The Most Profound Words at Pepperdine Lectureship
I haven’t heard everything said at the lectureship, so I can’t prove this. But my guess is that if you listened to all the messages given here (and you’d be blessed again and again), you’d find nothing more profound than the words of faith from Rachel and Klint Pleasant.
Klint was ACU’s basketball coach when he decided to accept a job at Rochester College to allow him to be home more with Rachel and their new baby, Abigail. They moved there last August, and two weeks later tragedy struck. Rachel came within a breath of dying.
There’s so much to tell, but you can check it out at klintpleasant.blogspot.com.
What I heard the two of them say this morning would have been worth coming here for. She, still up against some challenges (such as severely impaired vision) even after having her skull reattached a few months ago, spoke about how she sees more clearly than ever before about her place in this world in light of the kingdom of God. He spoke eloquently, at times choking back tears, as he spoke about his love for his wife and daughter, about his appreciation for the people of God, and about his faith.
One thing I’ve always loved about Klint’s faith: he doesn’t like carefully, packaged, one-size-fits-all answers. He’s nervous of people who always think they know exactly what God’s up to and who promise that if you pray things will happen just as you hoped.
I can’t wait for them to return to Highland to share this journey some Sunday.
What a powerful experience and powerful testimony the Pleasants have! The title for their class (When Your Wife Has 30 Minutes to Live) would certainly open the doors of the church family and the community to find out what they have to say.
I remember what Jesus said to his disciples in
Mark 4:11-12
The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”
Peace.
Thanks Mike for the post and the address to the Pleasant’s blog.
I can attest, having been brought low by numerous and an ever increasing number of physical problems the past 3 years, that those experiences and being confined to home for long periods of time to a solitary existence (and now this week, again, for it looks like a couple more months on top of the 5 already past) that my relationship with God and the depth of my faith have increased exponentially as a result in ways I could never have imagined or would have expected.
You know. You’ve experienced some of life’s worst blows in your life with your children. You know. All too well and have blessed us all as a result with your story of your journey.
Wish I could have heard Klint and Rachel’s testimony. I’m glad you did and shared it with us.
Hope you are continuing to have a great lectureship. Any California guacamole yet?
the ocean and the mountains sounded nice but now you have made me jealous.
me too, clint.
Mike wrote:
One thing I’ve always loved about Klint’s faith: he doesn’t like carefully, packaged, one-size-fits-all answers. He’s nervous of people who always think they know exactly what God’s up to and who promise that if you pray things will happen just as you hoped.
Boy, me too. I used to feel like maybe they knew something I didn’t know. Then I slowly began to realize that *I* knew something they didn’t. But until I figured that out, I often felt judged like people like that.
Sounds like an incredible talk. Thanks for pointing us to Klint’s web site.
Dear Mike,
Thanks for your kind words and support to Klint and Rachel during their walk through the valley of the shadow of death over these past months. I posted a picture for your readers at: http://morenoble.blogspot.com/
so they could see the campus view at Pepperdine. I thought your class was superb!
Brad Stevens (Rachel Pleasant’s father)
I had the privilege of hearing Rachel and Klint speak at Pepperdine, it really was well worth the trip. I chose to go to their class because I lost my 28 year old daughter to cancer Feb. 1, 2006, just a short time before the lectureship. I keep searching for something that will help me catch a spark of meaning, wisdom…something to help understand the unbelievable suffering she endured and the vast emptiness that surrounds me sometimes, to be honest most times. I have prayed for wisdom continually since my daughter was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at 26. I think I have now begun my spiritual journey from ground zero, most things I believed and counted on I no longer believe, at least no in the same way. I do not understand God’s plan, people tell me Elizabeth’s death was His plan, I cannot believe this is true I know without a doubt that He doesn’t answer our prayers as we would like Him to. Sometimes I wondered if perhaps I just had the magic words, enough faith, said it the right way……I no longer believe that either. The shred of wisdom, if it is that, that I have gleaned is He is God. Where else is there to go? His purposes are beyond my understanding. I choose to believe in His promises, that He loves me, even when I don’t feel it.
Someone asked Klint if he thought God had saved Rachel. He said he didn’t know. If the answer was yes, then why not others? He echoes my constant question.
As Joyce wrote, I too felt others knew something I didn’t , had more faith than me. Now, for me faith is a decision, it’s cake without the icing. It is what I have decided to do whether or not I can see the promises or understand the Promise Keeper.
I miss my child.
I hope to see you next year at Pepperdine. My hope is that I will be farther along my journer by then. Maybe even have gained some wisdom.
My husband and I enjoyed our time in your classes, thank you.
Sandy