I Like to Be Regular

It's not what it sounds like. My title refers, of course, to the schedule on which I make postings here on Soulscape. I like to take the time to think about some meaningful and spiritual topic on which to post on Mondays, as well as the structured Thursday Bible Study Commentaries. However I seem to be having a more difficult time keeping up with things. Soulscape has been an important outlet for me over the last year-and-a-half (give or take a few months) and from the comments and emails I've received, I believe it has in some small way helped you, the reader. So, I have a favor to ask of you before I continue with this entry (which will also have to do with the title, only not in that aforementioned yucky way).

Should I not be able to post on a regular basis on Mondays and Thursdays, please bear with me and don't give up on me. I am currently involved with a few different ministerial things which require more time in study and writing. And while it is somewhat amusing for my family and friends to think that I have some sort of growth in the shape of my laptop growing out of my legs and fingertips, I do need some time away from this contraption. I have not left this blog, but for the next several weeks my postings may not be as regular. I have also postponed my Thursday postings until the first part of June in an effort to focus on these other important matters. Thanks for your understanding.

Okay, on with things. I like to be regular, not just in postings, but in living a consistent Christian life. Pastors are often placed on a higher platform than they deserve, which means that when they make a mistake, when they stumble or fall (as all human beings are wont to do on occasion) they have farther to fall, and cause more collateral damage when they hit the bottom. This kind of pressure often drives people such as this to attempt to live up to the unrealistic standards of man. When they do mess up, they get so discouraged with themselves or so persecuted by others that they "give in" even more, or worse: the "give up" entirely.

However, this desire to be more consistent in my own Christian life does not have my job as its primary motivation. My desire for consistency is out of a love for the Lord. While I love Him with all my heart, and know that I would be nothing apart from Him, I recognize my own personal failings, and I know He (or the testimony of Him) does not deserve to suffer because of them. So, what am I to do? In my role as a pastor, I have listened to countless people tell me how much they want to give the Lord more attention in their life. They want to get closer to Him, live more for Him, be a dynamic witness to His love and mercy. They, or we, have one thing in common: the battle of knowledge verses decision.

In our heads, even in our hearts, we hear that voice within us which says, "You're not living where you need to be," or "You can do better." We acknowledge our failings and shortcomings, we listen to the testimony of friends or the message of some preacher and say, "Yes! That's what I need to do." And then . . . nothing. We go on about the business of daily life, content in the recognition of where we fall short, and then do nothing about it. (NOTE: For more on this topic, check out recent messages I've preached by visiting http://westwoodchurchofgod.org/podcast for more information, click on http://feeds.feedburner.com/westwoodonline to be taken directly to the streaming audio and download page, or search the iTunes store for "Chris Keeton" and listen from there.)

What will it take to move us from knowledge to action? The Holy Spirit helps us to learn and grow, but the only way we can learn and grow is to have the desire to listen and act on what we hear. We must begin by understanding that every one of us has plenty of room to grow in Christ. By definition, we are all children, and as such we are continually in the growth process. There is much work, much good work, to be done for the Lord, and we can do great things for Him. But we must be willing to be hearers of the Word, as well as doers.

Still, if you can find no other motivation, I suggest you try this: every day, and I mean EVERY day, get out of bed, go to the Lord in prayer, and say, "Lord, don't just show me, but help me today to be what You want me to be." Then go on with your daily business and seek those opportunities God will open for you to serve and grow in Him. He will never let us down, no matter how much we let Him down. Remember that it's your choice to make every day, so make it the right choice. The best testimony a child of God can give does not come in bursts, but through the quiet and resilient consistency of the believer's life. Give it a try, and you will discover a life filled with blessings for you, and for those around you.

© 2007, 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.

What is God’s Plan?

Well, there's a good question. I think just about everyone has asked that at one time or another. In most cases, we don't understand why we go through things, or especially the timing of those things. But God does. This won't be a long entry, but I wanted to share just a couple of thoughts with you.

Two little slogans that I say from time to time seem to help me in those rougher patches of life. The first is, "The deeper the valley, the higher the mountain;" and the second is, "When it comes to seeing God's ways, hindsight is pretty clear." To me, these mean that in order to appreciate the glories of God's mountaintop experiences, He sometimes has to lead us through a deep valley. Those deep valleys are often the darkest, because the mountains on the sides of them are so high. So just keep looking up at where you're heading!

The second of those phrases has a little more personal meaning to me over the last few weeks (although both apply to recent situations). We often wonder why the Lord takes us down a particular path, or why we have to go through some situation. In many of those cases we have taken a wrong road, made a wrong choice; but sometimes the Lord is setting us up to see His grace, goodness and glory…at a later time.

Had it not been for the kindness of good friends and even a couple of perfect strangers, my family and I would have been in a very big mess. But since the Lord promised to take care of all our needs, we knew He would provide. We didn't ask anyone for help, just prayer. But through our faith in God, He was able to use others to help us. Almost a year ago I was involved in a particular circumstance where I was able to help someone. When this person said that they would "pay me back" I merely said, "Don't worry about it. I felt the Lord was leading me to do this, and so I wanted to. I don't require anything in return." Still, the person was insistent that eventually they would return the favor.

I never asked for it, and never expected it. I had already received a blessing so there was nothing else I needed (just the feeling I possessed from being obedient to the Lord, even in a situation that wasn't what I would describe as 'church related'); in fact, I had pretty much forgotten about the whole thing. Then, just the other morning, there was a knock at my door. This same person I had helped nearly a year ago said, "The Lord worked some things out for me, and when I was staring down at the money in my hand, you were the first person who came to mind." This person then placed the money in my hand, paying me back.

I looked down at the money and said, "You know, the Lord was always in control. A year ago I didn't have a need, but over the last two weeks or so things have been tight. He knew then what I didn't, that I myself would need help. Even though you had your own struggles over this last year, he brought us both out of the valley just when we needed it the most."

As a pastor it is often my job to offer words of comfort and hope to those in need. Countless times I've told people to hold on, that God was still in control and He would come through when the time was right. I've seen it, and I've lived it, so I know it works. But it never ceases to amaze me when He comes through. My amazement is not a matter of doubt, but that He is there for us every time! That will never cease to amaze me.

So my advice to you is to hang in there. Don't fail to listen to the Lord, to serve, to give, and know that He has a plan. When His timing is right, He will show you just what can be accomplished through faith in Him. It might not be immediate, but when it's in God's time, it's the right time. God bless!

© 2007, 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.

Reflections on “CrossWalk”

When the Lord gave me the idea for the CrossWalk, I was excited. I hoped to convey my personal feelings for carrying a cross through the community and show that excitement to my congregation. I felt this would be a terrific testimony for the Lord, and my prayer was that others would be inspired to join me. A little background before I continue: CrossWalk was designed for fifteen individuals to each carry a cross for 550 feet, over a total distance of 1.5 miles, from "downtown Westwood" (locals will get that joke) to our church. I hoped we would get 15 volunteers; the sign-up sheet filled up quickly, with others saying they wanted to at least walk the distance.

I called local authorities to get permission, telling them I anticipated about 20 walkers and carriers, as well as perhaps two vehicles for those who couldn't walk the entire route. I imagined that we would start out, see some faces at the windows and doors of the houses along the road, as well as a few horns honking from those who passed by. I imagined a warm spring evening followed by an outdoor devotional and song service, then a picnic-style fellowship and Easter egg hunt for the kiddies. Here's what really happened:

Gray skies hid the sun from view as a cold wind pressed the stinging flakes of snow into the faces of the crowd. And yes, there was a crowd. I estimate between 30 and 40 people were walking the entire route with us. As we marched the first 550 foot leg of the journey, I looked back to see car after car in the procession. Most belonged to us; some did not. The traffic jam caused by such a group inspired many, and angered some. I was fortunate enough to share a delightful conversation with a gentleman who seemed somewhat peeved that this event was preventing him from reaching his destination in a timely manner. After explaining to him the purpose of the event and a hearty "God bless you," this gentleman rolled up his window and said something that seemed to be somewhat rude. I prayed for that man, but that is the kind of person I wanted to reach.

Others came out of their homes to wish us well; some stayed in the vehicle procession for a while, happy that we were doing this. After motioning our cars off of the road to let others by, I jogged to catch up to the walkers, no small feat for an overweight, high-blood-pressured asthmatic. At times I thought I would have a heart attack, then I thought my left leg would fall off. But I knew the Lord wanted us, wanted me, to do this. I prayed a small prayer for strength and continued on. News crews were documenting the scene for a story on the late local news (a story which, surprisingly, lasted nearly two minutes, a practical "War and Peace" for a 35 minute telecast), and the walkers, wet and cold and tired, continued onward with smiles and songs.

As the pastor of the vast majority of the group (people from other congregations joined us on the walk) I felt a responsibility to make sure things ran smoothly. I had thought about what this entire event would mean to me, and thought about what I would write at the end. Would I have some divine revelation, some new connection with Jesus that had thus far eluded me? What did I want to get out of a mile and a half walk through the quiet streets of our neighborhood?

I was the last to carry the cross, dragging the lightweight, padded, and wheeled cross up the final stretch to our parking lot, then into the Church itself, laying it at the altar. After a brief interview with the news reporter, I went in to start the devotional service (the snow prevented an outdoor shindig), finally sitting down to catch my breath and reflect on the day, the event, and the history, the why we were doing this. I seemed to identify with Christ's suffering, in that I was tired and having trouble with my asthma. But there was something else I took from the experience, something I did not expect.

First of all, I survived the walk. That in itself is a tremendous feat (and relief!). But from the moment we began the CrossWalk, I was deeply touched by the sheer number of those who wanted to, and did in some way, participate. They braved the elements, set aside their time, and truly wanted to be there. As I stood watching the carriers, the walkers, and the drivers of our little parade, I knew it would be an inconvenience for some to take part (or, as some did, get caught in the traffic jam of these religious zealots and freaks). There was laughter, there was singing. It was an extremely solemn occasion remembering the death of Christ on the cross for our sins. But we still had much joy in our hearts. Why? I think it was because we were able and willing to publicly show our love for Jesus, and that we know that the story didn't end on that Friday, some two thousand years ago. We were happy because we knew that Jesus is alive.

As a pastor, I feel that it is partly my responsibility to inspire my congregation, to impart something to them which they will take and use throughout their lives, whether it is as a source of strength for themselves or as a means of witnessing to others and perhaps leading them to the Lord. Through this one act, dozens of people were touched in ways that words of mine could never accomplish. My philosophy has always been, "It doesn't matter who does the work or even who gets the credit, as long as the job is done and God gets the glory." That happened with our First Annual CrossWalk. It didn't matter who carried the cross or walked alongside those who did. It didn't matter who rode in vehicles behind the procession or stayed at the church to get things ready for the fellowship. It didn't matter who publicized the event, who made the posters, or even who came up with the idea. This was all about Jesus.

It is easy to question motives, to wonder why people do what they do. On this cold and snowy spring evening, for the very first time in my life as a pastor, I could feel and see the motivation of these individuals. It wasn't about who would get the most camera time or who carried the cross further. It was about being part of an active testimony in a community we love. We don't get the chance to show that love as much or as often as we would like. But on this day there was no doubt in my mind and, I believe, in the minds of those participating, that this entire scene was placing the focus on Jesus.

So what did I get out of the CrossWalk? I didn't feel the lashes on my back, nor the crown of thorns on my brow. I did not feel the nails in my feet and hands, nor did I experience the humiliation or the weight of sin which Christ bore. Instead, I found the Living Lord. And it wasn't as I carried the cross myself. I found Jesus Christ alive in the hearts and faces and lives of those who joined in this unique expression of love and faith. Seldom have I seen such a tangible testimony for Christ. We knew, I knew, that we serve a risen Savior. The cross was the means of purchasing salvation for us, but that empty tomb we already knew about is what sealed the deal. Carrying that cross with my Christian brothers and sisters was a way to come together, and those fifteen separate 550 feet sections along that mile and a half route, that thirty minute walk, was one continuous "Thank You" to our Lord.

I don't think I can put it into any more words, but there is so much more that I have in my head and heart that will stay with me forever. I am unable to express the deep experience of emotion and spirit that this first CrossWalk has given me, but I know one thing:

I found what I needed to find.

© 2007, 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.

For with the heart man believes . . .

It was bound to happen sooner or later. For the first time in probably my entire life I scheduled a doctor's appointment of my own volition. I needed some prescriptions refilled and figured that since it had been almost 9 months since seeing the doctor, a checkup wouldn't be out of order. I mean, the guy has been kind enough to write my prescription refills, and from what they tell me, a "regular checkup" isn't all that bad, either.

So he asks me about what's been happening, how I've been feeling, and he says he'd like to get some baseline blood work done in order to make sure I stay healthy. "Oh," he says, "it looks like they forgot to take your blood pressure. I'll send someone in to look at that and I'll be back in a few minutes." So his wife, a nurse in his office, comes in; I roll up my short-sleeve just a bit as she slips the cuff over my arm. As the pain in the upper arm reaches its peak, I hear the slight hisssssssssssssss of the air being released.

Thump, thump, thump rings out from the tightness supplied by the sphygmomanometer (the big ol' word that means "blood pressure taker thing"), into the stethoscope and on to the ears of the qualified professional. After the thumping ceases, she says, "I need to get a larger cuff. This small cuff might be messing up the reading." After returning and repeating the aforementioned procedure, she says, "Same reading."

"A smidge on the high side?" I asked, glancing down at the sheet with all my information. "156/110. Same as I got a minute ago." Well, needless to say that is not a good blood pressure. Go on, just look it up. She says, "I'll be back in a minute." About 15 seconds later the doctor once again returns, this time with a look of urgency not seen earlier. Sitting down on the little spin-type doctor-y stool he begins asking me, "Have you been having headaches? Any shortness of breath? Chest pains or dizziness?" The answers to those questions were, "I have one now, but it's sinus-related. Asthma, because of the pollen explosion. No and no, and I even moved a refrigerator three days ago and no pain or dizziness or anything."

So the doctor goes and gets me some blood pressure medicine samples, and says that, quote, "We have to get that pressure down to minimize any residual organ damage." Well, that's good to hear. Since nearly everyone in my family has high blood pressure, I figured I would eventually find myself in the batter's box. Over the last week, I've been to the doctor's office three times for various tests, but the medicine seems to be working. The blood pressure has been much lower, in the excellent range, and if I can get used to the side effects (weird feeling episodes which aren't easy to predict and leave me a bit sluggish) things should be great.

As my regular readers know, I have been in the process of "de-ironing" my fire, to ensure that I am able to focus on God's primary tasks for me and that I might be my best for Him, even if it means I have to cut back. Now, with these particular health issues (and I'm trusting the other test results will come back with a good report) I guess it's the Lord's way of telling me to refocus. While I figured it would happen eventually, I guess in my heart I didn't really believe it would happen to me. Now I believe it, and now it's time to look after my health a little bit more closely.

Anyway, this week, as you may have already surmised (being "Easter Week,") the Soulscape schedule is a bit different. There will be no entry on Thursday, but on Good Friday I will post my preliminary CrossWalk thoughts. At 6:00 PM that evening a number of people from our church and community will be carrying a cross for 1.5 miles in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice for us, as well as a way to testify to our neighborhood. On Friday night or Saturday I will post my "post-game synopsis" of the event, then pick up next week with the regular schedule. Keep us in your prayers that we might reach the community for the Lord. See you soon!

P.S. HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TO MY SON (YESTERDAY)!

© 2007, 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.