Final 08 Post-A look back

Well there are several posts that I wanted to accomplish before now. One being a full write-up on the India trip, my submission on music and the other two categories from the last series. I have had some time to do them but wasn't in the frame of mind to write.

This year has been a year of wonderful blessings and great tragedy. The last part of the year from september to december, has been at best a blur. Monica, my best friend's wife lost her battle with cancer, so did my Moms best friend. A constant in our church, Larry, went to heaven months after falling from a roof. I attended several viewings and visitations for other friends who lost loved ones. It got to be a bit much.

At the beginning of the year we put our rental house up for sale that we had moved into for a year. After getting a contract on it we moved to a new house only to have the contract fall through just 3 days before the closing. So we have had two houses to tend to for close to ten months now. The market is not helping and for some reason neither is God. He must have other plans.

On the positive end of the stick we truly have been blessed. Our health has been good this year. Food has been on the table. We have grown spiritually and have watched Connor grow quite a bit physically. We (Raina really) also have completed 8 of 9 months of our third pregnancy. We are excited to end this year expecting a new baby boy as apposed to ending last year with the loss off a baby after a short term.

I have also been blessed with work and have enjoyed working so closely with ESPN for a second year. While they are not the only client they are the main one. They have treated us well and as I write this I am enjoying the Chick-fil-a Bowl on my 42 inch plasma provided by them.

Above all we have strived this past year to be obedient and faithful to the Lord and He has been more than that in return. He has provided for us in so many ways allowing Raina to stay home with Connor.

This year will start with the birth of our second but who knows what else is in store for us. We live in troubled times and we have no idea what 2009 may hold. Many will make resolutions that will never be kept past the first month, the economy will most likely continue to decline, the new president will begin his reality check, and many other things will unfold that only God knows. Praise Him for that! We will fall, fail, and forget but He is always forgiving, faithful and never changing.

We are looking forward to what God has for us this year. May we look back in 12 months and be able to testify of changed lives, battles won, lessons learned and continue to worship our God.

The Selfless Life

This has to be the hardest struggle for every person. Dying to self as Paul puts it in Galatians. I don't want to be selfish. I want to give more and be concerned for others before myself. I do know it is a daily thing. Actually doing it is the hard part.

Our mind is so focused on benefiting ourselves and our agenda that it is like a train that is bound to it's tracks. This is a very hard thing. It is not a switch that can be turned on or off at will. It has to be a course correction that takes time.

I don't have much else to say about this other than God is dealing with me about it and I want to be more Christ like. A better servant to Him and a helper to those around me. Maybe by the time my life is over I will have more wisdom on this and can look back and see the green grass of a life lived for others because I sprayed the spiritual roundup on the weeds of selfishness.

The uncluttered life-How important are things?

God has really been working on me about this. I grew up having my needs provided. We never had everything we wanted but we always had enough. Often times if I wanted a certain item I would have to pay for it myself, either with money I got for a birthday, working a side job, or any way I could get a little coin. I always struggled with flaming money. It burned a hole in my pocket before it hit the bottom. There were so many cool things I "needed".

I have a quote on my wall in my office that says, " The secret of happiness is not the enlargement of our means, but the limitation of our desires."

While a great saying, it is very hard to live out. We have so many things. Junk really. And we live in a society that tells us we need more. I find myself thinking, "If I just had that flat panel TV I would be fine. I wouldn't need anything else. That's all I really want." The wiser more experienced side of me knows that the TV would not be the end all. There will always be something else.

The problem most people deal with is getting the TV even though they can't afford it. That's not my problem anymore since we no longer use credit cards and only finance our house and car. My issue is, how important is that TV and does God want me to have it to enjoy?

I am working through coming to a position on this. God does satisfy our mouths with good things the Bible says. I believe though that there are two questions to ask before purchasing and item. 1. Will it pull me away from my walk with Christ and 2. can the money I would use be used better somewhere else. The hardest part for me is that last one. Why? Selfishness. Which leads me to the next post.

Addendum

I wanted to add this since it is Christmas time and to save another post.

Raina and I have been discussing whether or not to teach our boys about Santa Claus. I have a lot of wonderful memories about the anticipation of getting up Christmas morning (getting up really means getting out of bed since I really didn't sleep) and going to the living room to see what Santa had left. Raina on the other hand did not grow up with "Santa".

I never felt angry, upset or hurt when I found out Santa was just a story. Other kids may have but I did not. My memories were good memories and though I did not realize it at the time my parents always gave me gifts that were better than "Santa" and never over emphasized his role. In addition we always spent a great deal of time focused on the Birth of Christ. So my following statements do not come from anything but a positive experience.

I have for some time thought about Santa and whether or not I would lead my children to believe in a man who knows everything I do, sees me when I'm sleeping and when I am awake and knows if I have been bad or good so I should please him... hey wait a minute that guy has a lot of attributes that I have been taught that God has. I find out that this Santa guy was just a made up story based on a guy how did good things for people many generations ago. That also sounds like another person I was told about. Jesus. He was a good guy right? Well if Santa isn't real shouldn't I wonder about those other two that seem to have similar Characteristics?

Whether that thought would ever occur to a child, I can't say. It did not come to my mind, but the devil can use anything and am I willing to take that chance?

Many would say Santa is harmless. Others would say he is the spawn of Satan (hey that spelling is close to santa) but I feel Santa is a great story that has become a replacement for the truth. In that way he IS being used by Satan. Many times if Satan can distract us he is just as satisfied as if he wrecked our lives.

Here is the tie in with the "simple life". I believe that in some ways Santa and Christmas has not been the only factor, but has most definitely contributed to my desire for "things". I'm sure this could be said for many people. Christmas to me meant getting and receiving. I know full well that selfishness is part of the sinful flesh and nature we already have, I am submitting though that Christmas, the one time a year more than any other when we should be focused on the gift of our Saviour, the opposite is the case; we promote the already inner struggle against materialism.

So will Connor and his brother be taught about Santa? Absolutely! Just not that he is real. They will also learn that it truly is better to give than to receive. I think that this year is a good time to start!!!

1. Simplified Christianity-An oxymoron?

Before reading this please read the intro post below this one. Sorry this part is so long. Just be glad I didn't write all my thoughts.

I have been increasingly frustrated by the clutter I see in the church. Not any particular church but if the shoe fits... We make everything so hard. We can't make decisions without having some committee or group of people present it, prolonging and complicating the process. Of course when multiple people come together to make a decision it always takes longer and often causes more problems than it is worth. Why? Well the short answer is we are sinful people. Continuing...

We have to have programs to get people to church. I'm not referring to non-believers, but the actual church members. How can we get them to participate more, we ask? How do we motivate them to "move"; to grow in their walk with Christ? How do we get them to stop nodding their head in agreement to the sermon and actually act on what they hear? Where is the desire to grow deeper? The problem is most of the time we create programs that have to be run by somebody and it usually is the same people doing the work and we see these people "burn out".

We also over-complicate the Gospel. God knows we are simple creatures. Therefore he made the way to heaven, the Gospel as we call it, simple. Jesus himself said it. " Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." Do we forget the thief on the cross next to Jesus? According to most Christian "Salvation Plans", that thief would go to hell. We try to "get people saved" by getting them to say a prayer or send them through some five step program like they are in rehab. It's not like that. The thief next to Jesus didn't pray a sinners prayer! He said "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Done.

Why do we complicate things? We even make attending church complicated. Four services a week. Sunday school, Sunday morning worship, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. That's a lot. Where did that come from? (Read The Open Church) What makes those meetings Biblical? Some people view it as scriptural. Others say, "Well I just think that every time the doors are open we need to be there." Why? To please God? That doesn't impress Him. Maybe to get more teaching? Perhaps we would do better in our walks if we would meditate on the sermon on Sunday for the entire week. I believe it would sink in more and in the long run be more beneficial. Instead we cram so much teaching into four different times, most of which don't tie the subject being taught together. How are we supposed to retain all of that? I would like to say for the record that I am not implying that we drop all of the services, just that some evaluation of the "standard" needs to be done.

The church I use to attend has three identical services on Sunday. I even was a critic of that for some time but now I am rethinking the concept. My biggest criticism was that you got "lost" in the crowd. That no one knew if you were there or not. That actually happened to me. The problem was they provided a way to combat that. Small group interaction that they term Shepherding Groups. Oddly enough I stopped attending a small group. I was very involved in the ministry but I needed interaction on a personal level. It was provided, I just didn't utilize it. I was at the time, one of the type people who now frustrate me. The type that says "no one knows who I am or cares about me". You have to be available! We complain but we don't get involved. That's the fault of the complainer.

You see, if a church is healthy, it will grow. You have two choices as you grow. Spit, or facilitate. To split into another church only populates more churches in an already overpopulated church environment. We don't need more churches. We need healthier versions of what we already have. So facilitation is obviously the answer. People need to feel involved and desire interaction. That can't be provided in a large church only on Sunday mornings. Small groups provide that. I have seen it work! This model simplifies.

I have so many more thoughts but to sum this section up I have to make this statement. I will be re-evaluating "The Church" and my participation as well as where and how I spend my time in service. I want to be as effective as possible for the kingdom!

Flurry of Thoughts

As a result of events in my life over the past few weeks which include a memorable mission trip to India, loosing a friend to cancer, loosing another friend as a result of an accident, and several other changes in life I have a flurry of thoughts in my head.

Because my mind tends to wander I have to do everything I can to organize my thoughts in order not to ramble. So I have categorized many of my thoughts into headings/categories. Here are the categories:

• Simplified Christianity-An oxymoron?
• The Uncluttered Life-How important are things?
• The Selfless Life
• Pain is in our best interest
• Teflon Christianity: How to make it stick?

I will post each one individually over the next few days. Some are long some are short but all together they would be way to long. Stay tuned.

Our trust is in the Lord our God

So a Democrat was elected president this week. That doesn't concern me as much as two things. One, he is a socialist in democrat clothing. Two, the way people in this country and around the world have put so much trust in this man is frightening. It is the closest thing I have seen to a form of the anit-christ. How can people not see the facts on this man? Everything he stands for is socialistic.

Read this quote by Norman Thomas (1884-1968), six-time U.S. Presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America

“The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of ‘liberalism’ they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.”

I believe this is exactly what will happen. The Communist Party of America is in favor of BO. That says something.

I predict two things. In the first year he is in office 1. we will have another major terrorist attack and 2. there will be at least one assassination attempt on him.

There is a reason the rest of the world wants him to be president. He is non confrontational. This makes for an easy target. He is all about less military. In this world right now the last thing we need to do is downsize. It's like replacing your pit bull with a poodle to help guard your house. When the world is pointing nuclear warheads at us, and they are (China and Russia), our "Commander in Chief" says he will talk to them. What? Talk to them. I think the democratic word for that is diplomacy. Diplomacy is only effective until someone starts a fight. Then you stop talking and start swinging. Oh but wait, we can't fight. We tied our hands behind our back.

I have friends who voted for BO and I respect their opinion and it doesn't change my view of them one bit. They felt he was the right person for the job. No one can deny his ability to connect with people. He is very charismatic. I just don't think charisma and speaking ability can run a country.

BO ran his campaign on one main word. Change. I will be the first to agree we need change. Bush became the catalyst that made BO's election possible by running his term in office with reckless abandon. I was republican but now I don't know what I am. I'm unhappy with both political parties. Unlike some people I don't feel a viable candidate has to match my every criteria but I would like to see something close to what our forefathers founded this nation on. I know they did not found it on higher taxation, welfare, taking from the rich and giving to the poor, disarming the citizens, or killing innocent babies (abortion-that term we use so we don't have to say kill). All of which BO has openly said he is for.

I don't envy BO with the mess he is facing as president. I know this though, no ONE man can solve it. He will not follow through on most of his promises. No politician ever does. It doesn't have to do with democrat or republican. So will we be better off having him as leader? I doubt it. Would McCain have been better? I don't know that he would but he would have been better for protecting the sanctity of life, the second amendment and so much more that we have worked so hard for.

The bottom line is we don't put our trust in a man. We put our trust in the Living God. The same God who created BO. God sets up leaders and takes them down. Will we suffer in some way because BO is in office? Most definitely! God has a plan though. May we be ever in prayer for our country and our new president. Perhaps this IS the era of change. Change in the lives of Christians as we are forced to seek God's face in prayer in these difficult and unprecedented times.

Die to Live

I lost a friend today. My friend lost his wife.

I say lost because we feel loss. The reality is our loss, her gain. Paul said, "For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain." 1 Corinthians 15 talks about a seed has to die before it can be alive. I don't believe it is ironic that I was reading that at the exact moment my friend Monica passed from this earth to heaven. What relief for her to see the face of Jesus. Knowing that her race is finished and she is in eternal bliss and rest. WOW. That is what we all are striving to obtain one day.

But just as she is in rest, her absence leaves us in pain. My dearest friend John has to continue as a single dad. Three children have to grow up without their mom. How is that good? I don't know. I DO know that God has a reason. It's not to make John, the kids or Monica's family suffer. He doesn't get pleasure from our pain. After my sister was killed I had a hard time believing that. These things don't and never will make sense to us here on earth. I hurt for my friend.

All I know is what scripture says. God loves us. He is touched with the feelings of our pain. And my favorite in times like these. "Jesus wept." Why would Jesus cry over the death of Lazarus? He knew the end result was best. Perhaps he was crying because he didn't want to bring him back. Regardless of why he wept, he did. He understands.

So as we weep over our loosing Monica, we can rejoice that she has completed her time here and she is eternally safe and free from cares.

Home, Sweet Home

Margaret Sangster said “There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.” Being gone to India for 10 days sure made me appreciate home. Being sick during the better portion of the trip made home more special than ever before. This trip has made quite the impression on me. Some good and actually some not so good. I am still trying to translate all that I saw and experienced into words. I'm not sure I have those words yet so I am merely posting to state that I will, as soon as possible, post my thoughts and perspectives of my journey.

Again to all those who contributed to my trip financially, thank you. And the same goes to all who prayed as well. We made it home safely and better for the experience.

The picture you see here is of India Gate in Dehli. Looks a lot like the Arch de Triumph in Paris. I had to photoshop it so it is clearer. The haze from pollution is quite astounding. I will post more pics later and give a overview of the trip.

Interlude

I stare at the flashing cursor on my screen as I struggle for an Instant Message response to a friend in pain. I begin to see the cursor as a symbol of life. Flashing. Flashing. Flashing... Every time it blinks I imagine a soul taken into eternity. And as it blinks. Blinks. Blinks... I sit and wait. Wait. Wait... As if some flash of wisdom or enlightening thought might hit me. But it doesn't. So I type. Hoping to derive some bit of eternal perspective that might in an instant transform my outlook, spurning me to make some great statement or act in a manner that brings about unprecedented change.

Enlightenment Escapes me.

Reality confronts me.

God is Infinite.

I am finite.

Fear In Worship

I am not a eloquent writer or speaker and definitely not a good speller. I do however believe I can write better than I can speak. Therefore, I will attempt to write on something that has been on my mind for a long time and an issue God has been working to change in me lately.

Proverbs 29:25 says "The fear of man bringeth a snare, but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe".

I have struggled with the fear of man for a long time, but not in an area where one might expect. My fear of man is most present when I am in church, specifically in worship. Being raised in an environment where emotion in church outside of an AMEN for the pastor was thought of to be fabricated and a sign of being "penecostal" has left it's mark on me. I don't have animosity for being brought up to be reverent because reverence before a HOLY GOD is required. I praise God for my upbringing! I do believe that outward expression to God in worship whether in prayer, singing or other forms is not a sign of trumped up emotions or an attempt to get attention, (although it can be) but it is a command from God.

While at the previous church I attended I started to struggle with the desire to worship the Lord in physical form. As I would sing " No power of Hell, no scheme of man, could ever pluck me from His hand" I became excited! Not because of the style of music (which I plan to address in detail in the very near future) but because my heart was overflowing with the thought that I am completely safe in Christ. My eternal existence is secure. I wanted to raise my hands as an expression of thanksgiving but I did not. This desire has continued. The past two weeks God has been revealing to me that this is a fear of man.

This is what goes through my mind when I feel the desire to respond in a physical manner: 'There are people here that are going to think I'm whacky. These people know me and they know I have never done this before. They will think it is for show. I want to so bad but I just can't.'

I have also grown up afraid outward emotion. "It's a Tuten thing. We don't get emotional." Really? I have to disagree. My emotion wells up when I sing "Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow." PRAISE GOD! Not getting emotional about that is a clear example that there is something wrong. If you can't get excited about that (that's emotion by the way) what will make us burst out in worship? I'm going to heaven because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He took my place. Kneel, lift your hands, clap. That's what I want to do. They are bodily motions that are a result of the overflow of praise and gratitude in my my heart.

We have allowed those who have fabricated these reactions as a sign of spirituality and entertainment to steal a natural result of true worship from our time of worship. We can get emotional at a ball game when a receiver catches a 40 yard TD pass but we can't budge in our seat when we sing about our "Wonderful merciful Saviour. Precious redeemer and friend." Shame on us.! What do we think we will be doing when we get to heaven? Standing there with our hands in our pocket? NO WAY! We will be on our face before God. We will have our hands lifted in praise and admiration. Why do we have to wait? Because "I wasn't made that way", or "I don't want people to think I am weird".

How sad that I have let the fear of man steal away from me this part of worship. Do people around me do it for the wrong reason? Who cares if they do. They have to answer for that, not me. I'm responsible to God for my actions. True worship comes from a pure heart. That honors God. Plenty of people think they are worshiping but have sin in their life. God does not accept that worship. But that should not keep me from worshiping in any way that the spirit leads me.

"Well", we say "it may distract someone else" or " it distracts me when other do it". You have two choices then, 1. Go to another church or 2. Stop focusing on other people and judging their actions, and focus on worshiping the same God they are worshiping. If anything it should encourage us to see others responding to the joy that is in their heart.

I should also be quick to add that many times a bowed head or kneeling is just as appropriate a response as raising ones hands.

I'm just getting started and have gone very long. I have some quotes i want to post, verses i want to post and a few more things I will add next time. So until then here is something to consider.

Here is a quote by Bob Kauflin: "Our bodies naturally reflect what affects us. I cringe when a glass of milk is about to be knocked over; I open my arms wide as my daughter runs to greet me; I jump up from the couch with my hands upraised when my team scores the winning goal; I gratefully applaud unselfish acts of service; I cry when a friend’s child dies. Is the church the only place where our bodies can’t express what our minds are comprehending and our hearts are feeling?"

In Love...

As you can see by the picture Connor is hard not to love. I find myself constantly amazed that God would give me charge over a kid as smart and cute as Connor. It occurs to me that God looks at us the same way. Like a sculptor stands back and looks at his creation and admires the results, so God looks at His creation and says "it is Good!".

I can't imagine how God must have been even more proud of His Son who willingly laid down his life as a sacrifice for us to redeem back His formerly perfect creation that went it's own way. He said it out loud actually, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased".

This weekend at church 6 men from Nashville, TN came to share their heart with our church and lead us to be better influences in our community as we reach out. The main thread that ran through every conversation was this: Be in Love with Jesus Christ and the rest will follow.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."

I accepted Christ as my Savior as a young boy and though I serve Him and strive to be obedient (both very important) I have not been In Love with Him like I should and want to be. It seems weird to even say it like that. In Love? With Jesus? Yeah, In love. Taken with.

When we are first saved we have an infatuation so to speak. It's love in a form but not a deep love. We love Him for what he has done for us, but just like in any relationship, we have to spend time with that one we love to know more about them. To know them on a deeper level. Too often we want Jesus to fit in our 15-30min daily relationship time we call devotions and we wonder why we don't love Him.

I pray for myself and my family that we would be driven to know our God more and as we do, the infatuation will turn to deep love and devotion to Him and out of that will flow a love for others. THAT is the reason He first loved us!

Boy oh Boy!

As you can see by the pictures, Connor is going to have a little brother. We found out today that we were wrong in thinking we were going to have a girl. Although several "wives tales" pointed to having a girl turns out there is a reason for the "tales" portion of that. We are very excited about our news and Connor can say "I have a brover" but I don't think he really gets it. Cute none the less.

Raina and the baby checked out fine. While she is at 20 weeks the fetal measurements today show Tuten-2 to be at 21 1/2 weeks. Looks like he will be an overachiever like his big brother. Raina doesn't like that outlook as you can imagine since Connor was 9 lbs 5 oz. Maybe they will let us take him a couple days early. We can actually schedule his birthday since Raina will have to have a c-section. We are taking any suggestions on days on or before the 24th of January (with in reason). So if you have a good reason for scheduling a particular date because of the moon or a relatives birthday, etc., we welcome your comments. Click the comment button below.

We are very excited and since we are having another boy, we can take the money we would have spent on clothes (he can wear Connors stuff) and put it in a fund for doctors bills and home repair that no doubt will be needed with two boys in the house.

Waiting Doesn't Always Mean Sitting Still

There are countless verses in the scripture, many of them in Psalms, that speak of waiting on the Lord.Of course waiting requires patience and I know I need more than most, which probably explains why God has me waiting so much.

But as I have been thinking lately, waiting does not mean we are to be sitting and doing nothing like we were at a holy bus stop waiting to be picked up an moved to our next destination. Many times were are to be working while we are waiting.

In James 5:7 it says "see how the Farmer WAITS for the land to reveal it's valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains." Of course we know that the farmer isn't sitting on the front porch counting the days. He has to be in the field keeping out the weeds, and maintaining the crop as it grows. I think I have become a little out of focus on what it means to wait.

I have realized that I should be working while I am waiting. Working to better my spiritual gifts, improving on talents that God has given me, bettering my knowledge about my job and above all growing deeper in my relationship with Jesus Christ. Why? So that when the time comes that God reveals to me how he will be using me I am ready when he calls.

Ultimately we wait for the glorious appearing of Jesus to spend our eternity with Him. We don't want to be sitting still when he comes back for sure. (Matthew 24:45-47)

Mistaken Identity

After Connor did this on his own without any prompting we had to see if he would do it again. Thankfully he did. Although it took quite some time to get his focus off of trying to get to the camera. I edited out all of that. He is definitely my son!

Ahhh, Technology

I work on the computer all day building websites (check out the new HyperThink site) and am always up on the latest gadgets yet I am always amazed at how technology even with all of it's negatives has such wonderful uses. My new laptop, (MAC of course) which I am using to post this particular entry has a built in web camera. I decided to test it out with Connor. View the results below. I can only imagine what he will have when he is my age. I apologize in advance for the poor lighting.

Question and Answer

Question:
Is it wrong to work hard to make a good living so that you can provide well for your family? I think most would say, no. Solomon certainly would say no. He says several times in Ecclesiastes, specifically chapters 2 and 5, that it is from God to enjoy the food and fruits of ones labor. To me this seems to vastly different from the new testaments directive where in Acts for example the new believers gave sacrificially by selling what they had to give to the cause of Christ and the spread of the gospel.

Christ gave the great commission to go into all the word and preach the gospel. When I read that I get the sense that we are to drop everything we are doing and go preach.Not a bad idea if we had the faith to do it. But there are obviously those of us who are called to be laymen in life, not called to a full time ministry. Of course we are to be witnessing where we are regardless of our call. We know that.

My conflict comes from this thought process based on Biblical principles: After the fall of man in the garden with Adam and Eve, mans curse was to work of course but at that point history became about one thing. The redemption of all men who would believe so that man would be reconciled back to God the way it was meant to be. So it seems that the single focus of life is to bring as many souls to salvation as possible. Where does that fit in with work?

Answer:
Of course we have to eat and provide for our families. Our curse is to work but the gift is being able to enjoy the fruits of the labor. In the midst of that we have a responsibility to make disciples along the way. So there is a line if you will that is easily and often crossed. That line is the balance of the two. The struggle is that we often work so much so that we can enjoy more fruits than we need that we neglect the work of making disciples.

While I have the answer, this is a great struggle for me. The balance.

We live in a country and society that has an appetite for consumption like never before in history. We buy things with money we don't have to impress people we don't even know. We are consumed with consumption. Obsessed with enjoying the fruits of our labor. Labor that takes us away from our families, our church and the great commission.

This has gone long so I will address this again later. It is at best a struggle, but one that should be resolved for all of us.

Hurry up with that patience, God

It seems to be that the hardest thing about trials and life in general is that we should be patient in them.

My friend Larry Hatcher who is in his mid 50's fell 20+ feet from the roof of a commercial building just over a month ago. He is healing but is in a deep coma. Larry was, until the fall, the constant at our church in many ways. He always made sure that the buildings were in order and took care of so many details that even if he went on vacation it was evident he was not around.

Of course he and his wife Allyson were always there at church serving in many areas, including the choir where I stood next to him singing the bass parts. His moto has always been two words, patience and perseverance. This seems to be the attitude Larry's family is having to take as there is no sure guarantee that he will ever wake from his comma.

Larry reminds me a lot of my grandfather, or Papa as I called him. As I knew him he was a very patient man with a determination to do it right no matter how long it took or how hard the work was. Although he passed away while I was in college I have many memories of lessons he tought me, just by watching him. I wish I could have had more time with him.

So today as I read James 1:1-8 I think of these two men who are examples of patience. Not that they are perfect of course, only Christ was the perfect example. It is great to be able to see it in action and know that it can be done.

So as I find myself lately needing to wait on the Lord for His timing, I am thankful that if it takes a long time to get to the goal, the sweeter it will be knowing that I have, through God's strength, reached another level in my walk and relationship with Jesus Christ. After all, He hung on a cross in my place. The least I can do is wait on Him to show me His will and worship Him for caring about me enough to make me more like Himself.

God's Will For His Benefit, Not Mine

"We are always to depend on the will of God. Our times are not in our own hands, but at the disposal of God. Our heads may be filled with cares and contrivances for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Providence often throws our plans into confusion. All we design, and all we do, should be with submissive dependence on God. It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of worldly things and aspiring projects; it will bring great disappointment, and will prove destruction in the end."

Matthew Henry on James 4.

Molded

First of all thank you to those who have helped with VERY generous gifts for my India trip so far. I can't thank you enough. I am looking forward to serving.

Lately God has had me all over the place in my daily scripture reading. Colossians, Ecclesiastes, 1 Peter, and James. I assume because I have great deal of work needing to be done by the hand of the potter. Of course as all of us as pots do, I have been struggling with the direction His hands are trying to shape me.

We have a mindset that God is there for US. When the reality is we are here for HIM. Regardless if I am experiencing success, great tragedy and loss or anything in between, God is to be worshiped and praised. That is so difficult for us since we are so selfish and prone to follow the flesh. Which explains Paul's daily ritual of "Dying to self".

I am convinced that our struggles as Christians with trials and problems stem from a improper view of our God. We could truly let go and let Him work if we really trusted Him. We trust Him with some things but often times we hold something back. I'm so glad he "remembers our frames that we are dust" and is merciful when we try to pull away from his hands.

As we struggle with patience in difficulty, my desire is that we will be able to worship our God regardless of our situation and know that He cares for us, loves us, and wants the best for us because He said He does, and we can take Him at His word.

Oh for the day when we go HOME!

Big Little News

I'm posting this on the blog to see who is really reading this because I know we will get a response.

I am proud to announce that we are expecting another child. Raina is around nine weeks and feeling very sick. Her pregnancy with Connor was not this bad so some have said it will be a girl. Don't know if that is true but we are fine if it is a girl. Looks to be a January baby. I'll post the due date when we find out.

As you can guess everyone is very excited and we are happy to share the news with everyone now that the grandparents have been informed. Of course you may already know this news if I know the two grandmothers. Anyway, we just wanted to let the world hear our good news. You know, 210 Our Horn!

Mark 15:15

Mark 15:16 (AKA the Great commission) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"

Many years ago as a teen I went to Mexico on a mission trip. It had a profound impact on my life and I knew that I wanted to do short term missions as often as the Lord would allow. I have since been back to Mexico and also to Honduras. Many of you who will read this know the desire to serve in short term missions and have done so at least once and many have gone several times.

Whether you have accepted the call to serve in this way or not you can understand that the financial requirements are often the reason why many people don't go and it is why I can't go more often. I have had a desire to serve in a different area than South America and in a ministry format as most of my trips have been labor focused.

God has provided the opportunity for me to spend two weeks in October in India with our national missionary and the Baptist missionary we support there, assisting them with teaching the local pastors to better equip them to do the work of Christ.

There are many things I could say about this area of the world and the need for the light of Christ to shine but I will save that for a later post.

The reason for this post is to make a request for assistance with funding for this trip. I am not the type person to ask for help but in this case I very much need the assistance. The plane ticket has been purchased by our church but I need to pay that back with donations. I also have to get my visa soon. All in all I need approx. $2500 for the two week trip.

If anyone reading this feels a call to help with these expenses please let me know or you can simply mail me or the church a check made out to Buncombe Road Baptist Church. Send it to my work address at 339 Miller Road Mauldin, SC 29662 or to the church address at 111 Courtney Circle Greenville, SC 29617 with a note that it is for my trip to India.

I of course would never ask for money that would belong to your local church but if you feel you can afford $5 or $500 it doesn't matter, any amount will be greatly appreciated and will be money well spent and of course will count for your savings account in heaven.

Thank you in advance.

In Christ,

Clay

Say no to this face!

In these days of technology one would think that the camera phones would be able to take a snapshot faster than the speed of smell but unfortunately it seems most of the pictures we take on our mobile devices look like we took them out the window of a Formula one car (Go team Sabuer) at 215 mph.Have you ever found yourself asking the subject of the picture to "be still" or "don't move"? If you feel the twitching in your eye as I just described this game of stop and go you can understand how rare it is to get a photo like this one with a phone.

Seriously, you tell him no. We couldn't do it. Now we have an in ground swimming pool thanks to this look. Let's hope he doesn't realize the strength of his super power.

Capt.Meltyourheart to the rescue!

Blessings in Testings

In each of our lives we are tested. Different ways and at different times, with varying levels of difficulty. I have a saying I quote a lot:

There are two sure things in life. 1. There IS a God and 2. You're not Him.

I have had to be reminded of this as I have studied the book of Job recently. I am so thankful for how God reveals Himself to us through His Word. Despite testings that to other peoples problems pales in comparison, we can truly say God is good, ALL THE TIME!