hERE WE ARE AGAIN!! moRE PICS LATER TODAY TONIGHT OR TOMORROW
CYA,
KEITH

On the road again...

Here we are on the road, parents. We drove for about 12 hours as expected. We made it !! Here we are in Dauphin Island and it is wet! The rain has definitely made its mark.
Tomorrow morning we go to church at DI baptist church. Be praying for us. We are going to have a ball as we serve others by building wheelchair ramps, clean up yards, and help out a church in Saraland. Bye for now. keep checking back this week for more pictures.
God Bless,
keith

my cartoon life

This is me and some friends in cartoon world. Ever think to wonder what you would look like in cartoon world? What your story would go like? I have had some interesting conversations lately about God's will and our free will and how everything fits together. We wonder if God is in complete control of every detail then how do we even say we are making choices. Or on the other hand, we are making choices everyday without God's help, how can he be in control of everything?

This cartoon has done me some good. See, I can draw myself out and color in the world as I want my life to be and as I think it should be, at least, somewhat. I decide the job, the house, the car, the things to do, ...the life. I am deciding. I am making decisions. And at the very same time, God has a pen and pencil set also with colors much brighter than mine and they are stronger at making lines than mine. So as I draw, God draws. As I color, God colors. Sometimes in front of me, sometimes at the same time, and sometimes behind me. The important part is that He draws. and colors.

So which is it? Is God Sovereign or do we get to decide? Both. God is very much in control. And we still have choices. Our choices, by no means, discredit his all-powerful guidance over our lives. And his all-powerful guidance of our lives doesn't take away our ability to make decisions. But I do think it is very truthful and wise to say that his canvas is bigger, his guidance (if he chooses) is stronger and we are loved.

Great verse to back all of this up is Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps."

ciou,
Keith

The Company You Keep...

We know we are judged by the company we keep. It's not what all of us think is right, but we all know it to be true. I was remembering a time in college when I was out with a couple of my friends from high school. I didn't drink and they were cool with that. We were still friends. I do need to clarify that we didn't go out together very often because we didn't do the same things most weekends. But we were friends.

Anyway, this particular night they had been drinking before we met up. I, as usual, had not. We were walking uptown and not finding anything worth interest so we decided to head out to somebody's house (mine, his or his, I can't remember). We had parked in the parking garage on like the 3rd floor. One of my friends, to remain nameless, was a little loud. Yes, maybe even sounding as though he was having a much better time than what was fact. I remember thinking 'please quiet down. Just get in the car and lets get out of town.' So this was really loud. Sounding very intoxicated.

As we got to the car, my car, arriving just to the other side of the car was a policeman who had walked to the 3rd floor to see what the ruckus was about. Upon seeing me and my friends I am sure that the officer expected one thing. He was being polite (and so was I) as he asked us some questions of what we were doing on this beautiful boring night in town. To which I wanted to answer, "nothing officer. We are going home and won't be coming back out until we can learn to control our decibel output." My buddies were laughing. I mean that 'on the verge of hysterics' laughter. I was not laughing. I was sweating. And shaking. And praying probably something about being willing to go into the mission field if He would just get me out of this. About this time, the officer looks down and sees a can of beer or half full can or near empty...I'm not sure. It WAS extremely close to my car door. I would have suspected that it was mine had I known better.

Anyway, he asks me about the can and then follows the question with had I been drinking tonight. To which I answered truthfully no. "I don't drink, officer." Now the next 10 seconds were torture. He proceeded to cock his head a little, squint his eyes, and seemingly say with his posture...'son, what boat do you think I floated in on?' My buddies. Remember the laughter twins? They burst out laughing, tears in there eyes, and repeat...'He's telling the truth officer. He don't drink!' I think at this point the officer saw how very sober and scared I was and commanded us home. We went.

Mark 2:13-17 Jesus is having dinner with Levi and other known tax collectors. In ohter words, He was having dinner with the corrupt and the crooked. The partiers. The loud. The possibly obnoxious. The church leaders of the time questioned his followers...Why does He eat with THOSE guys?

Jesus answers with an answer about the healthy and sick. Who needs the doctor? The sick of course. Nor did He come for the righteous, but for sinners.
That's us. The sinners. No degree of sinners, just sinners. The pharisees largest problem was their own viewpoint of the man in the mirror. They saw themselves as better.

Sorry, to be so wordy, but it excites me about what was brought up in our Leadership breakfast. To start hanging with the wrong crowd with purpose. I had further conversation with one student who wants to organize a leadership night within some of the student hangouts. Remember, we are the wrong crowd too. It's just that we have seen Jesus' grace and mercy and have made the decision to follow Him.

God Bless,
keith

church

What is your routine and path to get to church? For me, it's get to church about 7, get some quiet time seeking God until about 7:30, then walk over to the church and start getting things ready for rehearsal. Getting ready. It's a great routine. I love it and get excited as it all starts to unfold each Sunday morning.

(Pan the camera to the other end of Lake Placid where my family gets ready for church)

Dawn is up with Kaleb getting him milk, cereal...changing his diaper, taking a few minutes just to love on him. Then, get clothes ready, wake everyone up the first time. The wake up process will go longer (usually until she offers the reward of an ice shower in bed). Isnt' that awesome! Our kids don't even have to shower outside of bed. We really cater to their needs:)
Then, finally, everyone's up, grumpy and moving and struggling to get to church on time.

Two Routines. Two perspectives. All to get to one place. The place where we can hopefully meet with our Savior and spend time with those we love worshipping Him.

Here's the thing. I wonder what we miss on our way to the church. I wonder if from whatever perspective we come from if the importance of GETTING THERE has taken the place and the priority over BEING THERE. I love FBCLP (the building). Strange thought maybe, but I do. It holds sentiment for me in just 5 years. But it's not THE CHURCH.

Acts 3, as we studied last night, tells of Peter and John heading to church. They had some great things to tell everyone. "Jesus, who you tortured and murdered, unlawfully, is NOT dead!! The man you had crucified is Alive!! Repent, and trust in Him because believe it or not, He loves You!!"

That is some great news to go tell. But they didn't get there. The crippled guy at the temple gate got their attention and they couldn't go on. So, what did they do? They did church. They became Jesus to the crippled man. They took time for something more important than getting to church.

So, what do we do? Do we see people on our way to church in need? Maybe not the same way, but they are out there.

I wonder if we will get to the place that our priority is to be the hands and feet of Jesus no matter where we were on our way to. Church? Vacation? School?

Rob Bell is a great teacher to any of you who haven't heard of him. Do a google search in your spare time "Rob Bell + Mars Hill" and listen to some sermons on his website. It'll do you good:)
cya,
keith--Leadership, I hope you guys are gearing up for next WEd!!

Looking to the future...

So, this is absolutely unbelievable. I am not even going to try to describe how this picture is possible, but it brings me to a point. Have you noticed that the eyes are like the most colorful, gem-like, unique part of our bodies? God has put us together in miraculous ways, but the eyes seem to be a topic for me lately. See, here's the thing. In Matthew ch. 6 Jesus is giving instruction on spiritual disciplines and then in the middle he chooses to talk about one of our body parts- the eyes.
It wasn't an accident and Jesus wasn't getting sidetracked. I wonder what was going on? He basically said that the eyes are the lamp to the body. And if the lamp is good, the whole body will be full of light. If the lamp is bad, the whole body will be full of darkness.
So, if we are looking at what? What makes our eyes good and what makes our eyes bad? Well, Just before this scripture Jesus is teaching about worldly treasures and heavenly treasures and He is teaching that we should be storing up heavenly treasures. I wonder if the good eye is looking for ways to do that? Talking to the student that doesn't talk to anyone, going on mission to help others, sharing the good news of Jesus with anyone without Him?
Or are we focused in on our lives and looking only to make them better and more profitable. We can surely make a profit. Hope at the end of my days, mine has been made with Jesus and not here.
Food for thought.
let me know your thoughts--and thank you for those of you that comment and let me know what you think. Just don't know how to respond to you on here. I'll figure it all our eventually :)
keith

Ever see a blue tree?

Many of you are familiar with the song 'God of This City'. Great song with a great story behind it. It was originally written by the band Bluetree. Strange name. I have been gearing up for our mission to Alabama as well as our group going to Jamaica.
Pattaya, Thailand is a fast-paced, party-driven night club scene. It is defined largely by the sex industry that it advertises. This band, Bluetree, wrote a song while on Walk Street which is the heart of this night life. Learn more at http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/02/02.BLUETREE%20DEBUT%20GOD%20OF%20THIS%20CITY%20MARCH%203.asp

Anyway, the band Bluetree...how did they get their name? Well, here's how the story goes. They were discussing how we are to be different than the world. Something about our lives as believers that is recognizeably different. Like going out into the woods where everything is green...all the trees green, and then you see this Blue tree. Blue bark, blue leaves...all blue. That's how it should be when people see us. They should see Jesus and recognize that something is different. Just like a beautiful blue tree in a green forest.
cya,
keith

I'll Wait for 50 Days! (2nd edition)

Sorry. At the end of the entry I wrote that Pentecost was the feast 50 days following The feast of unleavened bread. It actually was 50 days following the Feast of First Fruits.
Ciou for now,
keith

I'll Wait for 50 Days!

In the last post I wrote about being a rule follower. Let me follow that with...sometimes. I would never want to imply that I follow ALL the rules. Nope. Just the ones that in the whole realm of things, don't really matter. The others, I am trying like everyone else to let Jesus live in me to the point that I resemble someone trying to follow Him.

So, what do you think of the guy in the picture? This is Patrick Chapman. Just a regular high-steppin' guy from San Fran. Except tbat he is a world record holder. That's right ladies and gentlemen. Our man Patrick here broke the previous record of enduring the same pants for a certain amount of consecutive days. Patrick stayed in these cordorounds for 50 days in a row! Wow! That gives me a whole new standard to think about. Maybe I need to redefine dirty. Maybe a weekly pair of pants is really not that unrealistic. Maybe I can...well, lets be honest. Maybe some things can wait, but being the fact that I desire a healthy relationship with my wife and a cordial relationship with my friends, I better not let this one wait.

Patrick is the record holder. Enduring anything for long periods of time can become a challenge. The traffic light crossing 27 late at night or early in the morning, your favorite jeans in the dryer...not dried...and your late, MRI's, bike rides that go past the first hour.

Acts 2 describes the disciples of Jesus, about 120, gathered together, as they had been instructed. For 40 days following the death of Jesus He was seen alive in several different places. Then, 10 more days. They were waiting. Waiting on the promise. Waiting to see what Jesus meant when He said that He would send the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

I am horrible at waiting. I didn't like it as a kid, and I don't like it now. 10 more days? Are you kidding? The day of Pentecost. 50 days after the feast of unleavened bread and the promise comes. What did it mean to them? What does it mean for us?

cya Wednesday,
Keith

Gourmet Pretzels

I am instinctively a rule follower. Call me uptight, a goody-goody, boring...call it whatever you think it is. I don't know, but I have a real problem breaking rules. Usually, it's like really lame ones that I am unwilling to break. Like stay off the grass...or no trespassing on someones driveway. Or this one...Taco Bell-like establishment. No one is there but me. There are two options. I can go straight to the counter or I can wind thru the maze going back and forth until I reach the counter. 9 times out of 10 I'll go mazing.

Is it a fear of getting in trouble? Getting yelled at? Maybe just being pointed out. No matter what it is, I would rather go the extra and make sure I am following the rules. Why am I talking about this?

I looked up on my bulletin board and saw this empty blue packet of what is said to be Gourmet Pretzels. As a matter of fact, I have two of these packages on my bulletin board. Why? I unpinned one of the packages to see what it was. In smaller lettering it says...How to eat...GOURMET PRETZELS...on a low-fare airline. It then says (see back for details).

So, like a good little rule follower I turn the packet over. There on the back are 3 things. The nutritional info... The AirTran logo... and Eating Instructions. Yes, that's right, I said eating instructions. I was sort of caught off guard with that one. I have been doing this eating thing for years and feel like quite the expert. I am suffering very little hunger because of a lack of skill in this area.

I still read the directions. Why? Because I am a rule follower. Here they are for those of you who might struggle with eating yourself some pretzels.
1. Think about our wonderful low fares at airtran.com as you open your packet.
2. Place a pretzel in mouth. With each crunch, be reminded of our low fares.
3. As you swallow, remember again just how low the fares are.
4. Repeat until pretzel packet is empty.
5. Keep empty packet to remind yourself to book at airtran.com for our lowest fares and no booking fees.

I can't possibly go back in time and tell you that when I was on airtran (being scared to death that we were all going to crash, burn, and die, not necessarily in that order)that i was thinking about there low fares. I was honestly probably thinking about the smudge marks on the wings, the stability of the engines, the expertise of the pilot...gravity. But what did I do?

I followed the instructions:) Made it from the airport, back to LP, Home, work on Monday, to the bulletin board with stickpins and to be displayed for all the world to see. Or at least those few who actually see my office.

So, what is there to learn? Maybe we should try so diligently to follow God's word that we start to do it without realizing it. So that it actually becomes instinct. Like #1. As your day begins, remember that God counts your sins against you no longer. #2. When the car won't start and your late for school, remember again that your slate has been wiped clean. #3. When you go to bed at night and there is still homework to do, a test to study for, your night to do dishes...remember then that He would die for you all over again.

I guess I also learned that there is a certain way to eat Gourmet Pretzels and, if your crazy enough to fly, you might save at airtran.com.

Have a great weekend,
keith