Keitt Update - May 2011

Answering prayers

One of our prayer requests that we have asked many people to lift up in the past month has been the opportunity to share our story. God has answered that one specifically in an incredible way, and I’m looking forward to what other ways he is going to provide.

This past weekend we had the opportunity to share our store at all three services of our church. A bit overwhelming at first, but still such an amazing feeling to be able to connect to a community of people who are excited to hear about us and what God is doing in our lives. We’ll tell you more about how the sharing went later on.

On Monday afternoon we sat down and chatted with the Mission’s Pastor at Myers Park Methodist, Kevin Wright. His genuine interest and excitement for what we were doing was a real boost to our spirits. It wasn’t even that we were feeling down or low in spirits. Not only did the church give us an incredible blessing financially, but I could see that this relationship with Kevin and Myers Park Methodist will be a lasting one.

Hey…I almost forgot, one of our other prayer requests had been to build up a solid group of churches to send us out. God is so faithful.

I’ve been reading through 1 Corinthians, the part were Paul kept telling the church body to stop bickering and creating divisions. Although I know denominations have great significance, it was a breath of fresh air to simply talk with a brother in Christ. Seeing both our and Kevin’s passion for the bringing of the Kingdom of God triumph over the typical divisions and walls of denominations was beautiful.

I think Paul had something right with that thought of unity. Think of how much the Church could do if we just stop cutting each other down, but instead focused on unity under Christ.

Last night we met and spoke with two combined small groups from our Church; Keith and Jennifer’s as well as Dusty’s groups. We had a mouth watering potluck and really got to meet and know some more wonderful people of our congregation. They gave us the floor to share our story and prayed over us, strengthening the thought that we will be leaving with a strong community of prayer warriors at home.

Thank you all for your prayers. As you can see God is still in the business of answering them in mighty ways!

Just thought I'd share a bit

I (Tracey) absolutely love to read. I don't know how or why I despised it as much as I did as a youngin but I did. Call me a nerd, but I'd almost always rather read a book than go to the movies. Very rarely do I feel as disappointed after I complete a book as I do when I take in other forms of media.

"What is the What" (co written by Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng) was finally completed this Sunday afternoon and I can easily say that it is one of my favorite books. You step into the life of Valentino, a lost boy from Sudan, who bears all through the telling of his life in a profound and heart gripping manner. Although it's not the focus of the novel, the perspective that he has on God and his relationship with Christ was very refreshing. I highly recommend it.

Some other books that I've taken in this year...

Divine Comodity - Skye Jethani

Wow. An interesting look into how our “commodity focused” culture has influenced the way in which we are "churched" and our expectations of God.

La Isla Bajo el Mar - Isabel Allende (for all those Spanish readers)

Amazing book from the perspective of a female slave from Haiti and the story of her life.

Treasure Island - Robert Stevenson

Who doesn't want to be a pirate? Plus, it’s one of the free classics that you can get on your eReader.

Love Wins - Rob Bell

Although I didn't agree with his basic premise, I found his urgency for focusing on the Kingdom of God here and now much needed in the Christian circle. I always feel like I learn the most about my relationship with Christ through people who have very differing opinions than myself.

The Prince – Machiavelli

Just in case you’re thinking about becoming a ruler/dictator of some far off land, you’ve got to know your options. Another classic that is free on the eReader in which Machiavelli goes through the different ways to rule a kingdom. Once again I’m a geek with a background in International Studies. It’s good.

Romans & Hebrews

So for the past few weeks I have been going through Hebrews and Romans. Before that I was cruising along in the Old Testament doing a “read through the bible in a year,” but took a bit of a New Testament detour that took me right back to Abraham, David and Solomon.

Side Note: Is it just me or does anyone start going a bit nutty after spending too much time in the Old Testament? I got to 2nd Kings and just had to take a breather.

Ok back to Hebrews and Romans. The books, with their strong focus on the faith of those in early Christianity, have been incredibly insightful and encouraging, especially in light of our big move coming up. Hebrews 11, which leads up to the popular “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance…” is a must read. It reminded me that none of the bigwig faith guys and gals ever received what was promised and yet they still continued to follow fervently.

God was right beside them during all of the wild adventures of shutting the mouths of lions, receiving back their dead by resurrection, going from weaknesses to strength, and being tortured, mocked and imprisoned. Then moving along to Romans 4 where Paul brings us back to Abraham and how “in hope against hope he believed…being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to also to perform.”

These reminders just do something good to my soul. At times I can become too confident in my own abilities and at other times I’m wondering how in the world is God going to pull this off. A bit of doubt. But hoping against hope and being fully assured that God is not going to leave us high and dry, that is such a beautiful hope to have.

Keitt Update - April 2011

Resurrection: Live Like You Believe It

Sometimes I just feel bad for Moses. For whatever reason God decided to hold off on burning bushes in today’s society, it’s almost like we hold that against him. I know Christians look at people in the Bible and think “man, if I knew what God wanted as clearly as if I had a burning bush talking to me, I would totally be able to do it.” It’s just the uncertainty of the call that stops most of us from movement. Or is it?

Because we look at Moses and think “How can a person that experiences God in a way in which he literally talks to Him in the flesh and hears such a specific call to action, admit his fear and doubt verbally back to Him that created him and his purpose. We are envious of his supernatural clarity and therefore think him an idiot for still acting like a human.

Well, on Moses’ behalf, I get it.

Sometimes when I stop and think logically about the events and decisions of my life, it doesn’t make sense and sometimes doesn’t even sound like a good idea. (Actually, this is the best way I’ve learned to discern that it is God’s idea, and not my own. I’ve learned that what makes sense to me always ends up to be a hot mess once I’m through with it.)

This whole moving to Chile thing might as well come through a burning bush, so why would I feel so inadequate and fearful that God wouldn’t give me whatever I need to accomplish His plan for the rest of it? It’s because, as many Easters as I’ve lived through, I don’t always live like I understand the Resurrection.

If you live like you understand the resurrection, you know that the worst thing that could ever happen in this world has already happened – the death of Christ. He has already made a spectacle of death, yet we still fear it! And hundreds of other far less threatening things…

If you live like you understand the resurrection, you do not live reactionary. The rules have already changed, the battle has already been won, and therefore we don’t surrender to circumstance.

If you live like you understand the resurrection, you know that the cross is the ONLY real display of power that the world has ever seen.

We live in world that doesn’t understand the resurrection, one plagued with fear. I hate to say that I fall prey to it on occasion, but I know that it is the truth of His resurrection that will set me free to live the life and calling God designed specifically for me.

So step off Moses, because he didn’t have the Resurrection to free himself yet. But if you see me (Christine) starting to doubt or fear, you have my full permission to kick me (hard) in the butt and redirect me to this simple truth.

(Also, for the best Easter sermon I have heard in 27 years, go here, probably after Tuesday or Wednesday!)

Past few weeks

Have you ever had the feeling that you’re one of the Israelites in the Old Testament and the angel of God’s wrath is setting up camp right outside your measly tent? I kind of feel that way right now, and for the world of me I can’t figure out what Christine or I have done. Maybe he wants our attention to tell us something, or maybe he’s just preparing us for the road ahead.

There has been an eclectic assortment of disappointments/poopy things that have happened to both Christine and I over the past few weeks or so. No, I’m not talking about getting a bad parking spot or stubbing my toe. Yes, I realize that in the big picture that I did wake up in a warm bed, had options for what I’d like to wear, and drank clean water this morning.

Having said that, I must acknowledge that it still hurts to feel disappointed, rejected, and letdown. More than anything I’m seeing the pristine goodness of Christ so much more clearly, mixed with the inevitable sorrow of the world we live in.

I want so desperately to be satisfied in Christ all of the time.