A New Goal

The other day I was flipping through channels when I came across the Documentary Channel. It was showing a doc on the Boston Marathon. I thought that it would be cool to run that race. The buildings, the city, not to mention the finish line after running a marathon. I just kept it in the back of my mind. The next day, I was talking with my brother in law. He had just bought a new pair of running shoes, so we were talking about running. I hate to run. It does nothing but hurt. But I began to feel inspired to run.

So Daniel and I decided that we would train and run a half marathon this year. I'm pretty excited and have been training for the last two weeks. It really hasn't hurt as bad as I thought. We are planning to run the Cooper River Bridge run in April, it's a 10k. So anyway, it's been pretty cool to be serious about the exercise. I have already run more in the last week than I have in the last year!

Life's Joy

I absolutely, without a doubt, holding tears back right now, love to hear my daughter, Anna Grace sing. When we are riding in the car, and a song comes on that she knows, it is wonderful. She loves Toby Mac and Laura Story, but now she is catching on to most songs on WMHK.

I think I am going to get her some earphones, just so it can be quiet in the car and she will sing. It is really a beautiful thing!

The other day, as I was listening to her, God spoke and said this is how I feel when you sing praise to me. I thank God that he has allowed me to be a father to experience just a small slice of what it is like for Him. Becky and I didn't think we would be able to have children after we struggled through three miscarriages in one year. It was hard. i think about that often as I love on my children, they are wonderful.

So this morning, as I was running on the treadmill, I was singing along worshipping God, it was great. Pumped out 2.5 miles this morning. I know it's not too much but its a start. My brother in law, Daniel and I are training to run a half marathon this year!

So anyway, I can hear AG now, "Sabior, he can move the mountums, My God is mighty to save..."

Great Quote

I didn't know how to write all of this neat and eloquent so I just left it like it came out.

"God didn't call us to just do church...but to be a catalyst for change in our community" I came across this in Perry Noble's blog today. It really got me thinking. Most people in the church are happy just do church. It's sad, because we are missing out on so much more that God has for the church, not to mention has for someone's life.



We are called to make a difference in circles. We are not called to go to church and just sit waiting patiently for the last song so that we can move on to lunch and football. Where have we lost it? How do you teach this or pass this on? Is it God's responsibility to do this or have we dropped the ball so far away from what we have (the way that we do church) that we don't even know what we are playing anymore? (Sorry if that's confusing) So much of Christianity isn't passed on just by passing along knowledge, it's rubbed off in real life. With all of the joys and pains of life as people live together. So how does that apply to making an impact in our communities? We can show others what it looks like and tell about our passion and purpose. We usually use guilt to motivate. "Your a christian so you should be doing this." But what if it were done, we made an impact in our communities not because of guilt but because of love and passion?

What would be our communities anyway. I don't want to sound like the pharisee who asked Jesus, "who is your neighbor?" But I think it is good to ask. I have a hard time with the dry evangelism stuff. I know that makes me unspiritual and shows my lack of faith especially is you grew up baptist like I did. But I just don't like it. What I do enjoy is really getting to know my lost neighbors and sharing Christ as we live together in our community. Situations arise where sharing the gospel isn't forced but flows easily as I share what God has done in my life. So to answer my question- it seems that our community would be just that. The people that we are near, the people that we see regularly, the people that we will meet as we are intentional as we are out doing life. Those are the people that we are supposed to impact. Maybe we have already earned the right through loving others to share what God has done in our lives.

What is just doing church anyway...that sounds so boring. Why not just stay home and sleep or hang out in pajamas! If the options are come out of obligation and do nothing but listen or stay home for some good family time, then stay home. BUT...if it's more than just doing church, if there is a reason ans a passion and a purpose then that changes everything. That means that we don't have much time to fulfill this mission that God himself has given us. And not only are we on mission but we have the Spirit of God empowering us to complete that mission. This is sounding pretty exciting! Now it's an adventure, with the Creator and Savior of the universe. Now what can we not do? That's what church should be like, not just doing church

New Year-New Passion

I hate new years resolutions. They only bring guilt and failure, I guess unless you keep them. So I don't call my "decisions" a resolution. Instead, I tell my wonderful wife what I would like to change. I'm sure that mine are similar to millions of other peoples but...

• Become an amatuer photographer (I am below a beginner right now)
• Have fun more- with my family, just my wife, and with close friends
• eat healthier
• Memorize scripture
• Be a man that delights in the law of God- Ps 1 inspired me!
• Learn how to juggle!

so that's it. Good look keeping your resolutions. I mean decisions :)

Living like everyone else???

What about my life says that I am different than the world?  When you look at other people, even those who don't know God but are good people, how is my life different.  God promised us that we would have the Holy Spirit living in us, that we would be free from the chains of sin, that we would live a life of victory because of the shed blood of Christ.  

So now the question is... "Am I living differently than the world?"  Do I live in a supernatural way, a way that screams something is different (because of God is my life) or am I just a good person, trying with all that I have to live good?  I am tired of just living good.  I am tired of living like everone else.  I want my life to be supernatural through the Spirit of God.  that only happens with dependance and relationship with God.  

God, help me to live in whatever way helps my life be a conduit for you and brings you the most glory.

Unconditional Love

So I'm reading in Luke today and a small phrase stands out...Jesus knew their thoughts... for some reason this made me stop. I have known for a long time that God knows what you are thinking and stuff but wait a minute.

Jesus knows when I am riding high feeling good about my walk with him and when I am turning away, even for a brief moment to do my own thing. What even more amazing is that He still loves me.

So here is my question, "How can you love when you know everything about me?" I don't deserve this kind of love for sure. I guess that's what makes it unconditional

Good Stuff