Monday, November 30, 2009

For Everyone in a Monday Funk...

I just got off the phone with a good friend who was in a Monday funk. I thought this might make everyone feel a little better...unless of course, you are an extreme tree-hugger. Hey, I like trees...ask me about redwoods sometime, but this is...well, pretty sad. So no matter how bad your day is going, be thankful you're not grief-stricken over a conifer! OH, the really good parts begin around 25 seconds into it, so be patient!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

A Reminder NOT To Rush Through Advent!

YOU keep us waiting.
You, the God of all time,
Want us to wait
For the right time in which to discover
Who we are, where we are to go,
Who will be with us,
and what we must do.
So thank you … for the waiting time.


John Bell, quoted in The Westminster Collection of Christian Prayers, compiled by Dorothy M. Stewart

Want to Give Jesus a Great Gift this Christmas? How about some HUMILITY!


Just read a pretty good AND convicting article about "The Advent of Humility" at http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2008/december/20.51.html

I never like being convicted alone, so join me! What greater gift can we give to Christ this year than our worship, which really won't happen if we're focused on ourselves. Join the "conspiracy!" (http://www.adventconspiracy.org/)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

GO TIGERS and DABO!


For Clemson fans, if you haven't already read it. This is an excellent article on Dabo Swinney's family life.

http://www.thestate.com/morris/story/1038734.html

Regardless of what happens this Saturday against USC (though we are feeling pretty good going into the game), I am proud of our Clemson team, its coaching staff, and, of course of our head coach who is not only a great coach on the field, but also a man of great faith who is willing to let people know that whenever he can. GO TIGERS and DABO!

Monday, November 09, 2009

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!








Friday, November 06, 2009

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!

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

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!