Vacation - Day One

Monday morning's headline in the Rock Hill Herald (I'm visiting friends in Clover, SC), gave me an indication of a great vacation! GO TIGERS!

Fantastic Veterans Day Service

Wednesday (the 11th) is Veterans Day! Don't forget to find a veteran and to thank him or her for his or her service to our country. We wouldn't be a country without the sacrifices made over the past 200 plus years to gain and maintain our freedom!

We had a great Veterans Day service at church yesterday. One of the highlights was a drama depicting a mom (and her sister) receiving the horrible news that her son had been killed on the fields of batter in World War II. Ret. Col. Charles Hallman, who had trained at Ft. Hood, TX, reminded us to pray for the families there. He served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, including two tours in Vietnam, and a tour in Kuwait under Operation Desert Storm, when he commanded a tank battalion.

Dr. Bob Tilley (who had been a member of our church family for over 18 years, brought the message. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy TWICE...in '51 and then in '65 as a Naval Chaplain.

We then ended the day as Baptists love to end a day...by eating! It was a great day!

Join the Advent Conspiracy! Have the best Christmas EVER!

Just want to remind everyone, everywhere that you're invited to the Advent Conspiracy! Click on the video, but be warned, it may change how you "do" Christmas for the rest of your life!



For Christ-followers, the Christmas season can be filled with a lot of things besides, peace, joy, and good will toward man! I'm hoping to lead our church in December to "conspiring" to regain the focus of Advent on Christ by (taken from the www.adventconspiracy.org website):

WORSHIPING MORE FULLY....

It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. This is the holistic approach God had in mind for Christmas. It’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. It’s the party of the year. Entering the story of advent means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

SPENDING LESS...

Before you think we’re getting all Scrooge on you, let us explain what we mean. We like gifts. Our kids really like gifts. But consider this: America spends an average of $450 billion a year every Christmas. How often have you spent money on Christmas presents for no other reason than obligation? How many times have you received a gift out of that same obligation? Thanks, but no thanks, right? We’re asking people to consider buying ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas. Just one. Sounds insignificant, yet many who have taken this small sacrifice have experienced something nothing less than a miracle: They have been more available to celebrate Christ during the advent season. For ideas on how to give more creative (less expensive) gifts, go to: http://www.rethinkingchristmas.com/

GIVING MORE PRESENCE

God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love. So it’s no wonder why we’re drawn to the idea that Christmas should be a time to love our friends and family in the most memorable ways possible. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and no matter how hard we look, it can’t be found at the mall. Time to make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom. Time to write mom a letter. Time to take the kids sledding. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love visible through relational giving. Sounds a lot better than getting a sweater two sizes too big, right? Need a few ideas? Just click here(http://www.adventconspiracy.org/story) and see what others have done to give more during the advent season.

LOVING ALL (Including the poor)

When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. He played to the margins. By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join Him in giving resources to those who need help the most. When Advent Conspiracy first began four churches challenged this simple concept to its congregations. The result raised more than a half million dollars to aid those in need. One less gift. One unbelievable present in the name of Christ.

That's the focus of AC in a nutshell. For much more info and resources, go to:
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/

As we enter the advent season, may each of us, who profess to follow Christ, ask ourselves, "What would Jesus want me to do with my Advent/Christmas celebration?" Then, just do it! Join the conspiracy!

I'm Trying Not to Read Too Much Into This....But...

Ok, you know I like science fiction, so I gave ABC's new series "V" a chance to grab my attention, and it did, though not like I anticipated. It's a remake of a series done in the early 80's about aliens showing up in big spaceships, proclaiming peace while having a much more sinister purpose. So this big, really big spaceship slowly makes its way over New York City, causing everything to shake. One of the shaking scenes is in a church where a homeless man in a wheelchair is sitting under a crucifix situated in the balcony. Here's the sequence:




I'm sure ABC was NOT inferring that Christianity is useless against the onslaught of alien invaders! Still, it was a bit disconcerting to see the priest having to rescue the homeless guy from the falling crucifix. So is their message that Christianity is pretty much useless in a crisis; or even dangerous in a crisis?

Sure, I'm offended, but how does Christ want me to respond to a world so quick to mock our beliefs? Peter lived in a culture that was mocking Christ and His followers long before America or ABC were even in someone's imagination. He lives in a culture that went so far as to murder and torture Christians as entertainment. Peter's Spirit-inspired response? He said, "¹⁴But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."¹⁵But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (1 Peter 3:14-16)

We will not have to answer for the sins of ABC or the writers of "V," but we will have to answer for whether or not each of us set apart Christ as Lord and followed Him; when our culture was kind to Him, and especially when our culture was not. So don't make it easier for someone to slander Christ and His church; set apart Christ as Lord!

An Up Side to the Economy

With money being tight these days, it gives you a good excuse to wait to go on that next cruise. If you can't wait till 2011, you can take the family on the first cruise ship with a "water coaster!" Those Disney people! I thought this animation was pretty cool anyway, and having Disney movies playing throughout the ship was a nice touch... never miss a chance to advertise! So save your pennies!

Wonders All Around

Amazingly beautiful things are happening all the time around us; we just don't have eyes to see. Well, look at this...

Great Geek Gift!

In case you're looking for a cool robot to give to your favorite geek, here's one you should check out!

Keep a Camera Handy

I went to see a church member after church yesterday, and when I was leaving, saw a couple of unexpected photo opps. Having my little Sony (a T77 for anyone who would care), I took these. Wonders are all around you if you'll just take a little time to look!

The grasshopper, well, he was very cooperative!

The dogs are obviously having a hard time understanding me...so what else is new?

Help Me! It Ain't Fair!

I thought that buying (and eating) these tiny 100 calorie snack cakes would be the answer to my weight problem. Well, maybe not, but hang with me for the sake of this post!

Yesterday, my routine bloodwork showed that all of my blood levels were normal (Yay...blood glucose of 88!), except for my triglycerides (230). So I hit the stationary bike tonight, having moved it into my foyer so I could see my TV.

Well, it's got one of those displays that showed me how many calories I was "burning." Imagine my horror to find out how long it took to burn off two of those little snack cakes! Over 32 minutes!

And how long does it take for me to eat those same 200 calories? Well, I could do it quicker than this, but at a normal rate of consumption, I'd estimate about 16 seconds!

That "Little Debbie," may look innocent enough, but she's a monster! I guess I'm not going to let her and her friends in my house anymore!

The moral....the road to destruction (and obesity) is wide and easy, but that doesn't mean we need to keep going down it! By the way, it takes about 3 hours on this bike to get ride of the calories in one McDonald's milkshake! Ouch!

Are You a "Rejoicer?"

Sure, this dance number is staged, but only the dancers knew about it. I enjoy seeing the reactions of bystanders to what seemed a spontaneous event. It was unexpected in what many probably thought would be another day of the same old routine. It reminded me how important it is that people see the joy in our lives. Not a shallow happiness based in circumstances, but an abiding joy in knowing we're never alone; in knowing that we belong to the Creator of the Universe, not as little creatures of His divine curiosity, but adopted children, beloved for an eternity.

Paul knew this joy, and knew it was vital to our witness when he was inspired to write: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:4-9

Paul makes it clear that "rejoicing" is a command, and that the quality of our lives need to be evident to all, so others may perceive the wonder of God's love and power and mercy and grace... when we're struggling with life, and when we feel like dancing! Notice the reactions of the onlookers. What do people see when they see you "doing" life? Something worth smiling about? Something worth investigating? Something that points them to Christ?

Enjoy the song and dance...and I hope today someone else enjoys the "song and dance" they see and hear in your life!