it?
Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Pray to be used by God..
Well..
"You are such an encouragement to me...everytime we talk! thanks sooooo much! keep letting God use you!"
I will do just that..
Tonight I said what I was going to do..
Its on now.. No breaks.. full pedal to the metal..
I am stepping out.. and if I fall.. I'm getting back up..
No one is keeping me down..
That one guy that fell ... won't keep me down either..
I'm going up..
And through Him people are coming with me.
Lots going on.. I wanted to update earlier last week.. Seems like stuff always comes up though and I tend to forget or slip away from my blog I am here now though to give you the 411 on whats going on in my life..and around my life..
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Last week I ran into Billy Burke, which is a friend I went to high school with.. We would sometimes see each other at the same social functions back in the day.. Never really became big friends but I had respect for the guy.. he had a good taste in movies and music..
Anyway Billy Burke ran into me when I was on a projection shift over at East.. we got to talking and it turns out that Bill came to Christ.. last November..
That was really cool to hear... We have been meeting up a lil bit lately and that has been really cool.. I mean to have someone to talk to about Christ, the Gospel and just Christan living.. really good stuff.. He came to my small group last night and I can tell he had a good time.. Him coming into my life was a quite a blessing..
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Going back even farther.. I have been praying to be used by God, and that was answered in a matter of one or two days.. my cousin broke down on the phone.. and I just walked him through how to put his faith in Christ, if he does that.. God will do the rest.. that is how it was for me.. Not saying I was autopilot but if you want it.. God will deliver for sure..
I have found out though that my cousin hasn't been doing so hot.. in fact him and his dad are on about the same level.. Me trying to help these guys is like moving a house by myself.. When people just want to be humored by your advice and not act on it.. not a lot of good comes out of it..
I can only do so much for them.. I planted the seed.. so God has to see it grow.. not me.. It took me awhile to figure that out.. by the Lord told me through many people that I just had to let it go.. that I have done all I can for these people..
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My friend Goodin is not doing to well..
He was kicked out of his mom's house..
No Job anymore..
He is living with Nick Beeman another friend and God bless that guy.. even though Goodin has not treated the dude very well he still is there and is still giving Goodin a place to stay and rest.. What a guy..
I witnessed to Goodin in August and showed him a few videos.. He came to the Lord later that month at my church.. Everything seemed like it was working out for him.. he went to stepping stones which is a drug treatment center and got off the drugs he was taking which were mostly pain killers.. I know how addicting they are.. its awful but he broke it.. the only thing negative that came out of that.. was that he was back to smoking cigarettes again..
So weeks went by and everything was good, Church was good and life was good.. Goodin was good at this point.. all he needed was a job..
A month or two went by.. and something seemed kinda fishy.. I didn't question anything.. Goodin was good or at least I thought.. He seemed like he was being honest with me..
Then I missed him at church.. one week became two.. two became three and so on.. I didn't thank to much of it.. although I was kinda troubled by the situation to some extent.. not a lot I could do if the dude wasn't answering my calls.. he would always tell me.. he was just going to hit up Sunday morning service..
Well lets fast forward to about two weeks ago or so.. Goodin calls me about playing in a texas hold em cash game so I said okay.. go over there and him an Nick are there..
I lost to much money to play anymore.. but I ended up leaving and going to the ATM then I came back.. but I got a bad feeling that maybe I should not play.. so I didn't.. It was a good thing I came back though because I did leave my leather jacket there..
Nick had been knocked out and he didn't have anymore money to spare.. so I ended up giving him a ride back to his truck.. Told me Goodin has not been doing so good.. in fact.. Steve told me everything that I needed to hear.. and once I thought about it.. it made sense why he was acting the way he was..
He was stealing for the addiction that never got off his back.. he stole from his mom, Nicks Grandma, and I don't know who else..
I was very upset to hear this.. it kinda sent my mind into overdrive as I recapped all of Goodins behavior patterns.. It all added up.. I was so deceived.. My question is why would he? I could of helped in if he had just been honest.. or at least attempted to help..
Conclusion.. I guess he didn't want help.. Poor guy.. I did all I could for him.. like my family.. God will just have to work it out.. The Lord might be giving Goodin a reality check right.. that is what it seems like.. Hopefully it helps..
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
In case nobody knew.. you are living in a warzone.. that you can not see.. Satan LOVES to tempt us, add doubt in our thoughts, anything to get our eyes off of Christ and serving the will of the Lord.. When you have an addiction.. to a mind alltering substance.. you are playing with fire for real.. Goodin is getting burned.. and I pray.. that the Lord will bring him back..
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My tooth is has been hurting since Sunday..
Horrible but I will live..
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I pray for my friends.. will you.. please?
God Bless
Kevin