Messy Believer

Our lives are and can be a little messy. As we journey in this world, sometimes we just need to walk with someone and realize that life is messy.

I hope that your journey through these pages will inspire you to walk in faith and find the hope you need to know that your not alone in life.

We are built to live in community. We all need a community and that is why we gather in church. In our communities we find our gifts that we can share with others.

The invitation we offer to to enter with others respecting where they are in their journey of faith. Our gift to everyone is grace, the grace God offered us on our own journey.

Our kindness just may be the gift they need at that moment.

Think about your actions and remember that you are God’s blessing.

Let us journey together on this road. I hope you find something that you can share.

Latest Posts:

Musings from a Chaplain, Part II

I wrote to you about storms. I meant every word. But I have been thinking since then, and I realize there are things I left unsaid.

I told you that God called you into this service. That is true. But I did not say plainly enough that the calling does not make you invincible. It makes you available. And availability has a cost that no one prints on the oath you took.

You were trained to run toward what others run from. But no one trained you for the silence after. The ride home. The moment you sit in the driveway and are not yet ready to walk through the door and be a spouse, a parent, a person who is asked how your day went.

I want to speak to that silence.

It is not weakness. It is the soul catching up to what the body has already done. God does not judge you for it. Neither should you.

In Oklahoma, after the storm passes, we walk outside and take account. We check on our neighbors. We look at what is still standing. That same honesty is what I am asking of you now — not for my sake, but for yours.

Take account.

If the anger has become a companion instead of a visitor, name it. If the numbness has settled in so deep that you cannot remember the last time something moved you, pay attention. If the ones who love you most have started to feel like strangers, that is not a failure of love. It is a wound. And wounds left unattended do not heal on their own.

You do not have to carry this alone. That is not courage. That is pride dressed in duty’s clothing, and it will break you if you let it.

I have sat with officers who wept and called it the first honest thing they had done in years. I have prayed with firefighters who could not put words to what they carried, and the prayer was enough. I have listened to dispatchers describe sounds that will not leave them, and my presence — just being there — was the only ministry required.

God does not always send answers. Sometimes He sends a chair and someone willing to sit in it beside you.

You were called to stand between danger and the families you protect. But even those who stand must, from time to time, sit down. Rest is not retreat. Asking for help is not surrender. It is the bravest thing a warrior can do.

So I say to you again, and I will keep saying it until you believe it: you are not alone.

And if no one has told you lately, let me be the one — it is okay to not be okay.

May the Lord who sees you in the storm also meet you in the stillness. May He guard your mind as fiercely as you guard others. May He give rest to the parts of you that no one else sees. And may you have the courage to let someone in.

May you find God’s blessing on your life. I pray these words in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Keith+
The Storms of Life….

Musings from aChaplain,

In Oklahoma, we know storms that affect the land and life. In our reality, we need to acknowledge that God is the one who has called us into His service.

The calling we accepted, guides us into the various storms of life.

Looking out in the world, we are seeing those storms play out in other cities, counties, and states. As you keep this sacred trust that has been handed to you, please realize that we protect the innocent, but also the violator. A balancing act that many citizens do not know how to accomplish. You see the people in their worst moments and sometimes, on rare occasions, you get to see the gift of humanity.

You are more than a uniform and a badge, you are God’s purpose that goes beyond your shift (or tour).

In a time when criticism is loud, please hear this message clearly, your sacrifices are seen, your dedication is known and we, who stand with you, honor your service.

We all stand together praying for one another. We pray for protection, for your wisdom, for your peace, and most of all, for your safety. So, when you feel numb, angry, frustrated, or even worn out, know that God is with you giving you the strength you need to accomplish the storms you may encounter.

May the Lord watch over you, bless you, and keep you. May he give you courage. May you see his wisdom because he called you into service. And when necessary, may you know that your actions, either easy or challenging, are the reasons you have been called to stand between danger and the families you serve.

And when it seems to be so overwhelming and you feel lost, may you know that God has placed someone in your life to reach out to, who understands your thoughts, pain, or difficulties. They are there to support your efforts, just as God supports your life of service.

May God’s blessing be upon you, in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Keith+
Simple Truths

Every day we have the opportunity to interact with anyone who comes across our path.

I have always heard the quote, treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO.

The simple truth is we become guests in people’s lives every day. And when we treat others as the guest they are, we should treat them with kindness and compassion.

A guest could be a CEO, a janitor, a politician, a neighbor, and even someone who is struggling in life.

Our first accomplishment is to notice them. No matter their role in life, they need support and recognition for their job.

It doesn’t matter what their job is. In reality, their role is to make peoples lives better.

Better living with clean restrooms, a clean hospital room, or running a corporation that provides products. Each role provides value to our lives. They are offering something greater than themselves.

When we acknowledge them and appreciate their role in our world, we share a gift.

The gift of appreciation cost us nothing to provide, yet has a significant impact upon those we see.

Let us continue to make the world a better place to live and offer our free gift of gratitude.
Do you have 8 Minutes? It could change a life

Do you have 8 minutes?

8 minutes is a code for, “I need you” or “Are you available?”

8 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot of time.

If you can give someone 8 minutes, you can change a life.

We all struggle in this career of Law Enforcement. And really, you don’t have to be a law enforcement officer, and you can still struggle with all the pressures of this world.

When you need help, it is hard to ask for help. LEO’s have a hard time asking for help.

So take the time and ask, “Do you have 8 minutes?”

8 minutes can change a person’s life.

This is code for “I need a friend.”

Do you have 8 minutes? This code can allow you to ask for help, without asking for help.

8 Minutes has proven to be the most effective time you can share with someone.

8 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot of time, but if you find your self in need, ask, “Do you have 8 minutes?”

If you receive a text that says, “Do you have 8 minutes?”

Stop and answer the text, “Yes, I have 8 minutes. then call the person who is asking.”

Even 8 minutes on the phone can change the dynamics of what is going on in their life. They may need to get something off their chest. Or just talk to someone for 8 minutes.

The power of love is shared within 8 minutes and in those 8 minutes, you may save someone who is on the verge of disaster and just need someone to talk with.

So if you need help, ask for 8 MINUTES!!
What we are to do.

I sit in reflection this evening.

I am always sending out emails that are not necessarily positive. These emails, they often contain prayer request for those in need.

“IN NEED”. What does that really mean?

In the Basic Instruction Book (for) Living Exceptionally (AKA the Bible), there is a story about this guy who sat down with these 12 guys that he picked to help him share the Word (AKA Evangelize).

In Matthew 5, you will begin reading about what we call the Beatitudes. You will see he talks about hopeless people, grieving people, humble people, hungry people who are thirsty too, people who know how to show mercy, those with pure hearts, peaceful people, and people who are harassed.

Each one of them, he talks about how they are blessed.

Even when someone insults you, or speaks ill about your life, or tells false things about you, well you have this wonderful thing that this wonderful guy offers, a wonderful gift.

That really means, you’re one of his blessings. You have been offered something so wonderful in this mysterious thing we call life.

Even with all that, we just can’t walk alone or do our own thing.

We are built to live in community. I hope that you might realize that breaking that word down, it means COMMON UNITY.

We have more things in common that we have in differences.

Knowing this, we have all been offered an extra job. We all are multi vocational. Many don’t realize that this job offer is actually required for them.

This job offer is not just because you might have accepted this story of a Savior (known as Christ Jesus). However, if and when you were baptized, you signed an agreement. Your agreement was signed with water.

You may never see your signature, but it is there. As pure as water is, God can see the signature that you made just under the words, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” There is a line under those words and that is where you signed your name.

Water is clear, but that signature, it is for life. We might be able to see it under a black light, or some other radiant light. But what you need to know, it is there and this guy knows it.

What does all this gibberish mean?

Well, it means that we are in common unity with one another and we have a responsibility for those around us. That guy we want to follow said he came, not to be served, but to serve.

He kind of, sort of, implied that, we needed to follow in his footsteps (he may have used the word ‘example’ depending on how you learned it).

So what does this mean?

Well, we are responsible for each other. We need to take this job, the one he offered and all who agreed to follow, well they accepted the terms and conditions (which you might not have read every word).

This means, we are the ultimate buddy checkers. We are to check in with those in our lives. Call, text, share some liquid bread, or even just some ‘joe’. Maybe meet for a meal, or just sit in a parking lot and talk till the wee hours of the moment (cause it might be morning or late night).

Take the time to share your life with someone. When you took that invaluable job offer, there were two things that happened at that moment.

One, you were blessed by the ultimate guy, the one who sent his Son and given a wonderful opportunity.

Second, someone was touching you at that moment. Touch is one of the most important human interactions. If it wasn’t, that guy wouldn’t have taken the time to wash everyone’s feet (and feet sometimes can be pretty nasty – I have seen a few).

So, what is this all about?

People are in need. Some of us have been blessed by being able to see the pain as we look into another’s eyes. Some of us have been blessed with the ability to hear a comment that makes the hair, on the back of our neck stand up. Some have been blessed with just a general sense of ‘somethings wrong here’.

Check in with those you know. Keep track of them.

You might say that is hard to do. Yes it is, but then that guy we follow, He told us that following him would not be easy. Some would hate ya, some would persecute ya, and some might even want to kill ya. And in the terms and conditions, it just might break your spirit and depress you (and then you will need what I am asking for).

Being a follower, well that is work. Work that is necessary.

Someone I know is dying. Someone I know is in the hospital. Someone I know lost three friends. A bunch of friends in the Tulsa area lost a coworker too (cancer sucks). And a bunch of my friends in Oklahoma City area lost a good friend, former coworker and buddy.

We will never know the reason for a few of these. There is one who knows, but we can’t ask any more. There are three others whom we know, but the investigation will lead to a cause, most likely a human factor.

All that aside:

You have been called to serve. Yes it is inconvenient at times. At the wrong moment, or just not the right time. There may be a plethora of excuses one can come up with.

What I know, if you don’t do the job that his guy asked of you and you signed your name with water, you may have regret tug at your heart and mind. You may be filled with, “Why didn’t I see this coming?” “I should have called!” There are all sorts of “IF’s” that you can tear your mind (and soul) up with, so stop.

Instead of beating yourself up about what you could have, should have, or may have done.

Change that thought and say, “I will do it. Even as inconvenient as it is, I will do it.”

I have left my house, job, family and friends so many times in moments like this. I have experienced too many moments like this. So I know its not easy. It is time consuming. It takes away from something you were doing……

There is someone that needs your ear. There is someone that needs your touch. There is someone that needs your presence.

All these things are little m (lay ministry). Those are the words in that contract above “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” You might have been so excited at the time, you failed to read those specific words, but they are in that
Basic Instruction Book (for) Living Exceptionally.

Not everyone is equipped to do big M (ordained ministry), but we all have accepted the job that BIG J has offered.

I will just say this, Nike said it best, “JUST DO IT”.

It might just change someone’s life. You might also keep someone alive. You might be thanked after the chaos ends.

Every 72 hours or so, a LEO takes what he/she has and stops whatever pain they are experiencing.

Every 22 hours or so, a military person takes what he/she has and stops whatever pain they are experiencing.

These are our friends. They need us. We need them. We need YOU. I need you.

So if you need help, ask for 8 MINUTES!!