Author: Jody Kennedy

Trisha’s Book Is Making an Impact

Keep Your Hands in the Air When You’re on a Roller Coaster by Trisha Kennedy. This book is the story of a life-changing series of events that changed our lives forever. This story is being told to bring comfort to those going through their own crisis or to give insight to those who have loved ones going through a crisis. Our desire is for you to grow closer to the Lord as you read this book, becoming the person he created you to be. We also hope you can experience for yourself the gold nuggets of blessing God has planned for you. It truly is possible to learn to have joy and keep your hands in the air, even while on the roller coaster of life.

Trisha has taken our traumatic experience with Covid-19 and turned it into an encouraging primer for anyone going through life changing trauma.

Available in paperback or Kindle eBook on Amazon (click here or on the image above).

Take’s a Licking and Keeps on …

Can you finish the old slogan in the title? If you’re old enough, you will remember this catchy phrase from Timex about their popular and inexpensive wrist watches. John Cameron Swayze was the spokesman who would demonstrate the ruggedness of their watches by putting them through some very rough treatment.

I remember the commercials. The watches were attached to such violent things as boat motor propellors, washing machines, jack hammers and more. After such torture, the watch was held up to the camera and John would say, “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking!”

The watches were reliable because they were well designed and well made. They were popular for those reasons and their reasonable price. The designers and makers of the watches took great care that the watches could fulfill their purpose.

Our God designed us and made us for a purpose. We often go through some rough treatment physically, emotionally and spiritually. Nonetheless, we can “keep on ticking” because God made us to fulfill His purpose until He is ready to take us home.

Our God designed us and made us for a purpose. We often go through some rough treatment physically, emotionally and spiritually. Nonetheless, we can “keep on ticking” because God made us to fulfill His purpose until He is ready to take us home.

2022-12-14 JKI Update – Hurricane Ian Recovery

2022-11-24 –  Trisha with a homeowner in Arcadia, FL

We recently returned from a 20-day trip serving as Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) Rapid Response Team Chaplain Coordinators. Along with our teams of chaplains, we were privileged to minister to dozens of home owners in the Punta Gorda area on the western coast of Florida.

The results of Hurricane Ian on homes, businesses and infrastructure were well documented by news organizations. What is less often reported is the devastating impact on the emotional and spiritual well-being of those who suffered loss. In the disaster chaplaincy is the saying, “They were already in a storm when the storm hit.”

We saw many elderly, lots of widows, and families whose homes were either unlivable or completely destroyed. Working alongside the dedicated Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief staff and dozens of volunteers from across the country, our chaplain teams provided much needed spiritual and emotional care to the volunteers and the residents. 

We prayed with hurting families and many people we met along the way who were already “in a storm” prior to the hurricane. Most were already struggling with the personal loss of a loved one, loss of income, divorce, or devastating medical conditions.

While offering words of comfort and simply being present for them, we shared the gospel with them. Many said “yes” to Christ for the first time.

Continue to pray for these hurting people, the Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers and the BGEA RRT Chaplains. They are still there in Punta Gorda as well as in Englewood and Fort Myers.

To get an idea of what we do, read these recent reports. Help is Here and RRT Responds

Samaritan’s Purse needs volunteers to serve in clearing debris and preparing homes for further repair. Checkout the opportunities here Samaritan’s Purse Volunteer Opportunities

Continuing in Ministry

While we are unable to travel to Nicaragua due to conditions there, we are ramping up our ministry in the U.S. There are so many opportunities that we are constantly praying for wisdom and discernment about each one.

We will continue to deploy to U.S. disasters as BGEA RRT Chaplain Coordinators as needed. Between road trips and flights, we are having lots of opportunity to preach and speak in various churches and conferences.

Our schedule includes some upcoming prison ministry with Behind the Walls (formerly Bill Glass Champions for Life). You can see opportunities to serve here: BehindtheWalls.com. The exciting news is that there are already two Texas events open for registration (Austin and Bonham). We will be serving at both of these. There are a dozen or so other Texas events in the works.

Some of our recent sermons can be found here: jodykennedy.org/home/sermons/

Recovering from COVID – Now What?

Many have followed our journey through our experiences with COVID-19. We were both taken ill by the virus. Trisha was quarantined for two weeks in a hotel in Charlotte and Jody was hospitalized, in Charlotte, for three months, followed by three months of physical therapy.

According to the medical team that cared for Jody, there was no medical reason for him to have survived. In the words of the lead pulmonologist, “God reached down and touched your body.” It is truly a miracle that Jody survived. For many weeks, he was the sickest person on the COVID floor.

This experience has given us a renewed vigor for serving the Lord and sharing his message of forgiveness and hope.

Trisha did an amazing and inspirational work of recording our reliance on the Lord throughout the most difficult months of our lives. Her diary of our journey can be seen at the Caringbridge website (click here).

Since returning to Texas from Charlotte, we have had the privilege of sharing our experience and telling of God’s miracle work at some Texas churches. Some of these can be viewed through the links below.

Calvary Baptist Church of Midlothian

Christ Fellowship, Lake Bridgeport, TX

Retta Baptist Church, Burleson, TX

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

“Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do?  Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”

The opening line of the theme song for the long running TV show “COPS” is a catchy reggae song first released by Inner Circle in 1997.  The full song goes on to speak of bad behavior and that no one will “give you no break” and “acting like a fool” does not deserve a break.  The lyrics of the song offer no hope for redemption to the “bad boys”.

The prophet Joel records the words of the Lord about the disobedience and judgement of the southern nation of Judah, God’s people, acting like fools and behaving like “bad boys”.  Joel records the plan for redemption of God’s people,  “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 3:32).  Joel gives us the first lengthy description of “the day of the Lord”.

This is a reminder that as sinners (bad boys), no one gets a break and no break is due.  Their end is destruction and death.  As Christians, our calling is to tell the world (sinners) of the hope that is only in Jesus Christ.  Only he can turn “bad boys” into “redeemed boys”.

Why not start today, right now, with a new dedication to be about “the Father’s business” of telling those in your life about the Son.

Joel 3:32

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.