Kindness 10.23.2026

“Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Aren’t those great words? They are also, in many cases, very true words.  This saying originated with a Scottish writer, Ian Maclaren, which was actually a pen name for Rev. John Watson, a Presbyterian pastor from Scotland in the late 1800s and early 1900s. What’s really interesting is that the original wording was, “Be pitiful, for every man is fighting a hard battle.”

In our day we interpret the word “pitiful” to mean pathetic or sad.  However, in Rev. Watson’s day it meant to be full of pity or to have compassion.  Thus, the modern-day version that I started out this article with.  

The reason Rev. Watson wrote this sentence was because of a request in 1897 from a London Newspaper called The British Weekly.  The year was 1897 and the newspaper contacted various dignitaries of the day and asked them to write a message for publication for the Christmas edition of the paper.  Rev. Watson was one of the dignitaries.  

While others wrote articles and essays, Rev. John Watson wrote one sentence and submitted it, “Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  This was a message that was needed not just in the UK but in the entire world.  The newspaper described their age as one of stress, conflict, selfish striving, and merciless competition. 

That one sentence about kindness was reprinted, world-wide, time and time again in the coming year, with many comments being made that those words were exactly what the world needed.  

It seems to me that those same descriptive words could define the age that we live in today.  That’s why our church, Downtown Mitchell First UMC, along with many churches across the nation, is participating in the “Kindness Campaign.”  This is a campaign to highlight Jesus’ message, asking his followers to “Love one another.”  Jesus said that as people of faith, that is how we will be identified or known, by how we live out love for one another.

This Kindness Campaign is held every two years in an election year to remind people not to focus on or participate in the ugliness that often accompanies elections, but rather, we need to focus on kindness and treating one another with dignity and humanity.  So, if you see someone wearing a T-shirt that says, “Love One Another,” it all started with a Presbyterian minister in London who challenged the people of his day to “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Good words to remember and live today.

PS – If you ordered one of the T-Shirts with the “Love One Another” message, they will be available this Sunday at Worship.  We do have a limited number of extra shirts that we ordered.  Call Tonya at the office or stop by the display table on Sunday to see if we have any extra ones available.  We are encouraging everyone who purchased this years T-Shirt to wear it on the first Sunday of November.  If you don’t have the new one but have the T-Shirt from two years ago for the Kindness Campaign, I’d encourage you to wear that one.  

Pastor Keith

Quiet Moments 10.16.2026

This past week I spent several days in Pierre, SD participating with the Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.  We meet about three times a year to take care of the business of reviewing candidates for ministry and also caring for other business as it relates to clergy and churches of the Dakotas Conference.  It was a good three days.  

However, I’m not writing this reflection about the meeting.  Actually, I’m writing this reflection about what I experienced on the drive to and from Pierre.  What I noticed was the beauty of the rolling hills as I headed north along highway 83.  It had been quite some time since I’ve been that way and just seeing the roll of the prairie and the sway of the grass in the breeze was truly a work of art and a thing of beauty.  

It was amazing to see the emptiness of the prairie.  Oh, there was an occasional tree, but there was just a whole lot of nothing out there and that was great to experience.  Living in Mitchell, I am so used to seeing buildings, trees, vehicles, etc. everywhere.  That just becomes the norm.  Then when I see emptiness, it really is amazing, and it can also be rather startling.  Yet, in that emptiness there can also be a sense of peacefulness.  

So, this was the scenery I noticed as I was driving to my meeting.  I truly enjoyed the vastness of the open prairie.  Then while I was at the meeting at First UMC in Pierre, I was using the bathroom facilities, and I noticed a framed picture on the wall in the bathroom.  Actually, it wasn’t a picture as much as it was a saying tastefully framed.  The saying was, “Make time for the quiet moments as God whispers and the world is loud.” Several times during my time at Pierre First UMC, I sought out that same restroom to once again read that saying and to be reminded of its important message.

After the meetings had ended and I was driving south on Highway 83, I found myself looking at that open prairie once again.  In that quiet space of the open prairie, I was able to pay attention to God in a way that I couldn’t in other spaces where things are loud and busy.  For myself, I’ve always known this to be true about myself.  It is in the beauty, stillness, and openness of nature that I am best able to see and connect with God.  

Then it hit me, this is what a set aside time with God is about each day, and why this devotional time is often referred to as one’s “quiet time.”  Because it is in those moments that we find a way to shut out the chaos and noise of the world around us and simply allow the quietness of the moment to wash over us so that our ears might be attuned to the “whispers” of God.  

Now I realize that for some people, being out in the openness of nature is not an environment for connecting with and listening to God.  That’s why each person needs to find the setting in which they are most open to the whispers of God.  Whatever that setting is like, we each need to regularly take some time to step into that kind of space to be in the presence of God. 

I am glad for my “country” upbringing.  It truly allows me to appreciate nature and empty spaces.  So, my challenge for each of us today is to find that space that provides an openness in your heart and mind to the presence and whispers of God.  Once you’ve found that place, be sure to linger there and listen because I believe that sign in the church bathroom is true – “Make time for the quiet moments as God whispers and the world is loud.”

Pastor Keith

Hands and Feet of Jesus 10.09.2026

There’s a great little, often overlooked, story in the Bible that is really rather powerful.  It’s a story I believe speaks to us as individual followers of Jesus, as well as to the church body, yet today.  This short story speaks to the mission and motivation of Jesus and is found in both Matthew’s and Luke’s story of Jesus’ life.  

What happens in this story is that John the Baptist sends a couple of his disciples to Jesus with a simple question; “Are you the messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”  Now remember, Jesus and John are related through their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth.  Jesus could have taken great offense at this question.  He could have “powered up” as they say, and responded with, “What, you dare question me?  Doesn’t John remember what he said about me, ‘I am the lamb of God!’?  What, isn’t he man enough to come himself to ask this question to my face?  Get away from me!  I don’t have time for this!”

That could have been Jesus response, but it wasn’t.  Instead, Jesus responds by saying, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Luke 7:22)  This is a rather interesting list of “qualifiers” for John’s disciples to report back with, concerning Jesus being the Messiah.  But we have to keep in mind what Jesus understood his mission to be.  Remember, earlier in Luke when Jesus was in the synagogue and he was asked to read scripture and comment on it, Jesus read from Isaiah – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

In this simple statement Jesus makes to John’s disciples, he is reflecting back to John the very purpose of why Jesus was here.  No bravado, no exaggeration, no claiming of importance.  Jesus doesn’t even claim that he’s the one doing it.  He simply says, “Report back what you have seen and heard – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, etc.”  In other words, Jesus was clear on who he was and why he was here.  He didn’t let other things get in the way of his purpose.  

We live in a very diverse time.  There are many challenges in life and faith that confront us daily.  In a way there are constantly people, or situations, asking the question of us, “Are you really the church?  Do you really reflect or represent God?  Are you really a follower of Jesus?”  I believe now more than ever, it is so important for us to be clear on our purpose.  As United Methodists we understand our purpose is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the world.  And as a part of our church family of Downtown Mitchell First United Methodist Church we understand our purpose to be, “We exist to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing love and grace to all we encounter by living out God’s Kingdom together.  This is who we are…this is what we are about…this is why we are here!  

With all the distractions in our world, people more than ever need an anchor for life and living.  I believe we, as the Church, have that anchor and that sense of purpose.  In all that we do…in all that we are, let’s remember who we are and why we are here.  We exist to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing love and grace to all we encounter by living out God’s Kingdom together.  May others see these words lived out through our actions and our words…and in that…may they see Jesus!!

Serving Together,

Pastor Keith

There is still time 10.02.2026

We’ve all seen it happen; a team is behind in the 4th quarter.  And then something happens and suddenly the team turns things around and starts scoring points. Sometimes that 4th quarter surge even leads to an unexpected win!  One of the great come-from-behind games took place last year in October, when the Denver Broncos scored 33 points in the 4th quarter against the New York Giants. The final score was 33-32.  And many of the Giants fans, and even some of the announcers were asking, “What Just happened?” 

In basketball there are 4th quarter comebacks too, where a team is able to come from behind and erase a 20 or 30 point deficit to win the game.  It’s hard to fully explain how it happens, but something changes within a player and then the team that ultimately changes the momentum, the direction, and the outcome of the game.  It’s always fun to see that happen…I guess unless you’re a fan of the team that winds up on the losing end of things.

What has me thinking about this is that yesterday evening I realized we have entered the final quarter of 2026.  As I write this article, it is October 2.  Hard to believe isn’t it!  So, the question I found myself thinking about last evening was, “Have I accomplished the things in 2026 that I had intended to?”  

Take a moment to think about that question.  Have you accomplished the things in 2026 that you had intended to?  Maybe your answer is “Yes.” If so, good for you.  Maybe your answer is “Mostly, and I’m working on the final goals I have.”  That’s fantastic.  Maybe your answer is, “Well, I’ve done a few things but…” That’s OK. As my Maps program will say when I get off course while driving, “Recalculating.”  Celebrate what you have accomplished and recalculate!  Come up with a realistic plan, heavy on the word realistic, that you can still work on and accomplish in the time frame we have remaining this year. 

Or maybe your answer to that first question is, “No, I gave up on those goals long ago.”   Again, that was maybe a necessary decision considering some unexpected happenings in your life journey.  That’s OK.  But there is still time remaining this year.  You still have 3 months ahead of you in which to accomplish something worthwhile in the year.  It’s not over!  Even starting with small steps toward a goal can help change the momentum in your life, which can then change the direction of things, which then can change the outcome of your life for 2026.  There is still time!!!  

The same message is true for one’s life.  Some of us who are reading this article are in the 4th quarter of life.  If I live until I’m 80, I’m in the 4th quarter of life.  If I live until 100…well not yet.  Anyway, even if a person is in the 4th quarter of life, there is still time remaining in the game, so to speak.  Don’t give up while there is still time left on the clock.  How do you want to make a difference in your life?  What do you want to learn? What do you want to experience?  Who do you want to meet?  Who do you want to talk to?  What would you like to accomplish.  If you’re feeling stuck in life, there is still time to change the momentum and direction of your life.  You might want to find a friend, a life coach, a spiritual director, or someone who can help you get back in the game and help give you a strategy to move forward toward accomplishing some of the goals you still have.  

Just as churches, organizations, and businesses need a purpose, so do we as individuals.  We all need a purpose to keep us moving in a positive direction. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a part of a team that accomplishes something meaningful, even in the final minutes of the game.  As I’ve told people throughout my ministry, if you’re still breathing, God can use you.  Let God guide you toward the purpose you can yet fulfill…because as long as you’re breathing there’s still time on the clock!  

Pastor Keith

Don't Be Afraid 09.25.2026

When was the last time you tried something new?  When was the last time you intentionally read an article or a book about some topic you weren’t really familiar with.  When was the last time you set a goal to accomplish something that would really stretch you?  For myself I can say that I have recently read (or listened) to a book that dealt with a topic I wasn’t familiar with, but unfortunately, it’s been awhile since I challenged myself by taking up a new hobby or just trying some different activity just for the sake of trying something different.  As the saying goes, we tend to be creatures of habit.  I find that as I age that saying seems to be more and more true.  Yes, we all like to stay in our ruts.  Or as a friend and church member from years ago told me…he really liked his “comfort zone” and his comfort zone happened to be a Lazy Boy recliner. 

Well, the other day I came across a saying that really spoke to me.  The saying went like this… “Don’t be afraid to be bad at something new.”  Now read that phrase over again but a bit more slowly this time, “Don’t be afraid to be bad at something new.” 

Think about it, we all like to feel accomplished.  We all like to think we’re on the top of our game.  We all like to think we are in control.  None of us want to feel foolish or like we don’t know what we are doing.  And that becomes the reason why we stop trying new things…we don’t want to look foolish, unprepared, or unknowledgeable. Or at least I know I have that tendency within me.  

We’ve all heard the verse that says God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Sometimes that passage is used to explain why one’s faith, or things in the church should never change.  The argument is that God doesn’t change.  It is true, the character of God never changes, but the world is full of the evidence of God’s creativity and even God’s presence.   Just look around us. Every sunrise is a little different. Every spring brings new life. Every day presents opportunities that we didn't have yesterday. God is not a God who simply created the world, sat back, and decided that was enough. God is continually at work in our lives and in the world around us.

And perhaps that's a good reminder for us as people of faith. While we hold firmly to the things that never change about God, we also need to be open to the new things God is doing in our lives. Sometimes that means stepping outside our comfort zones. Sometimes it means being willing to try something different, even if we aren't very good at it. Sometimes it means being willing to learn and grow just to keep stretching ourselves in life as well as in our faith.  

So, here's my challenge for myself and perhaps for you, too. What is one new thing you've been wanting to try? Is there something you've been curious about but have been putting off because you might not be very good at it? Maybe it's time to take that first step.

And perhaps we can apply that same spirit of curiosity and willingness to our faith. Let's not be afraid to explore, to ask questions, to grow, and to discover new ways of living out God's love.  After all, we don't have to be good at something new to begin. We just have to be willing to begin.  Remember, don’t be afraid to be bad at something new.

Pastor Keith

PS – This is a great opportunity for many of us to do something new and learn about ourselves by taking the Spiritual Gift Inventory that I’ll be talking about Sunday in my message. Look forward to seeing you Sunday!

Remodel Surprises! 09.18.2026

Surprise!!!  That’s a word you really don’t like to hear when you’re involved in a remodeling project.  Yet the truth is, there probably isn’t a remodeling project ever attempted that hasn’t provided a “surprise” or two somewhere along the way.  

Well, as many of you know, we have recently started a remodeling project at our church facility.  We are remodeling the kitchen and the dining room.  The project started about two weeks ago and we’re mostly in the “tear out” phase of things.

Sidenote…Now in case you weren’t there at the end of worship several weeks back, when Dawn Williams, the Trustee Chair, presented the remodeling plan to the congregation, I’ll give a quick summary of things.  The basic footprint and floor plan of the kitchen and dining room are not changing.  No walls are being torn out, and no new walls are going up.  But there is going to be new flooring, new lighting, new drop ceiling, new cabinets, many new appliances, and freshly painted and textured walls.  In other words, the kitchen and dining room is really getting a complete refresh and makeover.  Considering all the meals and activities that have been served out of the kitchen and dining room, an update and refresh is certainly in order.  Our kitchen and dining room gets a lot of use, and I’m glad for that.  I believe a church facility should wear out from use rather than rust-out from disuse.  

Well, back to our remodeling project.  We are just a couple weeks into the project and already there has been a surprise or two…something that was unexpected.  There was a crack in the floor that wasn’t visible until old linoleum was removed.  Taking down the old drop ceiling reveals a couple of windows that weren’t known about.  Or there’s a task that is going to take some different tools to accomplish.  You understand how that goes.  There are always a few unknowns with a project…which means there are always going to be some surprises.  

Well, the same reality can be true in our spiritual lives as well.  From time to time, we need to do a “spiritual” remodeling within our being.  Our views about God, faith, humanity, who our neighbor is, etc. has to be updated.  We learn or experience something new about God, God’s love, God’s presence, or even God’s direction for our lives, and so we learn and grow, which means changes take place in our understanding, thus our faith gets remodeled a little.  But at least what I have found is that often when God is doing a little remodeling within me there are often few surprises that pop up or more specifically that God points out.  

God, I didn’t realize that anger was there!  I didn’t know that prejudice was present in my heart.  I never wanted to admit that “issue” was still impacting my mind.  Over time I have found that the Spirit slowly peels back the layers of my inner being to expose what holds me back or what trips me up so that God can continue the work of making me into the follower of Jesus that God sees is possible and is most useful for the Kingdom of God here on earth.  

It is exciting to watch the remodeling project take place in our church.  I know it can be a pain and inconvenient to get there…but the finished or remodeled rooms will look amazing.  I am convinced of that. In the same manner, the way God works in our lives to remodel each of us to be more effective and faithful in our following, can be a slow process but the end result can make God smile.  By the way, the process of growing and being remodeled on the inside is what John Wesley referred to as Sanctification.  God continually working to remove our rough edges to make us more and more in the likeness of Christ.  So, what part of your life, faith, heart, or mind is God working on?  Embrace the uncertainty, the surprises, and the mess…in the long run, it will lead to something beautiful and useful!!!

One final note – The Kitchen/Dining Room project is anticipated to cost roughly $120,000.  The Trustees have had some funds on hand and have received some donations, but there is still a significant need for donations.  If you would like to donate to help with this updating project, please make your check out to the church and put in the memo, Kitchen Fund.  Thank you so much!

Pastor Keith

More Light, More Hope, More Love 09.11.2026

As I am writing this article I am very much aware of two dates on the calendar this week that have the potential to make this somewhat of a heavy week, or at the very least these two dates can cause much reflection and remembering.

The date that most of us adults are quite aware of is September 11 or better known as simply 9/11.  And that is today, Friday, as I’m finishing this article and many of you are reading it.  Of course, 9/11/2001 is the date 25 years ago that terrorists attacked the USA here in our own country using airline jets to bring down the twin World Trade Center towers in New York city, and they also hit the Pentagon. A fourth airliner crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.  It isn’t known for sure what the target of that airliner was, though it was suspected it was heading for either the Capital building or the White House, both in Washington DC.  Either way, it didn’t make it.  

The question is often asked, “Do you remember where you were on 9/11/2001?  My answer is, “Definitely YES!”  I was at home in Devils Lake, North Dakota.  Nancy called out to me, “Keith, an airliner hit a tall building in New York.”  I went to the TV and was watching the news coverage when the second tower was hit.  I knew this was not an accident…it was intentional.  Much of the rest of the day was a blur.  I know there wasn’t much office work accomplished and there were a lot of prayers offered.  I remember the feeling of shock to know that our country had been attacked right here at home.    But something good did come out of that day….

The second event that marks this week is that yesterday, September 10 was World Suicide Prevention Day. It’s a day for raising the awareness of death by suicide in our state, our nation, and the entire world.  Did you know that South Dakota has the 5th highest suicide rate per capita, in our nation.  South Dakota has ranked at least 5th in the nation for several years in a row. The entire month of September is Suicide Awareness Month, and 9/8, or this past Tuesday, is known as 988 day, the toll-free hotline number to talk to a mental health professional.

I truly believe in the cause of making people more aware of suicide, the thoughts and feelings that can lead in that direction, as well as all the mental health resources that are available.  During Suicide Awareness day I often think of the individuals that I have known who have died by suicide.  I also think of those whose funeral services I have officiated, that died by suicide.  I always feel a sadness knowing that someone felt such pain and despair that they felt death by suicide was their only option.  

So, as you read this, I’m sure you are feeling heavy too.  As I said…today is a heavy day.  But there is good news in all of this!  I remember the days following 9/11 and how united we felt as a nation.  We weren’t focused on a political party or a cause…we were Americans!  If it was possible then, it is possible still today.  I just hope we don’t need a tragedy to bring this feeling back.  

The other good news in the heaviness of this week is that there are greater efforts today about helping people understand mental health needs.  There is a great awareness of the reality of suicide.  In fact, just last evening I spoke at the Tegan’s Light Memorial Walk held at DWU.  What was shared with me was that because of information and resources that the Tegan’s Light organization was able to provide, they were able to help a couple of individuals receive the mental health help they needed so that they decided they weren’t going to end their lives.  That is a win!!  

My takeaway in all of this is that our world today needs more points of light, more reservoirs of hope, and more examples of love.  And that is exactly why we as a church are here in this community.  In fact, come to worship this Sunday or join us through technology and hear about the GOAL that we are going to be working on this year. Then on Sunday, September 20th at 2:00 pm, our church will be hosting our 4th annual “Service of Healing and Hope.” This is a service designed to provide an opportunity for people who have been touched by the reality of suicide to remember those they have lost and to take a step to find healing and peace in their journey of grief.  This service is just another way that we are truly seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus as a church family and faith community.  

Pastor Keith

Spreading Love 09.04.2026

“I lift up my eyes to the hills.  Where does my help come from?”  Psalm 121:1

A week or so ago I had an experience that made me proud to serve and be a part of Downtown Mitchell First UMC.  I was at a care facility in Mitchell visiting a person whose health was failing.  As I visited with family of this person in the hallway, I noticed another individual further down the hall waving at me.  I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure who the person was.  She looked familiar but I couldn’t put a name to the face…or where I knew her from.  I eventually went over and greeted the woman.  She asked me, “Will I see you tonight?”  I did a fast memory scan in my head, “Tonight, what do I have going on tonight??!!”  I couldn’t come up with anything, so I finally said to her, “What do I have going on tonight?”  Her reply was, “Love Feast!”  

Of course, she was right.  Love Feast was taking place that evening.  I then realized that is where I knew her from.  She was one of our regular guests at Love Feast.  So, I told her, “Absolutely…I’ll see you there!!  And indeed, I did!

What struck me about this encounter and conversation was that I had just read Psalm 121 to the individual whose life was slowly ebbing away.  “I lift up my eyes to the hills.  Where does my help come from?”  My hope was those words would bring some comfort to the individual and family as they remembered that their source of hope, help, and strength was in God and that God was with them on this journey.

But then it struck me as I was reflecting on my moment with the Love Feast person asking me about my participation for that evening, that maybe that bi-monthly meal, and trip to our church, was a source of encouragement, help, and hope for this person and the family members that always accompanied her.  This made me wonder how this person, and maybe even others who attend Love Feast, might rewrite Psalm 121 to reflect their life situation.  Maybe this particular Psalm would sound more like;

“I lift up my eyes to that bell tower.  Where does my help come from?

My help comes from a smiling face, a warm greeting.

My hope at times is found in a hot meal prepared for me.

It gives me strength to sustain me and my family,

And it helps me to know that in this community…someone cares

Even for me…..”

Isn’t it interesting how one brief moment or chance encounter with another person can change one’s perspective on something.  The simple question, “Will I see you tonight?” gave me a new perspective on the Love Feast and our church’s role in that ministry. 

I realize that at times I become the “face” of Downtown Mitchell First UMC.  I don’t believe the person I visited with was just wanting to see me that evening.  No, she was really looking forward to the affirmation, the sense of family, the connection, the pleasant atmosphere, and even the hope that a simple meal can give. 

Am I reading too much into that simple question, “Will I see you tonight?” ??  Maybe…but then again…maybe not.  It is my strongest hope and desire that our church and the ministries we partner with, like Love Feast, would truly become places that do indeed lift people’s eyes and hearts to see God and provide a sense of hope.  

Sometimes I believe we can forget what we are really doing when we are involved in ministry.  Yes, Love Feast is about serving a meal to anyone who would like to come to eat with us.  But it really is about so much more; companionship, hope, acceptance, etc. In other words, Love Feast isn’t just about the feast…or the food that is served.  Love Feast really is about the LOVE that is expressed and included with every plate that is served.  This brings another verse from the Bible to mind.  Words spoken by Jesus; “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John13:35  Yes, my friends, let’s keep on spreading love.

Pastor Keith

Ministry Opportunities 08.28.2026

Where or how does ministry happen??  It often happens in the moments where you least expect it and sometimes in the simplest of ways.  I believe this is in part what Jesus is getting at in Matthew 10 when he is talking to his disciples about rewards and the “giving of a cup of cold water to one of the little ones.”  Jesus is really talking about “Kingdom Work” or doing ministry in the ordinary moments of life.  Just the other day I got to experience one of those “ordinary” life moments in which ministry happened in the most unexpected way.    

As you know this is Corn Palace Week, with the carnival rides and food vendors along Main Street by the Corn Palace.  I decided to stop by and browse some of the food vendors for a sweet treat.  I found the item I wanted – mini-donuts.  I placed my order and simply started sharing a bit of conversation with the individual working the stand.  

“How’s it going today?”  “You from the Mitchell area?”  These are just a couple of the questions that the gentleman behind the counter and I shared.  Then came the question.  The gentleman asked me, “What do you do here in Mitchell?”  Answering this question can be a real conversation killer.  But I decided to simply jump in.  “I’m a pastor here in town.”  

“Oh, which church are you with?” the gentleman asked. 

“Downtown First United Methodist.” I replied. “It’s not far from here.”

“Is that the one a block over and a couple blocks down with the bell tower?” He asked.

“Yes, that would be the one.” I answered.

By then my order was ready.  I paid him and was getting ready to go my way.  That’s when the question came.  “Do you have a minute?” He asked.

“Well, I’m just heading back to my office at the church.” I shared.

“But do you have just a minute?” He persisted. 

I answered with, “Well, yes, what do you need?”

“Well, I really need to go to the bathroom and I’m the only one here.  I just don’t know who I can ask to watch my stand while I take a quick break.” 

I laughed and said, “Yes, I’ve got a minute.”  And off the man ran…literally!  

When he returned, he thanked me, and we visited a moment longer.  Once he settled back into his stand, I went my way and he continued making little tasty donuts.  As we parted, I think we both had a smile on our faces.  The gentleman, because of the relief he was feeling, and me, well, I was smiling for the good interaction and being able to help someone out in probably one of the most unique ways possible.  It wasn’t a cup of cold water, but it was a simple, meaningful, and unexpected moment of ministry.  The challenge for each of us today….be open to the “ministry opportunity” God sends your way today.  

Pastor Keith

Journey of Transformation 08.14.2026

The other day I was reading an article in which the author asked an interesting question.  He asked, “What has Jesus done for you today?”  He went on to encourage each reader to take five to ten minutes that day to quietly reflect on that question… “What has Jesus done for you today?”  So, I decided that was a good exercise to try.  I paused at my work and began to reflect.  What has Jesus done for me today?

At first, I couldn’t really think of anything.  Then something came to mind.  There was the moment in the grocery store.  I got in line to pay for my items.  I only had two things.  The person in front of me didn’t have a lot, maybe ten items or so.  But she started having a conversation with the check out people in response to the question… “Did you find everything OK?”  She obviously hadn’t and was talking to the staff about it.  But in doing so she wasn’t moving anything from her cart to the counter to check out.  Now, I’ll admit in situations like this I can tend to be a bit impatient.  I never say anything directly to the person, but I’m quite sure my body language is saying… “Can we move things along here…I’m in a bit of a hurry!”

But here’s the deal, I wasn’t doing that this time. I was just calmly standing there.   The person in front of me even turned and looked at me.  I smiled and she smiled. Finally, the conversation ended and everything was rung up, paid for, and my turn came.  OK, I think Jesus helped me in that moment because I wasn’t even thinking snarky thoughts while I waited.  Hmmm…this was a good exercise.  Jesus did help me today.  Thank you, Jesus!

Then after reflecting a few more moments on that original question, a second question popped into my mind.  “What have I done for Jesus today?”  Well, that’s an interesting question.  I had to stop and ponder that one for a bit too.  I can’t say there was ever an intentional thought in my mind, “I’m doing this (whatever I was involved with) for Jesus” as I went through my day.  Had I done anything for Jesus that day?

The more I thought about it, I reflected that I do try to live my life in such a way that it allows the presence and the love of Jesus to be seen in our world.  Do I always get it right or reflect Jesus well?  Probably not.  But like John Wesley talked about, we are going on to perfection.  Meaning, hopefully each day I’m living a bit more Christ-like than I did the day before.  If I can look back to a year ago to what my thoughts and attitudes were then and then consider what they are now, well, hopefully there has been growth and that I am not the same person that I was a year ago

As I’ve thought more about these two questions, 2 Corinthians 5:17 came to mind.  This a passage that I memorized many years ago; “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has passed away…the new has come.” The theme of this verse is being reflected, I believe, in these two questions I’m asking in this article.  You see, as a follower of Jesus, Jesus is making me into a new creation – that is what he is doing for me. And keep in mind, this isn’t a once and done thing…it is an ongoing transformation.  And because I am a new creation, a transformation is taking place within me and in how I live.  Living out this transformation is what I do for Christ each day.  How I live my life today is a direct reflection of what Jesus is doing in me, for me, and through me.  Wow…all of that from a simple question I read.  “What has Jesus done or me today?”  Great question.  

Today I would encourage each of us to ask these two questions; “What has Jesus done for me today?” and “What have I done for Jesus today?”  In the midst of these thoughts also read 2 Corinthians 5:17.  May the transforming power of Jesus continue to do its work within me and within each of us.  That, in great part, is what Jesus is doing in me.  And that impacts what I (and we) do for Jesus each day.  What a journey we share together…the journey of transformation.

Pastor Keith