Kyle O'Neal

So I just realized that I announced this on Twitter and on Facebook and on KyleMelissa.com but completely forgot to mention it on this blog.  Click HERE for the full story.
We’re due March 10, 2009.  Oh ya!!!!  Can’t describe what it feels like to know we’re going to be parents!

So it’s been quite some time since I’ve done the speaking part at any type of event.  Normally I’m the worship leader and I may speak in between songs or pray before the speaker or pastor comes up, but it’s been over 3 years since I’ve been the one who speaks.  Well this morning I led worship for Cartersville High School’s first FCA meeting AND spoke.  Scary…I know.  And here’s how it went down:

// Setlist //
Happy Day (Tim Hughes)
Your Grace is Enough (Chris Tomlin)
Mighty to Save (Hillsong)

// Message //
Well, I only had a few minutes to share so I will share it with you and try to be brief.  I told a story about the New Orleans area when Hurricane Katrina devasted most of the city.  A volunteer was driving around the city and helping everywhere he could.  As he turned his Jeep around a corner, he saw a little boy with his nose pressed up against a window.  Curious, the man drove that way to investigate.  He found the little boy nearly drooling over some donuts.  As he looked at the boy’s clothes and how dirty he was, he realized this boy was most likely homeless and maybe even orphaned.  So the man got out of his Jeep and walked up to the little boy and asked, “Would you like some of those donuts?” “Oh, yes sir!” the little boy replied excitely.  The man went inside and bought him a dozen donuts.  He came back outside and with a big smile, handed the boy the bag of donuts.  As the man was walking away the little boy asked, “Mister, are you Jesus?”

When was the last time someone mistook you for being like Jesus?

For students, it’s a brand new school year.  You’re going to meet new friends, new teachers, and you’ll have new classes.  And most of the people in the school are going to focus on being the best football player, the best cheerleader, the most popular, have the hottest boyfriend or the hottest girlfriend, have the most friends, or go to the coolest parties.  But what would our schools look like if the students decided that instead they were going to be like Jesus this year.  What would your school look like?  For adults, for others, what would your job look like?  What would your family look like?  What would YOU look like…if  you decided that each and every day you were going to strive to look like Jesus?

In Ephesians 5 it says, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thankgiving…For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)…Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is…Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Heavenly Father, I ask you right now to teach us how to be imitators of you.  Lord I pray that as the students return to their schools, and as others in their jobs, I pray that people will mistake us for being like Jesus.  And when we are around others, let our love overflow and be so evident, that people will know we’ve been with you.  Teach us, Father, to be imitators of you and to show this dying world the truest love they can ever experience, Your love.  In Your name I pray, amen.

So yesterday Oprah paid for the entire nation to have a combo meal at KFC to try their new Kentucky Grilled Chicken.

Since then, people are FLOCKING to KFC to get some of this free chicken. Drivethru’s around the nation are wrapped around the building. The website where you download the coupon last night was going so slow because millions of people were trying to access the page.

What if people were THAT hungry for Jesus?

What if people were FLOCKING to churches to hear about Jesus and know what all the talk was about? What if churches had cars wrapped around the building and we had to have overflow services outside? What if heaven slowed down a little bit because millions and millions of people were trying to find out who Jesus was?

Just a thought…and a prayer.

So I’ve decided to make some goals and try to keep them.  Here are my top 10.  They are in no particular order and may not all have a timeline on which I will complete them, but none the less, I’m setting some goals in my life.

1. Grow deeper and deeper in love with Christ.
2. Become a better husband.
3. Become a better leader/pastor.
4. Become a better worship leader, guitar player, and singer.
5. Focus on writing new worship songs that can change our world’s view of worship.
6. Raise up leaders within The Well and delegate different areas of my duties.
7. Continue reading at least 1 book a month.
8. Lose 30 pounds ASAP.
9. Develop closer relationships with other couples in the church.
10. Pay off Melissa’s car and my car and become debt free.

This is the question I posed on Twitter and Facebook.  I will continually update this post as more answers roll in:

• Being able to relate to all of your constituents on a 1 on 1 basis as an understanding friend while displaying power, strength, and knowledge in what it is you want them to know. (Jeremy Hay)
• I’d say being transparent…being able to consider yourself as a facilitator of your fellow worshipers rather than the “main” worshiper. (David Harris)
• I’d say that there should be no focus on how great or how bad the worship leader is, because its really not about them. Its about worshipping The Risen King, and giving Him all you can whether it be through music, the Word, driving in your car, or whatever else. When we think on what the person leading is doing, or how good or bad he is, I think that we have to be cautious of what we are really focusing on. The worship leader, or Christ Jesus? (Greyson Shriver)
• Not making a show, genuineness in their own worship & God’s gifting, there are many great worship leaders who won’t be well known (Leslie Follmar)
• I think a great worship leader is a person who ushers the congregation into a greater level of authentic intimacy with Christ. (Lifeway Ministries)
• Has an ability to accurately paint a picture of God with passion and Biblical truth so that the Body can respond to His Spirit (Mike Ruel)
• Truly singing to glorify Christ. Singing their heart out to Him, and not worrying if they looks like a rock star with their clothes. (Adam Mcentyre)
• Someone who glorifies God and points others to God. (Tina Buchanan)
• Selfless-ness. Someone who cares not about fame but one who is genuinely concerned with the actual worship. (Jeff England)

There are TONS of new ways to purchase your copy. Click the links below:
1) iTunes
2) Amazon
3) Napster 
4) Tradebit
5) DiscRevolt
6) From me personally…just ask me

saw this on michael’s blog.  too funny.

I also seem to get the greatest side notes in birthday cards so I figured I would share them with you this year…

From my Mom and Bob (stepdad):
Kyle, I love and miss you soooo much.  I can’t wait to see you in December.  I’m so excited that you are about to start your life together with your new wife.  Have a great birthday.  I wish I could spend it with you. 

From my Mema and Papa:
Papa and I love you very much.  I pray the Lord will use you to praise Him in a mighty way.  Do all things as unto the Lord.

From my Dad and Karen (stepmom):
We’re both very proud of you and we know God will do great things through you.  Follow His will for your life and He will give you joy that will amaze you.  We love you, Kyle! 

BEST CONFERENCE BEING DONE!

Friends I ran into (that I didn’t already see yesterday)
*Tony Nolan (great great great evangelist)
*Steve Whipple pastor of Church at the Ridge; went thry Church planting school together)

Creative Elements
*National Champion Cloggers
*Full gospel choir
*An elephant and a donkey
*Lots and lots of white ballons

Worship Leaders
*Aaron Keyes
*Steve Fee
*Kristian Stanfill 
*Lanny’s African Children’s Choir 
*Lifetime achievement award to Billy Graham 

Worship 
*God of Wonders
*Mighty to Save
*Glory to God
*Beautiful Jesus
*Broadcast
*Glorious One
*Blood of the Lamb
*Beautiful the Blood
*Thank you for the blood
*I didn’t catch all of them today…sorry 

Speakers (notes to come…when it lets me attach documents again…don’t know what’s up)
*Tim Sanders (Former Chief Solutions Officer of Yahoo) notes
*Dave Ramsey (best selling author and national radio and tv host) notes
*Franklin Graham (President and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and son of Billy Graham) notes
*Jeff Foxworthy (comedian) notes
*Andy Crouch (author of “Culture Marketing”) notes
*Matt Chandler (lead pastor of The Village Church) notes
*Andy Stanley (lead pastor of North Point Community Church) notes