Coming Soon!

Hey Guys and Gals,

As you can tell, it has been quite a while since I have updated the blog and there is a whole lot of stuff that has gone on. Aliens have taken control of Texas, Gas price continue to rise, and Santa Claus is not real; total shock. OK, so the Aliens haven't really taken over Texas, but the rest is true. We recently had a blast on a youth retreat to the Asheville area where we hiked up Chimney Rock and were supposed to go white water rafting. Unfortunately we were unable to raft due to there being no rapids of white water, but God was good and gave us extra time to spend fellowshipping with each other; 130 people. Coming up we will be having a game night complete with a pool table, darts, and pasta, compliments of Steve and Terri Meyers; September we will be going to the Music Builds Tour, featuring Third Day, Switchfoot, and Jars of Clay; Then in October were planning on doing our first paintball adventure in a little place I like to call, Angier. Why Angier you might ask, well....because that is what the town is called. What is really coming soon though is a new blog post that will be way more interactive and have links to our Sunday morning teachings and photos from the events that take place (no incriminating ones of course). I'm very excited to see what the Lord is doing amongst the youth attending Rally Point and I can't wait to see what God is doing. Talk with you soon.

Vacation!

Yeah!!!! Jen, Jacob, and I are off to Myrtle Beach for the weekend. Since becoming a family (7 years ago) we have never officially been on a trip together that didn't consist of visiting family that lives out-of-state. We love our family out-of-state, but we really are excited about this trip to ourselves. We leave this afternoon and will be back this Sunday afternoon to make for the Raleigh Rescue Mission training class that is starting this Sunday evening. Hope to See you there! I will post pics of the trip when I get back.

Suffering; I didn't sign up for this!

What does a life with Christ look like. Some paint it as a picture of physical blessings, sunny days; that things are always going to go your way. Other's treat it as somewhat of a genie in a bottle type of life; if you have a need all you have to do is send your request up to the "Big Man", as some would say, and he'll make it right for you. What if I told you it would probably involve suffering, trials, pain, maybe even death? Would we still follow Christ? Would we allow ourselves to be mistreated, abused, wrongfully imprisoned, ridiculed for the Glory of God? You might say, "Well, that only happens to those that might be backsliders not to people who really live a good Christian life. Not according to 1 Peter 3:13-17.

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; Do not be frightened." But 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, keeping a good conscience; so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Suffer for doing good! That doesn't make any sense, that is not the American way. No, no it's not, but if it's God's will, than it's God's way. You see, as believers' we have a hope that far exceeds any future the world has, so in the midst of temporal suffering we may face we should "consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kind", as James puts it. Thus allowing us to testify of God's goodness when the world sees us in trial.

MY PLANS!

I was reminded this morning through the Letter to the 1st Corinthians written by the Apostle Paul that my plans are just that, MY PLANS! You might be saying, "OK, they are your plans so what?" Well, the "so what" is when I am so focused on seeing my plans come to pass I potentially put my opportunity for God to use me in His plans on the backburner. I have a tendency to think of myself as someone who is intuitive, creative in thought, very organized, in other words "controlling". Certainly my ideas have to be great, after all they are mine, who wouldn't like them. Most certainly God would recognize that and make it happen! I am saying these thing in a very sarcastic tone right now, but the reality is my heartitude (New Word) does say that all the time.

How foolish is that when the God I worship is the Creator of all the Universe. Talk about intuitive, creative in thought, very organized, IN CONTROL! He hung the stars on nothing, rotates the Earth on perfect axis, placed Earth at the perfect distance from the sun. These are some of the highlights of His creation, not near the tip of the iceburg, but the amazing thing is that He maintains it all and yet still has the time to think of me. How foolish am I? God makes His will accomplished regardless of my life being a part of it. I most definitley want to be a part of His will, but it takes total reliance on Him and complete humility. When I am to busy explaining to God how it should work I imagine HIm waiting for me to take a breathe so He can ask, "Are you done yet?".

Somehow I don't think I am alone in this and that is comforting, but it is not excusing either. If ever I start to think I have the best idea of how God's will should be accomplished I am reminded on how he defeat the people of Jericho (see Joshua 5 & 6). As soon as the children of Israel entered into enemy territory God said, "circumcise the males", which would leave them completely vunrerable. Then when they were better He said, "Walk around Jericho with all the armed men silently for six days, and then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times with the priests blowing horns, and after the long blast have everyone yell really loud then the walls will come down." If our nations top General said this is how we will take Afghanistan or Iraq he would probably no longer be a General, but that is by practical human thinking. God stands outside of human practices and reveals his glory using things that are foolish to mans thought.

Lord Jesus help me to wait on your will to be made known in my life. Keep me from thinking I have a better idea, or plan, and to rest in your plans. Increase my faith Lord.