So, I wanted to let everyone know that, yes, I’m still here, and yes, I’m still quite busy. As many of you experience, as the year nears its close, things tend to get more hectic. Such is the case with me. It doesn’t help that yesterday my back went out (without me or my consent, I might add), and left me with the pain involved with that. But, I’m making it.
With the vast number of things requiring my attention over the next few weeks, I again don’t know when I’ll be able to come back to the blog with regular entries. For this, I apologize, not only because of the great disappointment to my loyal readers (I pause for the laughter to subside), but because I enjoy writing so much. In an effort to keep my hand in, so to speak, I will make a very short entry for today.
Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, perhaps in a pain-medication-induced stupor, I was thinking about all the different topics on which I’d like to preach, all the different Bible studies I would like to dive into, and I suddenly realized that there just simply might not be enough time left to do it all.
We never know about tomorrow, but if you just look at averages alone (again, there are no guarantees), I have 40-50 more years left to get things done. While you might say, “Well, that’s a long, long time and lots of topics on which to prepare messages.” Well, in that moment, it didn’t seem like that long.
I guess that’s why preaching is so important to me. A week or so ago I was quite sick at the beginning of a Sunday evening service, but I was determined to preach. I felt the Lord wanted me to, and I knew He’d give me the strength and grace to make it, or would stop me in my tracks. Needless to say, I preached that evening, and am glad I didn’t give into the pain or sickness, but trusted in God to see me through.
This blog is another outlet for me to share my thoughts and feelings, to expound on Scripture, and just offer my assistance to those studying God’s Word, and helping me analyze my own beliefs and reinforce my own studies. So, my intent is to do as much for the Lord as I can, while I can. I know this is what God wants, but it’s what I want to do, too.
Having just preached the funeral of our 58th church member to pass away in the last 19 years, I am forced to ask: as the faithful leave us, who will take their place? We all need to pick up the pace, take up the slack, and number our days so that we take advantage of every opportunity to serve the Lord and advance His work. Even if you don’t make a world-wide impact, you can make all the difference in the world in the lives of those around you.
Be thankful for every moment, even when those moments are painful, and place your trust in the Lord. Ask what He would have you do, then be determined and committed to doing it. No matter how long we have left, it’s not much, especially compared to eternity. And no matter how busy you might get, never get too busy to serve the Lord who has done so much for you.
Until we meet again, may God bless you and yours. Hopefully my next entry won’t be too far in the future. I hope to post an account (as well as Scriptural observations and applications) from Thanksgiving festivities over the next week, an upcoming concert experience, annual church business, Christmas cantata, and all that stuff. Hope you’ll join me then!
© 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.
With the vast number of things requiring my attention over the next few weeks, I again don’t know when I’ll be able to come back to the blog with regular entries. For this, I apologize, not only because of the great disappointment to my loyal readers (I pause for the laughter to subside), but because I enjoy writing so much. In an effort to keep my hand in, so to speak, I will make a very short entry for today.
Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, perhaps in a pain-medication-induced stupor, I was thinking about all the different topics on which I’d like to preach, all the different Bible studies I would like to dive into, and I suddenly realized that there just simply might not be enough time left to do it all.
We never know about tomorrow, but if you just look at averages alone (again, there are no guarantees), I have 40-50 more years left to get things done. While you might say, “Well, that’s a long, long time and lots of topics on which to prepare messages.” Well, in that moment, it didn’t seem like that long.
I guess that’s why preaching is so important to me. A week or so ago I was quite sick at the beginning of a Sunday evening service, but I was determined to preach. I felt the Lord wanted me to, and I knew He’d give me the strength and grace to make it, or would stop me in my tracks. Needless to say, I preached that evening, and am glad I didn’t give into the pain or sickness, but trusted in God to see me through.
This blog is another outlet for me to share my thoughts and feelings, to expound on Scripture, and just offer my assistance to those studying God’s Word, and helping me analyze my own beliefs and reinforce my own studies. So, my intent is to do as much for the Lord as I can, while I can. I know this is what God wants, but it’s what I want to do, too.
Having just preached the funeral of our 58th church member to pass away in the last 19 years, I am forced to ask: as the faithful leave us, who will take their place? We all need to pick up the pace, take up the slack, and number our days so that we take advantage of every opportunity to serve the Lord and advance His work. Even if you don’t make a world-wide impact, you can make all the difference in the world in the lives of those around you.
Be thankful for every moment, even when those moments are painful, and place your trust in the Lord. Ask what He would have you do, then be determined and committed to doing it. No matter how long we have left, it’s not much, especially compared to eternity. And no matter how busy you might get, never get too busy to serve the Lord who has done so much for you.
Until we meet again, may God bless you and yours. Hopefully my next entry won’t be too far in the future. I hope to post an account (as well as Scriptural observations and applications) from Thanksgiving festivities over the next week, an upcoming concert experience, annual church business, Christmas cantata, and all that stuff. Hope you’ll join me then!
© 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.
