Keitt Update - July 2012

Back in the Day

As a kid I loved hip-hop and I still kind of do, but typically I'll take RadioLab, NPR or a podcast over tunes almost any day.  It shows my age, right?

Well back in the day I used to listen to Power 98, a station that my mom banned us from listening to and I can see why now.  For the most part it's the typical wholesome garbage that degrades the image of women, romanticizes thug life and does a spectacular job of preparing youth to be well cultured and productive citizens of tomorrow.  Thanks mom!

Why am I running on this tangent?  Well, they used to have a segment called, "Back in the Day" and  it would always start off with an tweaked version of the chorus of School Daze by J. Cole.

Yea, Back in the days when I was young I'm not a kid anymore 

But some days I sit and wish I was a kid again. 

Yea, I sit and wish I was a kid again, 

Yea I sit and wish.

Remember, this isn't the best of music so don't go youtubing or googling it.  I warned you :).

Ok to the point.  In a few minutes I'm going to hop on the metro to pick up Jeffery from the airport.  Who's Jeffery.  Well he's one of my old students that I taught back in the day of course.

I taught middle school sunday school from 17 to about 22 and within those 5 years I created some awesome relationships with youngins, families and parents, so it's so amazing to be able to host Jeffery for a few days down here.  He's just finished his semester abroad in Uruguay and had some down time afterwards.  It'd be silly to not take advantage of this opportunity.  I'll be sure to fill you guys in with pictures and post later.

By the way, I'm not hating on hip-hop at all, I still love when my shuffle picks Common, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Naughty by Nature or Black Street.  Just so you know :)

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.