The Word of the Lord

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

A beautiful thing happened to me on my way to heaven. While some men draw a circle to shut God out, I drew a circle to shut God in. My circle would include family and friends from all over the world. It began when I asked Christ to come and take control and be the Skipper who would navigate my life journey. This was before GayNell came into the picture, but she would be the missing part of the puzzle that God knew I would need to be complete. I have always called her the other half of my soul, because very quickly she became a part of each and every decision we would make together. It was as though we were born for each other and the Lord had made her especially for me, making her out of the fabric it takes to become a pastor's wife. She is like a good recipe, with a little bit of this and a whole bunch of that. When I asked her father for her hand in marriage nearly sixty years ago, he told me, "Son, she will always do the right thing." His words are like a Chapel bell unto this day, ringing as true as a church bell. For many years the church next door had a bell tower that would chime every hour on the hour and play music.

I know the family whose mother paid for that bell tower here in the middle of town. Her daughter was talking to me one day and shared her disappointment about the church decision to remove it.

It was a landmark and some people more than likely did not even realize it had been torn down. I heard it daily for several years, it was less than a hundred yards, right out the window of my office. It reminded me of an old hymn:

IT IS NO SECRET WHAT GOD CAN DO
The chimes of time ring out the news, another day is through
Someone slipped and fell, Was that someone you?
You may have longed for added strength, your courage to renew
Do not be disheartened, I have news for you
It is no secret what God can do.
What He has done for others, He'll do for you
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do.
There is no night, for in His light, you'll never walk alone
You'll always feel at home wherever you may roam
There is no power can conquer you, While God is on your side
Take Him at His promise, don't run away and hide.
It is no secret what God can do.
What He has done for others, He'll do for you
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do.

In 1978 in the heart of Texas, three men providentially showed up at my office door unannounced: Gene Mullinax, Harald Bredesen (known as Mr. Charisma), and Danny Ost, each in their own way mighty men of God. It was like a book of Acts moment, I can honestly say, my life was never the same from that day to this very hour. Pastor Danny Ost carried a message that would change the way that I would forever look at things. God called him to go to Mexico City, after several years of working in Pueblo, Mexico. He was in the process of retiring and returning to the states. These are three things that I will never forget him saying:

1. God told him if he did not do what God was asking him to do, He would forever have and explainable ministry.
2. He asked the Lord, "How can I reach, Mexico City?" God answered him and told him, "You have to crawl in the eyes of Jesus and see Mexico City like I see Mexico City."
3. The final thing that he said was, "Dios, no tiene, plan ‘B'" or "God does not have a plan ‘B'".

As a pastor I have always led with this in mind. I have never wanted to pastor a Stereotypical Church, filled with stereotypical people. What do I mean by this? I mean the kind of Church whose attendees waddle in and out of the building Sunday after Sunday. It reminds me of the geese that fly in and land, on our campus in the fall and make a mess of things on the parking lot and in our planters right in front of the buildings.

I have read that a stereotype is a popular belief held about specific social groups or types of individuals. Stereotyping results from the overestimation of association between group membership and individual behavior. Heritage has had the privilege to be unique (without trying) and has held the line of Who and What we represent. I have said, "We push the Word of God out in front of us and hide behind it."

Let me give you a run down on what I mean by this well-worn statement.

Job admonishes us and it is very important to remember in seasons of trial and testing:


The Psalmist chimes in:


Can you imagine?



Check this out (and it is not a typo) ...



Take a look at this!


The church is not just a building, it is the people who worship in a building. It is rightly called a family, a body, the ecclesia. Heritage Fellowship encompasses many things. It's about our Biblical roots of course, but it also includes many teachings and personal experiences. It's about who you are, and where you have come from to get to where you are today. The church is about who we are in Him, "and in Him we live, and move, and have our being." We are the panacea for the ills of the community.

On October 10 -13 we are celebrating our Golden Anniversary. This will coincide with our 43rd year and privilege of being pastor of a going church for a coming Christ. The meetings start on Thursday night, so come and join with us for this special weekend. Tell others, "The latch is on the outside of the door". All are welcome.

We are Christ servants and your friends.

Your Pastors,

Cleddie and GayNell Keith