Faith and Rearview Mirrors

Last night at small group we talked about faith.  It got me thinking about the times in my life that have required the most faith, the times that I’ve had it and didn’t know how, the ways I can look back now and see what God was doing even though it didn’t make sense at the time.

Like that one time we consciously gave up 2 steady salaries and started raising support.

And that one time we moved to a continent we’d never been to, to do a job that (still) doesn’t really have a clear job description.  And most likely never will.

And then there’s that one time I asked a stranger to backpack with us for 5 weeks, just because he was really hot, spoke Spanish, and I just "had a feeling" he wasn't  a creeper.

Or the time when I was ready to be married when I was 20, and God said nope, not for a while actually.

I look in my rearview mirror and see so many ways that God has saved me from myself and my own misdirected desires, ones that would have probably led to a good life, but definitely not the best.  Not the one I have been created to live.

I’ve also been blessed to witness others’ stories of

“Wow this doesn’t make sense at all God, 

but I know it’s from You…”

and watch the amazing, could-only-be-God results that follow.

The question isn’t whether or not you have those moments, it’s whether or not we take the time to look in the rearview mirror and acknowledge where God has worked in our lives.

So what about YOU???  

What are some of those faith-filled turning points from your past?   

Please share :)

Perspective

I really don't like birthdays.  The whole king/queen for the day makes me nauseous and I can't really pin point why.  Maybe I've just experienced too many obnoxious birthday "celebraters"...  


I know, I know, there are those who aren't like this, but I just had to toss the baby with the bathwater on this one.

 

Well yesterday gave me a new perspective in 

which I can appreciate these celebrations a bit more. 

Our friend Janet, the lady on the far right, came to know Dani (the guy in the middle of the picture with the striped sweater) a while back, and has become really close with him and his family.  Last Sunday Janet pasted the word around that she wanted to throw a real special surprise birthday for him.   He doesn't have a lot of friends and is in a tough spot right now.  


He's had a degenerative disease since he was born and besides the past 7 or so months he's been able to live a typical life, at least out side of the hospital.  In these pasts 7 months the disease has begun to take it's toll.  He's been stuck in the hospital, very susceptible to sicknesses due to his low immune system and was even medically dead for 6 hours at one point.


His story is tragic and yet beautiful.  He's got huge faith and a strong love for the Lord, which is so rare.    


I think it touches me so much because it pricks one of my darkest fears, the loss of physical control.  I still feel immortal or at least believe that I'll live to blaze trails on my bike when I'm 120.  Maybe it's because my frontal lobe hasn't fully matured or maybe because I come from a family that's as healthy as oxen. Yeah we're a bunch of nuts mentally, but physical we've got it all down pat :).  But really, it scares the crap out of me and I don't even like saying it because what if God wants to use...


We got the privilege to not only celebrate his birthday, sing some of his favorite Hillsong tunes, and meet his sweet family, but more than we got to experience him, Dani.  His family says that he's an angel and I couldn't agree more.  Even though we only heard his words passed along through his mom, since his disease has reduced his speech to a mere whisper, they were whispers that spread words of incredible value.  


I'm so glad that Janet invited us into this world that is so often marginalized and forgotten.  I'm even more excited to get involved in this hospital, reading, hanging out, and chatting it up with those who are washed out in the hustle bustle of today, but our the gems within the Kingdom of God.

Proverbs 31:8-9 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, 

for the rights of all who are destitute.

 Speak up and judge fairly; 

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

  

Keitt Update - June 2012

Threads (extended version)

Our pastor back in the states, Jonathan Martin, often refers to the"Holy Ghost iPod shuffle".  It's this idea that the higher powers of God himself are at times choosing which songs you should hear, creating a thread between your possible circumstances, issues, trials, joys, etc.  Sounds a bit strange, but I'm a believer.  I'd even add that these powers are often sneaking out of our little music machines and tying together bits of conversations, friendships, experiences and thoughts.  I must admit that it's pretty cool when it happens.  


Side note - I'm not that guy that thinks that God is choosing ever minute detail the occurs, nor do I have any issue with the words lucky, random or serendipity.  And no, for me this doesn't reduce His sovereignty, He just uses it when he wants to.  


Ok back to the point.


So in the past few months I've had two threads running through my life in about every way possible, sexuality and short term missions.  Interested?


Let's start with short term missions (STM) since I know it caught your eye :)


- The Bruces - We had our first family stay with us who has come down with their church on a STM trip.  It was definitely interesting/cool to see it from the opposite side of the spectrum, as the receiving community instead of the sending.


- Jules - So we have a friend who's headed out to do 11 months of short term missions in a just a bit.  She hopped down here for her spring break and we had an amazing time hanging out, camping, kayaking, and talking about her coming trip.


- Mary Beth and Ericka - Not only helping plan their weeks here, but spending a lot of time along side of them in those events


- Institute with Juanito - During this animism class we got ourselves into a very interesting conversation about the goals and methods of STM.


- Jamie - I appreciate her thoughts which typically are on point and spunky... I ran across this blog of her's and found it thought provoking.  Warning, she's blunt, and at times has the mouth of a sailor, but overall I'm digging her thoughts.  Just thought I'd fill you in.  


- May 31- Took on the responsibility of guiding my first mission team to the lovely town of Ralco and now have another perspective.


This blog (1) is named threads, (2) is already long enough, and (3) I want to get to the sexual thread, so I'll conclude this thread with these.


I like and yet am really hesitant with short term missions.  Maybe after a few more rounds on the merry-go-round with this topic and I'll title the blog Short Term Missions.  


Sexuality


- Mars Hill - Started listening to the marriage series, which I will push once again.  Driscol does a thorough job of diving into all aspects of marriage and doesn't shy away when it comes to the sexual stuff.  


- A pair of conversations with close friends about the church, purity, marriage and sexuality.


- McDowell - I was invited to a Josh McDowell conference where he spoke very directly and openly about porn, sex, masturbation, marriage, satisfaction, etc.  He's got some pretty solid resources for parents, kids, youth pastors and everyone else under the sun.


- The Lock-In - Literally two days after going to the conference, I was asked to speak about Sexuality at our youth lock-in.


I have so many things to say about sexuality, but like I said before, the focus is on the threads.


Landing the plane.


I honestly believe that this is the beginning of these two threads and don't know where or how God is going to lead me through them, but it's exciting.

How It Went...

Thank you guys so much for praying for us this week and our 3AM sex lesson last night/this morning!  To say those prayers were answered would be an understatement.  We were able to get a lot of great information throughout the week, felt prepared and excited to share, (still super nervous but no panic attacks!) and it really just flowed in a way that was truly beyond us.  It was also cool to see some of the response - This had been the first time these topics were shared and discussed so openly with our youth at church and many of them expressed their gratitude for what and how we shared.  We were both able to talk with individuals afterwards as well.


It has been a LONG week, but very much worth it.  


Perhaps more will come later as we continue to reflect upon it all :) but right now I am going off of 3 hours of sleep in the last 40 or so...


So it's time for bed.  Just wanted to thank you again for your encouragement, questions, wonderings-how-it-went, and of course prayers!  Ya'll are the best. 

Let's talk about Sex

Have you ever had God ask you to do something to which you just blatantly said no?


Tracey was asked to teach a class to our youth group guys on pornography.  Which was actually really cool because just this week he went to a Josh McDowell seminar on sexuality and how to teach adolescents about it the right way.  He literally said "I just wish there was some way I could really teach this content to our youth group."


AWESOME!  Here's your chance.  I love when God is sneaky!  


Not as awesome: I was asked to teach the girls.


Now, don't get me wrong, I taught sex ed. in Charlotte for 5 years... but that was with transparencies and in my first language.  With an actual poster that read "We do not ask personal questions."  


It's not even that I mind talking about the subject.  It's the whole getting up in front of a large group thing.  It's REALLY not my thing.  (So much that I looked into somehow getting into teaching another way when I learned education majors were required to take public speaking.)


Also not my thing - speaking in Spanish when I'm nervous.  The first time I played violin in worship here, I was so nervous that when the guitarist was telling me about a Stradivarius violin in a museum here in Santiago, I responded with "Oh, I left it at home...."  Reallly?!


So as if there were not already enough factors to deter me from this whole ordeal, let's just add that it will be taking place at 2:00 in the morning.  When I don't articulate clearly in any language.


What made me say no?  Fear, nerves, thoughts of inadequacy, the desire to NOT be completely stressed out the entire week.  


And what made me call him back an hour later and say yes?  Honestly... conviction.  If I'm going to talk all day about how God works through people and how whatever good I do in this world really is from Him, then I have to believe it with everything.  Including things that I don't at all feel able, comfortable, or remotely confident in.  


So if this whole Biblical concept is true, which I know it is, this sex talk is going to be pretty incredible!  Because I'm not sure I could think of someone less qualified to deliver.


(Please pray for us both - The event goes from 9:30pm on Friday - 7:00am Saturday, we'll teach at 2:00am... pray for our students, our preparation and delivery, and that I don't experience any panic attacks this week :)  For real, though...)

And who better to teach English with than Abba

  So let me be honest.  I've never listened to Abba, or at least known that I was listening to them.  But I imagine like everyone else you've heard the band name before.  Well my amazing Oxford Textbook that I use for my class this morning, definitely used them as an "authentic material" to end our lesson on money.

  It was awesome!  I'm mean can you honestly think of a better way to teach colloquial phrases like "have a ball" and "fool around".  The students are adults and they loved watching the video.  For some reason Chile is kind of trapped in the 80s :).  Abbas from the 80s right?  Sorry didn't mean to distract from the monthly update.  Check it out below!