Life « Keith Ferrin

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lessons on the losing end

Jun 24, 2010

I saw something this morning I will never see again. In case you haven’t heard, the world’s longest tennis match ended this morning – though it started two days ago. Tuesday John Isner and Nicolas Mahut began their Round 2 Wimbledon match. It was postponed because of darkness. Yesterday the played for another seven hours and then…yep…darkness. Finally, after 11 hours and 5 minutes Isner finally put away Mahut with a final score of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 70-68.

Afterward, one of the sportscasters was interviewing Mahut and pointed out that because of the way everything panned out Mahut had to come back after trailing every time he served in the 5th Set. He was playing from behind for over 7 hours! Tie it up. Fall behind. Tie it up. Fall behind.

They asked him how he handled it and he said, “Actually, I never thought of it that way. I just always tried to win the game I was playing.”

Got me thinking about how many times I dwell on the circumstances from the past – or the potential for the future – and forget to focus on winning the game I am playing right now.

Somehow I think I would be much happier, passionate – and successful – if I simply sought to fully immerse myself in the present.

How about you?

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Tags: hard work, Life, perseverance
Categories: Life

0

plugged back in

May 20, 2010

I know I said I was going off the grid for a week, and now that turned into two weeks plus. I actually have been back on the grid, but coming back from a completely unplugged vacation I learned a few things about going unplugged. In no particular order…

Going off the grid is good for the brain. Since I didn’t do ANY blogging, Facebook, or Twitter for a week, it removed all the temptation to do one while doing another. I don’t think I could just stop doing Facebook, or Twitter, or blogging. They seem to go hand in hand. And once I fully unplugged from them all it was like hitting the reset button on my brain. Only took about a day or two before I wasn’t thinking “Oh…I should post that, tweet that, write about that.”

Writing/Tweeting has it’s own rhythm. Once I got back – as you can see – getting back into the rhythm isn’t easy. So much to catch up on. Other things to do. No longer near the top of my brain space. Even when I thought “I should write/blog/tweet about this” I just didn’t do it. Started using the word later a lot. Dangerous, dangerous word.

I missed the conversation. The thing I love the most about writing is the conversation that happens when I do. Some people love to write just to get thoughts out of their head and into a journal or blog. Don’t get me wrong – I find enjoyment and value in that as well. But it’s the conversation I really missed. The comments. The additional thoughts. The pushback. Basically…I missed you.

And now I’m back…good to see you again.

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Tags: blogging, Life, rest, Writing
Categories: Life, Writing

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off the grid

May 2, 2010

A week ago I wrote about how hard it is to really rest – and how serious God is about us resting! Well…I’m trying to do a better job. And this week, I’m going off the grid. No blog, Twitter or Facebook Monday through Friday this week. Zero. See you in a week.

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Tags: Life, rest, sabbath
Categories: Life, rest, Sabbath

1

time to purge

Apr 30, 2010

On my journey through the Bible I was reading through Deuteronomy this morning. (I know, your heart just skipped a beat at the word Deuteronomy.) Just before crossing the Jordan and entering the Promised Land, Moses stops and preaches the longest sermon in the history of mankind. He starts with a pretty thorough history of deliverance from slavery in Egypt and life in the desert. Then he just jumps into all the little details of the Law.

I could just hear the people, “Yo Mo, are you serious?!? We’re about to enter the Promised Land. And by the way, we’ve already covered all this in Leviticus.” But off he goes. Law 101, 201, and 301 – all in one sermon.

But there’s a phrase that shows up seven times over ten chapters. About the fifth time I actually started paying attention. The phrase? Purge the evil from your community. (Yes, sometimes “the” is changed to “that,” or “community” is changed to “from among you” but cut me some slack.)

As I saw the context of reading it all at once, I realized that God was saying, Hey, my greatest desire is to be in relationship with you. All these things – idols, sexual immorality, and general “uncleanness” – is keeping us apart. I hate that. I don’t want to be apart. I want to be with you…near you…walking alongside you. So quit pursuing that which separates. Purge evil from your community. And pursue me…in community.

That feels a whole lot different than Do all these nitpicky things just because I said so. When am I going to get it through my thick head that God’s boundaries are meant to build relationship and enhance life – not limit it?

And there’s got to be a full-blown purging of the things that cause us to be separated from God. Not just because He doesn’t want you to have or do those things – but because He does want you to have HIM. There’s a poem by Martha Snell Nicholson that ends with these words: God could not pour His blessings into hands already full.

Too often my hands – and life – are full.

What do you need to purge to embrace God more fully?

Comments: 1 Comment »
Tags: bible, Life, relationships, stuff
Categories: bible, Life

2

resting is hard work

Apr 23, 2010

Why is it so hard to rest? I mean, really rest. Not, I’m-going-to-sit-for-an-hour-and-read-a-book-then-get-back-to-my-busyness type of rest. I’m talking about fully unplugged, I’m-not-going-to-log-on-to-Facebook-Twitter-or-email kind of rest. As my friend Doug says, “Sabbath for me is about not producing anything. Helps me realize that the world’s going to go on without me.”

Another question I’ve been asking myself lately: Why don’t I take rest as seriously as God does? Take a look at what I came across in Exodus 31:

“Above all, keep my Sabbaths, the sign between me and you, generation after generation, to keep the knowledge alive that I am the God who makes you holy. Keep the Sabbath; it’s holy to you. Whoever profanes it will most certainly be put to death. Whoever works on it will be excommunicated from the people. There are six days for work but the seventh day is Sabbath, pure rest, holy to God. Anyone who works on the Sabbath will most certainly be put to death. The Israelites will keep the Sabbath, observe Sabbath-keeping down through the generations, as a standing covenant.” (from The Message)

Put to death?!?! Really? Man, God takes this rest stuff seriously. But I – and almost every other Christian I know – sees the Sabbath as…well…as a suggestion. But there it is, plain as day – above all, keep my Sabbaths. Above all? Check me if I’m wrong, but above all seems pretty “not optional.”

Why do I think the world actually needs me to produce something everyday? Do I really think God’s looking at my life and saying, Ok, everyone else needs rest, but I need you to keep plugging away? Am I so important? So talented? Such a gift to humanity? Seriously.

Just typing out loud here, but I’m starting to think my lack of Sabbath-keeping is really about my own pride and reliance on myself instead of trusting that God actually knows what He’s doing.

Then there’s the whole part about passing it “down through the generations.” Hmmm…what sort of restful, trusting God am I modeling to my kids? Okay…that’ll leave a mark.

What does Sabbath mean to you? How do you observe it?

Comments: 2 Comments »
Tags: bible, Life, rest, sabbath
Categories: bible, Life, rest

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14 years…and counting

Mar 23, 2010

Found this quote from Amy Bloom and put it on the inside of the card I gave Kari Beth this morning.

“Love at first sight is easy to understand; it’s when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.”

So true. Cool thing is that Kari and I fell in love right away AND we’re still “looking at each other.” (As you can see from the pic – I’ve got the better view.)

Gotta say it’s a miracle for a lot of reasons. It’s a miracle that in a day and age that doesn’t honor sticking it out – we’re still together. A miracle because after all this time we actually like each other as much as we love each other. A miracle because we still recognize the ways we can get stronger…and are striving to do just that. A miracle because having three wild and crazy kids has made us love and appreciate each other even more.

Hasn’t always been easy. But God has always been present. Always been merciful. Always guided. Always protected. Always kept us “looking” – at Him and at each other.

I love you Kari Beth. Happy 14th Anniversary!

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Tags: Family, kari, Love, Marriage
Categories: Family, Life, Love, Marriage

1

eight words that change everything

Feb 9, 2010

As many of you know, I am currently joining with several other guys from my church and reading through the Bible in four months. It has truly been some of the most enjoyable reading of God’s Word I have ever encountered. While I am reading "straight through" from Genesis to Revelation in the mornings, each evening before hugging my pillow I pause and read one or two Psalms. A few nights ago I read Psalm 56 and one of the lines King David wrote has been with me ever since:

"This I know, that God is for me."

These eight words change everything. Everything. The last half of the sentence is true. God is for us. Period. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we live in the light of its promise or not. Whether we remember it or not. Quite simply – it is true.

And then there is the first half of the sentence. "This I know…" Most likely, the first time I heard this phrase was when I was four and my mom and dad were teaching me "Jesus loves me….this I know…" Believing that Jesus loves me is also foundational. But I’ve got to say that there’s a part of me that – at least for today – thinks that what David wrote in Psalm 56 is even more life-changing. Here’s what I mean.

God IS love. Right? So the fact that God loves me is, in some sense, simply God being God. Is it possible for God to not love? Could He not love His creation? Don’t get me wrong, the truth that He loves me is huge. (After all, my hope and salvation hinges upon it!) And yet, I can’t imagine God being anything other than loving, in spite of the fact that I certainly don’t deserve it.

However, David didn’t say, "This I know, that God loves me. He says, "This I know, that God is for me. Knowing that God is FOR me is a whole different thing. David recognizes that God being for him is not just God loving His creation, but God choosing to celebrate His creation.

How differently – more fully, more abundantly, more joyfully, more purposefully, more passionately – you and I would live if this truth permeated our every thought: that the God who created us, who knows us, who sacrificed Himself for us, is for us.

Sit back and soak in that truth for a moment. God celebrates you. God is on your side. God rejoices over you. God wants you. God chooses you. God cherishes you. God is for you.

And now…take a deep breath and say these eight words out loud:

This I know, that God is for me.

Do you believe it? I hope so. It will change everything.

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Tags: bible, BRT, Life
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru, Inspiring, Life

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a blessing for you

Jan 15, 2010

I read this at the end Number 6 and thought, “Heck, who doesn’t need a blessing?” So…here is your blessing for today.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

The LORD bless you andkeep you; the LORDmake his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORDlift up his countenanceupon you and give you peace.

"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."

What would happen if you and I – in the midst of our everyday lives – truly believed that God’s desire is to bless us, not to curse us, to cheer for us, not to condemn us, to redeem us, not to punish us? Just so you know…it’s true.

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Tags: bible, blessing, Life
Categories: bible, Life

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the paradoxical commandments

Jan 15, 2010

This is a repost from Michael Hyatt, one of my favorite bloggers.

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

— Kent M. Keith, Speaker and Writer
Often attributed to Mother Teresa
because she posted them on her wall

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Tags: Life, michael hyatt, mother teresa, Quotes
Categories: Life, Quotes

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God’s missions or the church’s mission?

Oct 23, 2009

Last Sunday my pastor said, “God’s church doesn’t have a mission. God’s mission has a church.” It got me thinking about whether I’m trying to do things “for God,” or seeking to do the things that are on God’s heart.

The former seems to have a lot to do with my effort, my goals, my mission. The latter requires me to do something that’s much harder – listen.

I posted this quote and asked for feedback and here are a few responses (with names removed):

1. “Can a church (or a Christian) really call themselves God’s people if they don’t share His heart nor obey His commands? Obedience in the missional commandment of God is not an optional extra for special people, but an essential in our identity. God’s mission is the church, the family of people who have made Jesus Lord of their lives and live according to the cross. Let me put it this way: every Christian is a missionary, an ambassador of God to a broken world in need of salvation, or they are not a Christian at all.”

2. “I don’t think that it is either/or. I think that it is perspective. Our mission should be the same as Christ and the Father. Christ same to seek and save the lost. As Christians we are supposed to be like him.”

3. “My comment would be how do we know what God’s mission for our church is supposed to be and not get distracted by all the other to do’s and fun things available out there?

4. “My understanding is that God has a mission and part of that answer is the church as a corporate expression of the faith that is within, being expressed outwardly by us as a body of believers… God’s mission is redemption of all, He uses individuals, and groups to be tools of communication of the message of redemption to all..”

5. “I like to think that church is a tool in working out God’s purpose. A place for encouragement, support, refreshment and (of course) collaboration and the sharing of resources. Even so, I am less worried on any given day about what church I belong to or what the church is doing than I am about being sure I’m living God’s purpose in my life. I thank god for church families, but am likewise thankful that there’s more to being a Christian than your connection to a church.”

So…what do you think?

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Tags: church, faith, Life, mission
Categories: faith, Life