Catch my breath

Okay, so it has been a mind bending pace for the last few days. Right after class on Tuesday we headed to my in-laws and visited there through Thanksgiving. And then on Friday we left and I went and saw Duke play Duquesne at Cameron Indoor Stadium ---- it was an awesome game and I think our Blue Devils are looking good this year. After the basketball game I then went and did a wedding ---- which was fabulous. And now I am sitting here in front of my computer preparing for tomorrow's sermon. I am tossing around a couple ideas ----- I will either go with Mark 13.24-37 or 1 Corinthians 1.3-9. One thing that is important for all of us to remember is that it is Advent. Honestly, I am just now coming into a full appreciation of what Advent is. As I have come to realize that Advent is about celebrating the coming of our Lord, not just in the manger, but also in the second coming ----- I have come to realize the richness of God being with us. Let us continue to run the race until Christ comes in all of his glory.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday ----- mostly this is because it is a wonderful time to remember what life is all about. Life is a gift and we have set aside a time to be thankful to the gift giver. God has truly blessed us as Christians ---- blessed us with life and love. Now let us do the radical thing and share that love with others as we thank God for the many blessings we have.
God bless all of you this thanksgiving and I pray that you find much to be thankful for.

Sheep and Goats

In Matthew 25.31-46 Jesus says the Son of Man will come with the angels and judge the sheep and the goats. Now you might want to quickly read this story because I noticed something interesting. Neither group knows that they have seen Jesus. The one group feeds, supplies drink, welcomes strangers, clothes, visits the sick and visits prisoners. While the other group does not feed, supply a drink, welcome strangers, clothe, visit the sick or visit the prisoner. The only difference is what the two groups do, but both of them are clueless. Are we clueless that Jesus is in our midst? That is an important question-----but the answer doesn't really matter. The important thing for us to do is to take care of the "least of these." Because Jesus has solidly positioned himself with the hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger, sick and prisoner.

Snow in November

For real!!!! It really did snow in November. I wasn't expecting it and when it was just starting to get light outside I could see from my office window a little bit of white. So I got close thinking that it was some heavy frost-----and it was the real thing. So I got out and took some pics. Enjoy.

Advent Conspiracy

Please watch this video in preparation for this Sunday's sermon. I look forward to what God has in store for us during the season of Advent.

Baby

I am excited to announce to all of you that my wife and I are expecting another child June 11th.

Testimony - Pilgrimage 2008

I wanted to share with you this testimony. It is from one of our youth at Warren's Grove. He shared this at Pilgrimage 2008. Pilgrimage is a huge youth rally that is put on by the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This year there were over 6,100 people at this rally. I pray that you are impacted by his testimony, for he surely points us to the one who has the power to free us from sin's oppression.

Methodist Pie - Gene Autry

Click Here for a link to this awesome song, the words are below. You are allowed to sing out loud from your desk.

I’ve down to camp meeting the other afternoon
For to hear 'em shout and sing;
For to tell each other how they love one another
And to make a hallelujah ring.
There’s old Uncle Daniel and Brother Ebenezer
Uncle Rufus with his lame gal, Sue,
Aunt Polly and Melinda and old Mother Bender
Oh, you never seen a happier crew
Well they all go there for to have a good time
And to eat that grub so sly
Have applesauce and butter, with sugar-in-the-gourd
And a great big Methodist pie

Chorus:
Oh, little chillen, I believe
Oh, little chillen, I believe
Oh, little chillen, I believe
I's a Methodist till I die
I's a Methodist, Methodist, in my belief
I's a Methodist till I die.
When the old grim death comes a-knocking at the door
I's a Methodist till I die


Well you ought to hear the ringing when they all get to singing
That good old “Bye and Bye”;
See Jimmy McGee in the top of a tree
Said, how is this for high.
Then they caught a hold of hands and march around a ring
Keep a-singing all the while
You'd think it was a cyclone a-coming through the air,
You could hear ’em shout a half a mile.
Then the bell rings loud and the great big crowd
Breaks ranks and up they fly,
While I took ahold of the sugar in the gourd,
And I cleaned up the Methodist Pie.

Chorus

Christianity

So, what I have been getting at with the Spanish Inquisition is the idea of forcing people into Christianity. We all believe there are certain things that Christians are to be about, those are loving God and loving our neighbors. The theory behind the inquisition is if we can force people to do the "christian" thing then they will be saved. Should we ever force people to do the "christian" things? For instance, Carrie Underwood above was strolling along a Hollywood Boulevard and decided to give to someone that was begging. For the most part, giving to the needy is a Christian thing. Should we force people to do this Christian act? What do you all think?

Spanish Inquisition Part II

I might not have been totally clear yesterday. So this blog post is for clarity. What the Inquisition was attempting to do was to have the people recant (repent) while they were being burned or any number of other tortures. The reason I bring up the burning example is that while burning they could recant and then a priest could absolve (forgive) them of their sins. This happened while the person was still being burnt to death. There was no hope for them to survive ----- but the Inquisition was hoping to save their souls ----- since they were heretics. With all of that said, I have to say that I disagree with their ends justifying the means. This makes the case that not all things are beneficial to lead someone to change their ways.

Spanish Inquisition

I have been learning a great deal about the Spanish Inquisition this semester. The interesting thing is that it was driven by religious zeal. What the inquisition was desperately wanting to do was save people's souls. And they were willing to do this anyway possible. They would attach "heretics" to stakes and then burn them. Their desire was for the heretic to recant and then there was a priest to absolve them of their sins. This way the heretics would be given a chance to make it to purgatory where they would eventually make it to heaven. Do you all think this works? Are we to try to do anything possible to get people to say the "sinner's prayer" so that their souls will be saved? I know I just asked some provocative questions ----- but I want to hear what you all think.

Knitting Graffiti

Okay, so I know this doesn't have anything to do with what I usually write ----- but I just had to share this with you. They call this the most inoffensive graffiti. WOW!!!

Pilgrimage

I am heading to Pilgrimage in Fayetteville, NC this weekend. This is an awesome youth rally where we have close to 6,000 people converge on Fayetteville for Jesus. The picture above is kind of wishful thinking. I have to drive the big 15 passenger van so I am hoping to have a police escort through Raleigh. Pray for all of us. Pray that we will experience the living God in Jesus Christ. Pray that our hearts will be changed as a result of the gospel. And pray that we will all be safe.

I Voted

I voted ---- this is a picture that is just like the sticker that I received when I voted this morning, but this isn't my sticker because I don't have that cool of a shirt. But, I did vote. And you know what ----- all the media hype that there were going to be long lines was not true. I arrived at the voting site at 6:05am and there was no one there. For about 15 minutes I was the only one there. I went right in when the polls opened and was out of there at 6:35am. So, the moral of the story ----- don't always trust the media. But, please go and vote. And in my sermon the other day when I was talking about the Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, there is only one choice ---- unless of course you want to have a write-in candidate.

The Yoke of Jesus

In Matthew 11.25-30 we read about Jesus saying to the crowd: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Right now, I don't completely understand what Jesus is saying. There doesn't seem to be any rest that comes from wearing a yoke. Now, from another perspective ----- Jesus is saying to the crowd that this is for the weary and those carrying heavy burdens. These people might have been servants or slaves, prostitutes or tax collectors, beggars or the lame. Now for this group of peoples, they might already be carrying a metaphorical yoke. So when Jesus offers them his yoke ----- which is easy and light ----- this could be very appealing immediately.
Now, here is the kicker, now imagine that it is a yoke that two oxen could fit into! And the other metaphorical ox is Jesus. He is yoked with us! Think about that for the next 24 hours and let us see what God has in store for us.