Keith Elder Eulogy

Keith Elder Message

Genesis 15:5 “And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” 

How do you describe things that are larger than life? 

How do you describe the ocean the first time you stand and listen to its roar and watch its endless tide?

How do you describe the Rocky mountains when you take your first look at those towering peaks and seemingly never-ending ridges?

How do you describe the universe as you stand beneath the starry canopy and your eyes only can see the eternal void interrupted by trillions of stars and galaxies?

You don’t describe it, you admire it! You stand in awe of it, you wait in amazement because you cannot describe it! I feel the same way when I try to describe Keith Elder!

To many of us, when we first met him, he was larger than life; not only in size, but in spirit and experience.

As Mark Muirhead noted on my Facebook page he was; Big Heart, Big Stature, Big Handshake, Big Voice, Big Prayers, Big Dreams, Big Achievements and Bigger Rewards.

I would like to add; Big Friend, Big Husband, Big Father, Big Grand Dad, Big Brother, and Big Neighbor!

While his absence leaves a void in us, his legacy leaves us with big responsibilities to carry on the vision, the love, the prayers, the caring and the dreams, that he championed for us!

He left us with an example of how to preach the Gospel! He showed us that the message was better delivered with  a hug, a tug on the shoulder, an open door, a forgiving heart, a tear in the eye and welcoming meal.

I don’t know that I ever had the privilege to hear him preach, but his message was always clear and precise and life changing: to him people matter, vision matters, and legacy matters.

He taught us how to live, how to dream and how to leave behind what really matters.

For many of us he was our greatest coach cheering us on! He’s left the field, but the game continues on!  He left us his legacy and we honor it today!

Elder’s life has yielded so much good fruit of lives being changed. May his legacy continue to yield that same fruit!

Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.””

Be Healed of your disease

Mark 5:34 And he said to her, “Daughter, *your faith has made you well; *go in peace, and be healed of your *disease.”

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew [10:1] And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Webster says disease is a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

The effects of disease on the life of an individual is devastating. The slow wilting away of life is a painful thing to watch. The loved ones pain only pales to the crippling fingers of disease on the individual experiencing the pain, weakness, numbing, confusion and anxiety of the body. When the body begins to be broken down by disease there is not only little one can do but little one knows to do.

Disease like sin has a path and that path is death. The wages of sin is death. Nothing can be done about the results of sin except die. Nothing can be done with disease except death.

But like sin, disease has been paid for by Christ. He has the power over sin, death and the grave! We have no power over sin to stop its results! But Christ has that power! When he walked on earth He healed all manner of disease. He later gave His disciples the power to heal all manner of disease! The power of the Healer is in the hands of the healed! We who have been reconciled are to reconcile others. We who have been set free from the bondage of sin have been commanded to set free the prisoner! We who were hungry are now sent out with food for the perishing! We who were naked and ashamed have now been commissioned to clothed and cover the shame. We have been given the authority to heal the sick and release people from their disease!

The weight of this responsibility is too heavy for us to carry. The world needs a Savior, a sacrifice and a sacrament. This responsibility is laid upon us but we are to lay our lives back on Christ to do His work! Try to solve the worlds problems and you will fail! Invest yourself in their disease and you will die of that disease. No, we cannot do the work of Christ in our power. We must work the works of God in the power of the Holy Spirit! We must become the working clothes of the Holy Spirit and He in us becomes the Hope of Glory! If you can do the work then you don’t need God. If you don’t need God then you are working on something that is too small and insignificant!

I have had disease and I know the powerlessness and helplessness it brings! I have seen disease take strength and vitality from me. I did not need sympathy or empathy I needed to be set free from the disease! I needed someone with the ability to allow God to work through them for the disease to surrender to! The world and love ones need you and I to let God use us to heal the sick. I am praying that God will anoint us to heal the sick and be able to say to them as He said to the daughter of Israel, “and he said to her, “Daughter, *your faith has made you well; *go in peace, and be healed of your *disease.”

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a sad day to me. I know it is a vacation day for all of us. It is a family day to get together and enjoy a cookout,some watermelon and homemade ice cream.

But this day is a day to remember the fallen soldiers of our country. To all of us it is a national day of remembrance and appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice of their life. For many among us it is more personal. A dad or mom, brother or sister or son or daughter is not coming home. Life as we know it will go in because life as they knew it ended. Today we are enjoying what they sacrificed to never get to enjoy.

So today, from my family we stop to remember and to be thankful. To those who have lost a loved one we appreciate and honor your loves ones and your sorrow.

Getters or Givers?

Getters or Givers?

Philipians 4: [19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I love this scripture and have quoted it so many times. I have needed its encouragement when resources were running near empty. But I think many times I have missed the deeper meaning of its wealth.

It seems we are by our nature geared to be “getters” rather than “Givers”.
This scripture is a blessing to the givers and not a mission statement to the getters. Read verses 10-18 and you will see that Paul is thanking and blessing those who took care of him in his need. These folks saw his need, felt his hunger, shared in his suffering, gave in their lack, gave strength to his weakness and gave when others forgot about Paul and his work!

So what is the lesson to be grasped with these passages? I think it is a simple one.

The Lord blesses our need of supply by how we supply other people’s needs!

We may be wondering why God, who is rich in resources, has not met our needs? On the other hand God could be wondering how we, who have resources do not meet needs in other people’s lives? How can we only see our needs and be blind to someone else’s need? In fact He gave us the resources we have to be a blessing to those who need a blessing! If we can focus on the hurts, pain, suffering and needs of those around us then we release God to focus on us! If we can release the blessing in our hand then God will release the blessing in His! This is not about getting or manipulating God in giving to us. It is about changing into givers who give because we have what others need.

Philippians 4:10-19

[10] But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. [11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. [12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [14] Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. [15] Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. [16] For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. [17] Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. [18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

[19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Disaster Relief and Convoy of Hope

The tragedy in Oklahoma demands that all of us pull together to help that community. The best way I have found to assist is through Convoy of Hope. This organization is one of the most effective disaster relief organizations in the world. I have seen them at work and cannot state how impressed I am by their effectiveness.

I would encourage my friends to go to their website and donate as generously as you can. I promise you your funds will be multiplied many times with their ability to in-kind contributions. On average these folks can turn your dollar into about six dollars.

Praying for compassionate friends for the assistance needed for Oklahoma.

Convoy of Hope

A Wise Ruling

A Wise Ruling

1Kings 3: [16] Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. [17] One of them said, “My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. [18] The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.
[19] “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. [20] So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. [21] The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”
[22] The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”
But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.
[23] The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”
[24] Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. [25] He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”
[26] The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”
But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
[27] Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”
[28] When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

1. What was the lady who lied thinking?

Her loss was softened by a replacement she did not birth.

Her lies were formed to protect her position. (Mother)

Her agreement for half a dead son was based on her happiness rather than the boys life. She would rather him be dead than someone else to be happier than her.

She represented selfishness!

2. What was the lady whose son was stolen thinking?

She was robbed of that which she loved the most.

She was willing to fight for the possession that was hers.

She was willing to allow her son to go to the home of the evil woman to give him the opportunity to live.

She represents selflessness!

3. What was King Solomon thinking with his decision?

How do you decide what is right when all sides make a good argument?

In leadership some of the hardest decisions can appear to be the cruelest ones.

Courage is needed to trust that truth and righteousness will prevail in the darkest of moments.

He represents the Holy Spirits wisdom in leadership.

Money Management Kingdom Style

Matt 25:29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

In this world culture this passage makes little sence. Yet in the heavenly citizenship everything changes. God gives us His resources so that we manage it for Him. Blessings rest upon good managers of God’s resources. The worst case of mismanagement are those who die with their accounts full of God’s resources while a child’s belly is empty!