Lordy Lordy Chris is...... 40?

What?

Hold on a minute, I don't feel 40 and I sure don't look 40.

But according to the calendar I am.

Wow, where has time gone?

I have had 40 wonderful years, i have no complaints.

Have I had some bad times, yup no doubt.  However, as I look at the last 40, I am no less amazed at where I am and what God has done.

1. I have a God that loves me NO matter what
2. I have a wife that i adore
3. I couldn't ask for 4 better girls that what i have
4. I have parents that are awesome
5. the best in laws in the world
6. a job that i love
7. the best friends anyone could ask for
8. one of the greatest youth groups in the world
9. a church i look forward to worshipping with every week
10. a bright future

So here is to the first 40 and hey who knows maybe 40 more

thank you for all my birthday wishes you all are so kind.

Carowinds NightHawk

Do you recognize this coaster?

It is "Nighthawk" at Carowinds, I was there July 2.  Now rollercoasters rarely bother me, but i have found that as i am getting older there are some now that, well let's just say "get to me".  Ok the truth:  this one really scared me.  There was something about it, something that made me extremely uncomfortable.

Carowinds website describes the ride as follows:

• The Carolina's only flying coaster soars riders through eight inversions, most while flying face down, zooming toward the ground and turning skyward just in time for the next inversion.
• The unique rider position offers breathtaking and virtually unobstructed views of the park.
• Your friends on the ground can walk under the ride and cheer you on through your whirlwind tour.

 If you never rode it before you have a lap bar and a "vest" holding you in, and you are laying "face down" throughout the ride to give you the sensation of "flying".  I remember getting strapped in, then the ride lays you backwards, at this point i thought, "I don't wanna do this, ummmmmm too late", and at this point i have to admit i closed my eyes and simply endured the ride.  Meanwhile beside me was my friend Brian Lee, who has his armed stretched out enjoying the ride (mainly because he wants his superpower to be flying).  Point being I missed the entire ride because of "fear" where as Brian enjoyed the ride because he was not afraid.

So what's the point?  Life can be down right scary sometimes.  Life can make us want to close our eyes, minds, doors, etc. and miss the whole thing.

What is God's response:

Jesus says, " Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matt. 14:27)

The story behind when Jesus says this is when the Disciples where out in the middle of the sea, and Jesus appears to them walking on water.  All of the Disciples where afraid, except Peter, who listened to Jesus and got past his fear and stepped out on the water with Jesus.  Something amazing happened (though short lived) simply because he let go of his fear.

Let go of your fear, take courage, and follow Jesus.

Have a blessed day, Chris.

BTW, unless Jesus tells me to i shall not ever ride Nighthawk, ever.  haha

a perplexing sign

Church signs can be quite humorous sometimes, sometimes they can be thought provoking, and unfortunately sometimes they just make me shake my head.

"We have better Sunday's than DQ"

"The Wage's of Sin are higher than the price of Gas"

"Sure is hot and without Jesus it will get hotter"

"Turn or burn; eternity smoking or non-smoking"

need i go on?

I saw one this morning, "Success is being able to stand before God unashamed";  though i understand the concept and point they where getting at, it made me curious as to what scripture says about it (hence the sign did its job, it got my attention).

So what Does the Bible say about what happens when we stand before God:

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.  2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Is 6:1-5)

"17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.  18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. "(Re 1:17-18, NIV)

Just two (though there are more) sections of scripture that describe what it is like when we stand before God.  There very presence of God is so great and overwhelming that we only stand before Him with humility.  When we stand before the Creater of everything any righteous act or deed we have done, fails to comparison to the greatness of His glory.

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Is 64:6, NIV)

So what IS the sign trying to say to us then?  I would translate the sign as this:  "success is standing before God knowing that I followed Him as much as i could, except when i stumbled over myself, got distracted, or was being an idiot.  However by His grace, I asked for forgiveness and He clothed me with His righteousness, and then i was able to stand before Him unashamed".  (but i guess that is too much to put on a sign)

These are the words I want to hear when I kneel before my KING:

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mt 25:21, NIV)

Have a blessed day, Chris

Summer 2012

The last month has been crazy, I mean craaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyy.

Had an unbelievable (and remarkably smooth) week with my youth at Fort Caswell.  I love worshipping with students, they amaze me.  I saw many grow in some unbelievable ways.  My hope is always that they will come back and be different, be changed, or then Caswell is just another "week at the beach".  I love it when some come thinking that is what is gonna happen; then bam God does His work and I see their lives transformed in a week.

Then it was off to Student Impact with a group of students, Student Impact is an opportunity for students to make in impact in one of the "poorer" communities in NC, we go do volunteer work in Hayesville/Murphy area.  This week is usually my "core" group that goes.  They go knowing that it is several days of hard work, but yet they still love it.  I usually enjoy this week at Student Impact more than I do Caswell, i know as strange as it sounds your talking a week at the beach worshipping vs. a week of mission work.  However this year was a draw, because both retreats where simply amazing.

what makes these weeks so great is also this fine group that i get to work with:

I cant say enough about Brian, Jeanne, and Rachel.  I love them all dearly and they are such an encouragement to me and my ministry.  I have had the opportunity to be able to share most of this summer with them.  They are three very special people.

Well, i make it sound like the summer is over, but nope not yet.....there is till much to do for the Glory of God.  I LOVE MY JOB!!!

Chris