January 22nd, 2010 "Push On Through"

Tsunami Devo by Steve Keaton
Friday, January 22^nd, 2010
Title: Push On Through
Text: John 16:33 (NIV) ³³"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

It is no secret that I’m a big guy. I like to eat. Now, I’m not talking about eating the healthy stuff either. I am a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I love sweets. A bowl of ice cream at 10PM is not something out of the realm of possibilities for me. I joke that I was born at 189lbs. So, I hope I have painted a pretty decent picture of myself. And any of you who are familiar with youth ministry, you know that eating junk is just part of the sacrifice we dedicate youth workers make to reach the needs of the youth we serve. Well, last summer I had gained back most of the weight I lost in 2003. You see in 2003 I hit the 300lb mark, and knew I had to do something about it. So I set a goal of competing in a triathlon and lost 70 lbs. I was looking pretty good for an ugly, old guy. But over the past 6 years I allowed the weight to creep back up on me. I knew I needed to do something because my weight had hit 270 again.

It wasn’t until a comment that cut me to my core. I remember so vividly a father of one my youth, on our summer mission trip calling me “Fat”. It hurt me. I didn’t show it on the outside, but it really hurt me on the inside. This was a man who I respected and loved. How could he?

Later that night as I lay sweating in that hot Nassau church, it hit me. Sometimes we have to be slapped in the face and be cut to the bone to wake up and make a change. So the day after we returned from that trip I started a new work out program. It wasn’t your typical 20-minute, get your heart rate up a little, workout. It was a punch you in the face, kick your booty, make you cry for your mommy workout. Once I realized that as much as it may hurt while doing it, and as difficult and challenging as it was to finish each hour-long session, that I wasn’t going to die, I began seeing a transformation take place. It was a physical and mental transformation. It was a transformation that was obvious to those around me. And the feedback was so positive. As a matter of fact, because of the example I set, several others began that 90 day, extreme workout program. That’s a pretty awesome feeling.

But imagine what would have happened, or should I say, not happen if I had not become motivated to make such a change in my life? How would my life continued to go down a dangerous path. How about those who have stepped up to take on the challenge to see themselves changed? Who knows? What about the negative example I was setting for those around me? But I know this much. Not one minute of it was easy, but every minute of it was worth it. I am a different person today because it.

Our walk with Christ is much the same way. Being a true and authentic follower of Christ is not something to be taken lightly. It is not easy. No bed of roses to be found. The fact is that striving to transform ourselves to be the true people God created us to be is not supposed to be easy. Nothing worth having ever is. Yet, the impact on ourselves and even more so on those around us will astound you. You have to push through the adversity. You have to strive to overcome all the obstacles and change your mind-set to one of “I can”, instead of “there’s no way I could ever do that.” God gives us the strength to do it, if we will dig deeper and put forth the effort.

Listen to what I’m saying. You exist for more than consuming oxygen and taking up space on this big rock circling the sun. You have a special purpose. And in whatever form God reveals that to you, that purpose is simply to glorify God, be a light in the darkness, help set the example for the world around you, and worship our Creator with every fiber of your being with everything you do.

So, get up, get out, get moving, get motivated and push on through. Why? That’s what our Savior did, and we can do the same.

Monday, January 4th, 2010 "Have Your Heard?"

Tsunami Devotional by Steve Keaton
Monday, January 4^th, 2010
Title: Have You Heard?
Text: Matthew 10:27 (NIV) What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

In 2009 my wife and I made the decision that we would start a new tradition with our children. We have named this tradition the “Rite of Passage Trip”. The plan is that when each of our children reaches their 5^th grade year of school, and they are doing what they should be doing in school, at home and in general as they continue to develop as quality young people, we will take them on a 4-day trip to New York City. Just the three of us together in the Big Apple. Spending some quality time in one of the most magnificent cities in the world.

So during TK’s 5^th grade year, we boarded a plane and spent December 26^th-29^th seeing the sights, experiencing the city and spending some amazing time with each other building memories that will last a lifetime. We had a blast. We toured the city on one of the huge double-decker tour buses, we saw the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, threw football in Central Park, ate pizza at Ray’s and of course we popped into the Toys R Us in Time Square. The entire trip was magical and it was a wonderful gift for Kim and me to spend some personal time with our oldest right before he hits middle school. And we all know what life become like once that occurs.

New York City is always a place that is filled with people, but never before have I ever seen it like this. I mean, it was wall-to-wall people. I would have paid big money to get a glimpse of what the sea of humanity must have looked like from above. People shoving and pushing their way past each other. Trying to keep up with their friends. Attempting to navigate the hustle and bustle of the chaos. It was simply crazy. There was one time when we were trying to get from Central Park to the subway station in Time Square that, as snaked our way through the pushing and pulling bodies, I began to think about something. A question rang out so clearing in my mind and it consumed me so much so that from that moment on I didn’t even recall how I finally reached the other side and found my way into the subway station. The question was a short and simple one. “Do they know?” Three small and seemingly insignificant words once put together made a truly significant inquiry. Did the people around me know that they are special? Did they know that the creator of the universe also created them? Did they know that no matter what they were going through, what they had done, where they had been, what mistakes they had made, or whatever garbage the world had fed them to the contrary, that God loves them? That they are special and have a true purpose?

The sad fact is that while some of those people may have known those things, I rubbed shoulders and came within a fraction of an inch of people that had no clue. I passed by people who may never come into a life-changing relationship with God and never hear the good news of the life, death and resurrection of our savior.

Now, to be fair to myself and my family, it may have been a bit difficult to bring our journey to a screeching halt while I grabbed some stranger as asked them about their faith. But the truth of the matter is that from day to day I find myself around people where I do have that opportunity. At the bank, in the store, at the gym. And yet I still don’t take advantage of those Godly appointments to allow God to speak through me and share with them the greatest love story every. Am I selfish? Am I too dense to realize? Am I so self-absorbed in my own life or am I just too lazy? Or am I scared? Whatever the excuse is, it just isn’t good enough. I am a Christ-Follower, and it is my mission, my call, my job, and it should be my passion to live a life that proclaims who God is, how God has changed my life and how God wants to do the same for all of us.

So watch out world. Don’t be surprised if you see me perched high upon a roof somewhere singing the praises of God. And if you’re bold enough you can feel free to join me. I’ll save a spot for you.

Tsunami Devotional: Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Tsunami Devotiona; by Steve Keaton
Saturday, January 2^nd, 2010

Title: Checking Any Bags?

Text: Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to do a ton of traveling around the world. It is always an experience to plan your trip, get to the airport, board the plane and see what adventure awaits you. Whether it is a trip with my family or while leading a group of youth, traveling is something that I have really come to enjoy.

During those years of trekking the from place to place I have certainly learned a few things. One, always pack a few snacks in your backpack. What can I say? I like to eat. Two, make sure you have all of the contact numbers and information for the place you are heading to. And Three, don't drag along any more luggage than you absolutely need. Of those 3 things, I would say the last nugget of traveler's wisdom would cause you the most pain. You will more than likely be able to find some food along your journey. As long as you have a the name of your final destination, you will more than likely be able to get to where you want to go, but if you are dragging too much baggage with you, you will definitely make your experience far more difficult that you would ever need.

Back in 2006 I took a group of high school youth on a 5 day trip from Winston-Salem, NC to New York City. The trip was to be a combination of service and fun, and one that would build some amazing memories for the entire group. When the group members showed up at the church to start the trip, each person had, not only a backpack, but at least 1 HUGE rolling suitcase. Watching my group navigate the Manhattan streets, the New York City subway system and the millions of pedestrians on the streets, was not nearly as entertaining as one may assume. Instead, the entire journey was filled with complaints, arguments and plenty of wailing and gnashing of teeth. Not because the journey was hard. But totally because each of us were dragging way too much baggage. Things we thought we couldn't live without or that we must have to make the trip better, quickly became things that we should have left behind.

Our journey as Christ-followers is much the same way. As we make our way on the adventures and travels that lye before us, we tend to accumulate and collect more and more stuff. Most of these things are items that we should let go of, dump and eliminate from our lives. Many of these things have been hurts and harms that we have allowed ourselves to drag along with us, weigh us down and make the road God has us traveling on far too hard to enjoy. And when we drag too much junk with us on that journey, the only person to blame is ourself.

So, how much baggage are you carrying? What are the hurts and wrongs that you are toting with you as you take step after step on your path? What are the things that you need to forgive, forget and leave behind to truly enable you to be the person and fully live the life God has blessed you with? What are the things that are causing you to fall short of reaching your potential? It may not be easy to do. Sometimes those hurts are so deep and the thought of forgiving someone who has hurt you so badly is something that we just feel we can't do. But know that this is what God calls us to do. And it is something that God will help us do. Instead of living the way the world does, dragging huge pieces of baggage of unforgiveness with them through life, drop those bags at the feet of Christ and then step boldly, confidently and happily into the journey God gives you.

Something to Think About:

• List the baggage you know you are carrying with you.

• How has carrying those bags caused your life/journey to be harder than it should have been?

• What can you do to drop those bags?

A Few Minutes with God:

God, help me understand that carrying all of the baggage that I have accumulated during my journey is not what you want from me. Help me rely on you and your strength to drop those bags, leave those burdens behind and fully live the life that I can live in you. Amen.