Just keep swimming



My favorite scene from "Finding Nemo", Dory singing "Just Keep Swimming".  My youth probably get tired of me telling them the truth out of this song.  There is a core spiritual truth which is found here:

^14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

(Php 3:14, NIV)

Pressing on (or just keep swimming) is not easy.  Sometimes life does get you down sometimes your are Mr. Grumpy Gills.  So the question i pose to you is, what are you going to do about it?

You can give up.

You can complain.

You can get mad.

You can blame God

You can blame circumstances

You Can blame bad luck.

or

You can press on, keep swimming, and get to the other side of whatever is going on.  Life is never easy its full of bad situations, circumstances, and something crazy around ever corner.

but on the other hand.

life is also full of wonderful surprises, great friendships, happy occasions, awesome milestones, and a God that loves you and created you for a purpose.

So we have to press on (just keep swimming) to push through the dark days and look forward to the bright days.

So remember:  Just Keep Swimming.

Love to all, Chris

Time (is not on your side)

"Time" by Hootie and the blowfish

Time is rarely ever my friend, how about you?

It seems like i :
Don't have time to read...
Don't have time to spend with my kids....
Don't have time to spend with my wife....
Don't have time to have any fun....
Don't have time to exercise....
Don't have time to sleep....
Don't have time to eat...
Don't have time to watch a movie...
Don't have time to relax...
Don't have time to ______ (fill in the blank)

Time is like our worst enemy...  I have gotten better at time management, though I have not perfected it.  We really have to sit down and decide what are the most important things that I need to do today.  In the midst of trying to figure out what we have (and don't have time for), God is usually the one who suffers when it comes to us spending time with; and yet when we make a list of stuff we want to do; God misses out on that one too.  Jesus addressed this time issue:

^13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Mt 25:13, NIV)

You and I don't have a clue of when our last day or hour and this earth will be.  One minute we can be alive, the next, well, we are faced with eternity.  I want to challenge you today with making a list of all the things you say you "don't have time to do", and then take the time to do them.  You won't regret it.

Unfortunately with the nature of my work, I spend time with people who are facing death, not a one of them over the last 10 years has ever said, "I wished i would have worked more, or spent more time away from home"  Most of them have said: I wished i would have-

spent more time with kids, grandkids
spent more time with spouse
spent more time with family
spent more time reading Bible
spent more time praying
spent more time serving God.

Don't live life with regrets, While you have read this the clocked has ticked more time off your life, so don't let it have been a waste, make a change, manage your time.

Have a great day, Chris

top 10 favorite games of all time

This is my favorite games I have seen of all time and are in no particular order:

1. December 22, 2003: Just one day after the sudden death of his father, Irv, Favre passed for 399 yards and four touchdowns on "Monday Night Football" in a blowout win. final score Packers 41, Raiders 7
2. Jan. 26, 1997: Superbowl XXXI, Favre passed for two touchdowns (54, 81 yards). final score: Packers 35, Patriots 21
3. January 27, 2001, "Miracle Minute", Maryland was up by 10 with 54 seconds to go, Maryland made some costly mistakes, Duke takes advantage scores 10 pts and takes it to overtime. final score: Duke 98 Maryland 96
4. Feb 2, 1995, the 2 OT loss, Duke is suffering it's worst season in a long while, but still manages to take #2 UNC to double overtime, it was a loss for Duke, but a memorable game.  Final Score: UNC 102, Duke 100
5. Sept. 1, 2007, "Miracle in Michigan", I only saw the end of the game, but it was awesome.  Underrated under appreciated App State goes into the Big House and shocks Michigan, called one of the biggest upsets in American sports history, and put Boone, NC on the map.  It was the first win ever by a team in Division I FCS (I-AA) over a "ranked" team in Division I FBS (I-A) since the NCAA split its Division I into two football subdivisions in 1978.final score: App 34 Michigan 32
6. January 8, 2009, BCS National Championship Game, Tim Tebow's two touchdown passes and Percy Harvin's two-yard touchdown run led the Florida Gators to their second BCS National Championship in three seasons. Final Score Florida 24 Oklahoma 14
7. January 3, 2003, BCS Championship game, Don't know why this game always sticks out with me, maybe it was the double overtime in National Championship, and it sticks out in my memory, strange though since I am neither a Miami or Ohio st. fan, but i remember it being a "good game".  Final Score Miami 24 Ohio St. 31
8. September 8, 1998, "the home run battle", Mark McGuire in a game against Sosa's Cubs and with members of the Maris family in attendance, he hit Steve Trachsel's pitch 341 feet - his shortest home run of the season - just over the left field wall, breaking the record for the most home runs ever hit in a single season. Final Score: Cardinals 6  Cubs 3
9. December 18, 1994, "the last game at county stadium".  This was the last time the Packers would play at Milwaukee County Stadium (home of the Brewers at the time).   Great ending to an era with a great ending to a game, with fourteen seconds left, the winning 9-yard touchdown run was scored by Brett Favre.  Final Score:  Falcons 17 Packers 21
10. February 1, 2009, Superbowl XLIII, Love it when the "old Man", AKA Kurt Warner, has another chance at glory, with the underdog Arizona Cardinals (who by the way no one gave a chance); although they lost, it was an extremely close game.  final score:  Arizona 23 Pittsburgh 27
11. Honorable Mentions, all four Duke National Championships, especially April 5, 2010 final Score Duke 61 Butler 59

Well that is my short list, I would have to say my favorite would be a tie between Favre's Monday night madness vs. Oakland, and The Duke miracle minute vs. Maryland.

Have a wonderful day, and what would your fav game of all time be?

Chris

Done any dancing lately?

^14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, ^15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. (2 Sa 6:14-15, NIV)

This is how we know for a fact, scriptural, that King David was NOT Southern Baptist, cause any SB knows that under no circumstances do you EVER dance.  I say that in Jest, sort of, however do you know how many believe that?  I have actually heard some say that it actually wasn't "dance" that he was just walking around "fast or something", seriously?  So check this out, The Hebrew word used here is  כָּרַר [karar /kaw·rar/] which translates "to whirl or to dance", don't know you argue what the Hebrew text translates, there it is in black and white....

But here is what Chris takes out of this, cause quite frankly i have never enjoyed dancing.  David was having fun.  what??????  Fun, in church???  ummm yeah.  He had fun dancing then he shouted.  (it's there go back and look).  I have always felt like there has to be some "fun" element to Church, and i know that to some they would have really shocked looks on their faces when they hear that but really think about it.  David was enjoying the moment:

He danced

He shouted

He had fun.

I believe with all my heart that it is very possible to "have fun, but maintain a heart of worship".

I have been doing it for 10 years.

Loosen up, have fun, worship God.

Chris.

I broke my valentine's tradition

I normally don't participate in the Valentine's hoopla.  I am of the opinion of a few things:

1. I treat my wife and kids all year long that i love them; therefore Feb 14 is just another day i treat them like i love them.
2. I am of the opinion that card and florist companies use this day to jack up prices and make us feel like we "have" to do this (its a marketing thing).
3. If you want to show someone you love them, do something sacrificial (which by the way is not candy and flowers); do their laundry for them, cook them a meal, make them a handwritten note (not a bought card), wash their car.  I'm for being practical about showing love.

However this year, i broke my standing tradition.  I bought my wife something, not a big thing, just something i picked up a month or so back, i should have given it weeks ago, but I waited till today.  Then we are off to The Cove tonight for Dinner and a Bible Study.

So why did i choose to give it to her today and not, tomorrow or yesterday?  keeps her guessing.  She knows how i feel about how blown out of proportion Vday is.  So the surprise was that she wasn't expecting anything out of ordinary today.  haha. 

BTW, found this tidbit about the origin of Valenties Day and there is nothing romantic about it:

Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.^[5] The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae).^[6] Valentine of Rome^[7] was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. (taken from Wikipedia)

have a great day, Chris

a blog about nothing

so why are you reading this?  it's a blog about "nothing", well obviously its about something....

I have been bad this week, aka no blogs, and well today I decided I "have to" I "need to" but about what?  So indecisive today...

My mind is fluttering with so much:

1. I am missing my Grammy really bad, I miss our Sunday lunches, our "daily" phone calls (btw if i didn't call she would call me and I quote, "well i thought i would call because i haven't heard from you today"; I would give anything to hear that today.
2. I am missing my friend Keith Knighten.  It will be a year in march, wow, doesn't seem like it.  I saw so much life in him, so much potential, he never would let his handicap keep him down, and then: he was gone.
3. I am so proud of my friend Brian Lee, who has had his first book published and is available online at barnes and noble and on amazon (although it is cheaper on barnes and noble); "The legend's of beverly's hill" you should check it out.  So people ask me what is it about, my response is "i haven't read it yet" lol
4. I love college bball, am a Duke fan through and through, they beat UNC, which i am usually so pumped about, but not so much this year, wonder why???
5. I am wrapped up busy scheduling this summer for my youth, wow the calendar is so full already and we are still a good 4 months from then.
6. this is item 6
7. Miss my pops, who is in Florida.
8. So much to do on a Friday, and I am writing a blog of random thoughts, this is called "procrastination"
9. trying to think of a couple of more so i can get to 10 points.
10. this officially ends my blog of "nothing"

have a wonderful day, Chris

heigh ho heigh ho it's off to work i go

Most people spend their entire lives in a job they cannot stand, they dread getting up everyday, they call in alot, complain alot, and find no self-fulfillment in that job.  Been there; done that.  I get it, i understand it.  The seven dwarfs worked in a mine day in, and day out, yet they sing about it!!  Granite, i know that it is a cartoon, but still think about it.  No matter what your day job is, God has called you to something

bigger

better

more fulfilling:

^37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ^38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Mt 9:37-38, NIV)

I listen day after day of Christians complaining about the status of our country, the alcohol problem with students, the drug problem in America, kids having sex outside of marriage, un-wed mothers, fathers not active in kids lives, Bibles not being allowed in school, prayer in school, murder, suicide, robberies, at home break ins, kids with lack of respect for parents, no respect for authority, and the list could go on and on and on and on......

God has called us to spread the Gospel, "the good news", and yet we don't.....the harvest is definitely plentiful and the workers are definitely few.  So my question to you is:  are you a worker in the field.  I will be honest with you if you are not, you have no right to complain about the status of the country....

So let's sing a new song: "Heigh Ho Heigh Ho, it's off to spread the Gospel I go"

Will you join me, I'm waiting, and so is Jesus....

Chris

things aren't always what they seem

i love this play by a middle school football team, the QB acts like there is a penalty and that they have to "walk" the ball forward 5 yards, then BAM ran for TD:

life is the same way, it isn't always the way it seems.

^3 Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and conflict abounds.  (Hab 1:3, NIV)

Habakkuk had a "beef" with God, things just weren't right, things just wasn't fair.  Habakkuk was doing all the right things, but still life just wasn't going the way He thought it should.  Sound familiar.  Many of us feel the same way.  We are going to church, we are praying, we are reading our Bible, we are doing all the "right" things, but yet life still seems to not be working out the way we expected.  God has an answer for Habakkuk and He has an answer for us:

 

^5 “Look at the nations and watch—

and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do something in your days

that you would not believe,

even if you were told. (Hab 1:5, NIV)

God didn't "owe" Habakkuk an answer any more than He "owes" us one.  However He tells Habakkuk that He is on the verge of doing something amazing, something He would have never believed, even if God had told him.

That is what God is going to do in your life: something amazing, something that is going to blow you away, something that is going to make you sit back and say "WOW".  Just be patient, God is on the verge. 

Even when it seems as though God is not at work, that He is not answering, that He is not doing anything, remember He is.  God loves giving surprises, so wait for yours.

have a wonderful day, Chris