an uphill battle

Sometimes it seems life is such a steep up hill battle.  Let me restate that, life is a series of hard mountain climbs.  Climbing a mountain is hard, trying, and exhausting.

But the climb is worth it.

When you arrive at the peak we have the satisfaction of looking back at what you have accomplished along the way.  It's not just about arriving, It's about the journey to get there.  We can get so focused about getting to the top, climbing this mountain of adversity, that we miss the view along the way.  We are so consumed with the path up the mountain that we overlook the steps we took to get there.

Life is a series of mountains to climb.  As life progresses on, each mountain gets higher and harder.

There is the mountain of elementary school
there is the mountain of middle school
there is the mountain of high school
there is the mountain of college
there is the mountain of career
there is the mountain of family

there is also:

the mountain of finances
the mountain of illnesses
the mountain of self-doubt

there are also some no one expects:

the mountain of unemployment
the mountain of divorce
the mountain of cancer
the mountain of death

So how do you climb a mountain.....

one step at a time.  You can't stop, you can't give up, you cant give in or you will NEVER finish the climb.  You WILL get tired.  Rest.  Then take one step after another.  Steps of resilience, steps of courage, steps of patience, and steps of strength.

When you get to the top of that mountain, turn around and look how far you have come.  Look at the rest of the mountains you have climbed.  Celebrate, recover, and thank God for the ones that helped you climb.  Then get ready for the next mountain.

^13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  (Php 4:13., NIV)

I will climb this mountain, I will get to the top, and it will be by His strength.

stuck in a rut

You ever had this experience?  Stuck.  Caught.  Can't get out.

When I was in college I had a "low rider" Chevrolet pick up, when I say it was low... it was.  We called it "slammed".  It sat so low that you couldn't even get your foot under the front of it, seriously, it had 6" lowering blocks on the back.  It was the kind that you had to angle it in order to get across a speed bump, and no I'm not kidding.  One day when I was driving to the Birch building, my right rear wheel dropped into a pot hole.  Doesn't sound like much of a problem, however when the truck is not posi-traction, the u bolt is sitting on the pavement, and the drive wheel is in the hole not touching anything you are not going anywhere.  So I wasn't stuck in a rut, I was stuck in a pot hole.  It would not budge, wheel just spun in the hole.  I got out and tried to push or pick up the truck to get it to drop down so the wheel would touch.. nothing.  The harder I tried the more frustrated I got.  Here I was frustrated, tired, and alone.

Until, 4 guys came along and picked the truck up and scooted it over.

I feel like I'm in a rut.  Lets face it we have all been there.  The harder you try the worse it seems to get.  The more you work at it, the less it seems to get better.  The faster you spin your wheels the more you sink.  Then you get to the point that you throw your hands up in the air and give up.  Until out of no where someone comes to help you out. 

That is the thing about a rut, you can't get out on your own.  I can't get out of my own, we have to have someone lift us up.

^2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

^3 He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.  (Ps 40:2-3., NIV)

 

 

I have a strong feeling I'm not the only one today in a rut.  He (being God) can lift me out of this rut, and you as well.  Then we will be out of the rut, and singing praise to Him.  I'm ready...

 

 

How I want to be remembered...

 

A good name is more desirable than great riches;

to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.  (Pr 22:1., NIV)

 

When I think of how I want to be remembered, when I think of what my spouse will say when I'm gone, what my children will say when I'm gone, what my students will say, my co-workers, and those that I am around.....  I wonder what they would say?

 

would they say:

 

He was fun

He was smart

He was silly

He was faithful

He was talented

He was patient

He was kind

He was a jerk

He was ill-tempered

He was uncaring

He was stubborn

He was inpatient

He was unforgiving

He was boring

He was unstable

He was uncaring

He was lovable

He was harsh

He was selfish

He was lazy

He was Chris

 

I can be all those things and more...

 

I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart if I was one of the negative ones on the list, I try my hardest to be the positive person.  I find myself in this struggle of the negative me and the positive me.  This is the battle I face, this is the burden I bear, and I feel I am not alone.

 

I try the hardest to be all things to all people, to be the best person, son, brother, uncle, husband, father, son-in-law, brother-in-law, minister, friend, mentor, and leader I can be.  I had a college professor once tell me "You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time".  I want to be the one who pleases all of the people all of the time, and when I can't (which is quite regularly) I feel defeated.

I want to be remembered as "a good man".  I want to be remembered by the things I did right, instead of the things I do wrong.  I want to be remembered as one who made a difference in people's lives, verses one who accomplished nothing.

I want to live my life in such a way that when my Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer looks upon what I've done in the time He gave, He will be able to say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

I want to be remembered as the person in the picture, someone that stood for their faith, and stood in the shadow of the cross.

Right now I am not even close, but I want to be.....

Chris

Diversity

A couple of years ago a new cutting edge contemporary satellite church was coming into our zip code.  The church community's reaction was mixed.  Some where welcoming and prayerful, while others where not as welcoming and afraid of losing "their members" to this church.

Question:  What do you think Jesus thinks about it?

Answer:  Luke 9:49-50

^49 “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

^50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Lk 9:49-50., NIV)

 

interesting, the disciples responded:  "we tried to stop him because he was NOT one of US"

 

Don't misunderstand me when I say this because I am thankful to be part of "organized religion"; however, one of the biggest mistakes "churches" or "organized religion" makes is when we try to stop an organization because they are "not one of us".

 

When we say "one of us" are we saying because they are not a Southern Baptist Church or are we saying they are not a "born again believer in Jesus".  There is a substantial difference, let me remind you of something:

 

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Ro 10:13., NIV

 

Everyone, period.  Not based on denomination or style, based on those who call on the name of the Lord.

 

Jesus response was simple, do not stop them.  You may not like they way they do it, you may not like they way they talk, you may not like the way they dress, and you may not like the music; but its not for you anyway....

 

So keep in mind, as long as they teach Jesus, Him crucified, rising on the third day to save us from sin, don't stop them....

 

we need:

the traditional church

the contemporary church

the liturgical church

the Hispanic church

the African-American church

the cowboy church

the biker church

the big-box mega church

the small church

the medium church

the screaming hollering pastor church

the laid back teaching pastor church

the Korean church

the whatever you don't like church

 

Let's face it, we need each other.  Think about how much more we can accomplish together, than apart.  You and I are not in competition with each other, we have the same goals and are trying to help people see their need for Christ.  Isn't that what we are here for....

 

Have great weekend, Chris

What are you concerned about?

There are a lot of things in life that will keep us up at night concerned about something.

finances
kids
family
relationships
job
politics
school
friends
illness
health
and the list could go on and on.....

I read the book of Jonah this morning and the last two verses in the book got me thinking about this.  Now of course you probably know the story of Jonah very well.  God speaks to him and tells him to go to Nineveh (a land of corrupt people that nobody likes), and instead of going he goes in a different direction (on purpose).  God raises up a great storm, the people on board the ship find out the storm is because of Jonah running from God.  Why did he run, well because he felt the people of Nineveh where not "worthy" to receive the forgiveness of God.  He felt they where too far gone, or too corrupt.  So, the people on the ship throw him overboard and God prepared a great fish (not a whale) to swallow him.  Inside the fish he learns his lesson, repents and agrees to go to Nineveh.  God has the fish chuck him up (on a shore conveniently enough), and off he goes to proclaim God's forgiveness.  Jonah gets to Nineveh, and as you guessed it all the people repent and turn to God.  So Jonah in frustration leaves and is angry because God forgave them.  He sits on a mountainside and pouts to the point that God has enough and teaches Him a lesson about that Jonah doesn't have the right to decide who is worthy or not to receive the grace and forgiveness of God.

so here is the last verses of Jonah, and it is God speaking:

^10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. ^11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jon 4:10-11., NIV)

Which leads me back to this question:  What are you concerned about?

Does it keep you awake at night that there are people that don't know their left from right, or in other words there are people that don't know the difference between Jehovah God and other gods.  There are people that don't know the real way to get to heaven.  There are people that claim to be moral that don't have a clue as to where true morality comes from.  There are people who believe that politics is the answer to all their problems.

My city is walking around in a constant state of confusion, immorality, and darkness.

So does it concerned you that there are over 85,000 people in Asheville, NC and much of them cannot tell their right hand from their left?

It does me, so what do we do about it?

God didn't give up on Nineveh and He hasn't given up on Asheville, but it begins with us getting concerned enough to do something...

Chris

dirty rags

Then he showed me Joshua^ the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan^ standing at his right side to accuse him. ^2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

^3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. ^4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.”

 (Zec 3:1-4., NIV)

I know this, but for some reason this morning these verses in Zechariah jumped off the page when I read it.  This morning I was reminded of how great God is, and I want to share with you a couple of things that this reminded me:

1. That I have an enemy that is constantly trying to discredit me. (vs.1)
2. Even greater is I have a savior that stands up for me, and literally jerked me off the path to a place called hell (vs.2)
3. That anything good or right that I do is as filthy rags before God.  It's not by my actions, words, or deeds that I can accomplish going to heaven, but Gods (vs. 3)
4. Jesus has taken away my sin, He takes away my filthy rags, and gives me a new robe.  Jesus has taken away the wrongs I do and will continue to do and gives me a new life.

Sometimes some of the most fundamental truths in scripture can be overlooked, just the thoughts of what these verses said to me this morning where very encouraging and exciting to me.  I pray they are for you...

have a great day, Chris

God looks at the heart.... Why can't I????

^7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “.....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)

So this is a lesson I really thought I had down, I honestly thought I did.  I have friends that have tattoos, family members, one of my best friends has them; so theoretically I thought I had this down:  Don't judge by the body art.  Then this morning happened.

I went on my morning run, got my 3.5 miles in and I was in "cool down mode" or walking for 5 minutes.  I had my ear buds in listening to music and catching my breath.  A guy says to me, "Looks like you had a good run".  I looked at him (he is covered in tattoos, quite evil looking ones and he looks really rough), said "yes sir I did" and kept walking.  Then this voice in the back of my head says, "I cannot believe you just did that".

As much as it pains me to admit it, I blew him off.  I completely judged him based on appearance.  I felt awful about it, and still do.  The voice (obviously God), stopped me in my tracks, and I turned around and went back.  The guy was still there, struggling to walk with a cane. 

From this point I am so thankful I went back.  I'm not going to mention His real name, but we will just call him "Jeremy".  Jeremy had been in a motorcycle accident about 4 years ago, in which he admitted to going too fast on a curvy road.  He came around a sharp curve to find a parked school bus.  He in no way wanted to injure kids so he downed the bike and got pinned beneath the motorcycle underneath the bus.  Since then he has had 7 surgeries on his leg/ankle and is now looking at the possibility of having it amputated.  Jeremy shared with me how this accident changed his life and helped him to see that he needed God in his life.  He also shared with me how he had been sober now for 4 years.  I shook his hand and congratulated him for sobriety, and shared with him that I had now been sober since 1999 (oops bad memory, was actually 1997).  We continued to talk about life, God, and motorcycles.  He has 5 children (4 boys and one baby girl).  He is really struggling with the decision on amputating his foot or not.  God has given him a new life, a new insight, and a new hope on his personal journey.  He has twins (boy I know that feeling) that are 14.  He shared with me that periodically you can still find nice people around that Asheville area to talk to, but that most wouldn't take time to talk to him because of His tattoos and appearance because he has lived a pretty rough life (ouch, that hurt when he said that).

Jeremy and his family are quite active in local church in Candler (actually a church not far from my home, but I'm not mentioning the name), and one of his twins that is 14 feels that God is calling him to be a preacher.  Towards the end of our conversation I revealed to him that I was a youth pastor and gave him my card and number, expressed to him that if he ever needed encouragement (he was really struggling with keeping physical therapy and walking up), someone to pray with, or talk to that all he had to do was call.  I prayed with him and left.

I left knowing that I still have room to grow in seeing people the way God does.  Jeremy, I am so sorry that I didn't initially see the real you, but I am thankful for the grace of God that led me back to talk to you.  I am desperately wanting to see people the way God sees them, I don't EVER want this to happen again.  If I had not gone back I would have missed meeting Jeremy and hearing his journey.

God bless you Jeremy, and everyone else who has been judged based upon their appearance....

Chris

June 10 update:

I saw Jeremy this morning, he was still in pretty bad shape and discouraged.  He was out of options with his foot/ankle now and they are probably going to amputate it.  I spoke with him for a few and assured him that we would be praying for him on a daily basis.  So, if you would pray for Jeremy.

Depression

Depression, due to the untimely death of actor/comedian Robin Williams, people are talking about it (kind of like when Reggie White died people starting talking about sleep disorders).  What is depression?  Well, unfortunately, most people say that everyone feels "down" or "blue" periodically and that they need to just "think positive thoughts" and move forward.  It's not that easy, people battling chronic depression wake up everyday thinking and wishing it WAS that easy.  Most people that think that it is that easy are just simply not informed or educated enough on "Clinical Depression".  Clinical depression is very real, very scary to those who have to live with it, and to live with clinical depression is just downright exhausting.

So first of all let's educate ourselves, the following is taken directly from the Mayo Clinic website:

What does the term "clinical depression" mean?

Answers from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.

Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Clinical depression is the more severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder. It isn't the same as depression caused by a loss, such as the death of a loved one, or a medical condition, such as a thyroid disorder.
To be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must meet the symptom criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association. This manual is used by mental health providers to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
For clinical depression, you must have five or more of the following symptoms over a two-week period, most of the day, nearly every day. At least one of the symptoms must be either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Depressed mood, such as feeling sad, empty or tearful (in children and teens, depressed mood can appear as constant irritability)
• Significantly reduced interest or feeling no pleasure in all or most activities
• Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite (in children, failure to gain weight as expected)
• Insomnia or increased desire to sleep
• Either restlessness or slowed behavior that can be observed by others
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Trouble making decisions, or trouble thinking or concentrating
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or a suicide attempt

Your symptoms must be severe enough to cause noticeable problems in relationships with others or in day-to-day activities, such as work, school or social activities. Symptoms may be based on your own feelings or on the observations of someone else.
Clinical depression can affect people of any age, including children. However, clinical depression symptoms, even if severe, usually improve with psychological counseling, antidepressant medications or a combination of the two. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/clinical-depression/faq-20057770)

Unfortunately many teachers/leaders in Christianity, view this disorder as one that should not happen to a believer in Christ.  I have heard it said, and taught, by some that if a believer's relationship is not right with Christ, or if they have "sin" in their life then that is what causes their "depression". 

Jesus addresses such a thought process in John 9:

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ^2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  ^3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. ( Jn 9:1-3., NIV)

 

Sometimes things just happen in our lives that there is no explanation, rhyme, or reason as to why.  Depression is an illness just like any other.  This person mentioned in John 9 was dealing with blindness, the disciples wanted to know was it because of his sin or his parents that he was blind.  Jesus responded by saying "neither", sometimes things happened in God's providence so that His work might be displayed in our life.  Depression is NOT because of sin in your life, my life, or parents lives.  It just happens.  It happens so the work of God might be displayed in their life.  If a person battling depression can get out of bed and face the world, it is a miracle of God working in their life.  Sometimes just doing the simplest of things is a battle for them.

 

For the person battling clinical depression they face a battle that most people don't have a clue or understand.  The Bible tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but its against powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12).  The person battling depression faces that battle in their own mind, and it is exhausting.  They know a mental, physical, and spiritual exhaustion that most will never understand.

 

Only a person with clinical depression can understand the battle that some face on a daily basis.

 

If someone around you doesn't seem "right", if they fall under some of the above symptoms, I beg of you please encourage them to get help.  (This is one of those times as well that you don't need to say "I know how you feel", especially if you don't.) 

 

Here is how you can help with some do's and don'ts:

1. please please please don't tell them when life gives you lemons make lemonade
2. please don't tell them suck it up buttercup
3. please don't tell them if they prayed more, read their bible more, loved God more this wouldn't have happened (though they may need to do these, sin in their life is not the problem)
4. please don't try to give them quick fix answers, like "focus on the good" enjoy the sunshine, etc.
5. please do ensure them you are praying for them
6. please do remind them of how great they are
7. please listen...... don't talk just listen
8. please do not try to handle something as sensitive as depression with quick witted answers and advice, that is the doctors job
9. please listen.....don't talk just listen
10. please listen....don't talk just listen

For those of you reading this that battle depression, I pray for you and that you will stay strong in the battle...

Chris

Summer 2014

To my readers:  yes, I know it has been a long, long, long, long, long, long time since I have blogged.  Today I shall fill you in on my summer.

I Ran two races, one in June with this guy:

Me and my pastor/friend Ken Sausedo (love this guy isn't he awesome!)

 

and one in July (with 7000 others)

 

 

Cassidy, me, Bethaney, Color Run

 

neither one of the races was a personal best for me, but had fun!!

 

beginning of July took a group of students to Garden City, SC.

 

We had an absolutely amazing week as we spent the week studying, "I AM", the "I AM" statements of Jesus in the book of John.  Then we discussed who Jesus was to us.

Spending a week with students on a retreat is always a blessing, it is fantastic to watch them grow spiritually, grow as a group, and make new lasting friendships.

I also took on a new camp.  God laid it on my heart earlier this year to take our youth and students to camp at the same time, this was a tremendous undertaking.  This week would never have happened without out the dedicated efforts of some great leaders, who where flexible and willing to step up when I needed them to.  With our students we spend the week talking about our purpose, and with our kids we spent the week talking about choices and how they affect us.  Our students spent three days on the mission field in Murphy doing landscaping and clean up.  They ministered to a sweet lady named Marilyn by cleaning up her yard and spending time with her.

 

Student Impact 2014

 

Kids Camp 2014



There was much, much more that I was involved in this summer, but these are just the hi-lights.  Now it's time to get kids prepared for school, and get ready to kick AWANA into high gear...

 

blessings to you, and hope you have had a wonderful summer

 

Chris