Kanakuk Institute

Welcome 2011!! We can’t believe you’re already here!

I guess no matter how hard we try, we can never stop the progression of time. How many of you mothers have desired the ability to pause life in the cute stage? Or fast forward through the obnoxious ones? No, we cannot control the passing of time, but we can direct how we use it. In my life, I have learned the hard way that without vision, I will not achieve my top goals and will not give proper attention to my top priorities.

As you start this new year, I encourage each one of you to sit down and write a vision statement for your life. Take some time for yourself and pray about what God wants MOST from you. Hear His priorities, and then set yours accordingly. Don’t let life run you, YOU run life.

God has given me the ability to dream, and I’ve been blessed to start many things. God keeps me dreaming, and sustains my faith and energy in carrying those dreams out. And He can do that for you too! What do you want to accomplish in 2011 through your family, your ministry, and your work? What is something only God could pull off?

This could be the most life changing year you ever have!!! You can do it! Can’t wait to hear!

Your friend,
Keith Chancey

Hebrews 1:1-3 “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

When I try to think of a passage that perfectly describes the reason behind our Christmas celebration, this verse is one of the first ones that comes to mind. Why? Because it attempts, in human words, to encompass the all-surpassing salvation that the birth of Christ made possible.

Let’s break it down…

Verse 1 highlights the importance of Christianity’s roots. We must never forget our tie to the Old Testament prophecies and covenants. However, verse 2 quickly incorporates the New Covenant, that in “these last days”, God has established a new order of communication through the life and teaching of Christ, His Son, Heir of all and Creator/co-Creator of all (wrap your brains around that!!!) Then comes my favorite verse—that Jesus is basically God’s glory personified and exactly represents what God’s being is like. He sustains all and provided purification (past tense) for all sins. And now? He’s seated at the right hand of the Father.

We can hardly wrap our brains around the truths contained in this three verse passage, yet it reminds us of who Christ is and why we celebrate His birth. It’s because He was BORN to DIE, and because His death gives us access to the Father. We have earthly access to approach the throne of God and the promise of eternal access to Him in heaven. It’s deep, but so worth our meditation.

Today I pray that you all drink deeply of the depth of God’s redemptive provision and of the love of Christ, in this verse and many others. Most importantly, I pray that we all practically APPLY the love of Christ– find someone who needs a smile, a hug, or a helping hand. If we apply the Word of God to our lives, we will all find the joy of Christmas.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Test your Christmas movie know-how with this trivia challenge: Several of our alumni chimed in with favorite Christmas quotes. Can you name the movie that belongs with each of the following famous phrases?

Merry Christmas Bedford Falls! Merry Christmas you ole Building and Loan!

‘I’m your guardian angel!”- Clarence. ‘I’m not a bit surprised.”- George

This here is an R.V. Don’t you go falling in love with it now, we’ll be taking it with us next month.

“SAAAANNNNNTTTTTTAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!”

You serious, Clark?

You sit on a throne of lies!

Merry Christmas you filthy animal.

From the kid who get his tongue stuck on the pole “hey, don’t leave me, come back…”

Man on Porch: Why don’t you kiss her instead of talking her to death?
George Bailey: You want me to kiss her, huh?
Man on Porch: Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people.

Is your house on fire, Clark? No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights.

Eddie, if I woke up in the morning with my head stapled to the carpet I wouldnt be more surprised than I am right now.

“Buddy the Elf! What’s your favorite color?”

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

The nerve of those Whos. Inviting me down there – on such short notice! Even if I wanted to go my schedule wouldn’t allow it. 4:00, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one; 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me – I can’t cancel that again; 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing… I’m booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. But what would I wear?!

Arthur: So he’s a shmuck.
Kate: Yes infact, he is a huge shmuck.
Arthur: He let you go, This is not a hard one to figure out. You know in the movies you have leading ladies and you have best friends. You, I can tell are a leading lady, and for some reason, you are behaving like a best friend.

I am upstairs dummy.

“Bye Buddy…I hope you find your dad”

“You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!”

“Grace, she passed away thirty years ago.?
No, they want you to say the blessing. T…h…e Blllessssssssinnnnnng!”

“It’s just like Santa’s workshop! Except it smells like mushrooms… and everyone looks like they wanna hurt me… ”

“Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights, please. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

“She said I’m cuuute! She said I’m cuuute!”

We Elves try to stick to the four main food groups- candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.

So, good news…I saw a dog today.

Were you up to the challenge? Could you name them all?

Here’s an excerpt from keithchancey.com. Merry Christmas!

Today is a great day. Callie’s on her way home from college, Cameron got out of school yesterday, and we’re so excited about family time. We leave for Kansas City tomorrow to be with Karen’s daddy and brother and his family. There we will celebrate part one of a three-part Christmas. Part 2 will be in Dallas and part 3, back home in Branson. We are so excited about celebrating Christmas together with great family and friends.

My prayer for all of us during the Christmas season is that our focus truly will be on the Savior, that we all fall deeper in love with Him and find great peace in life. My prayer also is to find quality time with my kids, where we can open up the Word of God and enjoy great conversation about how to live victoriously in life.

It was so much fun the other day—Cameron invited all his friends for a Bible study—and I got to meet with eight guys so hungry for the Lord. All they desire is to grow. I think I noticed something I haven’t seen in a long time: these young men are just starving. They’ve been in the Word. They’ve been in church. But they don’t take the time and discipline to grow for themselves. I’ll be excited to see how this year helps them to grow in Christ.

With all the Christmas travel & celebration, and with our family’s upcoming trip to Cabo, Mexico, I may not be around the blog world too much for the next couple weeks. But stay tuned! Once we all finish enjoying our Christmas celebrations, they’ll be more updates to come. May you have a very blessed and merry Christmas!