there is room for you

One of the many things I love about running is its "all inclusive".  If you are a runner you are a runner.  It doesn't matter if you run a 5 minute mile or a 15 minute mile.  It doesn't matter your nationality, race, or creed.  It doesn't matter if you are male, female, or child.  It doesn't matter if your southern, northern, or foreign.  It doesn't matter if you are an elite, moderate, or beginner.  It doesn't matter if you do it for competition, health, or fun.  A runner understands the dedication and hard work it takes to log those miles week after week.  They understand what it is to run in the sun, rain, or snow.  We all look at each other and talk with a mutual respect and try our best to encourage one another.

This past Saturday before I ran my first 10k I met a guy and was talking to him, he asked me if I was running the 5 or 10k.  I told him I was running my first 10k, and he asked me what my goal was and I told him I wanted to finish in under 90 minutes.  He said that was a good goal and he hoped I was able to accomplish it.  You may ask why this is relevant or important.  Well.  This guy finished the 10k in under 30 minutes, let me help you calculate that it was under 5 minute miles.  My goal was under 90 minutes which would be under 15 minute miles.  Do you get the picture yet.  He was faster and better, but yet he encouraged me to do my best and accomplish my goals.  He understood what most runners understand:  there is room for everyone, and they are welcome into the community.

 

The community of faith is supposed to operate this way.  Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey.  Regardless of your background, regardless of your nationality, regardless of your skin tone, regardless of your preference on translation, regardless of your social status, school district, ethnicity, address, or dollar amount in your account we are all welcome into the body of Christ.

^9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. (Re 7:9.,NIV)

I am a firm believer that there will be a lot of believers and communities of faith (who think they have cornered the market with Jesus) that will be vastly surprised in Heaven one day.  They just don't get it.  They don't get that it's not based upon their opinion, but upon a person confession of Christ that justifies them to be in Heaven one day. 

I long for the day when the church opens its arms to "every nation, tribe, people and language" without hesitation and with as much love in their hearts as they could possibly muster up.  I long for the church to be the embodiment of Christ and show it to their communities.  Far too many people today view their church as some private club that you have to do some traditional ritual to be part of it.  They feel the people have to look like them, dress like them, act like them, and be like them in order to fit in or be part of it.

When will we welcome all in?  When will we be able to look past others flaws?  When will we be able to see past the outside?  When will we be able be the church God has called us to be?

Our communities are searching for the truth, for hope, and for a better life than what they have.  They are looking for a place to belong, a place to learn, a place that truly and genuinely cares for them and their families.

Jesus has made it very clear that in Heaven before the Lamb is every nation, tribe, and tongue, let us make the church the realization of what Heaven will be.

There is room for you.  Yes there is.  There is room for the broken, there is room for the lonely, there is room for the seeker, there is room for the beginner, there is room for the believer, there is room for the old, there is room for the family, there is room for the single, there is room for the divorced, there is room for the happy, there is room for the sad, there is room for gen x and gen y, there is room for the baby boomers, there is room for the sports fan, there is room for the book worm, there is room for the educated, there is room for the worker, there is room for the farmer, there is room for the business person, there is room for the democrat, there is room for the republican, there is room for the grandparent, there is room for the grandchild, there is room for the rich, there is room for the middle class, there is room for the retired, there is room for student, there is room for the American, there is room for the Asian, there is room for the Canadian, there is room for the Mexican, there is room for the French, there is room for the Vietnamese,  There is room for everyone, and this includes you.

No matter where you find yourself in this journey of life, there is room for you in the place and Kingdom of God.

If you need a place to welcome you, come see us at Enka Baptist Church, I can promise you that there is room for you to be you.  If not here, find somewhere that you are part of the church of God.

Chris

I'm an addict

Hello my name is Chris, and I'm addicted to ice cream.  Rocky Road is my favorite, but let's face it if your an addict any flavor will do.

Several months ago I blogged about my sweet tooth, and my battle to lose weight.  Here is my update: it's not gotten any better.... frustrating.  I run 15-20 miles a week, but yet the weight not only is not coming off, but is gaining.... albeit only two pounds, but still.

Temptation is a battle.  I face the battle everyday of the temptation of ice cream, chocolate, or anything sweet.  If I could just say "no" I could be so much healthier and leaner than what I am.

That's the way temptation works, it's almost as if you cant say no...

^13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  (1 Co 10:13., NIV)

 

The problem is:  I can say no, I just choose not to.  I can go to the store and not buy any, I just choose to anyway.  I can stay away from the ice cream parlor, I just choose not to.  There is ALWAYS a way out of temptation.  No one holds me down and forces Ice Cream in my mouth, No one forces me to pick up a container and purchase, and no one holds me hostage and makes me go to the parlor.  I just choose to.

 

So it is with life.  Temptation is always there, always present, and always pulling you and I in.  It draws us in.  Looks so good.

 

I have no will power when it comes to sweets.  I keep saying to myself that I can stop, I know I can, I can feel deep within me that I can.  Then there is this little voice that says "oh come on how can something that tastes this good really be bad for you".  Doctors have told me back off sweets, my children tell me back off sugar, heck I even tell me to back off.... and yet I don't.

 

Temptation:  the battle is real, I CAN say no, just wished I would......

 

Hello, my name is Chris and I'm addicted to Ice Cream and Rocky Road is my favorite

Run for God

I have always maintained that my jog/run time is a lot of my quiet time with God.  I spend a lot of time praying and have gotten many of my best ideas and sermons while running.  I normally have either my "Jeremy Camp" or "Lecrae" iheart station playing, but today I felt led to do something different.

As most people I have the Bilble AP on my phone, so today I listened to my Bible while I ran.  I was Leary at the beginning because I normally use the beat of the music to help me set my pace.  Today I ended up not worrying about pace, time, or distance.  Today was just about me jogging and listening.  

I was so amazed today, it was as if God spoke to me the whole time.  I jogged six miles and listened to the gospel of Mark and part of Luke.  This may very well become a new habit of mine.  I am able to get away from everything and just listen and take it all in.  We all know that is hard to do.  Get away, find a way, because it is very worth it.

Today I felt not only that I was running for God, but that I was running with God.

Have a great weekend

Chris

I found a feather

I found a feather..... I know what your thinking (either AND? or SO...).

In my devotion book I am reading right now this week was focusing on slowing down and enjoying creation and life.  This book is geared to runners so I am enjoying it.  It concentrated this week on focusing so much on finishing the race faster or better, that you forget to enjoy the actual time running and you lose the joy of the run.  Life can be that way.

Running gives me the chance to see the world from a different point of view.  I enjoy running new places, changing the route, and pounding the pavement.  You see things that you normally wouldn't see while riding in a car.  I run trails, streets, sidewalks, and neighborhoods.  I get to see flowing rivers, trickling streams, woods, city streets, sand, mulch, animals, and people.  I run when its 90 degrees or when its 10 degrees.  I have run in the sun, rain, and snow.  I have run with a partner but most of the time I run alone.  Sometimes I run with tunes and sometimes I don't.  There is so much to take in while on a run.  I gave up a long time ago on speeding up my time,  trying to speed up my time took joy from my run, it made it feel like work.  Now I just jog.  Some days I run 3 miles some days I run 7.  Depends on how I feel.  I feel accomplished when I run because I don't compare myself to other runners.  I run races, but I do it for fun cause I know I won't win and I am perfectly ok with that.

Yesterday on my run I was in the grass beside the road, cause I had run out of sidewalk, I had a visual point ahead that I was determined to get to before I turned around and headed back (the new ingles on Sand Hill Road).  I was so focused on that "turn around point" that I passed by what had seemed to be a large feather in the grass.  It caught my eye but not enough to get it.  The further I went past it, the more I thought "I should have stopped and gotten that, my kids would have loved it".  Ok, lets be honest, I would have loved it, lol.  So I get to my turn around point and begin the jog back.  All the while I am scanning the grass looking for it, my heart sinks because I don't see it.  I began to think, man I missed it.... I cant believe it.  Up ahead I catch a glimpse as a tractor trailer passes me and the wind off of it makes this feather flutter a little.  At last, I found it!  I stopped and picked it up, and admired it in the sunlight.  There was something about this feather that seemed to me the most beautiful one I had ever seen (I didn't initially know what bird it came from, but have since learned it was a turkey).  I carried it with me for the next mile as I finished this run.  Showed it to my kids yesterday afternoon, just as I thought they loved it.  Amazing they said, beautiful they said, awesome dad they said.

Yes, it is still just a turkey feather.  However, that turkey feather is pinned to the sun visor in my car to remind me to slow down and enjoy this journey and the beauty of this life.

Because:

^14 [a]Yet you do not know ^[b]what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. (James 4:14, NASB).

Take some advise from me, enjoy this life you have because you only get little moments once....

Chris

time to go fishing

Fishing has never really been my thing.  I've done it, both fresh and salt water, but it just didn't click with me.  I do however understand that there is a stark difference between fishing and catching.  I have fished enough to know how, but catching... well that is another story.  Fisherman will tell you it takes an enormous amount of patience to fish, and be good at it.

I'm the type person who can't stand to be still, or be quiet.  Neither of those is a good combination to fish.  All it takes is one good catch and your hooked, I'm not quite sure that I ever had significant catch, therefore fishing never became my thing.

In the mid 1990's a friend of mine, Joe, and I took a fishing trip down to the gulf coast.  Though it has been 20 years I still remember it.  We did have a good time.  Caught some interesting creatures out of the gulf, one sea trout, and a car load of salt-water catfish.  Little did we know that salt-water catfish (unlike fresh water) weren't really worth keeping.  I can remember long days on the pier doing, nothing.  I guess that's ok for a day or two, but more than that... not for me.  Patience is not my strong suit.  I can remember sitting there all day and not catching.... one.....single.....thing.... and being frustrated and wanting to quit.  Then something happened, I got a bite, hooked it and reeled in a fish.  For the moment it was exciting, it was invigorating, it was a little of an adrenaline rush.  It was enough to come back the next day.

^4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down^ the nets for a catch.” ^5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” ^6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  (Lk 5:4-6., NIV)

 

Simon and his fishing buddies had been out fishing all night long.  This was their livelihood, how they fed their families.  You can imagine that a long night out with no catch is frustrating.  Simon gets back near shore to hear Jesus out in a boat teaching the fisherman and onlookers.  Jesus teaches for a few then turns to Simon and tells him to go back out and drop the nets.  Simon of course being a career fisherman, probably didn't appreciate much this Rabi telling him how to fish, so he tells Jesus they have worked hard all night.  I'm quite sure he is tired, frustrated, and ready to call in the day.  However, he responds by saying, ok I will.  Then something amazing happens, they catch so many that their nets are breaking.

 

Here is Jesus' point.  He tells them from there to become fisher's of men.  Being a minister, being a believer we work long and hard trying to catch the fish (people).  Sometimes the ministering is good, sometimes it is bad.  Sometimes the people come, and sometimes they don't.  Sometimes the people respond, and sometimes they don't.  Sometimes you feel like you have worked so hard for....nothing.

 

Jesus tells us that when we feel like we have worked so hard and had no response, no catches, to go back out into the deep waters of humanity and drop the nets again.  Maybe not everyone is going to haul in so many people that things will be bursting at the seam.  We all want that, but it doesn't always work that way.  To be a fisher of one man, one person, one child, and to have them respond to the Gospel makes it all worth it.

 

The sea around us in Enka/Candler is deep there are 22,000 people here..... It's time to go fishing..

 

Chris.

is the church still relevant

Is the church of today still relevant?

It's a very good question and depending on who you ask determines what answer you will get.  I'm really not going to get into theories of what scholars, moderates, or atheists think.  I simply have been on a journey the last couple of weeks in asking myself this very question.

The answer is: yes it is relevant, however the church has become not socially relevant.

The foundation of the churches relevancy is really simple.  The church was designed as the place where like minded people to gather for the purpose of the worship of God, building meaningful relationships, encouraging one another, and doctrinal teaching.

"24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

The idea of church, the purpose of church, and the foundation of the church are still as solid as ever.  However, socially it has become an outcast.  We have become socially irrelevant.

The church has a death grip on tradition and the past.  The church still functions and most believe they are still in the early 1900s. The church has a rich history and it should be celebrated.  The church also I believe has an equally rich place in the future, if we can still justify our place in modern society and future generations.

We also need to bear in mind the church is not the building, the church is You and Me.  The people make up the church not the building.


^"20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ^21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ^22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Eph 2:20-22., NIV)

You and I have to connect the invisible church (the body of believers) to the visible church (the building).  When we can accomplish that we will see how we can and should help our churches to be social relevant.  To help some see how it is relevant in our own lives.

I don't HAVE to be in church, I WANT to be.  How do you feel about attending your local church, how you feel about it shows relevancy.

People may say, well yeah you say that because you are a minister.  True, but be reminded that I spent 6 months not being employed by the church.  During that 6th months there was not a week that passed that I did not have my family in worship at a church.  Not because I felt like I had to, but because I wanted to.

I have much more I could say about the churches relevancy, but I'm saving it for my sermon Sunday...

#GODS_NOT_DONE #CHURCH #ENKA

one small glimpse of my sermon:  Church is a gift not a punishment...

Have a blessed week, Chris

some things I will never understand

There are some things in life I will never understand.  Why some things happen to some who are innocent, have done nothing wrong, other than work hard and mind their own business.  Yes, there are things in life that happen and I wonder:  why? 

8:00 am I arrive at Carrier Park for my morning run.  As I am lacing up I hear a female voice behind me say, "excuse me sir, but did you by chance see what happened?"  I turned around to see that someone had busted out this woman's window while she had went for a run.  I replied, "no I didn't, I just got here, but I'm so sorry, how can I help?"  This woman was obviously shaken and upset as she dialed Asheville Police Department, her husband, and credit card companies to report her purse being stolen.  I asked if she needed me to stay with her until APD arrived, she said "No" but her voice and demeanor said otherwise.

I kept telling her, I'm so sorry this happened to you.  She just kept saying the more she thought about what all was in her purse the more worried she became, and more calls she needed to make.  I stayed until I saw APD pulling in the parking lot, then I gave her my business card with my name and phone number if she needed me.

Over the next 6.3 miles as I did my run, I kept thinking about this woman.  Here she was starting her day by trying to just go for a 50 min run before heading off to start her day.  In less than an hour she comes back to her car to find that someone broke something of hers, took her purse, and everything in it.

What is wrong with people?  I was brought up that you don't take something that doesn't belong to you, you don't touch someone else's property.  It wasn't just that they stole.  It was now this innocent young female (who is the victim of a random crime) has to have her car window replaced, have glass cleaned out of her car, has miss a day of work, will probably have nightmares, has lost pictures that where irreplaceable in her pocketbook, has had money she worked for stolen, she has to replace her ID, Make sure she got all credit cards shut down before they get used, she has to replace debit card, and any personal items she had are gone.  Also add in that all her personal information now has been compromised.  All because someone made the decision to take something that didn't belong to them.

Why did they do it?  Maybe they needed drug money?  Maybe they where an Ex getting revenge?  Maybe they where desperate from being unemployed for years?  Maybe they owed some bad people money?  Maybe they needed to feed their family and felt they had no choice?  Maybe stealing is there career?  Maybe it was the first time they had ever done it, or maybe it was the 1000 time.

The reason is irrelevant, the point is that it was done.  I ran thinking that this person may never get caught, they may never have to pay restitution for what they did, and this woman (and probably many more) will not get justice for what was done.

Yes, some things I will never understand.

Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. (Mic 2:1., NIV)

 

There are no excuses, there is the power within us to decide not to do the evil we plot.  As this person walked up to this lady's car this morning they had the power of choice within them.  They could have walked away and done nothing, but instead they chose to do the wrong thing.

 

May this woman who was robbed this morning be able to move on, and be able to still do her morning run without being afraid.  This robber took more than her pocketbook, they took her sense of security.  If you have ever been robbed, you know what I am talking about.  It has happened to me.  You lose a sense of security.  Some lose it for a day or two, some for a month, some for years, and some for a lifetime.

 

Some things I will never understand, and I guess I never will.

 

Pray for this lady, and for this robber.

 

Chris

He.Never.Stops.Loving

^10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.  (Is 54:10., NIV)

 

 

There is NOTHING you or I could ever do to stop God from loving us.  Nothing.  Ever.

I've heard this my whole Christian life, but to think about that concept and actually accept it is unbelievably hard.

I've been told by a lot of people in my lifetime that they "love me".  I've been told not long after that also that they "fell out of love with me", that they are not sure that they ever loved me, and also that they hate me.  I know I'm not alone on that.  We have all been told at some point that we are loved, just to be told different, ignored, or even hated after.  Is it any wonder we have a huge problem with understanding that God loves us, and He never stops.

His love is unfailing.  It will never fail you, leave you, or stop.

We may not always "feel" like we are loved, but God has promised that even if the world is crumbling down around us that He his love is unfailing, unchanging, and unwavering.

People can get angry, upset, or disappointed in us, and that makes them stop loving us.

God can be not happy with us, and disappointed in us, but yet He Never Stops Loving us.

Ever.

Hope you have a great day, Chris

To learn or not to learn

Funny thing about history, it repeats itself.  The question is, why?  We run in this vicious circle in life.  Something has to break the cycle.  What should make me different than a non-believer.

“But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord.”

Isaiah 26:10 NIV

God does things all the time.  He is all the time working, saving lives, and doing medical wonders.  He is continually showing grace to all.  He is giving life to all, granting freedom, showing love, providing needs, and well doing what he does.  Those who don't believe can't see it, well let's face it even believers lose sight of the daily things God does. 

We live in a relatively safe land.  A country where the vast majority of its citizens can lay down at night and sleep without worry of being robbed, being bombed, or being shot.  We live in a land that God has provided all of this through law, security, and freedom.  All thanks to the foresight of our anscestors.  We live in a land with technological advances, medical wonders, and advanced freedom.  

Unfortunately to the majority of this country, God is not recognized, accredited, or thanked for being the Devine creator or sustainer of this.  

We live in an age of educational advancement, and yet the most important acknowledgement that a person can give remains silent.  The Divine Creator continues to sustain us in this great country I call home.

I shall never cease to be amazed at how those who call this amazing land home will not regard the majesty of His creation, let alone Him as Creator.

So what happens, everyone keeps doing their day to day things, right?

Lesson to learn:  appreciate everyday for what it is, a gift.  Appreciate the place you live, the land your in, and the freedom you have.  Have a fresh outlook on life.  Be different acknowledge and live your life for the One who created, sustained, and redeemed you.  He is worthy.

on the verge...

I have this feeling inside, I have this feeling I can't hide, and I have this excitement for the ride.

I feel giddy, want to know why...

I feel like a Spiritual Breakthrough is on the horizon.  I don't know when or where, but it's there.  God is working on something in me and through me.  I can't explain it or contain it.  I have really got to stop with the rhymes....

I have been having visions and dreams.  Seeing things with such clarity.  Seeing God work some tremendous things.  Seeing an excitement in the Gospel that I haven't seen in a while.  Feeling excited about things myself that I haven't felt in awhile.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. ... "  (Isaiah 60:1-ff, ESV)

I have been praying "God, you got me here, so now what?", He has been flooding my mind with plans, projects, and people.  It's hard to wrap my head around all of it.  It's hard to decipher what to work on first, what is most important, and how soon to move on it.  I am prayerfully making models, notes, and flow charts.  I sit back and think to myself, "How?" or "Can I really do this?"

There is such a sense of excitement, urgency, and nervousness.  You pray and the desire is for God to move in a mighty way.  Then when the time is coming, or feels like is coming for the "Spiritual Breakthrough" that you have been praying for the anxiousness comes.  You start feeling like maybe I have bitten off more than I can chew, maybe God picked the wrong person to do this, and/or I'm not talented or good enough to do this.

Then I remind myself that I am just a vessel.  That it's actually God working in me and through me to accomplish anything.  All I am doing is allowing Him to use me.

I feel like I'm on the edge of a break through, one like I have never had before.  I have had some breakthroughs in the past.  There was the DNow weekend with my GBBC youth where God did some amazing things in those students lives over a 48 hour period.  Rededication, salvation, and rekindled.  I have seen God do some amazing things.  This seems bigger, much much bigger, and it makes me nervous.  It's like everything that has happened in ministry and life up to this point is leading up to this moment, or this movement.  Maybe that is what it is... a movement.  As I am typing this I am reminded that I have been praying for Pole Creek, a church in my community, would experience a movement of God.  Maybe God is doing that in our community and in our church.

A movement, that is what I feel and that is what I want to be part of.  A movement of God, like nothing we have experienced before.  We need more than a revival, or a renewel.  We need a movement of God.

I am piecing this together, "Spiritual Breakthrough of a Movement".  I don't know what it looks like, how it would be, or what our part of it is, but I sense and feel it coming.

I had someone say this to me yesterday, "You are the best thing that has happened to our church for awhile, you are the breath of fresh air I feel we have needed..."

I don't feel like I am.  It was a huge compliment, but yet also made me feel uneasy, like a big weight was added called "fear of failure".  I know God has placed me where I am, I know it with all of my being.  I don't know that I would go has far as the "best in awhile", but I would for sure say I have been placed there for "such a time as this".

So, to wrap this up.  I sense God is on the verge of something big, something wonderful, and something unbelievable.  I want to be part of it, I want my church to be part of it, and I want you to be part of it.  The question is, do you?

Chris

its worth the wait

Waiting is so hard isn't it.  Remember how hard it was as a kid when Thanksgiving rolled around and you had to wait for Christmas.  Remember how it is when you go to eat and your so hungry, and it seems like it takes the food soooooooo long to get there.  Remember how it is when you are so ready for vacation and it seems like the days just drag by as the dates get closer.  Maybe you ordered something on Amazon you have been wanting for a long time, and it seems like the three days to wait is taking forever.  Oh my waiting is so hard.

"On that day it will be said, "look, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us.  This is the Lord;  We have waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."  (Isaiah 25:9, HCSB)

Waiting on God is even harder.  God's concept of time and ours are so different.  God sees things from an eternal point of view, you and I, well, we only see the here and now.  If you are like me you want it done and you want it now.  I want God to work and do it now.  I know that sounds really demanding, but God already knows what I am thinking so I might as well say it.  Moving on.... I don't really like to wait, maybe you are the same way.

I have learned that when you stand back and are fervent in prayer, it is such a relief to see when He does answer.  You are able to look back and smile and see that truly this was something only God could have orchestrated, only something He could have pieced together.  Then you have this satisfaction of knowing that  He did it and it elevates your worship to adoration.

So, yes, my friend waiting is hard, but my is it worth the wait.

Look this is our God, we have waited for him..... Look this is the Lord; we have waited for Him...

and He did not disappoint...

Have a great day, Chris

try and stop this train...

Have you ever planned and implemented a project and had so many obstacles in the way that it hindered success. Or maybe it even caused the project to fail miserably...  Yeah, we probably have all been in that situation at one time or another.  Obstacles tend to train wreck our greatest plans and projects, we get fed up with the obstacles and resistance that often we give up.

It's virtually impossible to stop a train in full motion once it has begun, well unless your Hancock:

 

 



Nothing stops God's plans once they are in motion.

^24 The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand. ^25 I will crush the Assyrian in my land; on my mountains I will trample him down. His yoke will be taken from my people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.”  ^26 This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. ^27 For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?  (Is 14:24-27., NIV)

 

What God has purposed, what God has planned cannot be stopped.  For Assyria this was a bad thing, God tells them through Isaiah here that nothing they can do will stop His plan of destruction for them.  They could build the biggest walls, train the greatest armies, and use the greatest of weapons, but they would still be destroyed.  For us, there is a greater truth in this.  On a positive note, this means that if God has a plan for something great that no opposition, no resistance, or financial woe will hinder God from completing what He has started.

 

You and I may get discouraged, you and I may think it's not going to happen, and you and I may quit.  However, God will get done what His purpose it, and it is up to us to decide whether or not God will accomplish His plans with or without our involvement.

 

Just something to think about, have a blessed day.

shocker

The Christian Conservative community acted so shocked and appalled by SCOTUS' decision last Friday.  We acted as though it completely caught us off guard.  It shouldn't have.  It has been a long time coming.  Right, wrong, or indifferent it was definitely coming.

Let me state this very clearly, YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE MORALITY.  Why are we allowing the Supreme Court to decide what is moral and what is not.  When man makes that kind of decision it leaves too many doors open.

You also cannot force someone to believe what you believe, and that works both ways.  The LGBT community will not convince me that same sex marriage is ok, and I won't be able to convince them it not ok.  That is what makes our country what it is. 

What is making our country deteriorate is HATE.  So much nastiness has been portrayed in the last week because of this legislature. 

^18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ^19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ^20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’^ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ^21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. ^22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. ^23 He who hates me hates my Father as well. (Jn 15:18-23., NIV)

Hatred towards making a stand for morality is nothing new, nor will it ever change.  Jesus dealt with it long before now, and generations after us will deal with it as well.  People are free to make their own decisions about what is moral and what is right; however, they also need to understand there are consequences to those decisions.  I am responsible for my own moral decisions, and they are responsible for theirs.

We live in a country in which the LGBT community can lobby for whatever they wish, however so am I.  It works both ways, or at least it is supposed to.

I think there would be serious consequences to me if I walked outside and burned a rainbow flag..... don't you?  But yet, its "ok" for the American Flag to be burned in protest....

So what do we do? 

Love our people, Love our neighbors, love our country, and Love our God.

It's what I believe Jesus did and continues to do.

Feed the sheep, tend the sheep.  We need to love and equip our people.

So, you cant legislate morality, but you also can't expect someone who doesn't know the truth to believe what you or I believe to be true.

Even if the SCOTUS had voted differently, it wouldn't have fixed the morality problem in our nation.  We cannot, and must not, depend on government to try and fix the morality problem. 

Our hope has to come from a much higher source.

God designed marriage, God defined marriage, and God instituted marriage.  End of story.  I am baffled at the idea that those who don't believe in God who want something He instituted, or maybe they do believe but they don't want to follow His definition of marriage.

Romans 3:23 tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. It's a fact.  My sin problem is not any less than anyone else's.  I have to deal with my own.  I can admit when I'm wrong, and I'm not afraid to.  I can try to re-define my sin and paint it a prettier picture and say that its ok, or right.  However, in the eyes of God, Sin is Sin. It always has been and it always will be. 

My thoughts where kind of all over today, as I guess you could tell.  Hope something made sense....

Chris

And so it begins....

The dawning of a new day.
A fresh start. 
A new beginning.

In January we left our ministry at GBBC not knowing where God would lead us or what we would do.  In the last 6 (nearly 7 months), there have been many dark days full of anxiety and fear.  There have also been many days of personal and professional examination of who God called me to be, and how he wanted me to serve.  I have enjoyed time with my family.  We have spend an enormous amount of time in prayer together, read the Bible together, and did devotions together.  Though there where many dark days, there where also many great days and great times together.  I could literally say that since January 18 our lives have been a roller coaster ride.

I have heard my whole ministry career that God will provide for our needs.  This time in our lives we have learned that.  God has provided everything we have needed.  Financially He provided (through all different sources), emotionally He has provided (a person can feel really low when they are unemployed), physically He has provided, and He has provided us some great times of worship and fabulous church families that have loved on us when we needed it (Antioch, Starnes Cove, Pole Creek, and New Bridge).

Though I have learned a lot about myself, my family, and my calling, it is a six months I would never want to repeat again.

 I have learned that I have some really amazing friends (Stephen Conard, Kevin Burns, Ericksons, Ingles, Watsons, JPM, my neighbors and Bo,  and those who don't wish to be mentioned but you know who you are) that have been so precious to me, and some that checked on me virtually every day.  I have learned that I have some of the greatest family (my parents and sisters) that constantly prayed and my precious mom who has just supported me and loved on me.  My dad who sent me texts and called to encourage me.  My in-laws who are just fabulous. 

My biggest cheerleader being my wife and kids.  My wife who believed in me even when I didn't. My children, whom would pray for me like this:

"God I pray for my daddy to get a job, not just any job but as a pastor, because its what he is really good at".

What a journey it has been, but now this journey has ended and the new journey begins.

Those of you who know me, by now you know that on June 14, 2015 Enka Baptist Church extended an invitation for me to become their Pastor.  To which I have accepted and will officially begin on July 1.  I have deep emotions of excitement as well as nervousness.  Excitement because this has been prayed over for six months, but yet also nervousness because even though I have been in full-time Christian ministry for over 10 years, the last 6 was in Student/Children's ministry.

Being called someone's pastor, is an office of honor and dignity.  It's not a power position.  It's a leader position.  It's a position where the requirements are to be humble, be teachable, be honest, and be available.  It's a position that requires an overwhelming amount of time, energy, and vision.  It's a position that requires the ultimate servanthood to the Almighty Creator.

⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve   (Mk 10:45., NIV)

And so it begins...

As this new journey begins in leading Enka Baptist, I ask that you pray for not only myself, my family, and my new church in the following way:

• Pray that we, well Pray.  One of the biggest concerns that has been brought to my attention with our new church has been they felt like they hadn't prayed enough.  Pray that we bathe everything we do in prayer.  Pray that I pray and lead as I should.  Pray that in our prayers God will give us, specifically me vision.  Pray that prayer will stay at the heart of what we do.
• Patience.  I am already chomping at the bit at things I want to do at Enka.  I believe that God is already giving me guidance and vision on future changes.  However, with anything, timing is essential.  I am not the type of person that likes to "sit" on something and be patient.  However, for anything to be successful and be received well, I must be patient.
• Persistence.  I want to be in this for the "long haul"  I am looking to be here 10 years or more.  I know hard times will come, I know there will be "pockets of resistance", and I know things will not always go my way or smooth.  However, I want them to know I love them enough to work through the tough times, and enjoy the great times.

To God be the glory for this new journey that has begun

And so it begins....

Father's Day

 

 

 

There is no greater title, or more scarier one that to be called "Dad".  I love being called Dad.  I would have never imagined a greater feeling, or privilege, of being a parent of 4 kids on earth and one in heaven.

 

June 27, 1994 was the first time I became a father.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  I remember the excitement of anticipating the birth of Virginia "Ginny".  I was so pumped I just about couldn't stand it, then it hit me:  Your about to be a father.  It's no longer going to be about you, it's going to be about this little one.  You will be responsible for taking care of her, teaching her, helping her grow, and she will look up to you for the rest of your life.  I began to go from excitement to fear, I began asking myself "can I do this"?

 

June 30, 2003 was the next time I became a father.  This child was born on Brandy's birthday.  This is the child that we met but yet will not know until in heaven.  It's hard even today to think about that this one would have been nearing teenage years now.  This precious one we where able to hold, but unfortunately they didn't make it.  My oldest daughter knows of this child but our others do not.  This is my baby that I never got to feed, see crawl, walk, or talk.  We do not know whether it was a boy or girl, but it was irrelevant.  One day I will meet this child again, and I will know them then.

 

November 10, 2006 was the year the twin where born (Rebekah and Samantha).  If you think it is scary when you find our your going to be a parent, it's even scarier when you hear, "hey, there is two in there".....  Father of twins.  What a journey it has been to have twins.  I remember the first night we took those two home, brandy or I neither one slept a wink.  We had bracelets made to put on their ankles because we where afraid we would not be able to tell them apart (even though they where fraternal and not paternal, in other words they where not identical).  There where days when two infants seemed like too much, and yet there where days when I beamed with pride in having twins.  Two learning to crawl, two learning to talk, two learning to walk, two learning to feed themselves, and two loving on you at the same time.

 

March 3, 2010 was the year of my last child.  On a snowy march morning we went to the hospital to welcome Olivia into the world.  My little "mini-me", my little shadow.  I remember this is the year I lost my Grammy and gained my Olivia.  Grammy was in the hospital with what they thought had been a stroke at the time.  The released Grammy to go home while we where in the hospital after Olivia's birth.  You would have to know my Grammy to appreciate this, but she refused to leave the hospital until she saw her "Katie".  Don't ask me why, cause I'm not sure but she wanted to call her "Katie".  Olivia's full name is "Olivia Kate".  So, I loved my Grammy so much that I allowed her to... of course.

 

As I sit here and write this blog I can reflect on how great it is to be Dad.  I can hear my 4 Girls upstairs doing "who knows what" but it is definitely loud, and all I can think about is how great it is to not just be called their Dad, but to actually be their Dad.

 

Anyone can be a father, but it's another thing to be their Dad.

 

 

Psalms 127:3-4            

 

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them

I am a blessed Dad of 4 beautiful daughters, of whom each one of them are so special to me.  God has granted me the privilege and responsibility of raising 4 daughters for Him.  I love to get a text from the oldest saying "I love you miss you or I miss you", I love to come home and have my girls run up to me and wrap their arms around me and say "I love you" or "I missed you", I love getting together with my kids at night and doing our little Bible study or prayer time, I love summer afternoons of taking my children to the river to play, going on a hike, or going for a swim.  I love my nightly hugs and kisses from my children.  I love coming home after a long day and seeing those beautiful and innocent faces that love me just because they want to.

I could have never imagined being a Dad would ever be so great.

Happy father's day and happy father's day to my Pops!!

Chris

Schools out for summer

Even though it has been 25 years I remember vividly the feeling of the last day of school.  The excitement and anticipation of what the summer would hold.  

Everything from sleeping late, playing in the creek, going to the pool, water gun fights, family vacation, to staying outside late to catch lightning bugs.  Hanging out with our neighborhood friends and trying to not get into trouble, or at least not get caught.

I love summer.  I am a shorts and tshirt kind of person. 

It seems as we grow older we lose the excitement we had when we where younger.

I loved summer as a kid because it was a change, it was something different.  You do the routine of school for 9 months and it gets monotonous, quite frankly it gets old.

Change is not always bad.  Change could and should be welcomed.  Change stops the monotony.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

When someone mentions the word "change" in church we tense up, we get worried, we may even get angry. 

God is doing a new thing.  He is making a way.  

We should look at a new thing, a new way as exciting.  We should see it as a child sees their summer break.  As a time of refreshment, as a time of rejuvenation, and as a time to experience something new. 

Resist change and make yourself miserable, as well as others or welcome change and watch God do His amazing work.

Don't fear change but enjoy it.

Don't fight change but embrace it.

don't challenge change but accept it.

Don't question change but answer it.

Don't ignore change but acknowledge it.

Enjoy summer break and enjoy a new thing!

Chris

Media is so messed up

So much has been in the news recently about Caitlyn/Bruce Jenner.  Normally I stay so far away from this type of hype in my blogs, however this one is quite different.  Over the last several days I have listened to media talk about Jenner and use words like "Courage" "Bravery" "Hero" "role-model" "Determination" "Strength", etc... and I think "What??". 

I am thankful we live in a country where Jenner has the freedom to be whatever he/she wants to be.  If he/she wants to change his/her gender have at it.  Whatever I think or believe about the moral/spiritual/faith consequences are not what I am having the biggest problem with.  He/She will have to answer to his/her Creator for the decisions made.  My issue has come with labeling a person having a "selective" surgery with all the above mentioned adjectives.

I read an article today that Jenner will receive the ESPY Author Ashe Award for Courage.  Jenner won this award over people like:

Lauren Hill:  the 19 year old Mount St. Joseph basketball player who battled cancer while staying on the university team.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Hill_(basketball)

Noah Galloway:  The Iraqi veteran who lost most of an arm and a leg fighting, but still competes in extreme sports and finished 3rd in "Dancing with the Stars" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Galloway

I understand this is "just an award", but the point being I can't even begin to fathom how Jenner was picked over those two.  I can identify them with all of the above adjectives long before I could Jenner.

I believe our definitions are messed up when we start labeling someone in Hollywood with these words over a gender change, and it causes the words to become less of what they really are.

I know people that are more deserving of these titles than Jenner, but media will never publicize them.

"Courage", is our men and women in law enforcement like Gary Henderson, Van Duncan  that keep our streets safe.  They go in every day to a thankless job and are labeled crooked thanks to a selected few.  They have courage in the face of the danger they face daily.

"Bravery", is our firefighters / EMT like Nick Robinson, Brian Meyers, Lonnie Kimbrough that run into a burning building when everyone else is running out.

"Hero", is our men and women that served in the military to keep our country and our freedom safe.  People like my dad, father in law, brother in law, people I went to school with, and in my family.  If you served my country YOU are a hero.

"Role-model", is our teachers out there, Rachel, Brian, Kelly, Melody... long hours, little pay, teaching those who don't want to be taught, filling up your classroom with items out of your own pocket.  Teachers are best role-model next to parenthood.

"Determination", is single parents like Erin, raising three kids on her own.  Trying to give her children the best possible life she can with the little she has.  She is the picture of determination.

"Strength", is people like Myjenta, Crain, and Hope who fight PTSD (which you can't begin to understand unless you deal with), who have to find an inner strength to even try to have a normal life.  Yet in the midst of dealing with it, they soar like eagles.

Media:  these people deserve those titles much more than Jenner does.

But at the same time I hear Jenner being called "lunatic" "evil", and harsh things such as that.  He/She is not deserving of those either.  Jenner is someone who has just lost their way and desperately needs to know and understand Ephesians 2:10:

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
 

It's not about being "happy" with who you are, or trying to change who you are.  This life is about discovering who you are and who God created you to be.  This verse tells us that we are God's workmanship, or His masterpiece.  Every flaw, everything we don't like about ourselves, and every blemish we have is covered in Jesus Christ.  Discover who you are in Christ, there is where you find your fulfillment.  You will never find it with any surgery, substance, or lifestyle. 

Our real heroes are the one who work 12 hour shifts just to get by, the ones who go college and hold down full time job, the stay at home mom or dad, and the ones who work multiple jobs.  These are the ones in the real world who never will get recognition.

 

The people I believe deserve the titles of courage, inspiring, bravery, hero, strength, and etc. are those who have discovered who they are in Christ and are using their gifts/talents for the upbuilding of His Kingdom.  You will never find the media publicizing that or see it in a reality show.

 

I make no apologies if this blog offends you, it's my blog and you didn't have to read it.  Please note I will also delete any negative comments.

 

Chris

 

 

breaking point

Many of you may know this feeling.  If one more thing goes wrong, if I hear one more complaint, or if something good doesn't come together soon I am going to snap, explode, or implode.  You know you are at a critical point, you know you are at a breaking point.  You are at a point where fear and faith are colliding and you do not know which one is winning, and you feel like you are the one who is losing.

You pray and pray, and yet nothing seems to be working, in fact you don't think anyone is listening.

Life is a journey of discovery.  In part of the journey you discover what that breaking point is.  In fact we realize that every time we get close to that point we notice that we CAN take a little more.  In this discovery of the breaking point not only do we gain knowledge that we are stronger than we realize and that God is greater when we let go and let Him prove Himself.

^17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

^18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ^19 A

righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; ^20 he protects

all his bones, not one of them will be broken.  (Ps 34:17-20., NIV)

 

Couple of things to remember on the journey and when you feel like you are at that point, the breaking point:

1. He hears you (17a).  Sometimes we may not feel that way, we may even struggle with believing it to be true, but He does hear you.  You can rest assured that your prayers are being heard.  God is listening.
2. He will fix the problem (17b).  He delivers us from our troubles.  The catch here is that there is no timeline to the deliverance.  I personally don't like that answer.  He could deliver us in 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, 10 years, etc., we don't know.  What we do know is that eventually, in His time... HE WILL.
3. He remains close (18).  I have discovered this.  In my ugliness, in my heart brokenness, in my loneliness, in my darkest times, in my most painful times, in my confusion, in my exhaustion, in my helplessness, in my hopelessness, in my anger, in my resentment, in my emptiness, and wherever I am and whatever I am going through He is close.  In good times we know He is.  When everything is smooth we have no problem knowing God is there, its when things get tough our first inclination is to doubt He is there.  I promise you this.... He has always been, and will always be by my and your side.  Every moment of every day, in the good and the bad moments.
4. He will not let you break (20).  We feel like we are going to break, but He promises us that even though we may bend, we will not break.  Apart from God, we will.  Apart from God we don't stand a chance, the world will break us.

This is definitely a most incredible journey that you and I are on.  Through it we discover an enormous amount of joy and heartache.  We learn what it is to have much, and to lose much.  We find out how much we can handle, and how much more God can.

 

If you feel you are close to the breaking point read Psalm 34 and remind yourself that you are a Child of the most high God.  When you feel like you are about to break, God is on the verge of doing something unbelievable in your life, so hang on to what is left and keep going.

 

I have learned my breaking point and am watching God do some unbelievable things, glory to His Name!!!

 

Chris

For love or money?

What motivates us to accomplish things is it love or money?  is it recognition or peace of knowing we did the right thing?  do we want a pat on the back or peace in heart?  Do we want credit or sense of satisfaction?

What do you think God wants from you?  Your money?  Do you think that is His focus?  What do you think is our greatest responsibility towards the church, to God, and fellow man?  Your tithe?  Your gifts?

Maybe this verse will help:

^42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. (Lk 11:42., NIV)

This is Jesus speaking and He is speaking directly towards the Pharisees, or the religious leaders of their time.  He is giving them these "woes", or list of things they need to work on.  Well, lets face it you and I always have things that we can work on.  This one specifically had to do with giving and what God prefers.  The Pharisees where very dogmatic about what they do and how they lead.  When the focus goes from people to money there is a problem.

When there is a surplus no one in the church really worries about money, and the focus stays on people.  However in a recession, or depression, the focus goes from people to money.  Its a natural tendency.  Hence why we have to remind ourselves of such verses about focus.  During a recession or depression we are all about making sure we remind people that we give a tenth.  That's all well and good, but you can't do that and neglect people.  You can practice love, grace, AND giving.

The Bible teaches us that we are to give regularly and systematically.  It also teaches that we should give from a joyful heart.  Give regularly, systematically, and joyfully.  In doing that it should be something we WANT to do and not something we feel like we HAVE to do.

Giving is an essential part of we do, it's where your local church finds its funding to be a "light" in your community.  It CANT just be about the money, you and I need to do our part in giving, but we also have to do our part in showing grace and mercy towards people.  People are the focus and always should be.  Money is a necessary evil and love is just necessary.  Me must practice both.

Chris