» faith

‘Non-Judgment Day’ Should Convict All of Us

Tom Keefe — Sat, 21 May 2011 20:45:34 +0000

Kooks who are Christian, are still kooks. And cynics who hate the truth of Christianity will continue to try to denigrate Jesus Christ and his followers.

Both of the above points are clear on this “Non-Judgment Saturday”—a day when much of the world laughed at a sincere, but sincerely wrong, religious “leader’s” prediction of the world’s demise. Harold Camping, an 89-year-old retired civil engineer, has developed a flourishing ministry based on his doomsday message that Jesus Christ would return to judge the earth on May 21, 2011. That judgment would include destruction described in the final book of the Christian Bible, Revelation.

While a small handful of misguided fools responded to Camping’s prediction by selling their possessions, quitting their jobs and waiting prayerfully to be swept into Heaven, a much larger—and in my opinion—much more foolish collection of mockers used Camping’s folly to paint a prejudiced, hurtful and more destructive picture of Christianity.

The mockers correctly see that no person can predict the Coming of the Lord. Their error is believing that, because Jesus Christ didn’t return on a day computed by a flawed human being, then Jesus Christ is NEVER returning.

Their hatred for Jesus Christ and the Christian faith almost compels them to ridicule any self-professed “Christian” who is more kook than Christian. They want to denigrate the true Christian message of love, hope, and most of all, grace.

Real faith in Jesus Christ means accepting the fact that we are not capable of living a life worthy of eternity in Heaven following our death on earth. It means being realistic and humble enough to accept the free gift of forgiveness that comes with belief that Jesus Christ lived a totally righteous life 2,000 years ago, and purposely suffered a painful and undeserved death to “pay for” the sins of every human being, past present and future.

Real faith in Jesus Christ means believing the eye-witness accounts that he rose from the dead and today is waiting to return to judge the world.

Be discerning, but don’t be a fool.

Laughing at a misguided person like Harold Camping does not change reality any more than covering the sun with your thumb makes the sun disappear. Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean that it isn’t there.

No one knows when Jesus Christ will return for Judgment Day. But instead of getting some cheap laughs today, accept some important truth: Jesus Christ is returning, and we all need to be ready.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Tom Keefe — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:48:59 +0000

A Happy Resurrection Sunday to my fellow Christians. This day and Christmas Day are the two holiest in the Christian calendar.

They bookend the earthly life of Jesus Christ, who we know as our Lord and Savior. Christmas celebrates the day Jesus was born. Today celebrates the day he came back to life after suffering an agonizing death two days before.

Sounds like a crazy plot for a movie, doesn’t it? At one point in my life, I walked away from my Christian faith, because so much of the ritualistic parts seemed either boring or just plain weird.

About 16 years ago, my wife and I started attending a church where the pastor told us (and the entire congregation) that our doubts and questions were encouraged. God was big enough to handle them!

Through a process of study and opening my heart, my questions and doubts were answered sufficiently for me to renew my commitment to the Christian faith walk.

Is it easy? No, particularly because I remain a stubborn, self-centered human. Is my family a center of Christian hope, love and caring? Not exactly!

We are a work in progress.

If you want answers to the tough questions of life, Jesus has them. Yes, I didn’t say “had them,” because he is still alive.

That’s what I, and millions of Christians around the globe, celebrate today.

I Think That It’s Time to Step Aside

Tom Keefe — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 01:21:22 +0000

For some reason, I’ve been thinking a lot more about my career and personal life, and what I should be doing with both.

I have one project that I need to continue with until it is completed. Everything else seems to be less important.

I also have been feeling that it’s time to step aside in the communication field, and not try to stay relevant with the latest generation of communicators entering the field. Many of them most likely don’t see me as being relevant anyway.

I also want to be free to talk about God, and faith, and things that matter to me, but that don’t matter to a lot of people.

I Didn’t Feel Like a ‘Citizen Journalist’ Today

Tom Keefe — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 17:22:37 +0000

Perhaps in a reaction to the tragic sights and sounds related to the Japan earthquake that I’ve seen during the past 24 hours, I made a conscious decision today to NOT be a “citizen journalist” when disaster struck in front of me.

I was driving along a busy back-road, heading home from an appointment, when a black SUV ahead of me spun into the oncoming traffic lane to our left, and struck a vehicle coming the other way. The SUV flipped over on impact and both vehicles skidded to a halt near the shoulder of the road.

I pulled over to the side of the road and immediately dialed 9-1-1. I watched other people scramble to each of the damaged vehicles, checking on the occupants. After providing the location and other details to the 9-1-1- operator, I got out of my Jetta TDI and started to head toward the SUV.

Right then, I noticed another person starting to hold up traffic on the other side of the accident. I decided to do the same on my side of the accident. We took turns alternating between holding up our lane of cars to allow the other person to signal their line of cars to move along the one open lane of traffic.

In a few minutes, I heard the sirens of approaching emergency vehicles and police cars. Once they arrived, I checked that they didn’t need my help, and then left.

As I was walking back to my car, I scanned the accident scene, focusing on the accident victims who were receiving medical treatment. For a brief moment, I thought about taking out my mobile phone and capturing some of the action.

That’s what a “citizen journalist” probably would have done. The images could be sent to the local media, or used on a blog post like this one. I would have received a photo credit, and maybe someone who knows me would tell me that they saw the photo. It’s happened before.

But like I said at the beginning of this post, two things kept me from taking those photos. The first was knowing that the Internet currently is overflowing with images and videos taken by witnesses to the largest earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history. We’ve seen enough death and destruction today, haven’t we?

The second was the momentary eye contact that I made with the middle-aged woman who sat next to the SUV, holding a bandage to her bleeding scalp, as a paramedic worked on her other injuries. She was dazed, and I felt that her expression as our eyes met was communicating something like, “Help, am I going to be okay”?

My journalism training taught me to disassociate myself from an event, so that I could view it with a lessened (I’ll never say complete lack of) personal bias. That would have helped me to snap a photo of the injured woman, even as she looked at me.

I didn’t do that this time. Instead, as I was driving home, I said a prayer for the people involved in the accident.

I think I helped them more that way, and the blogosphere won’t miss those photos very much.

Real Nashville Music at the Bluebird Cafe

Tom Keefe — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 02:38:47 +0000

A week ago, I spent part of my first evening in Nashville listening to some fine local music. I was in town to participate in the IABC Leadership Institute. I don’t want to offend anyone, but I wasn’t anywhere near The Grand Ole Opry, either physically or in choice of music genre.

Instead, I was at the Bluebird Cafe, experiencing music performed in the round by four singer-songwriters based in Nashville. It was exactly what I had hoped it would be: Authentic acoustic music played and sung by the people who wrote it.

Nashville attracts talented artists who hope for the break that could lead to a recording contract from one of the many recording studios lining “Music Row,” on Eighteenth Street, a few minutes from the hotel where I was staying.

This particular evening, a friend and I settled into what appeared to be the last two open seats in the small restaurant/bar, and I was immediately captivated by the words, melodies and vocals of the four singer-songwriters: Jon Troast, Holley Maher, Robert Kelly and Perrin Lamb.

According to the Bluebird Cafe website, “Early shows at the Bluebird usually feature the best up and coming songwriters. They may not have a lot of hits yet, but you will see a great show.”

That I did! It made me think of nights during the late 1970s and 1980s spent at The No Exit Cafe in Rogers Park on the north side of Chicago. That tiny place with the eclectic decor and great hot drinks featured famous people like Steve Goodman in the 1960s, as well as fledgling songwriters like me on open-mike nights in the 1980s.

There is something calming about sitting in a crowd of music-lovers, as one by one, talented singer-songwriters share song after song. At one point, the crowd was invited to sing along, and the camaraderie and revelry was like a strong musical hug.

That was night #1 for me in Nashville. What a memorable start!

Songs performed by Nashville songwriters

Better to be seen and not Hurd?

Tom Keefe — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:07:58 +0000

Mark Hurd photo courtesy of HP

I first met Mark Hurd at the 2005 IABC International Conference in Washington, D.C. He had just joined Hewlett-Packard as its CEO and president, after a successful stint in a similar role at NCR. In fact, Hurd was being honored as the recipient of IABC’s EXCEL Award for his support, encouragement and practice of exemplary communication.

It saddened me to read the news article on Friday under the headline, “HP CEO Hurd resigns after sexual-harassment probe.” To be clear, an investigation by HP’s outside legal counsel and its General Counsel’s Office, overseen by the HP Board determined that no violation of HP’s sexual harassment policy occurred. However, it did find that Hurd violated HP’s Standards of Business Conduct. Read the official statement on the HP website.

As I reviewed some notes I took during Hurd’s address at the 2005 conference, the irony of some of his comments and statements jumped out.


He had begun his remarks, following a warm applause by the audience, with the comment, "As CEO, you aren't used to hearing people say nice things about you."
Hurd later told the audience that the term "fired" originated from an incident that involved two early leaders at NCR. Quick summary: NCR head John Patterson allegedly punctuated the termination of Thomas John Watson, Sr. by having Watson's desk taken outside and set ablaze. Hence, the phrase "fired."

I’ve since found many references to the origin of the phrase, “fired,” that don’t point to NCR. It may be another example of Hurd’s misunderstanding of information—like HP’s Standards of Business Conduct.

Two other Hurd comments from his 2005 EXCEL Award address stood out to me today:


The CEO can't replace the relationship of front-line employees with their immediate supervisors, he said. "The CEO can provide a context [to] try to bring clarity."
Hurd later said that as he would "promote, demote, recognize and reward people, I tell 30,000 people what I value."

As a highly visible CEO, Hurd has sent a message to his employees with his misconduct, and I hope that it doesn’t erase the good that he did for HP. I also hope he uses this as a lesson in what to value most as a business leader and champion of communication excellence.

What context and clarity can Hurd’s interim successor, Cathie Lesjak, bring to company employees? In my next post, I’ll look back at a presentation on employee communications made at that same 2005 IABC International Conference by HP communicators, and then compare that with what has been communicated in the past couple of days following Hurd’s resignation.

Tom Keefe — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:25:58 +0000

You wouldn’t know it by my lack of recent posts, but I have been actively engaged lately in communication activities. A lot of the activity has surrounded my transition into the role of IABC/Chicago chapter president for the 2010-2011 board year (beginning July 1).

Before things get rolling, I’m going to spend next week as a volunteer youth leader and take a trip to “Never the Same Camp“. Early mornings, late nights, a lot of running in-between lots of prayers. Not sure how that will be different than the past few weeks.

Anyway, I’ll be off the grid. Be good.

Happy Father’s Day

Tom Keefe — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:25:29 +0000

Today is Father’s Day in the U.S., and I’m sending a greeting to all fathers. What son hasn’t had conflicting thoughts about their dad at some point? My dad used to drive me crazy at times. Now I see myself driving my kids crazy at times too.

I woke up earlier than anyone else, because our dog, Clue, came by to remind me that he needs to get to his morning pee and breakfast. The dog doesn’t know that this is my “special day.”

I saw a brown paper bag sitting at my place at the family table, with a handwritten note from my son. “Sorry about the wrap job. The women weren’t available.” Obviously put there last night after I went to bed.

I’ll wait for the rest of the family to wake up before opening it. Then off to church, where I’m scheduled to deliver the children’s message at both services.

Father’s Day to me means time with my kids and my wife, with whom I started the Keefe family nearly two decades ago.

Nice wrap job, Kevin

Tom Keefe — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:14:16 +0000

Here is an Easter greeting to you.

Many people think of Easter in a secular way, Easter bunny, egg hunts and the like. The original meaning remains the best.

It may seem old-hat and boring, even for those who picked today (Easter Sunday) as one of the two days per year when they graced the inside of a church.

I’m fairly realistic, so I don’t look at this day as the actual day when Jesus Christ, through the power of God, rose from the dead. That awesome event happened one time, more than 2,000 years ago.

I’m more excited about the fact that Jesus is still alive today, and will be for eternity. What’s more, anyone who accepts his free gift of grace can have the blot of sin removed from them, and receive eternal life through faith in his atoning work.

Whew! A lot for some of us to consider. Many doubt that this took place, and doubt that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection mean anything to them.

I pray that you consider the evidence, and make an informed decision. Whatever you decide is your business, of course.

My desire for you would be that you experience life in the Lord.

Make your own free digital greeting card

Religious fanatics fan the flames of religious intolerance

Tom Keefe — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:01:26 +0000

In the past couple of days, terrorist plots have been in the news, indirectly targeting two innocent faith groups which have to once again see that people don’t understand some very basic concepts.

The first terrorist plot was launched successfully on Monday, March 29, when twin suicide bombings of the Moscow subway system killed 39 people and wounded scores more. The attack has been blamed on “Muslim extremists” in the Caucasus region.

The second terrorist plot was nipped in the planning stages over the weekend, when nine “apocalyptic Christian militants,” who were plotting to kill law enforcement officers in hopes of inciting an antigovernment uprising, were arrested in raids in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

The link in those two separate terrorist events was the belief that political change needed to be made through violence, and that the violence was approved by the God of these Muslim and Christian terrorists. Nothing could be further from the truth, and these terrorists couldn’t be further from true Muslims and Christians.


The time has come to sit and resolve all problems by dialogue, and to completely abandon violent ways using guns and bombs. Islam never says you should fight with another person. This concept is wrong.

That is a quote by Maulana Jameel Ahmed Ilyasi, secretary-general of the All-India Association of Imams and Mosques, during a visit to Israel, organized by the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) India office. Ilaysi arrived as part of a delegation of Indian Muslim leaders and journalists, and his organization represents half a million imams, who are the main religious leaders of India’s 200 million Muslims.

So he was the voice of reason for a large organization of Muslims, when asked to address Hamas’s call for jihad to destroy Israel. Ilaysi said,


I believe in peace and this is the message I take. I don't believe in anything that destroys another country.

That view would be applauded by the millions of Christians who are in the midst of Holy Week, a time for reflection and recognition of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I imagine that the Lord is saddened by statements taken from the website created by the recently arrested militants:



A motto, �Preparing for the end time battles to keep the testimony of Jesus Christ alive�

and a quote:


Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment. The Hutaree will one day see its enemy and meet him on the battlefield if so God wills it.

According to a news article in the March 30 New York Times,


 Chip Berlet, a senior analyst at Political Research Associates, a liberal-leaning nonprofit group that tracks far-right networks, said the Hutaree�s philosophy was drawn from a populist strand that fuses fear of a conspiracy to create a one-world government with a belief that a war is imminent between Christians and the Antichrist, as described in the Bible�s Book of Revelation.

I’ve been studying the Book of Revelation with another member of my church and our youth pastor. For you non-Christians, let me assure you that it doesn’t state that anyone is to stockpile munitions and be ready to “fight for Jesus.”

Actually, Revelation is clear that the final battle against Satan and his deceived followers will be fought and won by the Lord. No sword-wielding human fanatics will be necessary.

When you read news accounts about “Muslim extremists” or “Christian militants,” please don’t help fan the flames of religious intolerance by spreading the lie that these idiots represent the Muslim or Christian faiths.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe that Easter symbolizes forgiveness, rebirth, and God�s saving power. It is a victory over sin and death, which cause so much harm in people�s lives.

This Easter Sunday, I’ll be thinking about God’s saving power, and the destructive forces, like extremists and militants, that distort the true meaning of the holiday.

Peace.