Response To The Unexpected
When I spoke a couple weeks back and launched our Christmas experiences, I said this quote, “A person’s character is revealed by his or her response to the unexpected.” It’s so easy to say that but then when the unexpected happens and you have to live it, that is when it gets difficult. I love the fact that God uses ordinary people to do the extraordinary but sometimes because of the unexpected that will happen in my life I don’t even feel “ordinary” enough for God to use me. Ever feel that way? Ever feel like you blew it? Ever feel like what’s the point?
I’ve been bombarded with messages from students and adults over the last couple weeks that feel that exact way and are ready to quit. My challenge to you is this, if you are a Christ Follower, then you are a child of the King. It may not always feel like it but we don’t walk through life based on emotions and walk through life based on what is happening around us or to us…we walk through life with a joy knowing what was done for us. Find comfort that your joy is found in Christ and Him alone. Maybe as the new year approaches you need to get away from the business of life and run to Him. For those who read this who may not be a Christ follower, there is so much that will keep you from a true relationship with Christ because you will try to fix it before you run to Him. If only I can quit looking at that porn, or put down the bottle, or step away from this addiction of sex and drugs. If only, if only, if only. Just a reminder that you will never be good enough and you will never have it all fixed before you run to Him…so just do it now, He is waiting. He loves you. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. What a great way to start out the new year by giving everything to Him.
Maybe your unexpected moment before the new year gets here is to humble yourself and admit that you don’t have all the answers and don’t have it all figured out. Maybe your unexpected moment of surrender will reveal more about your character than you thought.
Are you resolution maker? Are you a goal setter? What changes for you in the new year?
Weekend In Review
- Eric came in on Saturday after a 17 hour day including a 7 hour taxi drive from Syracuse.
- Church was canceled on Sunday due to 2ft of snow.
- 3 Christmas experiences in 2 days.
- Close to 800 people in attendance.
- About 24 people crossed over from death to life.
- “That Night” was a huge success…people saw Jesus as more than just a baby.
- A relationship with God was enabled because of that night.
- God uses the ordinary to the extrodinary.
- I am on a 5 day “cat hatred” sabbatical…to be honest it is actually tough.
- We are speaking next week on, Leaving Your Mark.
- Salome is speaking on the 10th of January.
- Eric begins his “full time” reign on the 17th with a series called…BRICKS. (I believe)
- Set design was ridiculous. Dan McInnes and Ben Jones were awesome at that.
- Jeff Ream and the praise band did a great job…a lot of stuff to learn and people saw church differently because of them.
- Eric did a great job on his talks…people walked out saying he was so funny.
- Volunteers were amazing getting everything set up and torn down.
- 74% of our people serve in an area of the church…wow!
- The staff has been stretched and is better because of it.
- I believe that God is up to something here…and I believe God is reigniting the passion in the local church all over the United States.
- Just in the churches that I watch…thousands of people put their trust in Him.
Twas The Day After Christmas
My wife asked me this morning, “Can I go shopping?” Really? Already? Wow now that is dedication to catching a good sale. I’m sure several of you were out shopping, trading in or returning items from yesterday and braving the traffic and long lines. As I was online today, I came across this poem that was kind of humorous, about the day after Christmas.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurtin’, even the mouse.
The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.
Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor, while
Upstairs the family continued to snore.
And I in my T-shirt, new Reebok’s and jeans,
I went into the kitchen and started to clean.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an over sized mirror.
The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said “U.S. POSTMAN.”
With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.
Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:
“Now Dillard’s, now Broadway’s, now Penny’s and Sears
Here’s Robinson’s, Levitz’s and Target and Mervyn’s.
To the tip of your limit, every store, every mall,
Now charge away–charge away–charge away all!”
He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.
He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.
He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.
Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
“Enjoy what you got. . . . . .you’ll be paying all year!”
What does your day after Christmas experience look like? Are there any interesting traditions that you do?
25 Days Of Christmas_Day 25
Today I simply wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your support and passion and passion to serve Jesus, Fellowship Church and me this year. It has been an honor and we are looking forward to an incredible 2010.
Take a moment to stop with your family and read through the Christmas story in Luke 2.
25 Days Of Christmas_Day 24
One of the all time great sketches from Saturday Night Live. John Malkovich does the reading of The Night Before Christmas.
The Poem in its entirety:
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow With a little old driver, so lively and quick, “Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
You can find the history of the poem HERE.
25 Days Of Christmas_Day 23
I just have to be honest, I have never eaten or smelled fruitcake before and I never ever have any intentions what-so-ever of trying it. The look is nasty and the texture looks like something my kids made out of Play-doh. However I love history and am a big history buff so I thought it would be fun to pass on the history of fruitcake to you.
“Fruitcake is for many families the giving and receiving of a favorite, though often ridiculed, traditional food. Fruitcake is considered to be a part of many families’ Christmas traditions just as important as having a Christmas tree.
Like many Christmas traditions, the idea of giving fruitcakes as gifts is thought to have originated in ancient times. No one ever recorded who took the first cake and added fruit, honey, nuts, and alcohol to make an edible gift for their family, but records indicate that this tradition was occurring in Rome prior to the birth of Jesus (B.C.).
One of the main reasons fruitcakes were given as gifts in early times is that the ingredients combined in such a way as to greatly reduce the spoiling of this food. This was a huge advantage when the average family had very little control over their food supply, and allowed people to travel longer distances since they could carry a food supply with them that would not spoil.
The fruitcake as we know it today evolved from plum cake recipes in England. It became a natural food to have for holiday celebrations, since it could be made in advance (sometimes many months in advance) and then families could be prepared to give their visitors a treat.
After trying to eat a piece of fruitcake, I have joined the list of people who believe that fruitcakes are never consumed, just created and given as gifts to others. One day, our planet will be overwhelmed with fruitcakes and they will all need to be dumped into an ocean, possibly creating the new continent of ‘fruitcakia’. Or, maybe they will just be used as bricks in the building of skyscrapers.”
Taken from Merry Christmas.com
Have you ever eaten fruitcake? Worse, have you ever given fruitcake as a gift?
Matt Chandler Update
Matt Chandler – Update #2 from Josh Viveros on Vimeo.
Kids’ Top 100 Searches of 2009
Very interesting read for any parents out there. Google has released their most popular search trends by those under the age of 18. Some of these will come as a surprise to you but for those of us who work with students and children this is an every day battle. Some of you may be offended by some of the researched items, but I am simply posting what Google results have found. I highly recommend following the link at the bottom of the page and read the breakdown per age, you may find it shocking.
- 1. YouTube
- 2. Google
- 3. Facebook
- 4. Sex
- 5. Porn
- 6. YouTube.com
- 7. Yahoo
- 8. MySpace
- 9. eBay
- 10. You Tube
- 11. Wikipedia
- 12. Michael Jackson
- 13. Taylor Swift
- 14. Gmail
- 15. Party in the USA
- 16. Miley Cyrus
- 17. Club Penguin
- 18. Miniclip
- 19. Fred
- 20. Games
- 21. Facebook login
- 22. Google.com
- 23. Hotmail
- 24. Lady Gaga
- 25. Amazon
- 26. Yahoo Mail
- 27. Justin Bieber
- 28. Addicting games
- 29. Facebook.com
- 30. Webkinz
- 31. Yahoo.com
- 32. Boobs
- 33. MSN
- 34. Hannah Montana
- 35. Dictionary
- 36. Walmart
- 37. Selena Gomez
- 38. Dictionary.com
- 39. MySpace.com
- 40. New Moon
- 41. Runescape
- 42. Lil Wayne
- 43. Google Maps
- 44. Down
- 45. Google Earth
- 46. Norton Safety Minder
- 47. Mapquest
- 48. Boom Boom Pow
- 49. Craigslist
- 50. Twilight
- 51. Megan Fox
- 52. Sesame Street
- 53. Poptropica
- 54. Target
- 55. Eminem
- 56. Music
- 57. Fireflies
- 58. Disney Channel
- 59. You Belong With Me
- 60. Utube
- 61. Weather
- 62. iTunes
- 63. Beyonce
- 64. Pokemon
- 65. Britney Spears
- 66. Twitter
- 67. Hotmail.com
- 68. Demi Lovato
- 69. Funny
- 70. Black Eyed Peas
- 71. One time
- 72. Cartoon Network
- 73. Jonas Brothers
- 74. Halo
- 75. www.youtube.com
- 76. Watcha Say
- 77. Family Guy
- 78. Taylor Swift You Belong With Me
- 79. Best Buy
- 80. Taylor Lautner
- 81. Rihanna
- 82. Pussy
- 83. Gmail.com
- 84. Lego
- 85. Gummy Bear Song
- 86. Thriller
- 87. You’re a jerk
- 88. Nigahiga
- 89. Girls
- 90. Free online games
- 91. New Moon trailer
- 92. Translator
- 93. Disney
- 94. Ask.com
- 95. Paparazzi Lady Gaga
- 96. Poker Face
- 97. Chris Brown
- 98. iPod Touch
- 99. Photbucket
- 100. Bing
Check out the rest of the article HERE for a breakdown of who was searching for what, at what age and whether they are male or female.
What are your thoughts? What filters are you using with your kids? Have you talked to your kids about these trending topics? Knowing this, will you do anything differently?
25 Days Of Christmas_Day 22
Christmas is coming. With that said there is a fun count down website to the official “arrival” of Santa. The official NORAD Santa Tracker. Has a fun interactive site and video to go along with it.
25 Days Of Christmas_Day 21
There is a guy who is a phenomenal blogger named Jon Acuff who runs a blog called Stuff Christians Like. He has the incredible ability to take everyday “Christian” stuff and make it humorous. This is a re-post directly from Saying Merry Christmas that I thought was hilarious and insightful. Check out what he writes in bold.
I wasn’t going to write about this one. The Christmas season was going to come and go and I wasn’t even going to touch it. Like every fraternity at Samford University’s view of Freshman Jon Acuff, I was going to reject this.
Until I saw the billboard.
Sunday night, driving home from vacation with my family outside of Atlanta, GA, I saw a new billboard.
On a background of festive red, with big white letters I read a simple message:
I miss you saying “Merry Christmas.” – Jesus
And that’s when, much like the mafia, just when I thought I was out, they dragged me back into the conversation.
I don’t have a problem with that billboard, but there are three things it calls to mind:
1. We invented the phrase “Merry Christmas.”
I’ve only read the Bible from front to back one time. I read it a lot, but from a “read through it straight in 2 years point of view” I’ve only taken one spin. But when I did, I swear I couldn’t find the phrase, “Merry Christmas” anywhere. That billboard kind of makes it seem like Paul said that while he was making tents before he went on his wild missions. “Making tents on Christmas Eve. That is completely bogus. No one even said ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. All these heathen tent makers all say, ‘Happy Holidays.’ So whack.”
2. How do we know Jesus misses that?
Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn’t. I honestly don’t know. Maybe Jesus would say things like “I miss hearing you say, ‘Let’s play some Frisbee golf’” or “I miss hearing you say that you pre-ordered the ‘Stuff Christians Like
3. We would be upset if someone else quoted Jesus for their cause.
If some other group made a billboard that quoted Jesus and that quote was not solidly based in the Bible, we would go spider monkey crazy. (You might rock out squirrel monkey style, but that’s really a personal preference thing.) If someone, even just for emphasis, quoted Jesus as supporting their cause and it wasn’t straight up Bible, we would be straight up upset.
I will see that billboard everyday during my commute, but I’m at peace with it. And there’s a pretty simple reason – It’s not belligerent. I always get a little weirded out when people aggressively make the distinction between “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.” I completely understand the frustration with a culture that is actively and deliberately removing Christ at every given opportunity, but when we angrily say, “It’s ‘Merry Christmas, not happy holidays!’” we might as well say, “It’s ‘Merry Christmas,’ not happy holidays you jerk!” And that makes people want to celebrate winter solstice instead of whatever those grumpy, fight you on a vernacular level Christians are down with.
I promise.
