For the last week, I've enjoyed vacation with my family at the Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. It was the first time in my life that I have had the opportunity to go to Disney and let me tell you, that was one awesome place! My Mother-in-law coordinated the arrangements which included the, "Dining Plan", our stay and Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort Hotel, and transportation to and from the resort. Early on, we all decided to fly to Orlando on Southwest Airlines (which by the way was an awesome experience in and of itself). When we arrived at the airport, there was a nice charter bus waiting on us which took us to the resort. We never touched our luggage once we dropped it off at Greenville Spartanburg airport until it was delivered to our rooms! Everywhere we went, we rode on timely ferry boats, transit buses, or mono-rail. I was absolutely amazed at how immaculate, courteous, and informative each Disney employee was. The Disney, "Machine" (as I've affectionately come to call it) blew me away. Long story short, it was an absolutely amazing trip because I felt like a King the entire time we were there.
Tonight, I was packing my bag for a work related trip I have to take next week and something occurred to me; I should feel like a King each and every day! Other than my toys (phone chargers, ipad, laptop, etc), I didn't have to pack a single thing for the Disney trip. Did it just magically appear? Nope, every stitch of clothing I needed had been packed by my wife. Not only was my luggage packed, but so was Will and Katie's and Traci's (my wife). AND, not only did she pack all the clothes we needed, she figured that I didn't need to wear 5.11 pants at Disney and bought me brand new shorts and shirts just for the trip. AND, (ok, this is the last "and") she knew just the right size I needed. Now this single event doesn't even come close to all the things she does around the house each and every day, like cleaning house, washing 411 loads of clothes a week, getting supper ready, giving Katie a bath, and much more. But, packing my own bag has made me think about just how much like a King am I treated each and every day? I tell people all the time that even if I could have, I wouldn't have been smart enough to special order her as my wife; (and no, I'm not making up for something stupid I've said or done; at least not that I know of....)
Seriously, with all this talk of excellence, feeling like a King, being married to a wonderful wife and all, I want to get to the point. You see, all of the things I mentioned above are acts of service and not all of us recognize them. Not all of us are programmed to see those acts and then some of us simply choose to focus our thoughts on the things that are not the way we want them. We cast shadows on so many wonderful things (much like I do to my wife at times) and fail to see the wonderful things that we have been blessed with. There are countless stories in the bible describing exactly this kind of behavior. The story of, "The Prodigal Son" comes to mind which can be found in Luke 15 beginning with verse 11. Now without telling the whole story, the man's youngest son thought he knew best and wanted his share of the inheritance now. The son left with the money, wasted it, ate hog slop, and then begged to become one of his Father's servants. You see, the son didn't recognize how blessed he was until he lost everything and had to come pleading to his Father for work just to eat. Now here's the best part of Jesus' illustration here. In Luke 15:20, the Bible says, "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began." (NLT) The point of all of my rambling is this. Don't lose everything to realize how blessed we really are. Jesus wants to have a relationship with you and to share his wealth of blessing with you.
My prayer tonight is that I will not take for granted how blessed and how much I feel like a King thank to my my Lord and my wife. I pray that each of you will take the time right now to think about how blessed you are and maybe even send somebody a thank you note to tell them just that! Have a great week everybody!!!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Tough
Well, I'm writing a new blog a little early. I committed to fasting from TV and surfing the net for 30 days last Sunday night, and tonight is a tough night. My favorite TV show in the whole world is on and I missed this episode when it aired; "Person of Interest". I love that show because they are always looking out of the victim. I mean, there have been episodes where people have been victims of some serious business yet the main characters almost always end up at the right spot at just the right time.
Well you know what? Our Lord and Savior is in many ways, just like Person of Interest. Have you ever thought about Jesus in that light? Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about some sort of messed up Ricky Bobby idea of who, "Baby Jesus" is, but I am talking about how much God loves you. Jeremiah 29:11 says it best where it reads, "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." There are many other places in the bible where God expresses his love for us. There is none more defining than the gospels where the story is told of Jesus' crucifixion and what Jesus went through for us. Dr. Keith Maxwell wrote a very telling thesis on the medical point of view regarding Jesus' death. You can read it at this link http://www.oocities.org/wei-kwan_ng/article/crucifix/crucifix.htm and I dare you to read it until the end. It will open your eyes. We take for granted how Jesus really suffered and all he ever did was love people.
After you read Dr. Maxwell's thesis, TV shows start to seem somewhat less important. Truth be told, I'm enjoying fasting because just like tonight, when I wanted to give in, all I had to do was begin spending time with him and now I have the opportunity to share with you what he's placed on my heart.
Thank you Lord for loving me enough to die for me! Thank you for giving me just a little insight to share with others and I ask you to change lives one reader at a time. Remind me to consistently set the example and to always strive to love you more!
Well you know what? Our Lord and Savior is in many ways, just like Person of Interest. Have you ever thought about Jesus in that light? Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about some sort of messed up Ricky Bobby idea of who, "Baby Jesus" is, but I am talking about how much God loves you. Jeremiah 29:11 says it best where it reads, "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." There are many other places in the bible where God expresses his love for us. There is none more defining than the gospels where the story is told of Jesus' crucifixion and what Jesus went through for us. Dr. Keith Maxwell wrote a very telling thesis on the medical point of view regarding Jesus' death. You can read it at this link http://www.oocities.org/wei-kwan_ng/article/crucifix/crucifix.htm and I dare you to read it until the end. It will open your eyes. We take for granted how Jesus really suffered and all he ever did was love people.
After you read Dr. Maxwell's thesis, TV shows start to seem somewhat less important. Truth be told, I'm enjoying fasting because just like tonight, when I wanted to give in, all I had to do was begin spending time with him and now I have the opportunity to share with you what he's placed on my heart.
Thank you Lord for loving me enough to die for me! Thank you for giving me just a little insight to share with others and I ask you to change lives one reader at a time. Remind me to consistently set the example and to always strive to love you more!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Thoughts For Today
Just a few thoughts before we all start out with a busy week. I am blessed to be part of a wonderful Church with wonderful volunteers, wonderful staff, and a great Pastor @deanhermanonline . I get the opportunity to serve with an amazing group of volunteers every Sunday morning who give their time to see lives changed.
Tonight, I attended a meeting hosted by Pastor Dean where he shared his vision and passion to "Win this City for Christ". I am humbled every time I hear him say that because that is truly his passion and I am reminded to check my passion to see the lost come to know Christ. I think I often fail at being committed to the cause of Christ and find myself distracted by so many things ("Squirrel!!!!"). Seriously though, Dean challenged me as usual to think less of me and more of others and to take every opportunity to share Christ with others. He reminded us that it only takes one mistake to ruin our ability to lead. He gave several examples that have occurred in the last few months, but one example he gave stuck out in my mind. The Bible says that, "David was a man after God's own heart." and in fact, David had everything. What caused David to fail? The one thing he couldn't have; Bathsheba. David had wives all over the castle to fit his every occasion. But one look at Bathsheba taking a bath, and he decided that he wanted her. Now you know the rest of the story, but suffice it to say, David lost everything and was eventually chased out of his Kingdom by his own son. It only took one indiscretion and his career ended.
Pastor Dean talks a lot about, "Church People" and "Radical Followers of Christ". To put it in even more perspective, 5 Point Church only has two services, both occurring on Sunday morning. Most Sunday evenings, our front door is open and we are outside playing. For the last nine years, we have lived directly across the street from Calvary Hill Baptist Church. Would you believe that in that nine years, there has only been one occasion where somebody from that Church has walked across the street to invite us to come to Church? Nine years!! I mean seriously, Paul and Beth Turner were the only ones to ever invite us to visit and they have since moved on to an amazing ministry at Mt. Carmel Baptist. But it got me thinking. What makes me any different? What have I done to invite my neighbors to my Church? Truthfully, I'm no different.
So what is my point to all of this rambling? It is so easy for us, well me, to look at what other people are doing, or aren't doing. I don't make as much money as they do, but I do so much more than they do. Man if I were the boss, there's no way I would do that. Just like David, I think I lose sight of what's really important and the only thing I can control; my actions. So I'm going to start making some changes right now. Every one of you that reads this blog, come visit 5 Point Church next Sunday. People there really don't care what you look like, what you wear, or where you've been. They will love you! I want to challenge each of you to start right now focusing on you and your actions. Ignore the action (or the lack thereof) of those around you. Spend the next 30 days focusing on growing closer to God by reading the bible and spending time with him in prayer. It won't be easy because Satan DOES NOT want you to focus on the person that God wants you to be. He wants you to be distracted by those around you.
For the next 30 days, I am going to take part in an unusual fast. When I put the kids to bed at night, I spend the next several hours watching TV or surfing the net. For the next 30 days, I am going to turn the TV off and spend some one on one time with Christ and I plan to spend a lot of that time praying for you. I hope all of you have a great week and I pray that every one of you that reads this blog will accept my challenge.
Lord, forgive me when I fail you and when I get so busy thinking about me. Help me see every opportunity to share you with others.
Tonight, I attended a meeting hosted by Pastor Dean where he shared his vision and passion to "Win this City for Christ". I am humbled every time I hear him say that because that is truly his passion and I am reminded to check my passion to see the lost come to know Christ. I think I often fail at being committed to the cause of Christ and find myself distracted by so many things ("Squirrel!!!!"). Seriously though, Dean challenged me as usual to think less of me and more of others and to take every opportunity to share Christ with others. He reminded us that it only takes one mistake to ruin our ability to lead. He gave several examples that have occurred in the last few months, but one example he gave stuck out in my mind. The Bible says that, "David was a man after God's own heart." and in fact, David had everything. What caused David to fail? The one thing he couldn't have; Bathsheba. David had wives all over the castle to fit his every occasion. But one look at Bathsheba taking a bath, and he decided that he wanted her. Now you know the rest of the story, but suffice it to say, David lost everything and was eventually chased out of his Kingdom by his own son. It only took one indiscretion and his career ended.
Pastor Dean talks a lot about, "Church People" and "Radical Followers of Christ". To put it in even more perspective, 5 Point Church only has two services, both occurring on Sunday morning. Most Sunday evenings, our front door is open and we are outside playing. For the last nine years, we have lived directly across the street from Calvary Hill Baptist Church. Would you believe that in that nine years, there has only been one occasion where somebody from that Church has walked across the street to invite us to come to Church? Nine years!! I mean seriously, Paul and Beth Turner were the only ones to ever invite us to visit and they have since moved on to an amazing ministry at Mt. Carmel Baptist. But it got me thinking. What makes me any different? What have I done to invite my neighbors to my Church? Truthfully, I'm no different.
So what is my point to all of this rambling? It is so easy for us, well me, to look at what other people are doing, or aren't doing. I don't make as much money as they do, but I do so much more than they do. Man if I were the boss, there's no way I would do that. Just like David, I think I lose sight of what's really important and the only thing I can control; my actions. So I'm going to start making some changes right now. Every one of you that reads this blog, come visit 5 Point Church next Sunday. People there really don't care what you look like, what you wear, or where you've been. They will love you! I want to challenge each of you to start right now focusing on you and your actions. Ignore the action (or the lack thereof) of those around you. Spend the next 30 days focusing on growing closer to God by reading the bible and spending time with him in prayer. It won't be easy because Satan DOES NOT want you to focus on the person that God wants you to be. He wants you to be distracted by those around you.
For the next 30 days, I am going to take part in an unusual fast. When I put the kids to bed at night, I spend the next several hours watching TV or surfing the net. For the next 30 days, I am going to turn the TV off and spend some one on one time with Christ and I plan to spend a lot of that time praying for you. I hope all of you have a great week and I pray that every one of you that reads this blog will accept my challenge.
Lord, forgive me when I fail you and when I get so busy thinking about me. Help me see every opportunity to share you with others.
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