MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Faith like a Rubik's cube

There aren't a lot of people who can do a Rubik cube. So when most people attempt to solve one it doesn't turn out too well.... Sometimes thats the same problem that we have. We try to solve the world's problem (or maybe just our own) all by ourselves instead of taking them to Jesus.

So.... I am one of those people who can actually solve a Rubik cube. =D



But I didn't figure it out on my own. Nor was I just born with the ability to do it. I learned how to do it from a friend.

How many time do we just "Do it on our own"? Maybe we try to take shortcuts by peeling the stickers off and moving them around. And what does that produce? A Rubik cube with stickers falling off =D. Or maybe if you are really good you know how to actually take a Rubik cube apart and move the actual pieces around. But see if you try that your cube will never quite be the same. It will always be a little stiff and not as easy to work with.

So instead of hitting out problem (Rubik cube) with a hammer trying to get it to be "solved," maybe we should go to the expert and just lay it all before Him and let HIM do the work. He delights in this. When we say that we are not able to do it ourselves and that we need His help.

So lay your problems before the Lord. Let HIM solve all your Rubik cubes... uh problems! :)

How are you doing?

How many times have we uttered that phrase today? What about this week? How bout this month? You prob have no idea because we say it so much. In fact for some people that has replaced the tradition greeting "Hello" (or at the very least it's a close 2, usually uttered in the same breath.) Maybe you said it to the checkout clerk. Maybe you hollered it to your neighbor as you got into your car. Maybe it has been asked of you! and what is the typical answer?

Well I have categorized them as follows:
1. Pretty Good. (This usually means everything is status quo)
2. Not to bad. (Pretty self-explanatory. Also is often followed up with: "You??")
3. Fine (I don't even want to try to explain that.....)

So if you received one of those answers to your question of "How are you doing?" in the past week please raise your hand. (Stage note: Everyone raise hand)
Ah I see thats just about everyone! What did that tell you about that person? Did you actually learn anything about them? Did you really WANT to know how they were ACTUALLY doing?
My guess is that the answer is no.

Why is that? Especially when we are interacting with other believers? Why is our default response to that question, one of the above options?

I know I'm horribly guilty of this. I may be having the worst day of my life and How am I doing? "Oh pretty good. Hey did you see that football game......"

Though I will say that I have been trying hard to actually try and look through the "pretty good" response and see whats really on the other end of that question. And that can be really hard. But I will say that some of my best relationships have been formed by just me caring about them. Thats it. Sometimes its just that easy.

One of my favorite videos of all time...

Upside Down from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

I offer my life

Hillsong - Lord, I Offer My Life To You Music Downloads

Hillsong - Lord, I Offer My Life To You Ringtone

This is one of those songs I haven't sung in FOREVER but I was just sitting here and started singing it. And decided it was a really good song. And that it got to be my next blog post :D So ya...

All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, alll of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

December 1st

Its the start of December. The month with probably the biggest holiday on the calendar. People have been planning for this since last year. Presents have been bought. Parties have been planned. Preachers will deviate this entire month from their regular sermon series. (How that for beginning of sentence Alliteration???? =D ok sorry back to it.)
But so many people, even Christians, spend SO much time doing everything else, they miss the "Reason for the Season" (I know I just used an overused cliche but get over it people)
Now of course I realize that everyone (of course im using that term loosely) knows the story of Mary and Joesph going to Bethlehem and Jesus being born. And then shepherd's and Magi come to see him and angels singing him lullabies (Ok so the last one was just a theory...) There will be lots of "Keep the Christ in Christmas" sticker around. Christmas carols telling of the birth of Jesus will be sung. People who never go to church will go on Christmas Eve. Needless to say the amount of "Religious" activity going around will be substantial. 
But... (you saw that coming didn't you? What can you say I'm predictable...)
But is that what we're going for? A lot of "Religious" activity? I don't think so. While all that stuff is nice lets look at what Christmas REALLY means.

Jesus. Emmanuel. He came to live with us. But he didn't just show up as a man. No. He took the form of a baby, was born in less than ideal conditions, and there was no important people waiting to congratulate the new parents. Just shepherds, the lowest of low in that time. They were sent by the best Choir this side of heaven (Wait it's prob the best on both sides wouldn't you think?? hmmm) 
Jesus' 1st bed? A feed trough (Which by the way prob wasn't nice and cuddly, all clean and like you see in books. Real feed troughs aren't very nice. Trust me)
If any of us were Jesus, I doubt we would choose this way to enter the world. (of course if any of us were Jesus... ah nevermind)

SO where were we? Oh ya. Jesus. =D So just think. Jesus gave up his throne, reigning over heaven and earth to come to this earth as a baby. To grow up into a man. And then to die for us. Take our penalty for OUR sins upon himself so that he could have a relationship with US.

Just think about that. The creator of the universe wanted to you to be with him forever. You. Me.

What did we do to deserve this? Nothing (nothing. no. nein. niche. niete. all that. nuthin)

So before you go to that Christmas party (Ooo maybe they'll have little smokies!! =D) take some time to think about this and to give thanks to Him.