The other night as I arrived at the ballpark for another Dixie Youth baseball practice, I ran into two other members of the Three Boys Club. You know the unofficial club made up of parents who have been blessed with having three boys.

Scott Taylor and I were talking about each of our youngest sons. We were discussing their ability to learn how to do things so easily. Daley, my youngest son, has spent his entire life shuffling from one ballgame to another to watch his older brothers.

Scott said, “They are like sponges just absorbing everything they can.”

This week I’ve had the opportunity to meet another “sponge” as well. Pastor Sandro is from southern Brazil, and has spent the last week visiting several churches in central Alabama to learn things to take back to Brazil.

He, too, is a “sponge” – absorbing all he can about churches. We were talking about spending time together, and I gave several options. The response was he wanted to be at everything, because he wants to learn all he can.

As I thought about these two “sponges” in my life this week, I thought about how we all need to strive to be a sponge in our daily walk with Christ. We need to have that same excitement Daley has for learning how to dribble a basketball. We need to have that same excitement about sitting in on a church staff meeting or going to a special church event just to learn. Only we need to take that same excitement and apply it to reading God’s Word, spending time in prayer, growing in Godliness, and ministering to others.

I think everyone is a sponge when they first become a Christian. But something happens, and we lose that excitement. Ever seen a sponge that hasn’t been used in a while? They look pretty nasty, are hardened and even break easily.

This week, these two guys reminded me I don’t want to ever dry up in my excitement about my relationship with Jesus.

We looked at Volunteers, children's ministry summer focus and outreach ideas that would enable us to get outside the walls and truly be His light in the community. I look forward to communicating in the future what it looks like with detail but for now I thank God we are on the same team and unified.We are learning to celebrate our strengths and to delegate our weaknesses. 

Leadership tip: Read all you can! One of my favorite quotes is that a leader is a reader... Last semester we read Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham and  this semester we are reading Crazy Love and it is stretching us as Christ Followers. Reading is such a gift and it also stretches our minds and makes us more than we would be if we would not make the investment.

             humbled to be a Leader,

                      Pastor K

This earth lost a man last week that has impacted countless lives for a number of years.  When Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, died, we lost a man who really understands what we have been sharing here at Christ Community as we encourage the “church to leave the building.”

He has been quoted as saying, "I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help his people in need."

And he took that responsibility extremely seriously, as he saw his simple idea of helping people find a decent place to live turn into Habitat for Humanity, which has helped more than 300,000 families in 100 different countries move from substandard housing. His goal was always to eliminate poverty housing from the world.

Back in 2005, Millard and his wife, Linda, were removed from the organization they founded and nurtured for 29 years. I think most people, especially at the age of 70, would just move into retirement, but rather than ending his career, Fuller started planning a way to continue his life's work. He and Linda along with several friends founded the Fuller Center for Housing. You can check it out at www.FullerCenter.org.

Despite all of the people he ministered to throughout his time on earth, I think one of the aspects of Fuller’s life that has always spoken so strongly to me goes back to his beginning. Growing up in rural Alabama, he rose to be a self-made millionaire (here in Montgomery) before he was 30 years old. As his business grew, his integrity and marriage suffered.

And here is where his impact sticks out to me. Millard and Linda decided the only way to make their marriage work was to start over – completely. They sold the houses, They sold the cars. They sold the boats. They put it with the millions already in the bank … AND THEY GAVE IT ALL AWAY. That’s right – ALL OF IT. They kept a station wagon and a few bikes and headed of to refocus their lives and their family.

The family landed at Koinonia Farms, a community located in southwest Georgia. And that is where the idea of Habitat was formed.

When I look back at the seriousness the Fullers took in their marriage covenant with God it encourages me greatly. The covenant was so seriousness, the love so strong they made sure nothing got in the way. Even to the point of giving away millions and making a drastic change in their lifestyle.

Millard Fuller is and will be a man remembered for his contributions to eliminate poverty housing in the world. But, for me, I remember the seriousness he took in saying his wedding vows. I pray we all will have that same  determination not to let the distractions of this world effect our families.

I am confident that we are going to see the deliverance of the Lord and more of his glory as we seek after Him with whole hearts. Our greatest pursuit must be more of Jesus. The fast has taught us so many things about dependence and where our power really comes from. I belive many have been re-focused and re-calibrated for His purposes and that is exciting.

Joshua 3:5 gives us such hope as it tells us " Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the  Lord will do amazing things among you." Tomorrow is future tense and it promises more than today and more of Christ. What else could we possibly ask for and to partner with our God in His work and to see His name glorified is the reality of a Christ-Follower.

Thanks faith family for embarking on this journey with me as we have humbled ourselves and cried out to God. I know He has heard our fervent petitions and the results are up to Him. I believe even more will join the fast for 2010 but for now we will celebrate that the fast is broken and I hope our worship goes to new levels....

                    Joyfully for the King,

                          Pastor K

Thank you "Plea"! You guys were awesome!!

Every so often there is a book arising in the "Christian" culture that motivates us to be something more. First there was C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, then Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life, and now there is Francis Chan's Crazy Love. Lewis' book is an apologetic for a Christian’s defense of their faith, Warren's book is a tool to understand an individual's purpose, but Chan's book is something different entirely. 

It seems I have heard about Crazy Love everywhere I have gone for the past six months and I have thought I have got to read this book. Especially after I heard Francis Chan speak in Nashville, TN. at a Youth Workers convention. Well now is my chance, as the staff has been given their own copy to read and discuss at Wednesday's staff meetings. 

I have finished the first five chapters of the book and one thing that stands out is that this is not another book on church growth, or a self-help seminar. It is a calling to something ancient. It is an awakening to the church that we see in first century A.D. It is a heart cry to be the church as we see in Acts. A quote from the book reads:

"We need to stop giving people excuses not to believe in God. You've probably heard the expression 'I believe in God, just not organized religion.' I don't think people would say that if the church truly lived as we are called to live. The expression would change to 'I can't deny what the church does, but I don't believe in their God.' At least they'd address their rejection of God rather than use the church as a scapegoat.

Last year I studied the book of Acts twice in depth. This was a journey that has forever changed me. God is still molding my heart and conforming me to His standards through this study. He continues to show me that we all have some work to do. We can all complain about things that the church does or doesn’t do, or we can simply be the church. I challenge you to dive into this Crazy Love that the book of Acts and Francis Chan calls us to this New Year and love God in a way you never have before. Approach this year with an open heart, be honest, and as Francis Chan says, “Don’t assume you are fertile soil.” 

This season of ministry is going to be the greatest and I am thrilled about what God has in store for me and for our church. We are witnessing His blessing and favor and I thank Him for all the people that are coming to weekend celebrations,partnering to new nations, folks  joining small groups, baptisms, great participation in Monday morning prayer and for our  21 day fast called The Awakening 09 !

Choose in 09 to grow spiritually and to be more alive in Christ than ever before! I want to challenge you once again to take the challenge of reading through the bible in one year- see www.youversion.com . It will change your life as you allow the Word to frame your life for His name sake.Many are taking this challenge and to see what God does is going to be awesome!

             Rejoicing in this season of life,

                         Pastor K

If you aren’t connected to a small group – it’s time to get connected. We want to help everyone at Christ Community find and be a part of an active small group. We believe small groups are the key to connecting in a Biblical way with other believers.

Ask yourself a few questions – do you desire to become more like Christ? Do you want to make a deeper connection with other believers? Do you want to grow in your prayer life, service or Bible study?

It's easy to get lost in a crowd -- to feel lonely even though worshippers may surround you on a given Sunday. That's why we have a small group Ministry. We want everyone to have the opportunity to be known and cared for and to find his or her niche in ministry.

There are close to 40 small groups of Christ Community people that meet throughout the week in various places, various times, and, honestly, in various ways (on-campus, off-campus and fellowship groups). You can learn more about the groups on the small groups page on this website.

In addition to the website, we have a Tip-off Day coming up Feb. 1 where we will talk a little bit about small groups during the service.

Get involved with a small group!!

Our theme for this year was "UNITE". We discussed that true unity in the body of Christ results in: fear of God, loving others, and leading others. This concept of unity is one that will carry with us through 2009 as we love and serve those within our community. 

UNITE was birthed out of the decision to create our own winter retreat for the students instead of attending a "Big Name" event this year. The student ministry team put a lot of time, work, and effort into pulling off this event, but it was well worth it. The time spent with our own students by creating our own schedule and programs was priceless. It was truly a blessing, as a leader, to see our students UNITE in love and purpose, and to be part of a team of volunteers who used their gifts and gave up the comforts of home to serve and love the students of CCSM. All around, I saw students and adults...UNITE!

Well, on December 21st at Christ Community Church, we had a man by the name of Marc Ferrara play two of TSO's songs with a few of our band members. To be honest, after hearing the real TSO the afternoon before in concert, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was truly blown away at how good he was! It was a great day!! Thanks to everyone who worked extra hard behind the scenes to make that happen and a special thanks to Marc! Thanks for blessing our church body with the talents that God has give you!

This holiday season came and went so fast, I still feel like I'm waiting for Christmas day! Any college student with 1 or more jobs will tell you it is hard to keep track of everything that is going and be able to enjoy what's most important in life all at the same time. Am I prepared for what 2009 can bring? Only with God's help!

Where did 2008 go? As the new year begins I can’t help but think how quick the last one went. And it is unbelievable how much happened – personally, as a church and around the world.

How about you? How did your 2008 go? Was it a good year? Do you wish you could live it over again? Are you just glad it is over?

I’m excited about the new year, because I’ve seen God working at Christ Community so much over this past year. 2009 is a chance for us as a church to build off what has already been going on – increased crowds, more people serving, a growing small group ministry. It is a chance to maybe do some of the things that we let slip by in the past year.  As we continue to focus on God’s command in Acts 1:8 (But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."), we have a great opportunity to do so much more.

This past year we partnered with even more ministries around the globe to make a difference for the kingdom. We served our Jerusalem through the H2O Project as the “church left the building”. Chuck Kiefer is preparing a team to “leave the building” again in March to minister to people in New Orleans.

There is no telling what else God has in store – if we are just wiling to walk in the direction He leads. Get ready to see what He has planned.

Christmas is all about miracles and I hope you are expecting and praying and anticipating miracles in your life and our church! I'm personally believing God for healed marriages where there  seems to be little hope if any, decisions for Christ, abundant provision of finances poured out that we might be able to do the things Christ has called us to do and more people choosing to be a sold out-dangerous disciple for Jesus in 2009!

The presence of Jesus is what changes our life and sustains us for the journey of faith. Draw near, worship regularly, present yourself to Him in faith and have confidence that he will do immeasurably more than you can think or imagine because He is crazy about you!

7 more days and we have candle light/communion service and what a great way to usher in Christmas Day. Invite someone to attend with you today and encourage them in a walk with Christ. Have fun exchanging presents but please don't miss out on His Presnce!!!!

                  Glory to the King,

                           Pastor K

I love this TV show and is awesome to see folks overcome as they shed the pounds but how much greater to see lives changed as they drop off things that hold them back.We are more than conquerors through Christ and the victory is ours. No more condemnation that focuses on our past, gives us anger but we can focus on the future and walk in His love by the power of the Holy Spirit! I beg you to be  a Big Loser and by losing you win!!!!

Our November outreach projects are  a tangible way to really show our faith and I am pumped about H20 and Operation shoebox once again this year. Our giving makes a difference and it also reflects the love of Christ in  a beautiful way. Be sure to get your food box and to be a part of the Christmas shoebox operation with Samritans' Purse...

I am thrilled about our Monday morning prayer sessions with men at 6:45 and we are going to see mighty things happen- I am confident that He will honor His name through our obedience to Him. Set your alarm, roll out of bed and meet us men- it will change your life and a church at the same time. I'm asking God to change me and the heart of our church down on our knees! Rise in response to the size of who God is and what we get to do as a faith community.

                          taking a knee before God and Bowing to His Bigger story,

                                         Pastor K

Men, we must love our wives with an unconditional love and women, give your men unconditional respect as the Scriptures teach, and your marriage will be rich and rewarding. Take the 40 day Love Dare and see what God does....

  6 Essentials of  a Healthy Marriage

- Trust God

- Hurry Home

- Cultivate Communication

- Nurture Romance

- Celebrate Differences 

- Finish Together

I had the opportunity to be at CATALYST 08 last week and wow- what teaching and powerful worship. I was so stretched and the passion I have for the lost has reached new heights... Today, sitting with program staff, we tackled a hard statement given by Craig Groeschel.  " To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing."  We must be preoccupied with those we haven't reached opposed to those we are trying to keep!  Think on that for awhile.

         Chasing the Lion,

                 Keith

There are so many seasons that we go through in life. Right now, God is using one season to take me through another season. Let me explain.

For nine years, I have served as chaplain of a local high school football team. This year, the head coach challenged me to speak throughout the entire season on 1 Peter 5:5  "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,  "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

So God is hammering me by teaching humility. And it is coming from all directions. The children focused on humility a couple of months ago in Kids Krew and at Upstreet. My own children are giving “opportunities” for us to discuss humility. And I have the task of preparing a weekly devotional to talk about humility.

Last week, I talked to the team about two stories in the book of Genesis. These stories are only separated by a few verses.

The first is in Genesis 11 and is the story of the Tower of Babel. It begins like this:

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

    They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

You know the rest of the story. God caused incredible confusion for these men.

In the following chapter is the story of Abraham.

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

    "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."

Abraham has a name for himself, but is told to leave his home and his family to go to another place. He humbly does what he is told and is given a great name.

The sin at Babel was not that they desired to make an architectural marvel. Their sin is found at the end of verse 4, “let us make a name for ourselves”. Compare this to Genesis 12. The end of verse 2 says, “I will bless you and make your name great”. The point the scriptures makes is that we don’t have the right to make our name great, but when we humble ourselves and follow God, He delights in making our name great. The glory of that great name belongs to God.

What God has been showing me is this:

Join us Wednesday nights at 6:00!! 

As Christ followers we need to check ourselves and make sure we are not caught up in greed but full of Generosity. That is the way of the kingdom and allows us to have hearts that are truly focused on Him. These are challenging days, which I believe will call our true character to test and I pray we are fully devoted to Christ, trusting Him enough to give our tithes and offerings, proving our faith is genuine. Let us excel in the gift of giving and exalt Christ with our total lives.

I am so excited about this fall and the ministry opportunities at hand. Make sure you are participating and not sitting on the sidelines. It is time to get in the game and give Christ your all. This Sunday we will come to the altar and present ourselves as living sacrifices, dropping our Commitment Cards in the baskets, of where we will serve this next year. May we hold nothing back and watch our God move!

                 Being framed by the Master,

                           Pastor Keith

The excitement on campus after  You are Gold nite and Small Group Rally Day is answered prayer. Our God is moving in new ways and our fellowship is being filled with joy and desiring more authentic relationships. I knew the church could be more if we seek Christ first and follow His ways, choosing to move from isolation to community, giving our lives away. There is no limit to what God will do through this faith family. This is one exciting journey that we get to do together.

The  month of August has been wild! We took Hannah to college and are adjusting to an empty nest. She is having the time of her life I might add. The church had one awesome nite of entertainment - [what a fun & crazy staff], delicious  meal and challenge, and we launched a new year of small groups, as well as a staff member stepping down to pursue his goal. [Go for it Jason & make us proud!] On top of this, we are having fantastic crowds at weekend services and the future looks so bright and full of His glory! There is so much life and the church is becoming the church outside the walls.

Remember service times are changing Sept. 7th. Celebration services at 9:15 & 10:45. Mark your calendar now and be on time and prepared to encounter the King!

  Joyfully for a home of change,

                 Keith

So, we're doing a new song this week by the band FEE. It's called "All Because of Jesus". I found a video online and I thought you might enjoy it.

I got to finish one I had been reading and then read several others. One of the greatest books I have ever read is In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson. This is a must for all Christ followers who are serious about pursuing God and His dreams for their lives. I am thankful for my friend Mike Murphy who gave me this book. It is time to quit running and time to start chasing.

We must take some risks.

Mark shares that " The more we grow, the bigger God should get. And the bigger God gets, the smaller our lions will become."

What are you focused on today? What is keeping you from chasing lions? I am so glad that Benaiah believed anything was possible with God and that he trusted God for the ridiculous... He reminds us that Lion Chasers thrive in the toughest circumstances because they know that impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles.

We must not fear failure, but instead say - Failure, I'm coming at you!!!

Let's not shrink back but step up in faith and go for the impossible and believe God for the outcome. Reframing problems is shifting our focus on the big picture. I believe God has so much for our fellowship to accomplish and that will require all of us to step out of our comfort zones and unleash greater faith and courage to go for God-sized things.

Mark states, "The goal of our faith is not the elimination of risk. In fact, the greatest risk is taking no risks."

What are you willing to risk?

What are you willing to go for?

Our future demands our faith response and the results are going to be beyound our wildest prayers...

Chasing lions,

Pastor Keith

I've spent many weeks at Shocco over the years, but it was such a joy to take our Children's Ministry back for the second summer. Our camp Pastor, Dave Rhodes was awesome and spoke on the broad and narrow path...people in the BIble who chose different ways, and how over and over again our God is faithful, seeking and chasing after His children, even in the midst of our own unfaithfulness, hiding and running. May we come out from hiding and into marvelous light through our relationship with Jesus. The kids were challenged to learn how to live "The Way" by taking on the attitude of Christ by being a SERVANT, HUMBLE and OBEDIENT. The week's message was concluded with the idea that although we may think circumstaces and things stand IN the way... we must not settle for less than God's best. May we not be dismantled by fear, but see those moments as opportunities to see God at work. Throughout Scripture we see people in which God showed faithfulness to, even in the final hour:

Moses...served a God who parted the sea

Daniel...served a God who saves him & shuts the mouth of lions

Esther...served a God who changes the hearts of Kings of Empires

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego...served a God who goes through fire with them

Paul & Silas...served a God that no bondage can hold

Jesus...knows the Father who cannot be defeated by death!!!

For there is no barrier, no obstacle that Jesus can't overcome. No matter what, GOD IS GOOD! THe last word always belongs to God- who acts, speaks, and moves!

Among all the awesome teaching, we had FUN in the water games, outdoor rec games, yummy meals in the cafeteria, and of course, the late-nights in the cabins! :)

May He seal in our hearts all we learned as we continue to walk HIS WAY!

It is so much fun being in pastoral ministry and connecting with people and pointing them to Christ! The joy of my life is serving Jesus and helping folks connect with Him. I admit it gets very demanding at times and can drain the life out of me, so some time away charges the battery and makes me be all I can be.

I have several books picked out. I am reading the best one right now and can not wait to share more with you. It is framing my vision for life and CCC at a new level.

See you in a week.......

Keith

Apparently, I don't have a good follow through, so I always send the ball off course. As parents, our follow through is equally as important when it comes to raising our kids. If you create an expectation or consequence, you have got to follow through!  

In the realm of discipline, if you have stated a consequence for a certain action - Bring The Pain! It is paramount that you follow through. One of my least favorite things in the world is disciplining my children, but I know it is necessary. On the other hand if you have promised your child you will do something, like go to a ball game or a family vacation, this is top priority. You word is your bond and to go back on that not only invalidates your word, but also communicates that you have better things to do. 

Once a golf ball is hit, it is not coming back. The only thing that I can do is scream, "Fore" and pray it doesn't take anyone's head off (which has come within inches of happening twice in my life).

Once a parent's word has been spoken, you have got to follow through! Unless you like watching your student fly out of bounds. 

Unfortunately, in life, there are no mulligans.

Our Student Ministry Team has dedicated a Blog Spot just for you!

Why?    (Probably your next question!)

Because I need help!

What?   (Your next question perhaps?!)

This new Blog Spot will help me communicate (hopefully better and clearer!) with you about upcoming events, provide a few laughs, and to share some practical parenting advice each week.

My goal is to have as much parental involvement as possible. 

I need more parents to partner with me.

Please understand that we must work together to model Christ's love and disciple our students.

I challenge you to take time to read the posts, ask questions, and leave comments.

Also, feel free to e-mail me with any question or comments at:jmchenry@christccm.net.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

JayMac

On the other hand, I'm ready to get back up there this week and rock it for Jesus!! 

Have you taken the time out to appreciate your family today?

The Mexico mission is going strong and they are ahead of schedule- they must not be missing all my carpenter skills - Ha! Ha! This is the 5th house being built in Ensenada (that our fellowship has supported) and I am so proud of the team as they sacrifice to build for the glory of Christ.

I am reading some great books this summer and consequently, being stretched as a leader. It is such a gift to read - we must never take it for granted. This weekend some of our women will be going to prison with PROJECT STORYBOOK. They will be reading with moms (who are inmates) to their children. This is such a great ministry and it definitely makes a difference!

Today, I had lunch with a local pastor, who is a friend. It was so good to see what God is doing in his fellowship and their reach into the community. They are expanding their facilities and what a place it will be! You might not know this, but each Sunday morning I pray for a whole host of pastors and this is one of the guys I hold before the Lord, to proclaim Christ boldly. I really have a heart for pastors in our city reaching people for Christ.

I am honored to be one of the gatekeepers in our city.

It really is all about His Kingdom!

Keith

It was a great week that was packed full. From the moment we woke up in the morning, until we went to bed, (usually at 1:00 AM or later). It was non stop. During the mornings we had recreation and we played several different games focused on team building. However, I now feel a little too close to the students. The object of one game was to collect water from a plastic trash can by dipping your hair into the trash can. The students then had to run to another bucket and squeeze water out of their hair. Only then were they to fill a two litter plastic bottle up with the water in the bucket. Oh, did I forget to mention that the bottle was on my head and most of the water went into my mouth.....gross! Now not only was I ingesting water from nappy-headed teenagers, I was also burning alive because it was at least 150 degrees outside!

Needless to say the week of games and lack of sleep took it's toll on me. If you are wondering how I made it through this treacherous week, I have one answer.... Energy Drinks. Thank God for Red Bull, Monster, NOS, Rock Star, and every other super charged, caffeinated, sugar infested, high octane, blood pumping brew on the market!

In the midst of the sweat, pain, and the sugar comas I suffered from the energy drinks, one of the most remarkable things happened. I found rest. What?! Let me say that again - I found rest. I know it is hard to imagine, especially when you consider that I was surrounded by hundreds of other Jr. High Students, who were also jacked up on Energy Drinks and didn't mind going without sleep all week...but it happened.

It really is hard for life to get any crazier than a week at camp, but yet it was also one of the most spiritually charged weeks of my life. Only because we had one whole week dedicated to one thing - living in "THE WAY". As I was surrounded by a thousand teenagers seeking the face of God, I couldn't help but think this is what heaven looks like. The only thing on our minds was our creator Himself. It was amazing to stand in His presence and think about nothing else - but who He is. 

So take some time this week to pull away, in the midst of the chaos and noise.

It doesn't take camp for any of us to block out our distractions, it takes discipline.

But the reward of knowing that you are loved...is amazing.

This verse has always been a favorite of mine, (and with the help of a book I'm currently reading), I came across it again.  Isn't it awesome how the Lord can show us new things with passages we've read over and over?... i love that! So, previously reading this verse, I know that when coming to God for anything, we must have that FAITH in Him to do as He says... but something that kinda leaped off the page for me today was real life application... WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW THAT REQUIRES FAITH? This question can affect us deeply, for He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through. Verses abound that read such as: "we live by faith, walk by faith..." Therefore, we must have an attitude of faith in all things.

It's easy to place ourselves in the comfortable, where it becomes a temptation to trust in our own strength.

So this verse brings a reminder to place ourselves in a position to ask, "What am I doing right now that requires faith?" I think asking this question allows us to see those areas in which we are fully relying on our Father. This is where He wants us, in a place of total dependence on Him. For He who promises is faithful!

Several followed Christ into the water in obedience. The Faith Family cheered them on as they were raised out of the water. It is always a highlight of my year as we gather to celebrate and have fun together afterwards tubing, playing volleyball, swimming and feasting! It is a great party for the Faith Family and I think we get to identify with the angels as one repents and comes to faith in Christ. The bible says the angels rejoice!

The Christian life is one of joy, because of what Christ has done for us! Decide today to walk daily after Him and to follow His path. His path is the narrow road (and it can be difficult at times) but it is always the rignt path to take. We are currently learning in the book of Jude that false teachers are everywhere but we must tether ourselves to the word of God and decide to follow Jesus Christ and defend our faith. Stay under the umbrella of His authority and know His peace...

I appreciate your prayers for my family over the loss of my nephew's son Zachry Johston who tragically lost his life at 18 last week in an accident. I am so thankful for Zach's testimony for Christ! We just never know when our last day on earth will be lived, so we must be ready to go home. Zach graduated less than a month ago from his high school and now he has graduated to heaven.

My Redeemer lives,

Keith

This past Sunday morning, out of nowhere, I woke up with virtually no voice. Now, you have to know that I get kinda weird on Saturday nights, when it comes to the way I sleep. Every other night of the week, I have my fan on and have no problem sleeping under it, but on Saturdays, right before I go to bed, I always chug a bottle of water and turn my fan off before I go to sleep. (It seems to help with the dryness of my vocal chords on Sunday.) Well, this Saturday wasn't any different from the rest. So, when I woke up Sunday morning, my first thoughts were, OH NO!! 

When I got here for band rehearsal that morning, it was a struggle at first to get anything out that sounded remotely like "me", but as practice went on, my voice opened up a bit and it started getting a little easier to sing. Well, by the time the first service started, I could tell it was going to be a long morning. I made it through the first service barely, with a few noticeable cracks during a couple of the songs, but I was really stressing over the second service. I could barely even talk, much less sing another five songs!

Well, between the services, I found our Student Pastor and asked him if he would lead two of the songs (that he was somewhat familiar with) and were the highest pitched out of all of them. He graciously agreed and after cutting one song for the second service, we rocked the remaining four songs for Jesus!

It all boils down to what Pastor Keith preached about two weeks ago. TEAMWORK! Even though I wanted to do it all myself, God had other plans! That is the first time in almost three years when I just COULDN'T do it. Sometime we just have to let go of things and allow other people to help. Sometime we just CAN'T do it by ourselves, and it takes humility to ask for help. Sometime we just have to swallow our pride and just trust God that everything is going to be okay. Sometimes we just have to, LET GO AND LET GOD!! He will amaze you if you just trust Him!

It is essential to stretch your thinking.

Currently, I have the staff reading a book together called The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham. It is a great book! We are discussing a chapter a week, as a team. We are learning so much about the core of the man and the price he has paid to lead. Billy is a man that knows how to confront failures & adapt to successes and stay dependent upon the Holy Spirit and to walk in humility. He is a man of " extreme personal humility,"and one with a"fierce resolve." Billy has been forged in the furnace of life and that seems to be God's way of building a leader.

In reading a Breakpoint commentary recently, Chuck Colson says that in the age of "internet, television, film, and all other types of media," we have gotten away from reading. It also makes me wonder if, when we do read, do we have a biblical worldview to give us perspective of what we are reading?

Let me encourage you to pick up a good book this summer and read! A great place to purchase Christian books is from-

 www.cbd.com 

The prices are very affordable!

As pastor I read a lot. I so look forward to going to the beach this summer (with a new book) to just sit, read and reflect.

Ask the Lord to stretch you this summer as you read for His glory and for spiritual growth.

Reading to lead,

Keith

I don't fall far from the tree when it comes to my love for good books. :)

In April, I was able to attend 2 conferences... both at which I got my hands on some really great books. So, now i find myself reading 6 books at the same time! It's quite the juggling task. I've decided (over the next several weeks) to share (with you) some thoughts from the current readings.

For today's post, I want to tell you about the book, Crazy Love: 'overhwlemed by a relentless God' by Francis Chan. First, about the author: Francis Chan is Pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, CA. You've got to Google him... he has an awesome video blog! I first heard Francis speak at the THRIVE conference in California and then again at ORANGE conference in Atlanta. Francis is a gifted communicator and his driving passion is for The Church (the Body of Christ as a whole, regardless of denomination) to get back to really being the Biblical community. 

In order to get to this place, we must first, as the first several chapters outline, renew our understanding of God and then examine our own lives as to how they line up with Him. We must live with radical obedience to His Word; obedience that is immediate. Even over the past couple of days, i've heard several diiferent teachers on this subject... again, a sign the Lord is working it in my life... but i continue to hear "Trust and Obey" "Trust and Obey"... like the old hymn...'for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!" 

It's truly where we find REAL life, REAL love, REAL Biblical lifestyles... to trust and obey, while recognizing such relentless love our Father lavishes on us! He is crazy in love with His children... we are here to imitate, reflect, and live like the dearly loved children (of His) that we are! 

Whatever you are walking through right now -

TRUST your Father.

OBEY your Father.

May we be the Church of Jesus, reflecting Him in all we do!

His name is BOB the BUILDER.

For those of you who don't know, Bob the Builder is a little clay animation character on a kids show, who prides himself in his statement, "Can we fix it? Yes we Can!" What a great concept! I thought, if Bob the Builder can fix it, so can I. Now that the work is almost complete, I can honestly say I want to smash Bob's little clay head! I have realized there is always something to fix. I don't care how much you paint, scrape, hammer, or pry. There is always something more to do. 

So here is the spiritual tie in - (I knew you were wondering where this is going.) Are we not all like houses that need a little TLC? Once we have a firm foundation, (Jesus Christ) there is always work to be done. 

In 1 Peter 2:4-5 it states, "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 

Sometimes the process of rebuilding or remolding is painful. I have wanted to quit many times, especially after peeling wallpaper. However, I saw what was beneath the surface. I saw what this house could be.

That is just how Jesus sees us. The truth is we can't fix it, only he can. To become a holy priesthood doesn't happen overnight. There is a lot of wallpaper and carpet that has to be removed, and even then there is more work to do. The incredible beauty is that there is joy in the work! Our Savior delights in "fixing" what is broken, smelly, and ugly.

He knows the potential of what this house could be.

Make your life count as you live for Christ and be sure to tell others about Him!

Tonight, our Equipping Class on Evangelism goes fishing at Ryan Ridge. We have been studying about sharing our faith (after the recent Fish Tales Series) and tonight we put the class into action by knocking on doors and sharing our hope in Jesus. Our witness matters! If we don't tell others, who will?

We have boldness in Christ and His power to share....

This Saturday Hannah will walk across the stage and receive her diploma! What a tearful and joyful event that will be. I am so proud of her and look forward to see what she does with the rest of her life. I know the Lord has great plans for her and I pray she follows His path every day.

Let me encourage you to hug those you love today and tell them that you love them. We need to be told daily that we are loved. It produces confidence in a child (as well as adults) and shows them that they are valued. I'm so glad God told us how much He loved us in His son Jesus Christ....

Valued by Christ,

Keith

Randy Williams will be joining our staff on July 1st. What a blessing he will be. He has so many gifts and talents and will bring so much to the table in the way of experience and encouragement. His nickname is Big "E" and he certainly lives up to that reputation. He will handle Administration- [oh boy!] work closely with our Small Group Directors and Assimilation, counseling and other duties. (I am so excited about having time to pray & study more, minister to the body and develop new focuses. It also means the book I am writing on prayer looks like a real possibility now...) Please welcome Randy, Lisa and their boys to our team. They have been a real asset this past year and a half, but now will have greater responsibility. Also, pray for them as they join us in leading and equipping the body to bear greater fruit.

We have had tremendous crowds over the past 4 months, but I really see greater things in store for our Faith Family as the Fall approaches. Be on the lookout for moving trucks in your neighborhood and invite them to one of our weekend Celebrations.... Your invitation makes a difference and could change their eternal address!

Small Groups will be "throttling down" for the Summer and majoring on fellowships. The next semester starts in August. We really must Do Life Together if we are serious about being a biblical community. Get ready to hear a new special series in August on Small Groups.

I had so much fun this past weekend as Donna joined me on the platform to proclaim the Mother's Day message...I am so proud of her! She is the greatest marriage partner and I am glad you got to hear from her. She has so much to say and I am blessed to have her as my wife and the girl's mom! Thanks for believing in us and for being a part of the Christ Community Faith Family.

I love being your Pastor,

Keith

I know all of you know my love for Zoe's Kitchen. It's like my favorite place, aside from sushi! Well, another place that I eat from time to time is Quiznos. They have a great salad with this great vinaigrette dressing that I love. They have seen my weight loss over the course of the nine months that I have been "transforming".

So, the other day, I went to lunch there and one of the girls behind the counter said, "You're shedding, aren't you?". It really makes you feel good when a total stranger says that to you. Anyway, I also found out that they deliver now!! How awesome is that? So, I ordered a salad and had it delivered to work today! All of that to say, salads are great and so is Quiznos!! LOVE IT!

It's been crazy since my travels to California to speak at THRIVE 08. It was an amazing time to have Rachel & Hannah with me and to attend the 4th conference at Bayside. The worship was incredible with Israel Houghton & Lincoln Brewster and the host of communicators. We had so much fun and even managed to get a trip in to San Francisco for the day for shopping. Am I a "Girl Dad" or what? I love my girls!                                      

I can't believe that summer is almost upon us once again. This spring is very significant for me and Donna because our baby daughter Hannah is graduating from high school. It doesn't seem possible! We brought her home from the hospital just yesterday (so it seems) and then on to kindergarten, elementary school, and high school. How did we get here this fast? So, now after many recitals, dances, solos, cheerleading, theatrical performances (and the rest that I've forgotten to mention) she will walk up on to the stage on May 24th to receive her diploma. Where have all of those years gone? This little girl has grown up to be a mature young lady of faith and I give thanks!

Our home is full of activity and the refrigerator is covered with invitations to Graduation Teas. Hannah is so busy running from event to event and trying to fit all in. The life of a senior is hectic and fun! I can't believe it was 31 years ago for me and Donna to graduate from high school. We have made so many memories the past 3 decades.

Our God is faithful! What an adventure it has been. Following Christ is the best life ever. I cannot not imagine raising kids without His guidance and leadership. I most certainly can't imagine doing any of this without my wife. Donna is the best mom ever! I am so glad our girls get to call her mom.

I'll never forget when we got engaged - Donna told me that she wanted to be my wife and a mom. Let me tell you, she has been the best!

Preparing for Graduation,

Keith

grace that EFFECTS us... moved by the thought of God's grace in our lives. Lately, I seem to find myself continuing to think on grace. A song that has come to be one of my recent favorite's, "How He Loves" has the following lyric: "We are His portion and He is our prize, drawn to redemption by the GRACE in His eyes. If GRACE is an ocean, we're all sinking..."

what a beautiful picture, sinking in God's grace. As we attempt to do God's will, He always gives more grace.

"When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

when our strength has failed ere the day is half done; 

when we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His GRACE has no measure,

 His power has no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again." - Annie Johnson Flint

A grace that is offered to us so freely,yet by the costly price of our Savior's life. While we find rest in this grace, are we extending it to others? To a world so in need of God's amazing grace, redemption, and love to change their lives - He is all sufficient. He is our strength. He is our Joy. He is our saving grace. Give grace today. 

So, a few months back, right in the middle of following my trainer (Ray) around the gym, sweating and breathing so hard I feel like I'm about to pass out, the manager of Gold's Gym came up to me and asked to see me in his office when I got done working out. That never happens! Normally, he sits in his office all day and stares at a computer screen and he rarely comes out. (Probably looking at bodybuilding websites or something!) So, after finishing my "BOOTY KICKING" by Ray, I showered and dropped by his office to see what he wanted. He told me that Gold's Gyms around the U.S. were all picking people to go out on a "Wall Of Fame", and he wanted me to be the person that they put on our wall. I would also represent our Gold's at different national events and things that they have periodically. HOW COOL, right??

So, I have included a picture for everyone to see how far i really have come since starting almost 9 months ago. It is hard to believe how much I have changed! If God is on my side, who can be against me?? NO ONE or NOTHING!! Not even WEIGHT!! I am now 124 pounds lighter than I was when I started and everyday is still just as hard as the first month!

Keep me in your prayers! The end is in sight!!!

Wow- what a trip to Brazil!

I have seen His church in a new light.

Our journey was long, but so worth it. I was so blessed to preach at the Sunday and Thursday night Dedication Service and I am in awe of our God! The Portugese language barrier did not stop us, thanks to Luwata. She was a great translator and relayed my words with the same passion that I delivered them.The gospel of grace went out with power and changed lives.... He is so worthy of our praise and I cannot contain myself or keep the words in, I must testify of Christ!

I am so glad the Lord called me to be a pastor and not a brick-layer. My family would starve to death! Thankfully, I got better at the task. Thanks to Randy's encouragement! It was hot, (and tough) but so worth the effort to build for His glory. He cares so much for all people (in every nation and every tongue) and He wanted to see this church completed. They had been waiting for 10 years to see their answer. For me to get to be a part of their answer was humbling. I ask that you pray for CMU. This was their 272nd church being built! I am thankful to Chuck Connor for his vision many years ago and it lives on.

Seeing the church being built and then completely finished by Thursday, was amazing! What a site and blessing to the people of Recife. We had a mighty team (such hearts for the Lord), great attitudes and super work ethic. I love my new brothers & sisters in Christ from Georgia (they were our partners for the construction)and I really miss them. After living in community for so long, and traveling by bus and plane together, it seems odd to not have them close by. They truly became family as we had one mission to complete and by His grace, we completed the job.

On Thursday night the Dedication Service blew me away! The crowds swelled with standing room only and they kept coming. There were more people outside than in, and what a sight it was to witness all of the heads peeking through the windows to see and hear. Now, that is the church I have longed for, all of my life, and to witness it, was truly a miracle! The spirit, testimonies and music was awesome and the people were so hungry for God! They made our faith look weak. It has pushed me, and it continues to compel me to give more for Christ.

I pray our fellowship will catch fire like that! And that God will allow us to have such tremendous impact on the River Region.

Pray that our empty chairs fill up and that we have to get creative on how to handle the crowds that are coming to Jesus.

May the new church at Recife prosper as well as our fellowship at Christ Community!

Longing for more,

Keith

You see, I can't make time, i can only take time. God is the only one that can make time, and He already has. There are twenty-four hours in a day, no more, no less. Our lives are not about time management, going from task to task, documenting every menial thing we do. Our lives are about time stewardship. Stewardship is about taking time to do the things God has entrusted to us and then doing them for His glory. See God has entrusted me not only with a ministry, but with friends and a family. Unfortunately, these are the people that often get overlooked, because I can't make time for them. However, I can take time for them. 

I wish I could say i have complete balance in my life, now that I have been enlightened by this truth, but I don't. Just a week ago a friend told me I had disappointed him, only because I said I would do something a month ago, and today I just finished it. Do you know how long it took me? One Hour. That's it. It took me one month for one hour. My wife could tell you many more stories like this, but we will leave it at that. 

Enough about me. What about you? Who are you not taking time for? God? Mom? Dad? Sister? Brother? Friend? Spouse? Kids?

Busyness is a choice we make!

There is always something that we need to accomplish.

But most importantly, there are people who just need us.

Jesus calls us to GO and I must fish for His glory. As Christ followers we are called to be fishers of men and that is what Jesus will make us as we follow Him.

I look forward to a new country and all it has to offer and to hear a new tongue - "Portuguese".  It will be an honor to serve with Randy Williams and team in Recife and to proclaim the word of the Lord! We will be building a church!

Please pray for our mission!

When I get back I will start the new series, FISH TALES, which is all about evangelism. His timing is perfect and I can't wait to see what He teaches me over my time in Brazil...

Fishing for men.

Keith

I was to return Saturday evening, but the snow was heavy and all flights were cancelled out of Lexington and Memphis. There no way to get home. There was nothing I could do but pray, trust and watch God work. [The landscape was beautiful- what a Christmas card setting!] I called one of the elders and he was ready to preach the weekend services, another staff member was ready to lead baptisms and another elder was ready to conduct  a funeral that was planned for the afternoon. Now that's what I call TEAMWORK! I am thankful for the ones I serve with! Because I was sidelined in Wilmore, I had the opportunity to spend extra time connecting with my good friend Bert Jones and also got to hang with a good friend (who is like my nephew and a first year seminary student). I shared the vision of Go International with him and caught up on life.

I was re-booked on a flight for Sunday noon and that allowed me an opportunity to worship at Southland Christian Church. I have ridden by this church many times but now, got to go inside. The snow plow was running in the parking lot when we drove up [a new site for this Alabama pastor!] The guest pastor for the day was Mike Breaux, a former pastor of the church and current teaching pastor at Willow Creek. It was a real treat to hear him and to worship in another church. I always enjoy experiencing another church's worship. The Willow family is everywhere.

The scripture tells us to always be prepared to give an answer and to be ready to share. We never know when the Lord will call on us to proclaim Him and His faithfulness. Stay in the word and keep a consistent walk with with Jesus and when He gives the opportunity to share-go for it, in His mighty power!

I am looking forward to our weekend Celebrations (and the warm weather),

Keith

My constant prayer, (and I know I speak on behalf of the band as well), is to decrease, so God may increase. Our prayer every Sunday morning before going out to lead worship is that the crowd wouldn't just see us on that stage, but God working through us. Our job as Worship Leaders is to lead the Body into the very throne room of Heaven and then get out of the way and let God take over to do what He wants in your life. 

At times when I am leading worship, I get so blessed just listening to the Body singing and entering into worship. I love seeing hands raised to the One who saved us. It's not about the music, lyrics, the band, the singing, or anyone around you, it is about worshiping the Creator of the universe. He loves for us to surrender all and worship Him. We were created to worship Him!!

So, when you go to church on Sunday, don't just go expecting to hear a good singer, or good music, but go expecting to have your life changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Go, wanting to express your love for your Savior! It's not about us, but all about Him! 

Psalm 121:7-8 "The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever." He PROTECTS, KEEPS, and GUARDS us. God is our caretaker, who we can trust, because He sees the big picture beginning to end.

You and I are pilgrims here, traveling a path with twists and turns, with hills that sometimes obscure our view and cause us to fear what may lie on the other side. But take hold to the promise that He is in perfect attendance to our every step. No harm can come on us that will hinder our arrival, nor cloud surround us that will limit our view. Our God is the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Set your heart on things above and know that the season we may find ourself in, like it or not, we're not staying there / we're not stuck! God positions us in places that we may fully trust Him and His work...If you were at Kids Krew this past Sunday morning, we introduced our new virtue of COURAGE and talking about Queen Esther's stand and her position "for such a time as this" to save her people! May we have this courage to trust Him and His positioning of our own lives. Do not worry... trust the promises & power of our God! 

**and... on a lighter note..;) in response to Adam's Zoe's blog... i did go... and i DID get it free! :) 

Last night we had our couples Small Group & God showed up as we had fellowship, studied and prayed together. We are studying an Andy Stanley series on BREAKAWAY. None of us wants to be sqeezed into a mold but want to breakaway.

I encourage you to do life with others, so that when you are tempted to run, you have others to push you back onto the path. Life is just too hard to do it alone and it was never God's plan. He is all about FAMILY. Find your place in community today and be a part as we make this journey together.

Yesterday was a big day for me because I got to hang out with my mother-in-law and broker a deal on a new car for her. I love cars and real estate and it was fun getting the best deal for her. She is one special lady and I give praise for her. She is now the proud owner of a new '08 Toyota Camry. God is good!

Looking forward to the weekend Celebrations as we continue in- 

The World's Greatest Prayer Series.

Joyfully,

Keith

Wednesday, I found myself back in Zoe's for lunch, this time with Robert and Keith. I told Robert what I wanted and I headed off to save us a table cause they were super busy. When Robert sat down with our food, he told me that Tesha wouldn't let him pay for any of it. WOW, another free meal! I really couldn't believe that it happened again. So, after we finished eating I went to the fountain machine to get a refill on my Coke Zero, and the manager approached me, as he always does, to ask how my meal was. I told him it was amazing as usual and then he hands me a complimentary lunch card to eat free on them! Can I say WOW again?!

So, I know that you are expecting some kind of profound tie in to all of this. Actually, i just want to tell you that if you haven't tried Zoe's, DO!! it's stinking amazing! And if you want to go with me, you might get it free!! HAHA, that rhymed!!  

What I meant to say, was, I am addicted to church websites!

Seriously though, pornography is destroying men's lives and families everywhere! And unfortunately, it is very prominent in the church. I hope men are addressing this issue and finding accountability and strength to overcome these images, so they can be free! I encourage you to read Every Man's Battle by Stephen Arterburn if this a struggle. I was talking to some men the other day on campus and they are starting a new Small Group around this issue. They do not want to be, "mere men", but, Champions For Christ, in their marriages, homes, church and work places.

I personally am excited about our own new website and the abilities we now have with the Sermons Page (found under the Resources Tab). You can play the sermons, download the sermons and also download the notes from that sermon! The best part is that it's all there for anyone, anytime, for free! I love the that! Many people have told me that they are downloading to their mp3 players and listening during the week. Awesome!

I pray that those that listen will be encouraged, challenged and inspired as they hear and purpose to be doers of the word and not just hearers.

Freedom,

Keith

So, who gets to see this everyday?!

Adam and I were out to lunch today... for one of the weekly visits to zoes, which by the way was especially awesome because... they gave us free lunch! On the house... just because! Immediately coming to mind was yesterday's sermon on our Heavenly Father being the giver of all good things. This is just one way (already!) I've seen His faithfulness to His children... seems small, but such a tangible and personal way of seeing Him.. in a free lunch to one of my favorite places! He delights in us, even in the smallest details!

Well, back to the oscar meyer... this thing was parked in the Eastchase parking lot... have no idea why... but I definitely had to get out and get a pic with this thing!

So... without question, a fun Monday... free lunch and the oscar meyer mobile!

What if there was an Outbreak?

You have now just heard my vision for the student ministry! I think it goes beyond the student center out back. I think we need to grasp the concept of the lifechanging power of the virus we carry. The "good news" of the gospel is not a disease, but it is contagious. 

We are the only ones that can quarantine the virus. 

Every moment we don't live our lives to glorify the Father or if we fail to "speak" about the hope with in us, we have just taken our "spiritual" antibiotics. If we treat our faith like the common cold we can only expect periodic "spiritual" flu seasons. However, if we really want to be an Acts 2 church, a church that is contagious and impacts our community, throw away the antibiotics and let's go viral! Let's have an Outbreak!

Here goes again....

The men's retreat was amazing as we gathered with Matt for teaching and Zack for worship. The Holy Spirit moved mightily among us and it was awesome to see us broken before the Lord. Matt called us to not be mere men but to take the next step with Jesus. Many men took that next step, and what a sight it was on Saturday morning (with the chair) as men came to sit and confess. Wave after wave confessed, while men gathered around to read scripture over them, and to pray fervently. I really believe that we got to experience an Acts 2 church! (Something that I have longed for.) 

Personally, God used Matt to speak powerfully to my heart! Specifically, about my wife and daughters getting the best of me and not the rest of me! Ministry is demanding and the schedule hectic and so many times I go home with nothing to give. I have purposed in my heart to give them my best and not just the leftovers. I was first challenged with this from Andy Stanley, from his message, "Choosing to Cheat". So, here I am again, needing this to become a reality for my soul. 

We must not let " responsibility trump our relationship with Him." It's easy to get caught up with the urgent things of life (and ministry) and to not build that authentic relationship with Jesus.

I pray we don't walk as mere men but true champions of faith.

Focus on the One who redeems, not the failure!

Keith

It was an honor to work alongside some very special volunteers who sacrificially gave of themselves to paint, build, wire, and clean. The end result was 2 services for His Glory...AND another hook in the water, to FISH for Men. The 9:45 & 11:15 CELEBRATION SERVICES give us even more opportunities to reach the River Region for Jesus!

So far this week, I've been in Prayer, Elder, Post-Production, Staff and One On One Meetings and I have seen my Father do things that only He can do. He truly is a good PaPa! I must reverence Him because He is worthy of all my devotion.

I can't believe that this weekend our men will head off for our 12th Annual Men's Retreat. Matt Dean, one of my former students, several years ago, (won't say how many!), will be our speaker. He is a passionate communicator and leads one of the nation's largest college ministries at Auburn University. I know that we all will come away challenged and motivated to live for His glory!

As I type this, I am so thankful that I am not sick with the flu. It abounds everywhere! We quarantined Jason's office since he has had it, and now today, Cheryl is out sick. I simply don't want the flu. We have a large weekend planned. Please pray I stay healthy along with other staff members so we can serve our Faith Family.

Got to run and spray the Lysol!

Keith

This is a little glimpse into some things I've been thinking this morning... I am doing the follow-up bible study from the women's retreat of Beth Moore's "Loving Well". Today's lesson came from 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear."

Perfect love, only coming from God, is complete, mature, not lacking boldness or confidence, or hampered by anxiety. To the degree we battle fears, anxiety, and insecurities, we are not letting the love of God reach its goal / be made complete in our hearts.

With the theme of LOVE that seems to be so prevalent, especially this month of February.. May we never forsake our first Love or put anything earthly above that... and experience the wonderful love that was manifested on the cross. "For no greater love has anyone than he lay down his life for his friends."; fulfilled by Jesus, a cross representing a love story infinitely deeper than anything we know here. The cross represents the indescribable and undeniable love of God for us.

All that is good, right, wonderful, beautiful and precious in our lives is the direct result of the greatest love story ever told. Let the Father love you deeply today... sit in His presence... let His love be made complete in your heart... so that His love overflows from your heart to a world so desperately looking for love...

During lunch I shared my heart about what Celebration services mean to me and what the goals are. I hope that we encounter the risen Christ as we gather and worship. All we do must point people to Jesus. The time of Celebration is not about the worship team, band, great videos or me, but Jesus. The time of praise is a time to shake the world off and to gain a new attitude as we approach His throne. We come with so much STUFF and SIN RESIDUE into the service, but I find that we get free of things as we praise God! Chains have to fall off! We can literally drop the things that have hindered us and expect to be different. By the time we enter into worship we can draw close to His heart and get in His presence, feel close to Him and be prepared to receive His word that mightily frames our lives...Praise & Worship frees our soul as we focus on the Lord Jesus and we truly do celebrate when we get our attention off of us and on the one who is worthy!

Right now, I am bursting with joy about what two services mean in terms of having greater influence for Christ as we launch a new net!

I am confident, as we draw near as a body(in this fast), that God will show Himself clearly. I pray we will experience more of Christ. We desperately need BREAK THROUGH as we head into 2-services. He must build the house or we labor in vain! Besides, who desires emptiness? Jesus calls us to follow Him and I am so proud of our Faith Family and the ones that have stepped up to make this a reality. I'm afraid that we had gotten complacent as a church, but the Lord has stretched us to go for NEW GROUND and to pursue Him with new devotion.

Don't make the fast a legalistic thing! Instead, catch the heart of the fast, as we feed the spirit man and abstain from food. (Or other things, if we have a medical condition.)

The key is to spend more time focusing on Jesus and listening to Him.

Refraining,

Keith

Today, I listened to Andy Stanley's newest series: Discovering God's Will- part 1. That's often a recurring question in the Christian circle... Andy talked through the Providential, Moral , and Personal will of God. ... yet over and over the strongest point was made so great by a quote from Philip Yancey's newest book, which says, "I do not get to know God and then do His will-- I get to know Him more deeply by doing His will." His will foremost is for us, His children, to Love and Trust in Him with ALL our heart, soul, and mind... In knowing our Creator, we are surrendered and thus growing in knowledge and discernment of His plans for us, leaving our faith increased. He calls and gives us direction in order that we respond in participation, not consideration... Oh that we may know Him, in a way that we are growing in love and understanding so that we may make much of Him in all areas of our lives... when we are doing this, we are in His will!

I know all of you are dying to know more about my weight loss, since it's all I talk about! Anyway, I figured what better topic to write about on my first blog. 

In July of 2007, I turned 26 years old. I really had just given up on losing weight, up to that point. I just thought it was too big of a task and I had just decided in my mind that I was going to be "big" for the rest of my life. After registering for the Gastric Bypass Surgery in January of 2007, and finding out two weeks later that my insurance wouldn't cover it, I felt that it was confirmed. The week before I was to turn 26 my parents were bugging me for a Birthday list. I really had no clue what to tell them to get me. I really don't know where it came from, but I asked my dad, "why don't ya'll help me get a personal trainer?". Little did I know what I was getting myself in to...haha!

After meeting and talking with my soon to be trainer, I thought that it wasn't going to be too bad. He seemed like a nice guy that was enthusiastic, but not "over the top". Well Monday, July 16th, was the day that I found out that life in "RayFlex World", wasn't tiptoeing through the tulips. ("RayFlex" is Ray Adkison, my trainer) I literally could not walk right for the first three weeks, had to get up three and four times during the night to go to the bathroom, (from the gallon of water a day, I am drinking), and eating five egg whites and four pieces of turkey bacon every morning for breakfast when it's still dark outside! My clothes are so soaked with sweat when i get done working out, I can take them off and ring them out...socks and all!! People say all the time, "It's not just a "diet" that you can come on and off of, it is truly a lifestyle change." I understand more and more the concept of no longer "living to eat", but instead, "eating to live". 

So, here I am 6 months later, 101 pounds lighter and 22% less body fat than when I started. Was it the hardest thing that i have ever done and still doing? YES! Did I ever have doubts or want to give up? YES! Did I ever eat something that I wasn't supposed to or skip a day at the gym? YES! But, in spite of all of that, I have kept focus and have known that the reward was coming! I'm reminded that, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH!!

I am still working out four mornings a week with RayFlex and it is still as difficult as when I started. My new word, that I say all the time, is...INTENSE! My life is truly intense, in all aspects, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I'm over half way to my goal weight and there is absolutely no turning back now!

Please keep praying! I need all I can get!!

Ok, now I have to go eat 6 ounces of raw tuna with some yellow mustard! YUM!!!

As a faith family I am thrilled about going to 2- services and the opportunities it gives us to share Jesus with the River Region area. I have prayed about this avenue for a  long time and 10 days from now we launch the 9:45 & 11:15 CELEBRATION services and 8:45 KIDSKREW service. My heart cry  has always been to have a  passion for the lost & reach those outside the walls of our church with the life-changing grace of Jesus .This gospel changed my life 30 years ago Tuesday as a freshman at Troy State University. I will never be the same because of His amazing Grace...It messed me up and I have purposed to tell others about Jesus ever since. This news is simply too good to keep to yourself. It is like a fire in my bones and it must get out.

I pray you will invite someone to join us for one of our CELEBRATION services as we lift up Christ! We are simply on a journey and I hope you will join us for this adventure!

            Thrilled over Life-Change,

                      Keith