I know I’m suppose to be happy he’s dead, but I can’t be ok celebrating a man is now possibly in hell. I celebrate justice was served but for me to applaud his death is different.
I’m not saying I’m right and others are wrong. My prayer is that even in turmoil the Gospel is spread and lives transformed. If God can transform a Christian killer like Paul, why not those like Bin Laden.
Yesterday while at work, I fell into a new depth of love for Elberton, GA. As I bagged and brought groceries to customers’ cars I met three authentic people.
I met a WWII Veteran who told me a story of how they destroyed a battleship with an atomic bomb and the mission was a failure.
Then there was a woman who each week buys 2 or 3 20lb. bags of rice in case the economy drops and the price of groceries skyrocket. She wants to be able to have a pantry for her entire family, which I found out has 18 grandkids (Holy CRAP!!).
Then I met a girl who is a single mom. We spoke briefly but she told me how lucky my daughter is to have me in her life, because her child’s father isn’t.
I fell in love with my city…the city God has called me to minister…the place I sleep, eat, work, live, shop, hang out. I love Elberton, GA and I love it enough to fulfill my purpose while living here. Which means, that when I leave or die it will not be the same as it was when I came here. Portions of this city will be transformed for Christ by Christ.
I love my city enough to let Christ use me to transform it. How much do you love your city? What will you do to transform it?
Something rare is occurring in Atlanta, GA. Pastor Shaun King at Courageous Church is preaching their last sermon series. That’s correct the last one, no he’s not leaving the church, just the perspective of ministry is shifting. This last series will last for the next two months until Easter. From Shaun, “An intense focus will be placed on discipleship, relationships, and radical service to hurting people and pressing causes in our city and around the world.” In May they will start having service monthly and their small groups are being overhauled. They are changing their procedures and systems to fit into the shift.
All that said, I have one thing to say…..WOW! This is amazing, not the idea…not the Church…not even the audacity to take such a bold step. What’s amazing is that they are willing to go against the norm for “church” to fulfill their God-given purpose. Shaun’s desire to be obedient to God rather than accepted by others inspires me as a minister all the more to follow God even when it means leaving comfort behind.
How do you live your life? Just getting by….striving to be obedient to the Father…..comfortable Christianity? It’s time that we follow Shaun as he follows Christ, use him as an example to desire obedience over acceptance. Be the woman/man God created you to be, strive for obedience, go against the current, and change your world.
John 10:11-13
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
If you are in ministry you are more than a ‘hired hand.’ You are called to protect and strengthen those God puts in your care. To many people view being a pastor as just another job, looking to pastor that ‘big church’ to make a lot of money and look good. Ministry isn’t 9-5, it’s your life. Are you a pastor because it’s your calling, or because you are a good public speaker and problem solver? When the crap hits the fan do you stand and fight or tuck tail and run. Yes this scripture is about Christ and this is a principle we can all apply to our lives.
It says a good Shepard will lay his life down for his sheep, how have you laid down your life for your sheep? Do you get annoyed when you get a chance to serve your congregation? Are willing to risk your personal comfort for the growth of your congregation?
The Scripture says that the ‘hired hand’ runs when trouble comes? So the question stands are you a Good Shepard or just a hired hand? You don’t have to wrack your brain for an answer, how you live and react will answer the question.
Who asks you the hard questions?
How is your relationship with Christ?
What has God been doing in you lately?
What has He been doing through you?
How is your marriage?
Have you looked at porn lately?
How have you spent your money this week?
Did you go ‘there’ again?
We all need to be asked the hard questions. They challenge us and remind us of who we are becoming. One of the hardest parts about these questions is having someone there to ask them. The hard questions are pointless questions without an asker.
If you truly want to be the man or woman God created you to be, find someone to ask the hard questions. Below is my guideline as to determine who gets the honor and responsibility to ask these questions:
- Must be the same sex
- Someone who knows/can know the junk in my life (past and present)
- Someone you can trust
- You must be completely honest
- You must be completely honest
These aren’t etched in stone if there are more to add, add them. My desire is for you to be who God created you to be. And a vital part is answering the hard questions.
Hard Question #1: Who will you trust to ask you these questions?
What has your church done lately, for your community, to show the love of Christ besides the weekly services? If the answer is ‘nothing’ then there is a problem.
We must strive to be the Church in the streets along with inside a building. Watch your community, learn it’s needs, and meet those needs. There are people that need our help and who better than your local church. Not to add numbers to your church but to share Christ with your neighbors. Love your community enough to meet their needs through the local church.
I can’t believe I’m a dad. Yesterday at 7:08pm Amiah Nicole Rowell made her debut. It’s been a long two days but it has been incredible. Lauren and I can just sit and watch her for hours. We didn’t have ny horror stories or crazy birthing moments, just a life giving life.
In this new season I’m humbled and terrified. I’m looking forward to bouncing her on my knee and cradling her. I want to be the best dad I can be. His will mean a big shift in my life. For those of you in ministry our primary concern is not the growth of our ministry but the growth of our families to be who God created them to be.
Love God. Love your Family. Minister the Gospel to All. (my life purpose, what’s your?)
So I just finished watching This Is How We Change The World, documentary on the past five years of Elevation Church’s existence. I have one word to say after seeing this, faith. This documentary has encouraged me to believe and have faith in the calling God has placed on my life. I have been “Elevated” and I believe God has used this movie to set my sights on my purpose. To be completely honest, it makes me want to go into a 40 day fast in the wilderness and then enter a room in a robe with tablets.
But seriously, this video has reminded me that I have a specific purpose and the time to make it a reality is now….not when I feel its the right time. This time that I’m in is preparing me for the next step. My purpose is not defined by one action, but a lifetime of actions.
You, yes you reading, have a purpose. God has designed you and make you a certain way. With all of your quirks and annoyances. He made you to fulfill a specific purpose that only you can fulfill. Today is a step toward making that purpose a reality. Take time and seek after God to know why you exist. He probably won’t tell you everything, but I guarantee you He will tell you what to do next. When you discover the next step, take it, take it in faith. Because this next step is leading to another one, and with every step your potential….your purpose becomes a reality
Christ always took truth to the next level. In Matthew 5 He said that if we even hate our brother we have committed murder. He then said that if we look at a woman lustfully we have already committed adultery in our heart. I’m about being like Jesus, so there is a truth thats taught in church and I believe it needs to go further.
When people attend a church service they are told to do so expecting God to move. I believe this truth must to go further. I challenge you to approach every situation and place this way. When you go to work, go expecting God to move. When you go to school, go expecting God to move. When you go home, go expecting God to move. As a Christian, you are the light to the world. If we are living a life expecting God to move, no one will.
Living a life expecting shifts our perspective. We begin to see our environment as a birth place for a miracle. A place where the disgruntled worker can find peace. A place where your boss can meet his Savior. A place where men and women can become who God created them to be.
Live a life expecting God to move. But be ready because when you live this way your life will never be the same. God will show up and shake your comfortable world. He will transform you into who He created you to be.
Live a life expecting and watch God transform your world.
Many times as Christians we get caught up in just the way people live their lives. We focus more on what they are doing than who they are becoming in Christ. A friend of mine, Rick Womack, talks about this concept of “One Step Closer” which means that in all things the focus in dealing with people is to guide them to taking one step closer to Christ. In every situation you must ask yourself, “How can I turn this around for Christ to transform me/them.”
To often we handle conflict to just fix the problem without making an opportunity for growth. When handling conflict don’t look at situations as just consequences and punishment, but also as a chance for the individual to take one step closer to being like Christ. Our goal must always be to get them One Step Closer.
As Christians when we witness to nonbelievers we tend to view everyone at one of two extremes, either a Christian or really far from God. However, some are seeking. As in dealings with other people our goal must not be to add a notch to our “Christian Belt.” We must plant a seed and let God do the watering. Our conversation must be driven toward getting them One Step Closer to Christ.
Our personal life gets insane and there are times we get so wrapped up we neglect our relationship with Christ. Each morning and night ask yourself one question, and your answer will determine if your life is in order. Answer the following: “How will I take one step closer to Christ today?” And “Did I take one step today in being like Christ?”
Make up your mind right now that you will take a step toward Christ, to be who He created you to be.
About True Keith
