That time of year

Well, it's been alot of fun the last month. I've been swamped and have had no time to really even update the website, but here's my first post of November.

We're all looking out and seeing the leaves begin to change, and we know it's the time of year when we eat more than we should at Thanksgiving, and buy more than we should at Christmas. Here are some thoughts that might change our season:
2,000,000,000 people live on less than a dollar a day
80% of the world lives on less than $10 per day
2.6 billion people have no access to sanitation facilities
1.1 billion people lack clean drinking water
2 billion people die every year from water born diseases
15 million children die of hunger every year
500 million people live below what the World Bank refers to as "absolute poverty"

These are not given to make you feel guilty, but to make you angry! This is a travesty of justice, and Christians are the main group at fault! I am a minister, but still, I am not contributing to nearly enough to reach out and make a difference! We fail to reach out with the love that Jesus so freely gave us, and we forget that He said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven" -Matthew 5:16. What a tragedy! We let our light shine in our churches, but not in our communities, our schools, and sometimes even our homes.

It is way too easy for me to get angry and give alot of lofty ideas for you, but here's the hard part: putting faith and love into action. If these things make you angry, good. Here's what you can do about it:
As a Christmas Gift, go and serve food at a local soup kitchen. My wife's family decided that instead of alot of gifts, we would spend Christmas Eve sharing our love with those who had no home.
For a Thanksgiving treat, make extra food, or have a door charge for family members of canned goods to go to a local food pantry or shelter. I promise, you will touch someone's life!
Take the money you would spend on a red bull or a coke and give to an organization, like the Blood:Water Mission who will use that to give clean drinking water to those who need it!
If you're livid at abortion, don't fume and rant. No one is changed by harsh words and hate. Go volunteer at a local Crisis Pregnancy center. These people need love, and grace. Not our "holier than thou" attitude!
The Kid at school who has ratty clothes, donate a jacket anonymously to the school administration, and have them give it to him!

Christians are called to be salt and light. Why do we become so bitter, and burned? Christ called me, and you to a new life. One of service to others.

More Tough Stuff

I normally try to write a blog once a week, but this is a special request. I'm not sure if anyone actually reads this, but if you do, pray for a family at my church. They are having such a rough time, and Their youngest daughter has just been given the news that she has a tumor. We're not sure if it's malignant or not, but pray for wisdom and strength and healing for this family. Thanks, and God bless you.

Where is God in the tough stuff?

Last week was undoubtedly one of the busiest and most stressful weeks of my life. We went and visited one of our kids who has gone to college, restarted College and Careers Bible study, had to give my monthly report to the deacons, oh, and my wife was in a major head on collision. She's ok, the car's totalled, and there's stress to share. But in the middle of all of this, God has been revolutionizing my heart. Dr. Ergun Caner said that this country does not need a spiritual revival, we need spiritual revolution. I think he's right. I also think that it has to start in me. God gave me a peace last week that really does pass all understanding. Despite the fact that we don't have a fully functional car, or wrangling with insurance, or doing my normal duties, God is taking care of us. It's easy to get discouraged during the hard times, but it's during those times that "Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. " -Romans 5:3-5

Amber made it through the crash with only minor bumps and bruises, but it was God who took care of her. The car may be a loss, but God will provide a new car. Though the mountains fall, though the market crash, "though the youths shall fall, and utterly faint, those that wait on the LORD shall renew their stregnth." -Isaiah 40:31

In the hard times, God is what makes us strong. It is God who keeps back the bad things. It is God who keeps it from getting worse. He took care of me, and He will take care of you. Just surrender and let Him.
Grace and peace to you!

Politics; Latin Poly: Many; Tics: Blood suckers

Hey again. The Olympics are now over, the Chinese gymnasts are being investigated (thank God, cheaters can't get away from His justice!) and the race for the White House is in full swing. I can honestly say, I'm disinclined to care about either candidate. Barak Obama has some of the worst political policies that I have ever seen, completely laying siege to the family, the unborn child, and to people of faith. John McCain, while better, still is no winner. His policies on supporting stem cell research is disheartening, especially in the wake of increasing evidence that adult skin cells are much more effective. He lacks true conviction to support marriage as it should be. But, he's not Obama. That's why I'm voting for him. I would rather be voting for Huckabee, but sometimes you simply don't get the best option, only the available.
The reason I am posting this is because I'm tired of people whining about how bad this country is without taking an active role in forming policies, signing petitions, becoming involved! What is the point in complaining about something you are doing nothing to fix! It's time! We need to stand and deliver, we need to become involved, and mold this government in the image that God laid out for it. It's time to step up and become more than a spectator.

Olympics, Lessons, and Church Trips

This is my first blog from the Student Ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church in West Union, SC. We're small enough that we shouldn't have our own website, but I don't like stereotypes, so we have one. I'm the Minister of Students, so that should explain the title of this blog. We have had some insane experiences in the last year or so, and I thought I'd chronicle them here.

Well, right now the Olympics are in full swing. Micheal Phelps has so far collected 5 or 6 gold medals, and at the same time broken 7 or 8 world records. The US men's gymnastics team took home a hard won bronze, and the women took silver. The women's sabre team just won the bronze, and as I watch this I'm in complete awe of how one man or woman can completley dominate a sport. They represent their country, and are leaving a lasting impact on the face of the world of sports, and just the world. I was thinking, what lessons are there to glean from these titans? What can we learn in our own lives from these people? Simply, that through hard work, we accomplish great things. Also, what we do in our lives, will impact the lives of those around us. The two are honestly joined. Through hard work and discipline, we can do amazing things, God can work through us to make incredible things happen, and if we slack off, accept mediocrity, then the impact we leave is not only small, but it tells those around us that it's ok to live a life of mediocrity. I refuse to let myself fail. I refuse to hide when things get hard! God has not created me with a spirit of fear and timidity, but given me a Spirit of boldness, love, and power! I was created for the glory of the Master, and so were you! Why do we settle with "good enough"? We should strive to accomplish nothing less than God's perfect will for us! God loves you too much for you to throw it all away because of any kind of crown that will fade, even a gold medal or a world record. We strive for a greater reward, we strive for a crown that will not fade.