some thoughts on outgoing and incoming year

My apologies to my readers, but i have been really slack with my postings since Thanksgiving, and NO I'm not going to make a new years resolution to blog more, it is what it is, and hopefully i will get back on track after January 1.  Many people ask, so how has your year been?  I can summarize by the first line of A tale of two cities, "Was the worst of times, and was the best of times".  I'm just gonna share some random thoughts of 2011, and some hopes for 2012.

As was the situation with a lot of families 2011 was an extremely tough year financially for the Reese household, but am thankful that we both have full time employment, and made through the year still having a roof over our head (barely, but did), vehicles to drive, and food on the table.

I learned some valuable lessons this year when it comes to people you interact with and try to help.  Some people like you just up to the point that you stop giving them what they want, people will turn on you in a minute, and some don't appreciate anything you have ever done for them and I fear never will.  However, when I look at the life of Jesus, the same thing happened to Him, so i guess I am in good company.

2011 was a year full of SNOW, wow, can never remember getting as much snow as we did, it was so awesome, granite was stuck at home because of 2wd suburban, but was great family fun time.

Summer of 2011 was so busy.  Started it off with a week with my students to Caswell, came back for a week then was off to STudent Impact doing missions with some awesome youth, then had the privilege to be the guest speaker for the week at Grace Baptist's youth retreat to Garden City, topped the summer off with a week of children's camp at Camp Truett in Hayesville, nc.

As this year draws to a close I look back and see some tremendous things God has done, people He has brought into my life, and how He has used me to influence others (in a positive way). 

As 2012 draws near, it gives me a new look on a new year, with alot of changes, and more chances to impact and help my youth grow.  I look forward to such a great year and I hope you do too.

Chris

10 reasons i dislike being sick

ok so bare with me today, here i am sick and thought i would write why I dislike being sick so much here they are:

1. because you feel so downright awful, who wan't to feel this way, head aching, body aching, no energy
2. It is so inconvenient, seems like every time you get sick it's when you have something you really need to do
3. sleep deprivation, come on, it 6 pm and i have been awake since 4 am; not cool
4. you would think this would be a time to catch up on reading, writing, movies, etc. but you just don't feel like it (oops guess that is like reason 1)
5. I get quarantined from my kids (really don't like that, but understand why momma does it)
6. if you don't listen to your body and rest, it gets worse
7. every time you think it's gone, its baaaaccckkkkkk
8. i get bored and cabin fever
9. puts me behind on stuff i need to do
10. there is NOTHING on daytime TV

haha, now that i have gotten that out of the way here is what i try to do when i'm sick:

1. read my bible
2. read for leisure
3. write my blog
4. watch espn
5. play online
6. work on youth lessons, sunday school, etc

so what do you do when you stuck inside trying to get over an illness?

have a great day, Chris, and ready or not i'm back at it tomorrow....

What I am thankful for

Ok i am going to attempt to put into a list all the things I can think of that I am thankful for:

• God, and for changing my life Nov 30, 1997
• my awesome wife since sept 4, 1999
• my parents for all they have put up with over the years
• my college education
• my inlaws (pat and gary cole)
• my 4 beautiful daughters (ginny, rebekah, samantha, olivia)
• my 2 sisters whom i love dearly (jennifer, resides in hendersonville, and alysia, resides in San Diego)
• My grammy whom i miss terribly
• my grandmaw sellers, whom i miss terribly as well
• my auntie lisa
• my pastor and best friend ken sausedo
• the wonderful friends God has placed around me (andy tuttle, brian lee, steve conard, gary roberts, jeanne wilson)
• my job (and yes i LOVE it)
• my home
• my vehicle (and the ability to pay to put gas in it)
• My former Pastor Ken Lewis, He will never know what a tremendous influence he had on me
• My bro and sister in law (Jon and Dena Brown)
• My church (Grassy Branch Baptist)
• My Youth (the absolute best around (Hannah, Sam, Jacob, Malik, Kahlil, Star, Tim, Zach, Stuart, Bethany, Kayla, Cassidy, Celine, Grady, Jessica, Trevin, Cevan, just to name a few, but you all are great)
• Some of my former youth that helped shape me into the yp i am today (Brittany, Ryley, Nick, Matt, Nicole)
• My Myjenta Spivey, i cannot put into words how thankful i am to you
• Tiffany Staton for all the help you give me in GBBC Youth
• Heat and air conditioning
• Running Water
• Food, and lots of it
• My Uncle David, whom i miss terribly too
• My aunt Nancy Reese
• That God enabled me to reside in the mountains of WNC
• My  cousin Sharon, you da bomb cuz
• the first church i ever attended (WABC)
• my health, and my family's health
• my extended family throughout this whole world that i stay in contact with via facebook :)
• Dr. Johnny Tiller, Dr. Kenneth Ridings, Dr. Thad Dowdle, kenny corn, dr. Craig Bailey, Scott Tompson who have all had tremendous influence on the ministry God has placed me in
• Chris Daudert and the talks we had that over the years
• my neighbors kim and susie black, cause they are always there :)
• CASWELL!!!!
• I am quite sure i have missed someone somewhere that i should have listed that i am thankful for, so i beg forgiveness if i haven't told you lately how thankful i am for you

alright, well, this is just a short list of what i could come up with for now.  Might I add that if you are reading this I am thankful to you, for reading it and I hope it has challenged you to sit down and make a list of all you can think of that you are thankful for, it helps.....

my love to my readers, and have a happy Thanksgiving, I will probs not blog again until tuesday of next week, so till then, a fond farewell

Chris

sometimes its not that easy

^15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ^16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ^17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:15-17, NIV)

As we fastly approach the Holiday of Thanksgiving, many of us have to sit around and "force" ourselves to find things we are thankful for.  In our current economy it is hard.  People are losing their homes and are scrambling to avoid foreclosure, people are out of work (and have been for awhile), families are struggling to figure out how they are going to put food on the table, let alone wondering how they are going to provide gifts for their children for Christmas.  Some folks will be without running water, electricity, warm clothing, and hot meals.  These were folks that three years ago had decent paying jobs, and now are finding themselves in uncharted territory.  As they/we sit around the table Thursday, how hard will it to be to find things to be thankful for.

I'm so glad that God has addressed these things in scripture.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your/my heart.  Christ knows what you are going through, He was homeless, He had to depend on others to lend a hand.  Peace means to remain calm.  vs. 16 says to sing psalm, hymns, and spiritual songs.  What a difference that can make.  We are challenged over and over in these verses to be thankful or have gratitude.

If we think, if we look around really hard we CAN find alot to be thankful for.  Yes, you may have terrible, awful, depressing circumstances, but we CAN find stuff to be thankful for. 

Tomorrow's blog will be a list of how ever many things i can think of to be thankful for, I am giving myself 24 hours to come up with it.  I challenge you to do the same, and check back tomorrow.

enjoy your day and your blessings in Christ.

Chris

forgive? You can't be serious????

I have really been tested the last seven days with this one.  For anyone who has ever been in this situation or situations, you get it.  Not going into details but in the last seven days, someone has hurt me and my twins (not physically, but emotionally) and made them cry; and a close friend really has crossed a line with me.  As a parent you can really understand my struggle with the first one, its one thing to upset me, but you better not make my little ones cry; and as for the other one, well probably everyone has to deal with a friend who really said some things they shouldn't have.  So what do we do?  Do we carry around this anger, this bitterness, or do we forgive and let it go.

Sure we know the thing we are supposed to do, we are supposed to let it go.  How appropriate my reading was for today:

^12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ^13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ^14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col 3:12-14, NIV)

I began to think about this, and realize that as much as i would try not to, i know that it could have very easily been me to have crossed a line or hurt someone.  Would i want them to forgive me, yes i would.  I have determined today to begin the process of healing, and to let it go.

What about you?  Do you have someone you need to forgive?  Take the high road, You are God's chosen person so clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and choose to forgive.

the choice is yours, what will you do?

have a great weekend, go and worship the one who is worthy to worship this Sunday,

love to all, Chris

empty

^8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col 2:8, NIV)

It is always amazing to me how people try to say that the Bible is irrelevent to today's society.  Colossians 2:8 is a wonderful verse to show how it is applicable to today.

So what is the verse saying?  Simply it is telling us how easy it is to fall into society's definition of what is right and wrong.  Now think about this.... even when we know deep down inside that something is wrong, we still try to justify it, see list and in parenthesis you will find direct rebuttal from scripture:

• Abortion - somehow we think we have the right to choose because it's our bodies (^19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ^20 you were bought at a price. (1 Co 6:19-20, NIV)
• Living together outside of marriage - its ok because we love each other (^14 “You shall not commit adultery.Ex. 20:14) & (^2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. (1 Co 7:2)
• Sex before or outside of marriage - its ok because we love each other (^2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. (1 Co 7:2)
• Substance abuse - its ok because it feels ok and others are doing it so why not (^18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Eph 5:18, NIV)
• What is wrong with witchcraft movies, books, its just a book or movie (^9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. ^10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ^11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. ^12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. ^13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God. (Dt 18:9-13, NIV)

Those are just a few, but the list could go on and on.  I know what ur thinking "Chris, your being legalistic" my point is simply this, we can try to justify anything, but scripture warns us not to do that.  There was an old saying, "when in rome do as the romans do", but if we are not careful it can and will lead us astray from God and His purpose for our life.

Have a wonderful day, Chris

Ever felt like this

Bills are late, no money in the bank, nothing seems to be going right, life is falling apart, no one seems to understand, seems like one dark day after another, after another, and after another.  Have you ever felt like this?  How do you deal with it?  How should I/you deal with it.  What stops you/me from absolutely losing it?

Don't you just hate it when people say, "when life gives you lemons make lemonade", I detest that saying, seriously i do.

Is Jesus enough?

^17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:17, NIV)

Is Jesus enough?
Is Jesus enough to hold it together?
Is Jesus enough to hold you together?
Is Jesus enough to hold your family together?
Is Jesus enough?

Life has a way of sometimes being very good, but also very bad.  In due time we figure that out.  Through this journey we learn over time that In Him (being Jesus) all things (you, your life) are held together.  When life seems to be at its worst we have to have someone bigger than ourselves to help hold things together, or we will go crazy.  I have to know that someone is

Where have you been?

Well if you read me regularly this is probably a question you are asking.  Well I don't really have a good answer or a good excuse. 

I took a family vacation from oct 9 to the 15th, other than that i really don't have an excuse, but i can try to give some:

excuse 1 - have been really really busy since got back from vac
excuse 2 - i'm all out of excuses haha

this week is about done now, so i will challenge myself to get back to writing next week, till then God bless and go and worship the KING :)

chris

How do you see me?

^21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ^22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—  (Col 1:21-22, NIV)

Some people struggle with self image, admittedly sometimes i do as well.  My past sometimes veers it's ugly head and reminds me of the person i was (yes, was notice past tense).  Sometimes I run from that, or try to.  Sometimes i dream of it.  I used to really not like the person i was.

I didn't like how alcohol consumed my life,
I didn't like how i treated women,
I didn't like jumping from one relationship to another.
I didn't like wandering around aimlessly in this life.
I didn't like feeling like I had no purpose.
I didn't like me.....

I was an enemy of  God (vs.21)

Yes, an enemy of God.  If your not with Him, you are against Him.  If your not helping, you are hindering.

It's reality.

but then.........

Nov 30, 1997 happened, I became a Christ follower and something amazing happened (vs. 22)

I am reconciled
I am Holy
I am without blemish
I am free from accusation
In the sight of God   - and everyone else's opinion really doesn't matter.

and now

I love God
I love Me
I love my Family
I love my life

have a great day,  Chris

the phone call

^4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— ^5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel (Col 1:4-5, NIV)

As a minister to students I get alot of phone calls, the majority of them are bad. 

"you wouldn't believe what came out of one of YOUR students mouths at school today"
"my daughter has no respect for me, will YOU teach them to honor mom and dad"
"will YOU do something about that boys anger, he spun the tires leaving parking lot"
"she is always starting so much drama, will YOU do something"
"i've heard enough, so i'm not coming back, until YOU do something"
"YOU have a student causing trouble, YOU should do something"
"my children are fighting, will YOU do something"

and i could go on......

The few and far between phone calls/emails i get are about their faith, how God has moved in their lives, how they are impacting others, how impressed parents are by what their child is doing or not doing.  I know it's happening, I see it happening.

So to my students may you know that I have seen your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for one another, and it springs forth in your life.  Keep up the good work.  May others see what impact Christ is making in your life, may it be evident.

have a God filled rest of the week, Chris

random thought

ok so todays blog is just some random thoughts, or thought, i have had.  Just finished Joshua and havn't decided what NT Book i am going to begin reading, but i should have decided by tomorrow.

Passion, where is it?  what has happened to it?

ok let's start with What is Passion?

Webster's definition:  a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept

(Merriam-Webster, Inc: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed. Springfield, Mass., U.S.A. : Merriam-Webster, 1996, c1993)

 

I can go with that, so the better question is where is our strong liking, or desire for devotion to CHRIST?

 

Now listen, I absolutely will not say I am more passionate than others, that's not fair.  REality is some days my passion is greater than others.

 

I have some students that clearly show they have a passion for Christ, and other's well, they act like they could care less.  I struggle with this angering me, How can we act like we can care less about Christ with what He has done for us.  I struggle with watching the ungratefulness that generations both young and old have for Christ and His bride (the church).

 

So what changed?  How did we get to this point?  what do we need to do to change it?  How should we measure passion? 

 

What does God think about passion?

 

^15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ^16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

(Re 3:15-16, NIV)

 

Lord I don't want to be just luke warm.....who is with me?

 

Chris

They will, I will, so .... will you?

^14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ^15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”  (Jos 24:14-15, NIV)

We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”  (Jos 24:18, NIV)

 ^21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”

^22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

^23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

^24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” (Jos 24:21-24, NIV)

 

There is a progression in these verses, it begins with Joshua telling them that He will serve the Lord, then the people say "we will", Joshua tells them (more or less) that they had better be sure of this, and they respond "we will", Joshua then tells them if they are going to serve they need to promise (22) and they said "we will", then Joshua tells them again listen if your going to do this you have some work to do (23) and they again responded, "we will".

 

Its all about choice though.  I make that determination, you make that determination.  The problem is we say we are going to make this choice, that we are going to worship and serve God, and then God shows us some stuff we need to work on and unfortunately we back off from our promise/choice.

 

God did not design me or you to be robots, so the choice is up to you.  I am going to serve, worship, be used of God, so will you?  You decide....

 

Chris

10 things i've done, and would do again

Just thought randomly for fun i would list 10 things today that I have done, that I would love to do again, and they are in no particular order:

1. I camped once with my parents when I was a kid at lake hartwell, you know "real" camping, tents and sleeping bags, havn't done it since.
2. I spent a summer in London in 1985, loved it, and would go back in heartbeat if i could, would love for my kids to experience what I did.
3. Take an Out west trip again, saw Grand Canyon, was in Tombstone, four corners, saw some of the rocky mountains, went to Dodge city, you get the picture.
4. Went to pocono mountains for our honeymoon, there was a family resort close to where we stayed.
5. Brandy's baseball team is Braves mine is Brewers, we went to see braves v. brewers in Atlanta couple years ago..
6. Went all out about 11 years ago at disney, a full package, stayed on the resort, had all meals paid for, park hopper passes, got to ride monorail or other disney transportation everywhere we wanted to go, would love to do that for rebekah, samantha, and olivia. (ps this was before mortgage and three other kids, haha)
7. Philadelphia, loved the city, would greatly like to revisit
8. My dad and i took "father and son" trip, coupla years ago, didn't last year, would like to do again.
9. Disaster Relief, love helping others and sharing Christ
10. i got to drive a stock car at Charlotte motor speedway, def would do that again

and a bonus def do again:

• my life, love my life and would relive the whole thing again to this point :)

have a wonderful day, Chris

How big is your God?

⁹ Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise. ¹⁰ The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered them in great numbers at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon and attacked them at Azekah and Makkedah, killing them along the way. ¹¹ As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword. (Jos 10:9-11, NLT)

Israel has always had troubles around its borders.  Amorites where always trying to take over, Joshua knew it and God knew it.  So God told Joshua to gather men together and head towards Gibeon.  He did not knowing fully how exactly God was going to handle it.  In fact here is what God told him:

 ⁸ “Do not be afraid of them,” the Lord said to Joshua, “for I will give you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.” (Jos 10:7, NLT)

So we knew that God is a big God, we know that there is alot he can do.  He created everything (Genesis 1), He sustains everything.  These verses show us he pelted them with hail and killed more with the hail than Israel killed with the sword (vs. 11).  But did you know God also can make everything stop:

^12 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“O sun, stand still over Gibeon,

O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

^13 So the sun stood still,

and the moon stopped,

till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. (Jos 10:12-14, NIV)

It's no wonder it threw everyone into confusion.

so, If you believe in a big God that can create and control His creation, then why do we act like our God cannot control or handle the problems in our own life.

So How big is your God?  How you answer that determines how much of your life you give to Him.

have a great weekend, Chris.

a person i met, and a God story to tell

God granted me the opportunity last week to travel to New Bern, NC to assist in cleaning up after the mess Hurricane Irene left behind on the NC Coast.  When I get to do trips like this it is always interesting, you learn more about the people you go with, you meet some other awesome Christians from all across the state, and you get to hear the "stories" from people's experiences that you are helping out.  Today I want to share with you about one in particular person i met (and i met many while there) and one amazing God story.

Meet "Mamma Shorty":

Mamma Shorty was in a nursing home until about a year ago, her daughter (left of picture) decided to move back home with Mamma Shorty, so that she could get her out of the nursing home.  This home has been in the family for 5 generations now.  The home was undamaged by Irene, but Irene did manage to destroy a coupla big trees in there yard.  These trees where still standing but they did have what we call "widow maker's" (big limbs hangin on by a mere thread).  So we cut down the trees for her and her daughter.  They are amazing women, Mamma Shorty's daughter would pray, and mamma Shorty, would be "amenin" haha.  Sweet ladies and so appreciative of us being there.

A God Story:
Don't know the guy's name but he was living in a rented trailer.  He kept asking the owner to cut down some trees around the trailer because he felt "unsafe" about them.  The owner kept refusing.  The tenant got fed up, and moved out End of July/first of August.  Glad he did see picture:

Fortunately the trailer was still unoccupied during the storm.

One last thing, As NC Baptist men Disaster relief, we have always held an outstanding reputation anywhere we have been to assist.  New Bern was no different.  On Friday we took a late lunch and stopped at Chick Filet to grab a bite.  The Store manager literally went out of his way to run to the door and open it for us, and shook our dirty hands when we walked in, then it was like we where celebrities in there by the way not only the employees and customers talked and treated us.  I don't recall ever being told "thankyou for what your doing" so many times in my life.

It's an honor to serve, have a great week, Chris.

Hurricane Irene

I am proud to be part of one of the largest Disaster Relief organizations in the world.  NC Baptist men is world wide, and works hand in hand with Red Cross and other government agencies.  Why? because we are efficient and do it right :).

My heart for Disaster Relief began with Hurricane Katrina, as it did for many.  Since then I have made several trips to assist.  There are alot of things in this life that i cannot or will not be able to do.  But God has granted me the opportunity to be able to do this.

Disaster Relief has been an eye opener on several occasions to me, to realize how blessed I am to have a home, cars, job, and family.  To realize how fortunate I am to live where i do, that in Asheville very rarely do we have to deal with weather related Disasters.

When they call, as often as i can, I go.  I got the call, have assembled a small team, and we are leaving to head to New Bern, NC, leaving tomorrow.  I say this so my readers can know that I will not post again till next week, but also ask that you pray for myself and my team for travel and while we work.  I look forward to sharing next week about what happened.

blessings and enjoy a couple of pics from when we got the call to go Raleigh after tornadoes.

Chris.

I meant what I said

Love my twins (who are now 4) tremendously, however they are at that age where, they push their absolute limit with me.  I warn them not to do something and give them consequences time out, bed, or spanking (yes i spank my children).  It amazes me how many times it gets to the point where i Have to give them the consequences, makes me sad...  Did you know God feels this way:

But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. (Jos 7:1)

and...

^11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. ^12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. (Jos 7:11-12)

When Joshua overtook Jericho God was very specific about something NOT to do:

^18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. ^19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

(Jos 6:18-19)

 

 

 

Moral of the story:  Just as I don't want to punish my children, neither does God; however if He doesn't we will just keep thinking we can get away with not listening. 

 

harsh reality, but true, blessings on your day, Chris

The Craziest thing I ever heard

^3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. ^4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. ^5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.”

(Jos 6:3-5, NIV)

 

Joshua led the people to Jericho, when they got there, in the beginning of chapter 6, it tells us the city was well fortified (aka a big wall).  What God tells Joshua to do is the absolute craziest thing i have ever heard, or so it would seem.  God tells him to march around the city for six days, then on the seventh day march around seven times, play horns, and shout.  Yep, that it, play horns and shout.....and God said the walls would collapse.

 

Now imagine what kind of faith it takes here to follow through with this.  Imagine how the people laughed and mocked Joshua. 

 

Guess what???

 

seventh day, Joshua did what He was supposed to and: 

 

^20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.  (Jos 6:20, NIV)

 

God grant me the faith and trust to do what seems to me the craziest thing, no matter what it is You ask.

 

have a blessed day, Chris

my bucket list

a change from the ordinary again with my blog, today is my bucket list (what I would like to do before i kick the bucket), and they are in no particular order.  I have never actually sat down and made a list, so they will come randomly.

1) See Duke play at Cameron Indoor Stadium
2) Go on African Safari
3) See New York City during Christmas
4) Boston in the fall
5) Get my master's degree
6) See Packers play at Lambeau Field
7) Go to Hawaii
8) Skydive
9) Hot Air balloon
10) Mt. Rushmore
11) Meet Mike Huckabee
12) Have my ninja back for a day to ride around Road Atlanta
13) Retire and do nothing but disaster relief work
14) see ALL my kids graduate College
15) see and tour Washington & White House
16) Have a book published
17) Drive an Indy Car
18) Cancun
19) Trip to the Holy Land
20) See a race at the Brickyard

There could be more, but I got to feeling like my "wants" where too selfish :)

have great day< Chris

got stones?

^20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. ^21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ^22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ ^23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. ^24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”  (Jos 4:20-24, NIV)

The Jordan River was at flood stage (vs. 18), Joshua and the Israelites needed to cross.  Big problem, or so it seemed.  God told Joshua that the moment the priests feet touched the banks of the Jordan He would dry it up.  Joshua gathered them together, and they departed.  God did as promised (3:16), and God told Joshua that when they where halfway across the twelve leaders from the twelve tribes where to grab stone, then when they where across they where to build a monument out of those stones to commemorate and remember what God had done.

So my question to you is, do you have stones?  Do you or have you picked up something along the way each time God has done something to remember the amazing things He has done in your life.  You should, if you haven't start now.  It is easy to forget, it is easy to reflect on the negative.  The purpose is so that one day when someone asks, what is the stone (or whatever you choose to remember with) for, you can quickly remember and tell what He has done.

How will they know unless we tell them....stones, get some :)

have a great weekend, Chris

10 facts about me

ok today's blog is a little different than my norm (but change is good right?).  If you normally read my blog for my daily devotions today i read Joshua 2:8-3:17, and it has nothing to do with my blog, today's blog is just 10 facts (don't know if there interesting to you or not) about me (and are in no particular order)

1.  I love being a youth pastor, most ppl cant deal with youth, that's ok cause most youth don't like to deal with ppl...  haha, has been the absolute greatest experience of my life!
2.  I love being a husband and a dad, have been married to brandy for 13 years on September 4, and i have 4 daughters, there is no greater feeling in the world than to see their smiles and feel their hugs when they run to see me every afternoon when i get home
3.  I am a hardcore Duke fan.  Grant Hill is my fav Duke player of all time.  I have only seen Duke play in person twice, both where against Clemson at Little John.
4.  My favorite Quarterback of all time is Brett FAvre, i think he is the greatest QB ever.  You may disagree, but it's my blog :)  I have gotten to see brett three times.  Once I saw him a spring training at the Green Bay practicing facility, the other two times i saw Green Bay play Carolina in Charlotte, once on a cold, cold monday night game, and once on a sunny sunday afternoon.
5.  I love sports.  Though i am not good at any.  I love watching football (high school, college, and nfl), like basketball (but only high school and college), like NASCAR (tony stewart) but don't hardly get to see any cause always busy on Sundays, like to play (but not watch) golf.
6.  I love to ride (motorcycles), although I sold my Ninja this past spring, and am without a bike currently, I still love the feeling of being on the open road, tis so awesome.  I will have a bike again oneday.
7.  I am a Mike Huckabee fan.  Have never met him, got close to him and snapped a pic one time at the Southern Baptist Convention in Florida.  I think he would have made an excellent President, if He could have gotten in there.  I like his books, have read most, and he is an excellent speaker, and preacher.
8.  I am nearly 40 and trying to get back into shape.  In the mid 1990's, when i was in mid 20's i was in pretty good shape, went to the gym and worked out 3 times a week, lost a lot of weight and actually started building some muscle mass (i know right), then ruptured two disks in my back and that was the end of my weight lifting years.  realized about a year ago that i am really out of shape and overweight, so decided i needed to do something about it.  Have modified my eating habits, and have picked up jogging.  Have lost 10 lbs so far and am very proud of myself.
9. My favorite movies are the Star Wars series, and the Pirates of Caribbean movies, anytime they on i am watching.
10. I am writing a book based upon a series i did last year with my youth called, "Finding Balance in Life" and hope to have it published one day.

There could be many more, but I am stopping at 10

Have a great day, Chris

When was the last time.....

When was the last time you sat and watched a sunrise?
When was the last time you sat and watched a sunset?
When was the last time you sat and watched the clouds?
When was the last time you played in the rain?
When was the last time you played hide and seek?
When was the last time you played with your kids/grand kids for hours uninterrupted?
When was the last time you went for a walk in the woods alone?

or:

When was the last time you really went out on a limb for someone?
How about someone you didn't know?

^4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. ^5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” ^6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) ^7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. (Jos 2:4-7, NIV)

The woman was a lady named Rahab, she had a bad name in the land; the beginning of chapter 2 tells us she was a prostitute.  Joshua had sent 2 men to scout out the land of Jericho (the land God had promised them they would have).  While they where there the king of Jericho caught wind there where spies (scouts) there, hence he sent soldiers to capture and more than likely kill.  The scouts while fleeing came across the home of Rahab, she took them in and hid them.  Not only did she hide them, she sent the soldiers chasing after them in the dark.  Rahab really went out on a limb to help these two scouts, whom she didn't even know, so my question and challenge to you is:  when was the last time you really went out on a limb to help someone, and did it without any personal agenda?  I hope you do soon, God brings people into our lives everyday and one of them might be someone God wants you to help, so will you?

food for thought, have a great midweek day!

chris

The Secret of my Success

^3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ^4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. ^5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  (Jos 1:3-5, NIV)

Joshua had just gotten the worst news ever, His mentor, leader, father figure Moses was dead, and now it was time for him to take the helm.  Can you even begin to imagine how he must have felt.  Sorrow for his loss, pressure because of the weight he must have felt now, and confusion on what to do next.  Then God, I love that, Then God .... spoke to him.

We measure success by $$$$ or prominence.  But really what is success, and how do you gain it?  If you gain all the education you ever wanted is that success?  or maybe if you never had to want for $$$ is that success?  maybe its that dream job you landed, is that success? 

if that is success how do you get there?

what do I have to do?

what if i never have the Italian sports car, the big house, fat check book, awards on my wall, trophies on my shelf, does that mean I am not successful?

there is alot of confusion about success and what it means...

so here it is:

 ^7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (Jos 1:7, NIV)

you see all the other things i mentioned impress man, but doesn't even come close to impressing God, who by the way controls your eternal destiny.

success has to do with obedience, which has to do with following.  God said if you follow me and don't get sidetracked, that is success.

soooo, this means that the grocery store clerk, waitress, flight attendant, lawyer, doctor, nurse, custodian, teacher, bus driver, police, firefighter, mayor, president, congressman, convenience store clerk, CEO of company, pastor, beautician, barber, military personnel, governor, auto mechanic, secretary, teacher's assistant, librarian, air traffic controller, computer programmer, telemarketer, banker, auto salesman, pediatrician, taxi driver, news anchor, journalist, engineer, sales associate, drive thru worker, professional athlete, college professor, coach, preschool teacher, physical therapist, special education teacher, construction worker, security guard, EMT, stay at home mom or dad, full time student, and whatever else you can think of; if they are following God, that is success.

have a grand and glorious day, Chris

this is what hurts the worst

^54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ^55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ^56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

^57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

^58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

^59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

^60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ^61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ^62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.  (Lk 22:54-62, NIV)

 

Jesus was about to endure to unbelievable pain and suffering; however I think what just happened to Him in these verses probably hurt worse and any physical pain one could encounter.  For three and a half years Jesus poured all that He had into the lives of the disciples, EVERYTHING.  Here it is, hours after they where all together, one betrayed Him, ten completely bailed on Him, and Peter openly denies he ever knew Him.

 

I have discovered this feeling as of recent days, and am working through it.  Nothing hurts worse than pouring all that you have into lives, and they turn in a hurry and act like they never knew you.  Imagine that for a minute.  Maybe you have had it happen.  So what do you do?  What do i do?  Better question is What did Jesus do?

 

Well with Judas, he hung himself (not good) so there was really no chance for reconciliation there, with the ten Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection and assured them it was Him and they where all good again, and of course the end of the Gospel of John Jesus reinstates Peter.  Eventually it all works out, but still hurts in the meantime.  The thing was Peter figured out that He was wrong in what he did (vs. 62) because He wept over what he had done, and He wanted to make things back right.

 

blessings on your day, have a great weekend, and go worship on Sunday...

 

chris

I'm better than you are.....

If you read me regularly, you will notice this blog is similar to one last week (I'm glad I'm not like...); however this is some differences.  In my reading through Luke the subject rose up again about this type of attitude.

^24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ^25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ^26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ^27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ^28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials.  (Lk 22:24-28, NIV)

If you have read my blog before you well know, as i have shared, that i cannot stand this attitude.  There is a reason behind why.  I went to TC Roberson High school (granite it was 21 years ago); there are some things i remember well.  As it is today I went to school with alot of students from Biltmore Forest who where, let's just say well off.  Now let me make a footnote here that I am making a blanket statement, but I think you will receive the point.  I am from a modest family, middle class, and quiet neighborhood.  I did not dress in the latest fashions or latest trends.  Because of this, always felt like i was looked down at, made fun of, and was never part of the "in" crowd, or popular.  I always felt like I was never "good enough" to hang around the popular crowd. 
Now working with students on a full time basis, i cannot stand when i see other students outcasting someone.  I cannot stand when they get this attitude of "I am better than you".  There is simply no place for it in the Kingdom of God.  It also breaks my heart, cause i know how the student feels, but most importantly it breaks the Heart of God.
My other pet peeve is how we treat a waiter/waitress at a restaurant.  The question is that Jesus poses is this:  who is better the one who serves or the one who is served?  Before you answer that question, let me answer it for you, Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.  So next time you in a restaurant remember you are no better than the person waiting on you.  The next time you in school, work, or neighborhood and your thinking your better than someone else because of the way you dress, where you live, what you drive, where you go to school, or how old you are remember this:  vs. 26 Jesus says you are not to be like that.

love to my readers, Chris

you see there's this one thing.....

^18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

^19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ^20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

^21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

^22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

^23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.  (Lk 18:18-23, NIV)

 

There is always that one thing, you know what i mean.  We are like, "God i give you all this, everything i have"; Then God tell's us "that is great, I'm so proud of you; however there is just this one thing you havn't given to me".  The rich ruler was a good man, treated others well, followed commandments, but there was just this one thing.  He was holding onto his wealth, He wasn't willing to sacrafice it and guess what, God knew that the wealth was what He was trusting and Not God.  So Jesus gave him a little test, told him to sell it all.  It wasn't that He really had to do it, the problem was, he wouldn't even consider it.

 

So what is your one thing that your holding onto?  We are like, "God don't worry i can handle it"  Jesus tells us to give it up and follow him.  Yesterday I did this, was the last thing I was holding onto, and I let it go; wasn't easy, but God kept telling me i needed to over and over.  I kept telling God, don't worry i got this, i can handle it.  Now don't get me wrong, got up today and started to go back after that "one thing", but as of writing this i havn't. 

 

So again, what is your one thing?  let it go..... and watch God do something amazing in your life.

 

Chris let it go and you can to, stop holding onto that one thing.

 

Blessings on your Wednesday, and go somewhere to get that mid week encouragement.

 

love to my readers, chris

I'm glad i'm not like........

^9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ^10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ^11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ^12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

^13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

^14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk 18:9-14, NIV)

 

There are several things in this world that frustrate me, this is one.  It frustrates me when a Christian (supposedly "one of our own), looks down their nose at another believer.  It sends a cold chill down my back when somebody says "I sure am glad I'm not (insert name here)" and then tries to justify themselves by talking about how great they are because of the things they have done.  UGH!  That is a Pharisee, and Jesus battled Pharisees His whole ministry.  Just because you have been dealt a "better hand" than someone else does not make you a better person.

You and I need to realize it is by the Grace of God we are where we are and nothing else.  God has a way of making vs. 14 happen, "everyone who exalts (thinks too highly of themselves) will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted".

 

Remember when it comes to the children of God, there is none "better" than the other, we all get to God by way of the cross.

 

have blessed day, Chris

Don't give up

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ^2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. ^3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

^4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, ^5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

^6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ^7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  (Lk 18:1-7, NIV)

 

I really needed these verses today.  I have a prayer need, that i have been praying for, well honestly for quite a while, it's a huge load, a very stressful load, and one quite honestly that i am so tired of dealing with.  You know what I mean?  I have prayed over and over and over and over and over and over, and over.  Yet, it has not been answered yet.  I get frustrated, upset, and depressed.  Then God reminds me of who He is, like these verses today.

 

God is looking for persistence in our prayer, it's like He is asking, "How serious are you about this?" or maybe a "You really need to think this prayer through" or how about is He asking, "what is your motive for this prayer".  It could also be that God is telling us "not yet", and we don't want to hear that (or at least I don't).  Maybe we are looking for a way out, when God i wanting to help us go through?  there are so many things going on that our eyes cannot see.  God sees the whole perspective, where as you and I only see what is right in front of us, there here and now.

 

So what I am saying my friends, and what i am reminding myself is this:  Don't give up, keep praying, God is listening.  He cares so much about what is going on in our lives, He loves us more than we will ever understand, and whatever is going on; He knows and He is right there, right in the middle of our lives. 

 

Hope you found today encouraging, you pray for me and I will pray for you.

 

Chris

 

 

1 out of 10 isn't bad (it's horrible)

^11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ^12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy^ met him. They stood at a distance ^13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

^14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

^15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ^16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

^17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? (Lk 17:11-17, NIV)

 

Today is going to hit you and i pretty hard (just being honest); but i pray you continue reading....

 

Ten lepers yelling at Jesus to heal them, He does, and yet only one praised Him for it.  That's it; that is the synopsis of these verses.  Here is how it lays out, I sit in a half empty church every week.  Where are the people to thank Him?  Now admittedly I know you can thank God at Home, absolutely sure you can.  However, there is just something about being in Church (that's a whole different discussion).

Here is what it boils down to, the people that tell me over and over that you don't have to be in church to Praise God are simply using that as an excuse to NOT praise God.  You can argue if you want to, but in the end you know in your heart and mind that i am correct.

 

You and I have so much to be thankful for, seriously, take inventory of your life.  Times are tough, Times are really tough for me right now, really tough, unbelievably tough, stressful high blood pressure not sure what I'm going to do tough.....but does that mean God doesn't deserve my praise??

 

So here is what i think happened to the Ten Lepers: (meant to be serious, yet funny)

Leper 1- Decided after being healed He needed to go home and praise by Himself, cause it's personal

Leper 2- Decided to go to the brand new Jerusalem 2D theatre to see the new movie coming out

Leper 3- Decided that since he was healed now would be a good time to see his girlfriend

Leper 4- Decided that since he was healed now would be a good time to see his family

Leper 5- Decided he needed to be at home to watch "Dancing with the Pharisees"

Leper 6- Decided to go with some friends to Disneyland in Jerusalem

Leper 7- Had tickets to the Olympics, so you know he had to go

Leper 8- Had been up all night, so he needed to sleep in

Leper 9- Had to work

Leper 10 - Decided no matter what, He was going to Celebrate with Jesus, in Jesus' presence.

 

So which leper you gonna be?

 

Have blessed day, Chris