Tis the Season

I don't know about you but this happens to me almost every year:  I get so caught up with the stress of what needs to be done between the office, ministry, and home before Christmas.  Do you know what I mean?

I played the part in the Choir presentation "Bethlehem Morning" this year of a Youth Minister who was extremely stressed over all he needed to do before Christmas.  This was not a hard part to play, cause reality is, it was how I felt.

Then this past Wednesday happened.  I have been going to Flesher's of Fairview assisted living for over 10 years to hang out with the residents and have a Bible study.  I used to go twice a month until now my schedule is just too congested to keep that up, so I go once a month, the third Wednesday of the month.  I love going out there, the residents love me and I love spending time with them.

I played some Christmas carols on guitar and we sang, yes my singing is HORRIBLE but they love it.  We where doing a study out of Philippians 2, talking about maintaining the Christmas Joy.  Specifically vs. 15:

"So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation In which you shine like stars" (NIV)

Shine like stars

I realized something at that moment, I can't shine like a star when I am struggling with stress.

So, I am working through this realization as I am trying to teach this Bible study at Fleshers.

Then I began to think about why Christmas is so special, not just for everyone, but why it was special to me.  I began to share about how I gave my heart to Christ on November 30 1997 and how I was baptized Christmas eve that same year.  The meaning of Christmas what transpired not only through the birth of Christ but through my "new birth".

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new Creation; the old is gone, and the new is come..." (NIV)

I was made new.  I had a new life, a new purpose, a new hope, a new destination for eternity.  All because Jesus was born in a manger to become Savior of the world.

"For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"  (John 3:16) NIV

To me Christmas is so much more than what I had been making out of it.  It's a time to reflect, a time to remember, and a time to be thankful.

I love Christmas for so many reasons.  I have Always loved Christmas.  I hope I always do.

yes Tis the season

to celebrate the birth of Christ

and to celebrate the birth of Chris to Christ.

Merry Christmas

Thankful

On this thanksgiving eve I sit here surrounded by my kids (minus the oldest) in a beautiful house at what I believe to be one of the most beautiful places on earth, Seabrook Island, SC, and I can't help but be thankful.

It has become our tradition to be here for six years now.  Unfortunately it takes me away from my parents and my side of my family for this holiday.  However, its my real only chance to get a full vacation.

As I reflect on how great God has been to me over the years, I begin with my wonderful parents.  Raised me to be loving, taught me how to be ready for life, and helped make me into a productive citizen.  They provided me everything I needed throughout my life.  They have been there every time throughout my life that I have needed them.  My pops showed me that it is possible to be a father, work full time, while still working on your education, because of his example I was able to pull off the same feat.  My mom has always showed compassion and caring, mom taught me to laugh and to not take myself so seriously sometimes.  I am truly thankful for my parents.

I am thankful for my bride of 14 years.  What a ride we have had.  14 years of laughter, love, and also some hardships.  Through it all she has stuck to me.  My bride is the only one who as seen me at my worst and at my best, and yet loved me anyway.  Has been so supportive, is the model wife, and a rock solid mother for our three children.

I am thankful for my sisters.  I don't see them as often as I would like, nor talk to them as much as I should.  But I know I can  count on them.  I know that when we do talk, our relationship is such that we can pick back up where we left off.

I am thankful for my children.  From my oldest to my youngest, they are all so special to me.  I am the proud father of four beautiful young ladies.  Never would I have imagined someone as much as I do my children.  There is something different about a love for your children.  I always wondered what kind of parent I would be, sometimes I think I epically fail, other times I think I rock at it.  There is nothing more awesome than getting home and your children being so excited to see you, and to wrap their arms around you and say "I love you daddy" or "I missed you".

I am thankful for my career and my calling.  Never would I have imagined having two college degrees and trying to get the third.  Never would I have imagined the opportunity I have to be able to work with youth and children.  To truly have a career, and to LOVE what I do, and to be able to help change the lives of students is a wonderful privilege and not one I take lightly.

I am thankful for my extended family.  I have the best in laws around.  I have the best extended family.  Every side I look between my extended family and my wife's family I see encouragement, and I am loved for who I am, my flaws and all.  We all don't see eye to eye on everything, but the love helps give us a mutual respect for one another.

I am thankful for my friends.  I have some of the best friends a person could ever had.  We can sit around and laugh for hours.  I know that many of them I could call on day or night.  I know I can shared my deepest hurts and worries.  I know I can be real, and not be judged.  I can be me.  I don't have to try to be someone else.  I can let the mask down and don't have to pretend "its ok" when its not.  I thank all of you that I call friends.  I have discovered over the last 5 years who my friends really are, which has made me appreciate them even more.

I am thankful for those who help me in ministry.  God has blessed me with talented help in working with students from childhood to youth.  Because of you, makes my job so much easier, and you are impacting more lives than you will ever know.

I am thankful for my church.  Finding a great church to minister in is hard.  I am thankful for the opportunity to "dream" and to go after the dreams God has placed in front of me.  I am thankful for the "encouragers" God has placed around me.  We are not a perfect church, because there is none.  However, it's the closest one to it.....

I am thankful for my pastor.  If you think finding a great church is hard, finding a great pastor is even harder.  Its even harder if you are an associate pastor.  I am so thankful for the man God has teamed me up with.  He treats me as a partner, a co-laborer, in ministry.  Someone who God has blessed with so many gifts, the biggest one is being my friend.  Someone who is the earthly "role model" for me.  If God ever places me back as being a senior pastor, I would want to be as good as mine.

I am thankful for my Lord.  On November 30 1997 Jesus changed my life, and I've never been the same.  He gave me a new life, a new chance.  He changed me from the inside out.  I am who I am because of Jesus.

For these things and more I AM thankful.

Chris

To those who wear a badge

Today I would like to give a shout out to the men and women of law enforcement.  Those who truly have a "thankless" job.  I have learned over the last several years how unappreciated this branch of service is.

I have a habit now of when I run into a license check or if I see an officer out somewhere I try to take a moment and just thank them.  The looks I get are like "what did you say" or "is this guy loony" or even the "wonder what he is up to". 

This is such a shame.  The men and women of law enforcement work as hard as our military at keeping us safe.  Try and think of our neighborhoods without law enforcement.  Unfortunately most people look at our law enforcement in a negative way.

I have made an effort to have my kids and our kids at church more exposed to our local law enforcement in a "positive" atmosphere and not just a negative one.    I love that an officer goes to the school to read to my elementary age children, and they love it too.  Law enforcement are here to help as public servants, and not just to "arrest the bad guy", and our local agencies are making a positive effort to improve that area of public relations.

Thank you very much to the men and women of law enforcement for your efforts to keep our neighborhoods safe, my family and I appreciate it.

My challenge to you is:  thank a person of law enforcement today....

Have a great Friday,

Chris

Veteran's Day

Several years ago I was talking to a friend of mine about his time that he served with the US Marines in Vietnam.  I had always heard stories about how our troops where treated when the arrived back home, but now here I was sitting in front of someone who was describing to me what He saw in Vietnam and how he was treated upon return.  Some of the things he saw on the ground in warfare I don't know how you recover, and then to my shock to hear details about how when he arrived back on American soil that instead of people holding signs saying "welcome home"; he was spit at, cursed at, and had objects thrown at him.

Warfare hasn't changed much.  I was talking to a soldier this past summer who had just returned from Afghanistan, much of what he described to me was the same as what my friend the Marine described to me about what he saw during warfare.  Seeing more blood than you could ever imagine, friends being wounded or killed right in front of you (or even in your arms), constantly hearing gunfire or bombs going off, and never knowing what the next day, hour, or minute may hold.

Our men and women in the military are true patriots.  Serving their country, our country, and my country with no regards to their own welfare.  Leaving their families, friends, and lively hood to help protect this freedom that we enjoy everyday.  You and I have the freedom to question and protest where are military goes and what they do, however our military doesn't.  They are following orders. 

No warfare hasn't changed much, but how the American people respond has.  I am so proud of the way that we honor our military now.  We have made huge strides in making sure our men and women are welcomed when they arrive back home. 

Saturday I was at the University of Georgia for a football game.  In honor of Veterans day throughout the game they where honoring current and former students who had served or are serving in the military.  A mom and dad (one of them may have been an instructor at the school) where on the field in honor of their son currently serving in Afghanistan.  They had their sons picture up on the screen, and people where clapping, then the announcer broadcasts that they have a special surprise for the parents and asked them to turn around.  There is their son, walking across the field.... home from Afghanistan, it was an unbelievable moment.  We where no longer just fans of college football, we were all fans of America.  Fans from both sides that had once been chanting "bulldogs" or "App State" where now chanting together "USA USA". 

Yes, I would definitely say we as a country do our best to honor our men and women who serve.  Do we still have room for improvement?  Absolutely.  I believe no Veteran should be homeless, I believe all Veterans need emotional and psychological (better than what they are receiving) assistance upon arrival back home, and I believe a lot of the VA Hospitals need improvement.  However, to hear about where we were and where we are now, makes me proud.

I am sitting at home today enjoying time with my children in freedom because of the service of people like my dad, my father in law, my brother in law, my friends, my cousins, my uncles, and men and women I don't even know, and they all deserve Honor for serving their Country.

So thank you to all of you for what you have done and continue to do to provide the freedom that me and my family enjoy.

God bless you, and God bless America

Sincerely yours,

A thankful Citizen, Chris L. Reese

Where are you God?

Emotionally sometimes we can find ourselves at the end of our rope, to a point where we feel empty, lonely, and broken.  There are so many things that happen in our lives to get us there.  To some it's relationships, to some its our children, to some its our careers, to some its finances, and list could go on and on.  We all have our breaking point.

Sometimes the tears flow and we don't even know why, and we can't stop them.  Our bodies react to what we are feeling inside, the tears flow and we cant stop.  We hurt, not so much physically as emotionally.  We try to hold them back, we try to put a smile on.  Someone asks "hey are you OK" all we can muster is "I will be", while on the inside we are saying "I don't know if I CAN be".

We search for answers and there are none, and we sink deeper and deeper into despair.  The ones you can usually depend on the pull us out of this darkness are not working.  You try to smile and convince yourself that It will all be OK, while on the inside you don't believe it to be true.

We find ourselves overcome with disappointment in ourselves and others.  We find ourselves carrying so much guilt and blame, and as many times as we pray, plead, and beg we can't shake the feeling.  We feel like isolating ourselves from the world, friends, and families.

We fall to our knees and pour our hearts out to the one who created all things, tears are flowing uncontrollably and before we even realize it these words come across our lips:

"Where are you God?"

"God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us."  (Acts 17:27, NIV)

In the flood of disappointment, guilt, shame, brokenness, and tears a small still voice comes:

"I am here"

Give peace a chance

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."  (Romans 12:18, NIV)

No I'm not going hippy on you...


However imagine a world at peace.  Almost inconceivable, isn't it.  To not have a grudge, to no be arguing with anyone, anytime, over anything.  It's God's idea.

He wants us to work as hard as possible (it depends on you) to live at peace, not just with believers but with everyone.  Hard to do when you are so different sometimes.

How do you live at peace with someone that is against you morally?  How do you live at peace with someone who is against you politically?  How do you live at peace with someone who is against you spiritually?

The Same way Jesus did:  love them.

It works, by golly it works.....

I find myself surrounded by those who disagree to the top of their lungs to which things I stand for, but yet at the same time they have no ill towards me and I have no ill will towards them.

This my friends is what makes America great, it's what makes being a Christian great.  That we can appreciate each others differences and yet still love and keep peace with each other. 

I long for those days in our country, I long for those days in our state, and I long for those days in our County and City.

Sad thing is the more that we fight with each other and the larger the gap is between both sides of political arena, is that America is the one who loses.....

Chris

We need each other

"As it is there are many parts, but one body.  The eye cannot say to the hand, "I Don't need you!" and the head cannot say to the feet, "I Don't need you!"" (1 Corinthians 12:20-21, NIV)

Sometimes I think we forget that we need each other.

Your different than me, I'm different than you.  I have different likes and you may dislike my likes.  You have likes, and I may dislike your likes. 

But when its all said and done.....

We need each other.

Diversity is good.

Reality is none of us are any better than the other, we are part of the same body.  The body of Christ.  God will use you and I regardless of our likes (or dislikes), the catch is you and I have to realize that we do need each other.

I will reach a generation for Christ that a different generation can't, and that generation will reach a generation that I can't.  Its amazing how it works. 

In the end, I'm no better than anyone else and they are no better than me, we are equally important to God in the grand scheme of things.

So, I need you.... and you need me..... we need each other.

and what a team we will be

Chris

What are we doing??

We are studying 1 Corinthians on Wednesdays, and as I was preparing for the lesson last night I came across a verse that struck me, and struck me hard.  Its the kind of verse that you read and then you can't get it off your mind until you are sure you have the right answer....

"In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good" (1 Corinthians 11:17, NIV)

As a church we do a lot of "meetings" or "gatherings".  Are they doing more harm than good, or is that even possible?

Now of course when Paul wrote this to the church at Corinth they where doing some pretty corrupt things.  The big one was they where drinking the wine to get drunk at communion instead of commemorating what Christ did.  So we may not be doing that, but as a church and how we appear to the community, are we doing more harm than good.

Are my lessons doing more harm than good?  Are our worship times doing more harm than good?  Is my counseling doing more harm than good?  Is my discipleship doing more harm than good?  Is my representation of Christ doing more harm than good?  Is my ministry doing more harm than good?  Is my church doing more harm than good?  I don't like these questions, but they must be asked...

I love God, I love His people, and I love His gift of the church.  As a church is He happy with what we are doing and how we represent Him?  Are we showing grace?  Are we showing mercy?  Are we showing forgiveness?  Are we showing equality?  Are we showing Love? are we teaching the gospel

or

are we forcing our personal opinions?  are we teaching hate in the name of Love?  are we focused inwardly instead of outwardly?  are we becoming uncaring?  are we becoming fake?  are we becoming a social club?  are we becoming dogmatic? 

My head is overwhelmed with so many thoughts as I examine my own life.

In the end I have come to the conclusion that for the most part I believe that what God is doing in my ministry, in my church, and in my life is that God is indeed resiliently doing good and may He show me in the future if at anytime we (or I) begin to do more "harm than good".

Have a great day!! Chris

I cant hear you.....

Where is the power in the church today?
Why isn't God moving like He used to?
Why isn't God answering my prayer?
Why does it seem that God isn't listening to me?

Have you ever wondered this?

If it seems as though you are asking yourself these questions, the answer lies in Psalm 66:18.

"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened"

This verse is not popular with Christians because it makes us look inward.  We are like everyone else, we like to blame others for our problems.  If we are honest, we almost never want to admit that the problem may lie in you or me.

This verse tells us that if we have kept sin, not acknowledged it, in our lives that the Lord will not hear our prayers.  You and I can pray all day long, but it would never reach higher than the roof of the room we are in.  Humbling thought isn't it.  Sin has that great of an affect on us and the line of communication that we have with our Heavenly Father.

If you find yourself feeling like this line of communication between yourself and God is blocked the answer lies in self-examination.  Ask yourself, "Is there something that I have not confessed", be honest with yourself.  You know if there is.

The promise you and I have is this:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us..." (1 John 1:9, NIV)

There is nothing you cannot tell God.  There is nothing you or I can do that will shock Him.  There is also nothing you and I can hide from Him.  God is always willing and waiting to hear and forgive, always.

confession + forgiveness = line of communication back open

"But God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.  Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Psalm 66:19-20, NIV)

Spend sometime today in prayer, and begin with confession.

Chris

press on

I have never been athletic, nor have I ever claimed to be.  So what I'm about to say is huge for me.  I am registering to run my First 5k race this November.  I have been trying to get healthy and walk/jog for the last several years, and had worked myself up to over three miles, but in all honesty have never built up my endurance to be able to run even half of it.  I became frustrated and took several months break. 


Four weeks ago I set a goal, to run the 5k race on Seabrook Island while I'm there on vacation in November.  That gave me approximately 10 weeks to get ready.  So you may ask, why?  what's my inspiration?  Well my inspiration are two people:  May pastor Ken Sausedo, who just ran a half-marathon and is 10 years older than me, and my friend Steve Conard who ran a full marathon the same day.  I figured if these guys can do it, there is no reason why I shouldn't.  So then the question is why?  Well, mainly for my health.  I want to improve my health both physically and emotionally.  Running is a release, it's gets me away from the stress.

So how am I going to reach my goal?  I found an app for it.  I'm not joking.  I found an app that is supposed to take you from 0-5k in 8 weeks.  Through the end of week three I felt confident that I could get this, last week the workout was 5 min warm up walking, jog 90 seconds walk 90 seconds, run 3 min, walk 3 min rotation for 31 minutes.  I did it no problem.  Then came this week:

My routine this week is 5 min warm up walking, jog 3 min, walk 90 seconds, jog 5 min, walk 2.5 min rotation for 31 min.  I was ok until the last 5 min, it was the toughest the workout had been.  My legs where screaming at me, my mind was telling me to just quit and walk "no one would know", and this was only 2 min into the last run.  I can say I made it all the way through the last 5 min run without stopping.  I have a goal.  I want to run the race.  I want to reach 5k.

We all need goals.  God has a goal in mind for you in this life.

^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)

The closer we get to reaching the goal of what God has in mind for us, the harder it will get.  Just like this morning when I hit that 2 min mark in the last run and I wanted to quit, when you hit the mark that makes you work a little harder to reach your goal you will want to quit.  You have to dig deep down inside and keep going.  We all reach points where we feel like we want to quit, where we want to take a break, or where we want to give in.  Dig deep.  Press on.  Jesus believes in you.

I can do this, and so can you.  Press on.

Have a great day, Chris

Hey, what are you looking at????

^7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sa 16:7, NIV)

I wish so hard that you and I could see people the way God does.  We judge before someone ever speaks a word, or before we even know them.  We judge them based upon nothing more than appearance.

The Lord had sent Samuel to Jesse's house because He said that the next king would come from there.  Jesse was excited thinking it was one of his older son's.  All of them passed by, and each one Samuel said this is not him.  He then asks Jesse if this was it.  Jesse responded no that there was one left, his youngest, but he was the runt and didn't seem to be "qualified" to be the next king.  To his (and everyone else's) surprise when David arrived, Samuel said this is the one and they anointed him as the next king.

Point being no matter how someone's appearance is, don't discount them.  They may look, act, or think differently than you or I, but that doesn't mean they are any less capable.  Start by getting to know them, make that change from judging from first look.

God took a look at my insides and saw who I could be, would you take that same time??

Chris

We the People...

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I remember having to memorize the Preamble to the Constitution in Elementary School (just don't remember which grade).  I don't think I really realized at that point in time the importance of such a document.  I am just now beginning to grasp the concept of the greatness of the vision of our forefathers as they penned and signed our great Constitution.

I'm quite sure that not everyone who signed the document agreed 100% on everything.  I'm quite sure that not EVERYONE who was on the second Continental Congress that voted to pass the Declaration of Independence was a follower of Jesus Christ, but that is what makes this country great.  We live in a country that is full of diversity, and diversity is what makes us great.

Sometimes I think we get too caught up in "me the people" instead of "we the people".  It's not just about what I think or what you think, Its not just about what Democrats think or Republicans think, and It's not about what Liberals think or Conservatives think.  It's about what this great document says and what it represents.  Freedom.

You and I are free to think and believe what we want, you and I are free to live as we want, and you and I are free to be the person you and I want to be, to the extent that we don't harm anyone else.  It's what makes this country beautiful.

We run into problems when you and I try to define what the constitution says based upon our perspective.  It has to be defined from the perspective of the ones who created it, not according to what we "think". 

I have the right, and my children have a right, to believe what we want.  We choose to believe that Jesus is the Christ, that He was crucified, He rose on the third day, and that because of His great sacrifice now I can have eternal life.  I believe that life begins at conception.  I believe that a biblical marriage is man and woman.  I believe my children have the right to pray when they want and how they want.  These are my rights, this is my freedom.  I'm not forcing what I believe on anyone, my children are not forcing what they believe on anyone.  We are expressing our right to be free.  Why can't liberal media, liberal politicians, and civil rights group grasp that.  You will never convince me that abortion is right, you will never convince me that marriage should be redefined, and you will never convince me that removing the name of God from government will accomplish something great.

I don't raise a ruckus if my children have a teacher that is homosexual, agnostic, atheist, or different religion.  So why do people raise a fuss if they or I choose to exercise our faith, it's our right. 

It's also your right to disagree with me, and you know what?  I'm OK with that. 

In the name of religious freedom, Christians are losing religious freedom....yes, it's happening.

We the people....

I am "we the people" and so are you...

Chris.

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life has a way of hitting us, and hitting us hard.  When things seem to begin to go right, that's when it all starts to go extremely wrong.  So what do we do?  How do we deal with it?  How do we stay strong?  How do we not give up hope?


^33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33, NIV)

Jesus has not held any news back from us.  In John here He forewarns us.  He doesn't say life is going to easy, in fact He tells us straight up that there WILL be trouble.  Just because you and I believe in the God that has everything under control, doesn't mean that you and I will live a trouble free life.  Now I'm with you, why can't it all just be good.  Why can't the troubles just disappear.  I can't count the number of times that I have prayed for them to "go away, and never come back".  There has been a lot of times over the last 17 years of being a Christian that things happened that I would have much rather not gone through.

That's the bad news....

So here is some good news.....

It will get better.

Jesus follows telling us that "we will have trouble" to telling us to "take heart".  It's almost like He is saying "cheer up", or keep your "chin up".

Hold up, in troubled times Jesus is telling us to "cheer up".  Yes.

I know in troubled times we don't want to hear this, but the reality is there is someone out there that is a believer that is worse off than you and I are.  So yes, Jesus is saying we need to keep our chin up and keep marching forward.  The hope that we have is that Jesus has promised that He has already "overcome the world".  Any problem that has happened or will happened, Jesus has overcome it.  All things where created for Him and through Him, so there is nothing He can't handle.

You and I on the other hand, we don't handle things very well.

So here is some practical ideas on how I have dealt with some problem times in life (and no I don't have it perfected, these are just suggestions).

1. Don't blame God for your situation.  We spend a lot of time trying to blame God for all of our troubles, and then we get mad and walk away.  Make a decision to not blame Him, but instead draw closer to Him.
2. Reflect on what is going right.  Now I know this is EXTREMELY hard, because when things are going terribly wrong, it is hard to focus on what is going right.  However, if you and I will actually think about it we will find some things that are actually going good.
3. Find your John.  Jesus had that one "beloved" disciple.  You and I need someone that we can depend on during these times to vent and encourage us.  You need someone that will not sugar coat things, in other words if your wrong about something they should be able to tell you.
4. Surround yourself with "positive" people and not "negative" ones.  Negativity will suck the life right out of you and I.  If you are having trouble, having someone around that is always negative will not help you at the time.
5. Laugh.  Find ways to make yourself laugh.  Watch a totally off the wall ridiculous movie or show for the sole purpose of making you laugh.
6. Exercise.  We can work off a lot of trouble or stress in our lives by simply getting out and walking, jogging, or whatever just get off the couch and do something.  I prefer not to be indoors in a gym, so I go jog outside and deal with the elements.
7. watch your diet.  Fried fatty foods can make your mood worse.  Eat fresh fruits and veggies.
8. Read your Bible, when you read biblical stories it enables you to see that God has helped many through harder times than you or I have dealt with.
9. Spend ample time in prayer.  How much is ample?  Depends on the person and your relationship with God.  If your relationship is good with God then you won't be watching the time.
10. Worship.  Get involved in your church.  worship the one that created you.  It takes the focus off you and helps you to see the "bigger picture".

Hope these help, they have helped me in the hardest times in my life.

Chris

The open door

“This man receiveth sinners.”

— Luke 15:2

Does Jesus EVER draw a line as to whom He chooses to welcome in?  NO!!

I for one am extremely happy for that.  I was THAT guy.  The guy that everyone had given up one, the guy that ran with the wrong people, the guy you WOULD NOT want your daughter to hang out with, and the one you WOULD NOT them want to marry.  I was the one that was always doing the wrong thing.  The guy that thought "religion" was for someone else, the guy that thought "church" was a waste of time.  Yeah, I was that guy.  Was.  Then I met Jesus and He changed my life.  He "received" me, a sinner.  He welcomed me.  He opened the door for me.  He gave me a wonderful life that I now have.

"Received" means to not only welcome, but to also partner with.

In Luke 15, the "religious people" where furious with Jesus because He went after the "sinners", he went after the ones that where either not welcomed in the church, or not wanted in the church.  He went and sat down and ate a meal with them.  Can you imagine this.  The Son of God went and ate with the ones that had no interest in "religion" or "religious people".

The problem here was that the Pharisees "aka religious people" where worried that if Jesus was the Son of God and if these sinners came to know God there is a possibility they would enter the "religious people's" hangout (aka the church).  You simply CANT have "sinners" mixed in with "religious people" that's not going to work (said sarcastically). 

Jesus changes lives, never forget that.  I am living, breathing proof of it.  Don't give up on the ones that we look at and call "sinners", because God doesn't.

Three things:

1. Don't be a Pharisee, don't sit back and think you "deserve" God more than anyone else.  You don't and I don't.
2. Be like Jesus, love on those that society has given up on.  Their messed up for a reason, and you could be that glimmer of hope that God uses to change their life
3. Never forget that if it wasn't for grace you wouldn't be bound for heaven.

I'm going after the ones that need Him.


Have a great weekend, and invite someone to worship with you this weekend.

Chris

He is Jealous for me

“God is jealous.”

— Nahum 1:2

God is jealous

He is jealous of your love
He is jealous of your trust
He is jealous of your time

God loves you so much that he wants your love, your trust, and your time.

So when was the last time you gave Him all three.

He deserves all three.

To think that the God that created all things and sustains all loves me so much that when I don't give Him all my love, all my trust, and all my time that He is jealous is fascinating. 

When we don't give Him those, He pursues us.  He comes to us asking for love, trust, and time.

Would you give Him that?

He deserves it.

have great day, Chris

why does it matter?

I'm often asked as to why it matters how we as Christians act.  It's a legitimate question.  It's also a question that most Christians should know the answer to, but unfortunately don't. 

Biblically there are several answers:

• because we are representing Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:20)
• it means our faith is real and alive (James 2:14)
• Christ is the example ( 1 Peter 1:15)

I want to speak to the logical reasoning as to why we should.  I think we mean well by the way we act and I think we should stand for what is right.  I think we have the desire to want to see the world changed, but I also think we are going about it the wrong way.  The unfortunate after affect is that people know more about what we are against than what we are for.

When you look at the life of Jesus, He spent His time loving people and not condemning them for what they did wrong.  He loved people instead of preaching about what HE  was against.

We teach our kids to memorize John 3:16, which is great, but if we knew John 3:17 too it would make a world of difference.

^"17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Jesus told his disciples the importance of how they acted:


"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

Think of the importance of this...

We want people to know that Jesus loves them.  We all should agree to that.  However, at what point did we ever imagine that yelling at people, picketing them telling them God hates them, and fighting against fellow Christians was going to show love.

Should we be against moral issues?  Absolutely.

Should we be loving?  Absolutely.

The two have to meet.

The unfortunate thing is that I as a Baptist minister get labeled under the same umbrella as this guy:

 

So how did this:

become this:

I think it's because our passion is misinterpreted for anger.  I think it's because we think we can fix the world through trying to protest and change things on our own.

I also think its because if we point out other people's sins we don't have to deal with our own.


Our sin and my sin:  Learning to Love instead of condemning.

I saw no love in the above video, the "preacher" even said I love you.  I'm not here to condemn the man, but "Faith and works" have to meet, "Words without action" are empty.  Saying you love but treating with condemnation is a waste of time.  I read an article that stated the guy that the preacher said "wasn't worth 15 cents" had never returned to the church.  Hello?  maybe, just maybe there was a logical and medical reason why the guy hadn't been to church in awhile.  If he where my preacher, I wouldn't come either, just saying.

If you want to see the world changed, let's work differently then what we have been.  Let's give the model of Jesus a chance in our lives.  Let's love one another, Let's get along, and let's make a difference together.

The fact of the matter is that it's not about you and it's not about me.  It's not about what I'm against or what your against.  It's not about what denomination you are or what I am.  It's not about what translation you use or I use.  It's not about whether you are contemporary or traditional.  It's not about whether you have a choir or a praise team.  It's not about whether you are a small congregation or large congregation.  It's not about whether you are a democrat or republican.  It's not about whether you are black, white, Hispanic, or Asian. 

It's about Jesus and your relationship with Him.

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

This is the ONLY way to change the world.  Think about it:  if people just fall in love with Jesus, there won't be moral issues.  However, if they don't see love in us then they won't ever see the love of Jesus.

It's time for a change,

Chris

For my wife on our anniversary

There is a lot of things about my memory that often fails me.  However, I remember September 4, 1999, as clearly as this morning.  I was a couple of weeks post surgery on my esophagus, and was still having to wear a half body brace because of the fusion that was done to my spine a month earlier.  That day as a beautiful sunshiny day in beautiful Western North Carolina.  I remember pulling up to the back of West Asheville Baptist Church with my heart racing with excitement as the hour approached.  I remember standing off to the right behind the door with Pastor Ken Lewis and my pops.  Pastor Ken looked at me with a smile and said, It's time brother.  I remember standing there awaiting the bridal march, and when it started the doors opened and there I thought was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen.  Now 14 years later, She still is....

It has been quite a journey we have been on for 14 years.  Ten years ago she became pregnant with our first child, whom we lost at the five month mark.  Tried and tried for another, then prayers are answered and in November of 2006 along came the twins (Rebekah and Samantha).  We decided we wanted another, and then came Olivia in March 2010.

It's wonderful to have to help mate that I have.  So supportive when I told her early on that I felt like God was calling me into ministry.  Helped more than I could ever repay when I went back to college.  Encouraging and supportive when we took the step of faith and I let my career at Ingles go in order to pastor a small church in Fairview.  Strength when I needed to make the decision to leave the church in Fairview to be where I am now.  A pastors life is not easy, and being the wife of a pastor is even harder.  I would say by far I have the best one you could possibly have as a pastor's wife.  The hours are long and my attention is constantly being distracted by the needs of others.  She has been so understanding all theses years of ministry when the call comes and I have to leave or when I first began here and our children where to young to travel (and she had to stay at home with our children while I'm away).

I try to live what I teach couples when I counsel them before marriage.  I always remind the guys this:  Treat your woman like a queen because if you don't someone else will.  I am so blessed to have the wife I do, I may not always treat her like a queen but I try my darnedest to.

I'm not the easiest guy to love, I'm not the easiest guy to live with, I'm not the best at being a father, I'm not the best at being a husband, I'm not the best at being a friend, I'm not the best listener in the world, I'm not the most patient person in the world, I'm not the best at being affectionate,  and I have many many flaws.  So all I can do is say thank you to my bride that loves me anyway.

Love

Love:  an intense feeling of deep affection

Whether we admit it or not, we all want to be loved.  We want to be loved by family, we want to be loved by friends, we want to be loved by the other gender, and we want to be loved continually.

In my Bible study last night with my daughters we where discussing love.  We came to the part of 1 John where love is defined.

"...God is Love" 1 John 4:8

not only does John say it once, but he repeats it:

"...God is Love..." 1 John 4:16

It's hard to be a Christian and NOT bring God into the equation when we define love, because love is His essence, its His nature, and its who He is. 

We can try to define love in so many ways, and usually we fall so short of what love is...

found this definition online:

Love: feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to

Notice the word "or".... here is the issue we replace the word "lust" with "love" and call it the same thing.  Its not.

With love we can (and usually do) feel a deep romantic attachment to, but the definition adds the "or", love in the marital relationship has to have both.

We want love, we need love, we crave love.

I want, need, and crave love.  I want it from my wife, from my friends, and from my family.  We need all three to function emotionally as a complete person.

God is "Agape", God is unconditional love.  He loves me unconditionally.  He loves me not because of who I am, but because of who He is.  He loves me not because He has to, but because He wants to.  He loves me not for who I am, but for who He actually sees.  He loves me in spite of my shortcomings, my impatience, my inabilities, my faults, my failures, my instability, my mistakes, my lack of faith, my doubt, my fears, my personality, my hesitations, my lack of obedience, my past, my present, my future, and whatever else gets in the way.

WhY?  Because He wants to, He HAS to, its who He is..... God is love.

I came to a harsh reality last night, as I thought about love and me.

It's hard to love me, but thank you God that you do. 

"Help those that I love to know that I love them, even when I don't act like it"

Chris

Miley, say it aint so....

Unless you have had your head in the sand the last couple of days, you know about Miley's "performance" at the VMA awards.  Needless to say, I didn't see it and don't want to see it.  However, thanks to news media, I have seen clips and pictures of it.

So the question is how do you go from this girl

to what we saw the other night.

I wonder how her parents felt?  As a father I more so wondered how Billy Ray felt.  After all, Miley is not just a singer or actress, she is someone's daughter.

A couple of years ago, her manager wanted to change her image from the "sweet girl" to a "bad girl", you know to boost sales.  Maybe that is all this was, maybe it was just "business".

As a parent of four daughters (three of whom do not know who she is), I worry of the impact this has on young ladies now.  I try to teach my daughters to be appreciated for their mind and character, and feel like I am fighting this battle against society with the way they dress and act.  Miley, this doesn't help you or anyone else for that matter.  This is not the way to be remembered or to make a name for yourself.  Her image is definitely changed.

More than anything, my heart aches for her now.  Put in a position to now be viewed as a sexual object.  Struggling with Hollywood and who she wants to be.  Being thrown under the bus by news and social media.  A bad decision made worse by all the coverage.

Miley is just human, she makes mistakes, just like we all do.  Mine and yours just don't get smeared all over the news.

Most of the people who will read this blog will never be or have ever been in the position this young lady is in.  So young, so much pressure, and every eye watching everything you do.  In the lime light everyone expects you to be perfect.  Be the perfect role model and always to the right thing.  Don't misunderstand me, I'm not making excuses for her nor am I trying to justify her actions.  All I am saying is under pressure we are all prone to making foolish mistakes.

My advice to Miley is, "it's never too late to do the right thing."  God loves you, stand strong, and say No.  You can repair what has been done.

Prayers for Miley and her family....

Chris

Protect them...

So as many of you this week, I sent my kids back to school.  School, a place where when I was a kid it seemed, well, safe.  In light of the event at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the recent one at the Elementary school in Georgia, I find myself wondering are they really?

At the same time, I refuse to live in fear.  If I live in fear, then these "unstable" people win.  I recently caught wind that our local sheriff is wanting an SRO (Student Resource Officer) at every school. 

Though that makes me feel better, it's not the answer.

As a father and as a minister of students I find myself praying often for my children and my students that God would protect them.

"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me - so that they may be one as we are one."  John 17:10, NIV

Jesus was about to leave the disciples (his students) and go back to heaven.  He was sending his students into the world to make a difference.  At the same time their world was, well, angry at them for being followers of Jesus.  His students had done nothing wrong, and yet their lives where in danger.

Just as Jesus sent his students out, so are we.  In a world that doesn't like them for the fact that they are followers of Jesus.  Jesus prayed, "Protect them".

As I sit in the mornings waiting on the school bus, I often think that everyone of the parents of either the Sandy Hook school or those in Georgia.  How they put their kids on the bus or dropped them off at school thinking they are safe and that its just another ordinary day in suburbia.  Then in an instant everything changed. 

Then I wonder, "Did my parents have these same fears when I was in school?" 

It's heart wrenching as a parent and a student minister to think of what these parents felt and are still feeling.  Elementary school students who have really done nothing more wrong than pull a piggy tail, talk when they weren't supposed to, or ran in the hallway.  Students who have become victims.  Families lives that have been tragically changed forever.

"Father, protect them, in their world.....the world of schools"

The world of public schools has changed so much since I was there (or you).  Elementary school students dealing with what I did in middle school, those in middle school dealing with stuff I did in high school, and those in high school dealing with stuff I did in college.  Drugs, alcohol, self-mutilation, bullying, sex, and the list could go on and on....

"Father, protect them, in their world.....the world of schools"

I also have friends that are teachers, administration, and staff in the public education system,  I wonder how they would feel if something happened in their school, or their classroom...

"Father, protect them, in their world.....the world of schools"

I still believe in the public education system, I am a result of the public education system, and I will send my children through the public education system.  I will not live in fear, so therefore I pray:

"Father, protect them....."

Will you join me in praying this?  Chris

Determination

Determination:  the act of deciding definitely and firmly; also : the result of such an act of decision (Webster's)

I have been reminded of who I am, now we make a determination (a decision) that I will not slow down, back up, lose sight, give up, and throw in the towel on what God is trying to do.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Proverbs 16:9)

Determination is like running a race.  You must begin strong and stay strong.  You must push through the difficulties in understanding the difficulties only last for a moment.  The fog lifts and sunshine forces its way through.  So it is with life.  So it is with our calling.  So it is with everything.

I despise a lot of cliché's, like:

when life gives you lemon's make lemonade
in storms of life learn to dance in the rain,
etc.

Doesn't that just make you want to say, "really?!?!" (especially if your having a bad day, bad month, or even a bad year); that is exactly the LAST thing you want to hear.

So how do we keep our determination?

It's all about surrounding yourself with people that will be the encourager's, those that will give you the words you need (and not the ones to make you role your eyes).  Those that will if nothing else just sit with you.  Those that will understand what you are going through.  They may not fully understand, but they make a good attempt to at least try to.

As always the most important thing you and I can do to help keep our determination is to make working on our relationship with God the most important thing.  If no one else on earth understands you, realize that God does.  He created you (psalm 139).  If He created you, then He knows you.  He knows everything about you.  If He knows everything about you, then He knows what it will take to keep your determination where it needs to be.  Communicate with Him, Spend time in prayer, spend time reading His word to you, and Spend time with Him.

Determination takes effort.
Determination takes work.
Determination takes time.

But Determination is worth every moment of effort, work, and time.

Have a great weekend, Chris

Remind me of who I am

Honest moment, for a little while I've been questioning my effectiveness.  Am I really reaching students for Christ, are lives being changed, am I really making a difference?  If I am making an impact, is it in a positive or negative way?  What am I doing that is so wrong, or what am I doing right? Why are students not excited to come to worship?  Why ARE students excited to come to worship?  What can I do to balance the two more effectively?  Is the problem me?

Have you ever been here?  Self-doubt.  It's a real downer.  All it takes is one moment, one thought, someone saying something, and the next thing you know, here I am, here you are drowning in the sea of self-doubt.  Questioning yourself, losing confidence, and quickly sliding down the slippery slope losing self confidence.  How do I stop, How do I make it slow down?  How do I slam on the brakes?  Is there anyone to help?  Will no one grab my hand and pull me off this downward spiral? 

You try to convince yourself that it's ok, You try to put on a smile, and you try to pick yourself up and keep moving forward.  You try and remember how things where, how good you where doing, remember the pats on the back, and remember the encouraging word that student or parent said.  Unfortunately, It doesn't seem to be working.

Then you realize this is not me..... and you ask yourself, "what's going on????"

I need to be reminded of who I am

1. I am loved, "I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with unfailing kindness" - Jeremiah 31:3
2. I am a Child of God, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1
3. God delights in me, "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you, in His love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17
4. I am Forgiven, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by His wounds you have been healed."  - 1 Peter 2:24
5. I am Free, "it is for freedom that  Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1
6. I am New, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation:  The old has gone, the new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17
7. I am set apart, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession." - 1 Peter 2:9
8. I am partnered with God, "For we are co-workers in God's service, you are God's field, God's building" - 1 Corinthians 3:9
9. I am a Masterpiece, "For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  - Ephesians 2:10
10. God has a future for me, "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11

These truths remind me of who I am.  These truths give me the confidence to know that regardless of what I see, regardless of current circumstances, and regardless of what others say that I am who I am.  I am a child of the Most High God.  I love what I do, I love working with Students.  I can't see myself doing anything else.  I don't want to do anything else.  I WANT to see students lives changed, I WANT students to be excited to come to worship, I WANT to make a difference,  and I WANT to see God do unbelievable things through the students.

God, help me to remain strong and be who YOU have called me to be... and "remind me of who I am"

 

 

Chris

its all about the ride

So for five years I have been going and taking my youth to ride the Virginia Creeper trail in Virginia.  Its a beautiful wonderful scenic bike ride that stretches 17 miles from White Top mountain to Damascus VA.  Along this trail you experience getting away from everything and just ride for awhile.   For five years we have had really good weather, until this year.

The ride started fine.  When we got to White Top it was sunny and partly cloudy; however five miles down the trail the weather changed drastically.  It went from sunny to hard rain, the trail turned into a wet, muddy mess.  Decision time:  do I allow the current circumstances to ruin my day?

I decided to not let it.  I felt like a kid again.  Mud puddles, sticky mud, and rain.  Oh yeah, had a blast.

Life is a lot like our ride yesterday.  It can change in a hurry.  You can go from having a wonderful relaxing day to a horrible stress filled day.  Circumstances can often dictate our mood if we allow them to.  Don't allow the circumstances of an "off" day or two dictate who you are.

Just enjoy this ride that we call "life".

Psalm 40:
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."  (2,3)

Have a great day!!

Chris.

The Day

Joel 1:15 Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand—  2:2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come. 
Joel 2:11 The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? 

Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

This morning I was reading Joel, the common theme in Joel is obviously "the day of the LORD".  It's something we as Christians don't talk about alot.  We may think about it occasionally, but to actually talk about it, we rarely do.  John the Baptist preached about it regularly. 
So here is my question:  Are we concerned about it as it relates to non-believers?  Does it bother us that when this day comes, this Day of the Lord, so many will be judged?

The Day of the Lord is a day of celebration for believers, but a day of judgment for those who don't.

THIS DAY WILL COME!!

None of us know when, none of us, but rest assured it will come.

and our message should be this:

Joel 2:32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.

Always follow the judgment of the Lord with the hope of the LORD.

have a great day, Chris.

Camp, a retreat, and another Camp

Summertime is a busy time, but also a rewarding time.  I don't get a whole lot accomplished during summer months because of camp, a retreat, and another camp.  But, its ok, cause i LOVE it....

There is so much involved in getting these together, so much behind the scenes to do, and ugh the paperwork!!!  However, what God accomplishes through these camps and retreats is unbelievable.

So why do I love the camps so?  I am reminded of a verse:

Matthew 13:36, "Then He left the crowd and went into the house.  His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable..." (NIV)

Three things:

1. You gotta leave the crowd.  Camps and retreats enable us to step back from the crowd, from everyday life and enable Jesus to teach us something.
2. They went into the house, wasn't their house, was somebody elses.  They where away from home, away from the normal, away from, well, everywhere.
3. It's a chance for my students to dig deeper, just like Jesus' disciples came to Him and wanted the parable explained.

so, my blogs may be few from now till August, but its because of:

camp, a retreat, and another camp.

Have a great summer!!

Chris

a moment of reflection

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14b, NIV)

See that girl in the above picture, its the same exact one that is standing beside me in the below picture.  The above picture was taken some 18 years ago, the bottom one a couple of weeks ago.  The time in between seems like a mist, a vapor, has gone by so quick.

A lot is happening this year.  My oldest graduates high school, my twins are finishing their first year of school, and Olivia is growing way too fast. 

Someone once told me that as you get older its like time picks up steam and moves faster.  I am beginning to understand this.  In the verse above James states that life is like a vapor (or a mist) there for a moment then its gone.  Where does it go?

I've not always been the best of father's, not always set the best example, or even listened when I should have.  But as I sit back and reflect on my eldest child and her path I can rest assured that I gave her my all, I have done the best I could.  I have done what I can to encourage her spiritually, academically, and emotionally.  Now, it is time for her to take what has been given, take what has been poured into her and become an adult.  An adult, that seems hard coming out of my mouth, my eldest child is an adult. 

Her mom asked me a few weeks ago if it was "bothering" me yet that our daughter was graduating.  At the time I hadn't dealt with that reality yet.  Then I started going through pictures for "Graduation Sunday" at church.  Then the reality started to set in.  My oldest child is grown.

Eighteen years of blood, sweat, and tears now has prepared and formed her into a young lady, a young woman, a young adult.  One who is getting ready to go into the world and become a productive responsible young adult that will spread her wings and fly to give the world what she has to offer.

In 9 days I will watch my daughter walk across that stage and accept her diploma for graduating high school.  This young girl that I was just rocking in my arms as she cried from tummy ache as a baby, this girl I was just picking up from Kindergarten, this girl I was just spending May Day with at TC Henderson Elementry, this girl I was just picking up from Rosman Middle, this girl I was just at her Chorus Concert at Brevard College as a Sophmore, to now this young woman who will be a graduate from North Buncombe High School. 

June 9 will be a glorious day of celebration, June 9 will be a day of beginning of transition for my daughter as she begins her journey as an adult, and June 9 will be a day of somberness as it sinks in that my little girl is growing up.

So proud to call Virginia Leigh Reese Daughter, and so proud for her to call me Dad.

Love Dad.

What if??

So I was reading the book of Ezra, and when I was getting towards the end of the book chapter 10 really jumped out at me.

"While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites - men, women, and children gathered around him.  They too wept bitterly" (Ezra 10:1, NIV)

So, what if??  What if we got serious about repentance and prayer?

What would you do if you walked into a church, and the scene was what you read in that verse.  What if you walked in and EVERYONE there was weeping, confessing, and praying? 

It would probably scare most, or they would feel awkward, and uncomfortable and leave.  OR.  Would the power of God so overwhelm you that you would be in the group that is weeping, confessing and praying.

The church described in the book of Acts had more power and less money, and the church of today has more money and less power.  Why???

Prayer and confession.  Real repentance.  Allowing God to move.  Not money.

What if this Sunday we got real with God, what if this Sunday we quit putting on this act like we are all "ok", what if this Sunday you and I got before God and truly repented of our sins, what if this Sunday you and I prayed, confessed, and wept before our Creator.  It would unleash the power of God in our churches and in our lives.

so, What if?

My Time

So breaking from the norm today...

Today I want to just tell a little more about me, what is it that I would do if i had free time, or we will call it "my time"....

Well first of all, this is a hard concept to grasp anymore.  Parenthood changes that.  I'm not complaining, Love my kids, love my wife, and love my life.  However, I had to really think long and hard about this.  It has been a very very long time since I had "me time".  Life is consumed daily now with do they have homework done, what are we having for dinner, and oh my goodness is it bath night.....

So I will blog about what "used" to by "my time" and talk about what I would do now for "my time", so here it goes.

• Well in the "old days", "my time" used to be riding my motorcycle.  Those who ride will know the feeling I refer to.  The feeling of the open road, the sunshine bearing down on you, the wind against your body, the feeling of freedom.  Riding would always clear my mind.  Even if you where riding in a group you had time just to yourself to gather your thoughts.  Nothing like the feeling of the open road.  I used to love to go ride with no particular place or direction, just to ride.  However, several years ago I sold my bike and havn't replaced it.  No time anymore.
• Playing Golf.  I love being outdoors, playing golf was my way of spending time outdoors.  I never was any good, but just the feeling of being outside was great.  Never really let my score stress me, I wasn't there to try to impress anyone with low score, If I was any good at it I would be a pro golfer instead of a youth pastor.  Golf is one of those games where you have to play it often to be any good.  Ten years ago I would play atleast twice a month, then it dwindled to once a month, then once every other month, to once a year, and now I haven't played in probably two years.  Two reasons why:  one golf is expensive and two don't have time.

That was then, this is now:

• Jogging/walking.  This is what I do now.  Gets me outdoors (even in winter), cause i don't do treadmill I like to be out in the elements.  "my time", clears my head and gives me excersize, which are two things I need.  When I get free time, this is now what I do.  It's a great way to start the day.
• Playing with my kids.  If your a parent you know what I'm talking about when I say my kids can frustrate the hound out of me, and yet at the same time I love spending time with my kids.  When I'm away from work, this is what I want to do.  When I have free time, this is what I want to do.  I have discovered they are growing fast and before I know it they will be too old to play with, or they won't want to spend time with Dad anymore.  So I am getting all the play time in I can.
• There really isn't much time for "my time", but if I did : I like to play guitar, play xbox, read, travel, swim, hike, and spend time with friends.

Have a great day, Chris

It's time....

..."It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain" (Hosea 10:12b, HCSB)

We like to play games...

video games
board games
card games
computer games
and
mind games....

we play mind games with
friendships
marriages
relationships
teachers
leaders

and with God.

We ask what's wrong with our world?  what's wrong with our country?  what's wrong with our state?  whats wrong with our county  what's wrong with our city?  whats wrong with our neighbors?  whats wrong with our schools?  whats wrong with our companies?  whats wrong with our government?  what's wrong with our leaders?  what's wrong with our students?  what's wrong with organized religion?  what is wrong with the church today?  what's wrong, what's wrong, what's wrong???

Stop playing games with God, "It's time to seek the Lord".

We can't answer any of the above "what's wrong questions" until we ask the right question.  The right question is, what's wrong with me?  The answer:  "it's time to seek the Lord".

It's time to get serious about relationship with the Lord.  It's time.

Until when?  "until He comes and sends righteousness on you like rain".

If you want to see a morality shift in society, it begins with you.  It begins with you determining, "It's time to seek the Lord".  It's time to put God number one in life.  Nothing will make sense until you do.

I have and I feel better than I ever have before, Will you join me?

Chris.