Keith’s Blog

PASSION

God recently showed me once again how passion can energize a family, a company, a sports team and even a church. As my youngest daughter plays her first game today on the 8^th grade basketball team I shared with her again how important passion is in any sport. After coaching her and many other girls for several years I decided it was time to retire. I may be like Brett Favre and retire several times before I decide to “really” retire.  Our church has come to a place that it is time to move forward-full steam ahead. God has placed some very key people on our “bus” and we are finding what we are passionate about. Talking with a group of friends in our church this week I shared that I feel like I am back in a youth group. We spent the afternoon this past Sunday playing paintball. Since I am allergic to pain I spent the afternoon laughing at the people playing paintball. I feel a renewed passion in our church and the flame of God’s Holy Spirit is burning strong. My prayer is that we stay out of His way and allow Him to work however He sees fit.

I want us all to extend a very warm welcome to Sarah and Aaron Myers as they get on our bus. As she begins her ministry as our children’s minister we are reminded that God answers prayers in ways that only He gets to show off. Aaron has already completed revamped our web site and added some really cool stuff. Many of you that are on staff or in leadership will find surprises just for you. I see in this God called couple a passion for serving our Lord with their unique gifts. Their passion makes my passion burn more strongly!

Wayne Gretzky impacted the sport of hockey in such a way that his Jersey Number 99 was permanently retired by the National Hockey League.  Known as “The Great One,” it has been predicted that hockey will never again see a player who played the sport with as much passion as Wayne. During his long and illustrious career in hockey Wayne Gretsky accomplished a lot. But when you look at Wayne as a hockey player, Time Magazine called him “A Most Unlikely One.” As a player Wayne was not that fast and had a shot that was strangely weak. On his team he was always the last in strength training and his physique was anything but impressive.  If you looked at the outside of Wayne Gretsky, he was the most unlikely one to have accomplished what he did during his lifetime. When Time Magazine ran this by Wayne his face lit up and he said “Maybe it wasn’t talent the Lord gave me.  Maybe it was passion.” When someone lives a focused life….of passion, it’s amazing what can be accomplished for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.  

I also want to thank all of the veterans for allowing God to use your passion for the safety, hope and freedom of the United States of America to continue to keep us free and strong. You are all heroes! Your service and sacrifice does not go unnoticed and we are indebted to you for what we enjoy in the USA.