Merry Christmas!

Brightest Holiday Wishes from all of us here at Soulscape. And by "all of us," I mean me. At any rate, I wanted to let you know that I will be resuming the new blog schedule after the first of the year. If your life is anything like mine, from Christmas Eve until New Years Day remains pretty hectic, with visits and cleaning and such. So on the first or second of January, I'll pick up with the new blog schedule.

I pray that you continue to enjoy this season of Christmas, and never forget the true meaning of Christmas, and that the spirit of the season needs to be alive in all of us all year round. God bless!

As an added bonus, this entry is not copyrighted (but just this one). Merry Christmas.

It's All About Prayer

Ephesians 6:18-20

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

When it comes to our Christian duties, one duty seems to get less attention, even though it is one of the most important: prayer. We want to be “doing something,” working, making sure our efforts are being seen, that they are tangible. But in most cases, prayer can’t be seen, both doing it and witnessing its results.

My grandfather told a story about a time (several times, actually) when he was a pastor, and I have experienced this in some forms as well. As he would be studying and praying in his office prior to services, someone would knock on the door or simply walk in. Seeing nothing in front of him but a Bible, or just watching him sit at his desk, they would walk in and say, “Good, you’re not doing anything. I need . . .”

These people had no idea that he was actually engaged in the most serious activity in which any pastor can be: prayer. We have a tendency to think that prayer is something you do just in you’re in trouble, before you eat, or at various times during a worship service. But prayer is much more.

Paul is instructing us to keep praying, but not with empty words. We are to pray with purpose, and with the determination to see results. The only way this can be accomplished is to pray in the Holy Spirit, to let our prayer time be used as “private time” with just us and the Lord. And we need to be praying for all the saints. Too often we concern ourselves with only ourselves, or with our friends, with those close to us. But we need to be praying for every child of God in every part of the world. We may be going through a time when we are struggling with a brother or sister in the Lord. We must still pray for them, for in the praying, we put first what is truly important, and lay aside those things which divide us.

We also need to be praying for one another, that we would not be afraid to do what the Lord would have us do. It is very easy for even the strongest of Christians to be intimidated by their fear, by their Christian duty. Pastors are also not immune. It is not easy to confront sin, to possibly hurt feelings or even make enemies by standing up and telling the truth. But in the final analysis, standing up for the Lord and His way is more important than personal feelings, more important than us. It’s a matter of survival, eternal survival, and therefore we need boldness.

We ought to be doing this, because we do not belong to ourselves. We were bought with a price; we belong to the Lord, for Jesus purchased us on Calvary. If He made it (which we know He did), and He lives within us, then we too can make it. It may not always be easy, the road might not always be smooth, but we have a Companion with us, to help us in our boldness of word and deed.

What is it that you have not yet done for the Lord? Are you guilty of not praying faithfully enough, of not praying for others, of not standing up for what the Lord expects? It is not too late to change. Life itself is a learning and growing experience, and each day we learn more about what it means to be a child of God. Now that we have this advice, it is time to put it into practice. Use this as your next stepping-stone of growth in the Lord. We don’t now how many more opportunities we have, so make every day count. Dedicate yourself to prayer, true Spiritual prayer, and let the Lord reveal Himself in and through your life.

© 2006, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 1

Thanks to user “susanlee” who asked that the book of Ecclesiastes be studied. I will not go as in-depth as I am prone to do, so that other topics can also be covered; but for this particular Tuesday Targeted Study Series, I plan on making observations on a chapter-by-chapter basis. So, if the plan remains, this will be the first of 12 entries in this study. For my own purposes, I use the New King James Version of the Bible, but your favored translation may also be used.

Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, a man gifted by the Lord with unparalleled wisdom, looks back on a life that has seen its ups and downs, and the downs of that life were caused not by external forces, but by personal choices. The book of Ecclesiastes records Solomon’s observations of life, and without understanding the life of Solomon, the book itself doesn’t make sense; or, if it does make sense, it seems quite depressing.

One must remember that wisdom doesn’t always mean perfection and peace. Allow me to explain. Biblically speaking, knowledge is intelligence, and can go so far as to include knowing right from wrong. True godly wisdom is knowing right from wrong, and choosing right. But for all the wisdom in the world, we still have the power of choice. No matter what choice we make, whether right or wrong, wisdom puts into sharp relief that which is right. For the person who knows what they should do, yet intentionally makes the wrong choice, it is far worse than an accidental transgression. Your own wisdom and knowledge condemn you. This was the case with Solomon.

Solomon had allowed the things of this world take the place of his devotion to God, yet he retained the human wisdom with which God had blessed him. Therefore the peace he once possessed had left him. Now, at an advanced stage of life, looking back, all he could do was lament his choices, and think about what “could have been.” He had given himself to the pleasures of this world, marrying wives who worshiped other gods, going so far as to build temples for their gods and worshiping those god alongside his wives. What a mighty fall for the wisest man who ever lived (aside from Christ, of course!)

The first chapter of Ecclesiastes sets the tone for the mindset of Solomon, as well as for the remainder of the book. “The words of the Preacher,” the phrase we see in verse one, indicates one who addresses a group of people. Words from the king were always special, official, carrying the weight of law and power. Therefore these words would be considered by those who read them to be more than just a “man-on-the-street” speaking, but from someone who “knew what he was talking about.”

The word “vanity” that we see repeated throughout this book means “emptiness” or “unsatisfactory,” giving us the idea that all the worldly pursuits of life never give us the fulfillment we desire. There may be pleasure and peace to be found, but it is all temporary satisfaction. Verses 3 and 4 vividly illustrate this point. All that is done by one person, one generation, one day comes to an end, and someone else, another generation, takes the place of the former. One must question, “What is the point of life if it is temporary?”

All of us have asked that question of ourselves at some point in life, perhaps in many different ways. What difference can I make? Is any of this going to matter? Does anyone care? Why should I even bother? Am I doing any good at all? Humankind has wrestled for thousands of years with these questions, and will continue to do so as long as this world survives. We see people come and go; after the funeral of a loved one, we go back to our daily lives, and as they say, “Life goes on.” So what is the point?

Solomon was asking valid questions, and because of his life was making accurate assessments. When he says that, “The earth abides forever,” he was saying that people come and go, but life does go on, so what is the point of life? Verses 5-7 further expound on this thought of the cycle of life. The sun rises and sets and rises again, the wind blows every which way, and then again and again. He even describes the water cycle: rivers run to the sea, the water evaporates, makes clouds, clouds drop rain, fill the rivers, which run to the sea. Since life continues no matter what seems to happen, what is the life of one man, of one generation, in the great tapestry of time?

There is never true satisfaction, as verse 8 alludes. No matter what we see or hear, it never makes us complete. Verses 9-11 show the attitude of Solomon, and the reality of this life on earth. We may see advances in technology, so-called progress in quality of life, but on the most basic levels, man has remained the same; nothing has changed, nor will it. When I read these verses, I am reminded of a cemetery, of so many headstones, from ornate and lavish to small and simple. I can take you to the graves of friends and family, of ancestors, but eventually personal memory will fade. I can show you the grave of my great-great-great grandfather, but to me, all he is is a name and date on a piece of marble. In some way, I am here today because of him, but I never knew him, and everyone who did know him have joined him in death. One day, that will happen with me as well.

Not a very exciting prospect, but it is part of the facts of life. We are born, we traverse this world for a time, and then we pass into eternity. We remember some names, some events, some pivotal moments of history, but even for the greatest people who have ever lived their time came and went. This is the nature of life. Everything is temporary on this side of the grave. Solomon, approaching his own appointment with death with each passing day, realized that the pursuits of earthly things were as fleeting as this life itself. When approached in this way, things don’t look so great.

Verses 12 and 13 again reveal Solomon as the ruler of a nation and a possessor of the gift of wisdom. He calls it “burdensome,” which it is; it is man’s job to discover what is right and wrong (within the guiding hand of God) and choose to do it. Yet when we look at our life as Solomon did, we find that many of those things we held so dear, those pursuits in which we expended so much time and energy and resources, were as fruitful as trying to catch the wind: much effort expended and nothing to show for it.

Verse 15 is Solomon’s way of telling us that what is cannot be changed. We can try, but there are some things simply beyond our control. We think of technology prolonging life, but all of the machines and medicines available cannot change the fact that when our time comes, we must leave this life behind. It is one appointment we must and will keep.

Verses 16 and 17 are Solomon’s admission of pride, that he had the gift of wisdom, and it did come in handy. But that wisdom also pointed out the follies of life, and while he recognized those follies, he did nothing to avoid them. And yet for all his vast knowledge and wisdom, Solomon realized something we all should come to realize: the more we learn and know, the more we discover how much more we have to learn and know. Complete understanding, wisdom and knowledge are impossible in this life, in these bodies and with these minds. Sometimes we think we know everything, from teenagers to the elderly, but the reality is far different: no matter how much we know, we still have a lot to learn.

Verse 18 closes this chapter with a very poignant thought: “For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” Having knowledge and wisdom can in some aspects be more of a curse than a blessing. For instance, when a parent looks at their child as he or she experiences their first heartbreak, that parent knew it was inevitable, but was powerless to stop it. It hurts all the more knowing the reality. Doctors, nurses, even pastors can many times see death approaching, and while the family holds out for that glimmer of hope, the knowledge of what is coming is painful.

A teacher of mine from years ago told me, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” God gave Solomon wisdom, and God expected Solomon to use it wisely. But Solomon was wise enough to know how poorly he’d used it. Think of it this way: which is worse, thinking you may have some disease, or knowing it for sure? Solomon wasn’t looking at his life now, or his past, and saying, “I don’t know if I made the wrong choices.” He knew he had, and it made the feeling even worse.

Solomon is warning us that even the greatest among us, if we lose our focus and desire to live the life the Lord wants, will have a great fall. Failure is the toughest pill to swallow, and Solomon recognized that he’d wasted his life, and the blessings of God. Every day, before every decision, we should ask ourselves if we are living for the “here and now,” or the “there and then,” meaning eternity. We should ask if we are living for ourselves, or for the Lord. We should ask if we are trying to grasp the wind, or trying to grasp our Savior. With this warning, we can avoid the pitfalls of Solomon, but only if we heed it.

© 2006, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

A Christmas Wish

With Christmas fast approaching it is easy to get caught up in our own little world of chaos. We have presents to buy, meals to prepare, hustle and bustle on every hand, and as Christians we do our best to remember the true meaning of the season. But there’s one thing we tend to overlook, one group that seems to slip through the cracks. They are the ones who are hurting, those lost in despair.

Their reasons may be varied, but no less significant than any other person’s may be. It may be the absence of a loved one, a lack of the basic necessities, or feelings of inadequacy in providing for those around them. Whatever the cause, it is the duty of every Christian to share the meaning of Christmas.

What is that meaning? It is hope.

Jesus came into this world to bring light to the darkness, to drive away emptiness and fear and replace them with the promise of a brighter day. During the commercialized Christmas holiday, so much emphasis is placed on material things that spiritual and emotional concerns seem to go unnoticed. This should not be the case. At all times of the year, especially at Christmas, we should pay special care to those in need.

This requires that we have an open heart and open eyes, and sometimes a closed mouth. We get so caught up in our plans and schedules and lists that we push the needs of others to the side. We have every good intention of “getting back to them” as soon as we find a more convenient time. Still, our good intentions do not go far in bringing comfort to that one who needs it most.

I encourage you during this special time of year to take a moment to offer a word of encouragement to someone. It doesn’t have to be through a Christmas card or an ornately-wrapped gift. It can be through a phone call, perhaps just saying, “I’m thinking about you, and want you to know that the I and the Lord are here for you.”

Many speak of a sense of loneliness at this time of year, a time when you go to the stores and are surrounded by more people than at any other season. The reason is that we tend to draw into ourselves. But the Christmas message, the true Christmas spirit, is about giving, sharing, and offering hope to those who least expect or even deserve it. Christ came unto His own, and they did not receive Him. His own family, His own people denied Him. We may be guilty of the same attitudes toward our fellow man; those who need us the most are shunned and ignored.

Let us therefore resolve to give a little more of ourselves this Christmas season. There is still good in the world, there is still hope to be found in Christ. People are searching for that peace and grace and hope. Let us show them the way toward it. Give the gift of Jesus this Christmas season, and throughout the year. We sing of that “Silent Night” so long ago, but silence is the last thing we need right now. Share your faith, give the gift that was given to you, the gift of Christ, and learn what Christmas is truly all about.

© 2006, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

New Schedule and Structure

There needs to be a balance of spontaneity and structure, in all areas of life. Time management is probably one of the most difficult things we have to juggle in the ever-increasing hectic-ness of existence. Just when you think you couldn’t be pulled in any more directions, you find out otherwise. I know personally that reaching the end of the day and knowing that you got everything done you wanted to do is usually a rarity rather than a common occurrence.

So, I am attempting some schedule restructuring of my own, in a hopefully realistic attempt to balance my job, my family (and the responsibilities commensurate with each), my hobbies, my writing, and my own spiritual health.

How does this concern you, the reader here at Soulscape? Well, I want to share with you my planned schedule for future postings. Those of you who are frequently here (or who know me personally) are aware that I am not usually described as ‘brief.’ So when I write blog entries for Soulscape, I am usually involved for an extended period of time. With my current schedule, I don’t usually have that kind of time, but with my new plan, I should have several opportunities to write.

Many of you have said that these entries have helped you in some way, and I feel a great desire (or even need) to continue in this path of writing. So, I have decided to aim for at least three new entries per week. If this doesn’t work, I will amend the schedule, but for the moment, here’s what I hope to do:

MONDAY – “Freestyle.” For these entries, I will take whatever topic of
interest I feel led to comment about, whether it be current events, what I’m
feeling at the moment, topics addressed in church the previous day,
whatever.

TUESDAY – “Targeted Study.” Tuesdays will be
dedicated to a particular Bible Study. It will more than likely be an
extended series on a particular book, chapter, or general topic. Someone
recently suggested a study on Ecclesiastes, so Tuesdays will be set aside to
discuss this book. Once this study is completed, a new subject will be
chosen.

THURSDAY – “Phelps Board Studies.” My plan for each
Thursday is to take one of the Daily Bible Study Scripture selections from the
David Phelps Message Board and do an extended entry for it. I will go back
through the previous seven days of topics and choose one of those topics to talk
about.

I cannot presently say with certainty by what time of day these entries will be posted, but they will hopefully be posted (fingers crossed!) by early afternoon. Please bear with me as I try to work things out and get things regulated efficiently.

My prayer is that this new schedule, starting this Monday, will help me get closer to the Lord through understanding, study and prayer; that it will be an encouraging and fun source of inspiration to you, the reader; and that this one blog among millions will bring the glory to God He deserves. See you Monday!

© 2006, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

"Christmas with David Phelps" Concert Review

The day started like any other: tired feet hitting the cold hardwood floor, jarring me awake somewhat quicker than I’d like. Stumbling down the hallway, I listened to the sweet, beckoning sound of liquid, any liquid, coming from my refrigerator. Milk, water, it didn’t matter. As the sun poured into the kitchen, its beams fell upon the same thing it does every morning: a large poster of David Phelps.

Yes, Christmas is upon us, and today is the day he finally comes to Ashland, Kentucky. Looking toward my watch, I wanted to see how many hours I had until I would have the honor of being on the same stage as the Emcee for the evening. Unfortunately, my watch still lay, tick, tick, ticking on my bedside table.

No matter, I thought to myself. Might as well start getting ready for the big night. Whenever David Phelps is within "a country mile" of Ashland, things get a bit hectic around the Keeton household. I began praying that the concert would touch hearts and encourage those who needed it most. I prayed that the Lord would keep at bay the chronic stomach problems that seem to plague me whenever I expect it least (which were held off until the end of the show, which I praise the Lord for!). I prayed for the safety of all those who would travel to our fair city to hear the music of such talented and blessed artists.

And then, I prayed for my son. David (yes, we named him after Mr. Phelps) is a three-year-old bundle of love, energy, and outright terror when it comes to those moments when you absolutely do NOT want a crazed toddler running amok. Please Lord, I prayed, just keep him calm for those few hours.

With everything taken care of in the prayer area, I went about my day, getting things done that needed attention, and mentally preparing for the spotlight now just hours away (I’ll talk more about the spotlight a bit later).

My grandmother had wanted to attend the concert, but didn’t know until Sunday evening that she already had a ticket and would get to go after all. When I handed her the ticket after church on Sunday, she said, "I’m so excited I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight." I don’t know how her slumber was, but a couple of hours before time to leave, she began getting ready, repeatedly asking, "Now what time are we leaving?"

Suit pressed, tie straight, every hair in place, child calm and jacketed, the family finally began the arduous journey to the Paramount Arts Center, a full four minute drive. After parking the car, we made our way to the main doors, the lobby of the Paramount already packed to the bursting point with anxious fans awaiting the festivities to begin.

Being the Emcee has its advantages, so we made our way through another entrance and on into the beautiful and historic theater. Having lived in Ashland my entire life (thus far, anyway), I have attended events at the Paramount numerous times, sitting in every section there is. Tonight, however would be different. We were privileged to be seated in front of the front row, at the "Sponsors Tables," mere inches from the stage.

With final preparations made, scripts in hand, I made my way backstage to await the big moment, nervous only about embarrassing my family and church congregation who were in attendance, although that would be just an added bonus. Standing in the wings of the stage, the artists began making their way out of their dressing rooms and readying themselves for the concert to start. I had very pleasant conversations with the members of the group Anthem Avenue as well as Daren Streblow. They, and David, were getting their microphones and packs all ready, making sure the batteries were fresh, their voices warmed up. Then, the moment arrived. It was time to start the show.

I walked out on stage, removed the microphone from the stand, moved to face the near-sold-out theater, and the spotlight turned on. "Good evening!" I said, welcoming everyone to the concert. However, my retinas were melted by the brightness of the follow-spot. I’ve been on stage many times for my own music performances, for theater projects, and various other reasons, but never have I received a tan from the spotlight.

I now know why deer have that look when headlights hit them. They have no ability to squint. I was doing plenty of that, but much to my dismay, it didn’t matter. Holding my script down, the light was too bright to see anything, including my prime seat just a few feet away. Holding the script up just a bit, and the paper became translucent, the words just appearing as dark smudges on a glowing page. I’ve never seen firsthand the effects of radioactivity, but I’d almost guarantee that a Geiger counter would have picked up something from the pages in my hand.

At this moment, I wished I had read the scripts a little closer, because now I had to wing it. Fortunately, I think I faked my way through it well enough not to be noticed too much. After leading the crowd in prayer, I welcomed Anthem Avenue to the stage, my work for the evening complete. Walking around behind all the stage accouterments I made my way back to my seat, picking up my camera to get some photos of the concert. (Anthem Avenue, I might add, is a terrific group, and I encourage everyone to pick up their new album the day it enters the stores.)

Then after a little while, David Phelps comes on stage, and as they say, "The crowd goes wild." Applause and cheers fill the air, mingled with the voice everyone came to hear. There was an almost electric atmosphere, perhaps caused by the spotlight, but nevertheless, it was great. Being so close to the stage afforded me the opportunity to get some terrific shots of the concert. During one of the "talking breaks," however, I noticed in the viewfinder of my digital camera a somewhat stern look from Mr. Phelps, accompanied by an ominous, eerie silence. Out of reflex, I slammed my camera down, unaware of the transgression which warranted what my wife referred to as the "evil eye." After the concert, I realized that my digital camera looks menacingly like a video camera, and I myself had just a few minutes before told the audience to refrain from using video or flash photography. So, I’m guessing that was what was going on.

With no video taken, and with the flash effectively disabled, the concert continued, as did my photo-taking and musical enjoyment. As usual, David Phelps performed magnificently, singing some of our favorites, unleashing some new songs, and having a great time. There were moments of great appreciation and emotion which brought about several standing ovations and great roars of applause and praise to the Lord.

As the lights came up for halftime (intermission for those of you who require a bit more class), several members of the Message Board members from davidphelps.com came up to the front of the stage and we had a great time together. Being able to put faces and voices to the names so familiar to many of us was one of the best events of the evening. Many kind words were spoken, hugs exchanged, and photos taken to remember the event. It was both a pleasure and an honor to meet these wonderful people, and feel as though I was among friends I’d known for years. My prayer is for continued blessings for each of you I met, and that we continue to be friends, even if it is only through the world of cyberspace.

During the second half of the concert, David asked all the children in the audience to join him and his own children on stage (David’s children themselves performed to the delight of the audience), for a performance of "Santa Claus, Get Well Soon," a great and hysterical song for those who have never heard it. My three-year-old, previously described, had actually fallen asleep during the first part of the show. As he joined his friend (Olegoat’s son, for those of you on the Phelps message boards) and climbed the steps to the stage, I turned to my wife and said, "He’s going to run. I just know it." Having burst forth with what I call "Toddler ‘Tude," the attitude that any parent is powerless to stop when a tired child gets that exhaustion-induced, sugar-like high, I figured it would be my son who made a scene. (The previous year at my sister-in-law’s high school, during a serious speech by a local celebrity, the speaker said, "What can I do for you," and my son yelled, "NOTHING!" causing the crowd to loose it and thus becoming a legend at a high school in a different state. That’s my boy.)

At the conclusion of the song, the kids returned to their parents, relieved no doubt that no scene was caused. The audience sang along as the concert continued, they listened to more of the comedy of Daren Streblow and the music of Anthem Avenue, David Phelps, et al. At the end of a remarkable evening, after giving his best once again after an already grueling tour schedule, the audience stood and cheered until he returned to the stage to do an encore of "End of the Beginning," which again got the audience going. My son was entertaining some of the performers on the stage with his own exuberant cheering during the song. Then, the evening was over . . . except for the crowd in the lobby.

As usual, the throngs of people waiting to purchase merchandise and get a quick picture with David were as thick as a preacher’s convention at a fried chicken buffet line. And as always, David was gracious enough to sign autographs and speak to the fans, no matter how tired he must be after days on the road and a performance where it is apparent he gave it everything he had. With his wife Lori at his side, making sure everyone was taken care of, the evening came to a close much as it had began, with the thrill of knowing that this concert experience was about more than great music and talent, but about experiencing the Lord’s presence in a powerful and personal way. David has been truly blessed, and he has chosen to use that gift to praise the One who gave it, and if nothing else is apparent, the Lord’s hand can clearly be seen.

Talking with the members of Anthem Avenue one more time before we exited the building, we finally made our way outside, Winchester Avenue (no relation) now in front of us. We walked to the parking lot, got everyone strapped in to their proper seats, and then it was back home again. Months of anticipation, waiting for this magical night, and for me looking forward to sharing the same stage with a man I admire as much as David Phelps (if only for a brief moment), were now at an end, replaced now with two things: the euphoria of being part of all the events of the evening, and looking to the future, asking the question, "When will David Phelps once again bless us here in Ashland?" It may be a while before he comes back, but he is always welcome.

Thank you Anthem Avenue, Daren, David, and all the folks who make sure these shows work the way they’re supposed to work. May God continue to use them all to bring glory to Him, and to touch those who need it most with their talents, their love for their fans, and their love for the Lord. If you ever get the chance, even once, I encourage you to see David Phelps live in concert (and that goes for seeing Anthem Avenue and Daren Streblow, too!). You will be glad you did.

Check out some of the photos taken during the show. I hope you enjoy them. Just visit this link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/pastor.chris.keeton/DavidPhelpsAshlandChristmas2006


© 2006, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

Holding On For Dear Life

Hebrews 10:23-25

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Pastors use Hebrews 10:25 as their primary Scriptural reference for faithful church attendance, and rightly so. But too often the preceding verses are overlooked. These verses provide great insight into what faith and the Church are about, and explain the reason why we should not forsake the assembling together.

No matter what we have to face, no matter how dire or bleak, there is nothing at all that can overcome our faith. If we continue to hold fast to the Lord, He will be faithful to us, strengthening us to “keep on keeping on.” Sometimes it seems like we’re about ready to fall, that our feet our sliding out from under us, and we are tempted to turn loose. Some days it seems like we just don’t have what it takes to be a Christian, and wonder why we should even tell someone else about a faith in which we ourselves are struggling. But we need not waver, not because we are strong and faithful, but because the God who promised to be with us and give us sufficient grace is faithful.

What assists us when we begin to slip and slide through life? The Church. God’s Church, the body of Christ, is there to help us with moral, spiritual and physical help when we need it most. Notice that in verse 24, the Lord gives us the purpose of our assemblage (which is discussed in verse 25). Our purpose in the Church and the Lord’s Work is to consider one another. When we do this, our motivation and the ultimate result should be to stir up love and good works.

Much damage has been done to the kingdom of God and to the witness and testimony of many believers because they do not heed this verse. Oh sure, they do plenty of stirring up, but usually it has more to do with stirring up trouble. Through gossip, envy, pride, anger, and a host of other things being stirred up, the work of the Lord suffers greatly.

Now is the time that we should stop to consider others instead of ourselves. Is our presence in the congregation and our place in the work of God serving to stir up love and good works within ourselves and those around us? Are we edifying, or building up the body of Christ; or are we doing more to tear it down? Are we really showing love through more than just a word, a handshake or a hug, but with our heart? Can people really see Christ in us? If we are not considering one another, and thus stirring love and good works, then the answer is a resounding NO!

But this consideration must also include a faithfulness to gather together with other believers. Since our purpose is to consider one another and inspire love and good works within ourselves and others, the congregation of God’s people must not be forsaken. Every day we draw closer to our own meeting with the Lord, whether Christ returns or we reach the end of our own life. Knowing that we are one day closer should inspire us to work that much harder for God, doing what we can to make a difference.

You don’t have to be a preacher, a teacher, a committee member or anything like that. But you can make a difference. You may be the conduit through which God touches the life of someone else. Maybe it’s through a word of encouragement, a card, or a shoulder to cry on. It might simply be you looking at someone else and saying, “It’s so good to see you,” or “I love you,” which will stir up that person’s own love and good works for God.

We have a mutual responsibility to God, but we also have a mutual responsibility to one another. Our relationship to God is ultimately our own decision and our own responsibility, so we should hold fast to the confession of our faith (for our benefit and for our testimony to others). We can do this because God is on our side, and is faithful to be with us through everything we have to face.

But we should also remember that we might be the key to someone else’s decisions. Our influence can either inspire or discourage them in their decision-making process. If a person is on the fence, trying to make a life-altering decision, trying to avoid a temptation or wondering if they should accept Christ as their Savior, our own life and decisions may nudge them in one direction or the other. If it is the right way, we will share in the glory. If it’s the wrong way, we will share in the consequences. This is why it’s imperative that we stir up love and good works.

And our very presence one with another is essential. I mean, we can’t really help if we’re not there for one another. If you are ever tempted with the though that you don’t matter, that no one cares and no one would notice if you were present or absent, remember that just by being there, faithfully filling your place, you might just be the answer some people are needing that certain something you alone can provide. Time is running short, Friend, so we must never fail to be faithful. If you will honor these verses with your commitment, not just your words, then you will discover a magnificence of God in your life that you never knew was possible.

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