Chris Depew Writes

Moments Like These

2010-03-07T21:46:00.003-06:00

I promised to provide some background on why I need to complete this journey to forgiveness and to illustrate why this is going to be difficult for me. I don’t normally share anything personal on my blog, but I feel it is necessary now. However, I will not be sharing the whole story. I will give you enough information for you to understand; that is all. So, without further ado, this is the beginning of the story.

Roughly a year ago, the lives of my wife, daughter, mother, and sister would forever be changed. It only took one person and a massive web of lies, cheating, forgery, and theft to make it happen. That one person was my father.

In one phone conversation to an attorney, I found out more than I cared to know. I found that my father had not only become a stranger, but that he had always been a stranger. His whole life was spent concealing lies and crimes. All of his deeds had finally caught up with him. He was going to spend the next ten years in prison. His latest crime was embezzlement and forgery.

I was so mad I could have done him physical harm. After the want to hurt him subsided, I was left with this massive wound. It came from not only the fact that I had been lied to by the one person I should trust without question, but I hurt for the people that I loved. My mother and sister were left with nothing but broken promises and empty dreams. Everything that they once knew was gone. They lost their house, car, everything. That is where most of my hurt lived, inside the fact that I knew that had happened to them.

This is where I begin. I am now searching for the way in which to forgive my father. The interesting part of this journey is the reason behind why I must forgive. “Why” certainly was the first question I asked when God told me to find a way to forgive. God made it very clear that if I were to continue to live, unwilling to forgive my father, our relationship would wither. Also, I would never know the joy that was hidden in His will for my life.

Follow me in the next few months as I uncover what forgiveness really is and what it means. We will look at what Christ said about forgiveness and analyze some stories of forgiveness from scripture. Eventually, Christ will lead my heart into a place of forgiveness and peace, thus allowing God to regain control of my heart and soul. God bless.

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Luke 6:37

2010-02-25T19:44:00.001-06:00

One of the hardest things I have ever been asked to do is to forgive. I think that because of our humanness, it is the most unnatural thing asked of us. We gain nothing tangible from forgiving anyone. We think by forgiving we are saying that what has been done is acceptable. Those are some of the many reasons that forgiving is difficult.

In the next few blog posts, I am going to be exploring forgiveness. I will start by telling you the reason that I have burdened myself with this task. I will touch on some personal areas where forgiveness is needed, as well as document my findings on why we should forgive. I show you reasons that I am just as, if not more, guilty of not forgiving as anyone. Why am I doing this? I don’t really know. Other than through my journey I hope to help others. Please keep in mind that none of this is easy for me. I am not preaching. I am healing along with you. I don’t want to forgive what Christ has asked me to forgive. Matter of fact, it is the last thing I want to do. I also know that if I don’t forgive, my relationship with Christ will suffer.

I know, you’re asking, “But why write about this on your blog?” Well, writing and researching feel natural to me. They are the things that my heart longs for. So, instead of me sitting down with someone and talking this out, I will write my way through it, letting God guide my words and eventually my heart to a place of forgiveness. That way, I can move more of my focus towards hearing God’s plan for me and none of it on avoidance. I thank you for joining me on this adventure. My prayer is that through this process someone out there can choose forgiveness instead of hate, healing instead of hurting, or mercy instead of indifference. God bless.

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'Tis the Season

2009-11-22T09:43:00.001-06:00

A cool breeze blowing through the color changed leaves. The smell of a distant fireplace keeping a house warm and cozy. All of these are signs that one of God's most glorious seasons is upon us. It is a time for rebirth, change, and cleansing. Unfortunately, it is also a time for busied lives, stressed jobs, and tightened deadlines. With the return of fall we get the return of Thanksgiving and eventually, Christmas. With all the things that come with these holidays let us not forget what one Psalmist told us.

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10). Take the time this holiday season to be still. Take the time to know God. Take the time to see what God has given you. That way, you will be at peace knowing you have a reason to be Thankful. While the cash register is ringing up your total, a gift I am sure, take a minute and be still, think about God's gift to us on Christmas day. Just think of how that gift changed our lives.

We have enough to be stressed about this holiday season. No doubt the psalmist did as well. In the midst of an upcomming war the only way he or she could hear and feel God was to be still. If you only take a few hours the two months for you, please, just be still and feel God's presence in your life and know, that is all you need. Happy Holidays.

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What's your Colt?

2009-04-05T11:00:00.006-05:00

“Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are your untying the colt?’ They replied, ‘The Lord needs it.’” (Luke 19:32-34)

We have all heard the story before. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives. He sends two of his disciples up to a house to untie their colt. They were going to take it. Then he tells them if they are asked why they are taking it tell them the Lord needs it. As you can see from scripture, the disciples did as they were told. If you look further you will see that we do not hear another word from the owners of the colt. Why?

Perhaps the owners had a vision from an angel earlier telling them if someone comes to get the colt, let them take it. We do not know the answer from scripture. What we do know is that because the disciples said the Lord needs it, they let it go. They did not ask for payment or even for the names of those taking it. They just let them take it. The Lord needed their help and they gave without hesitation.

Has the Lord ask you for something? Has the Lord asked you to do something that you wavered on? I know he has asked me before and I told Him it was not in my plan. We have all, more than likely, told God no. In this Easter season it is time to say, “Yes!” It is time that we stop worrying about what will happen or what other people will think. We should just rely on faith in God to see us through. What is the colt in your life? What is it that the Lord needs to use that you cannot seem to let go of?

Worldly Goggles

2009-04-03T14:42:00.002-05:00

“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Psalm 118:22-23

In architecture the capstone is the center stone, the one that holds up a design. Without this stone in the middle, the whole structure would fall. This stone is of utmost importance in the design. So, then, why does this psalmist say that the stones the builder rejected would become the capstone? Not only that, but then they say the Lord has done this. It doesn’t make sense that a rejected stone is something that the Lord would use for such an important job. Or does it?

Throughout scripture God has always reversed people’s status. Off the top of your head I bet you can think of at least one verse. It was Jesus that said, “many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Matthew 19:30) Peter uses this same concept in speaking about the Christian Church (1 Peter 2:7). The Church took Jesus, someone whom the elite of the day rejected and arrested, and built a foundation upon Him. So do these words only refer to Jesus? I do not think so. When Jesus uses this analogy (Matthew 21:42), he is referring to us. So what does it mean?

For starters, whatever situation you find yourself in, Jesus will use it and you. In the world we live in, when we think of important people, we think of those in high office, the President, CEOs of major corporations. Jesus tells us we are missing something because of the goggles that we look through every day. We miss what Jesus would have us see in people, Him, and ourselves. We miss how we are all being used. God made that rejected stone; we have to take off the worldly goggles to see what He sees. Oh, what we could learn from Jesus, the ultimate cracked and broken stone if we only let Him open our eyes. How do we take off those goggles? “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Easy, right?

Past and Present

2009-04-02T14:23:00.009-05:00

I find myself at a frustrating point in my life. The career that I choose for myself vanished in a moments notice. I was laid off earlier in the month. For the past year I have been contemplating changing professions, that new profession being ministry. Problem with that is it takes a long time to become a minister. So, now I am stuck with trying to figure out what God is doing (good luck) and having to live what I have preached, walk by faith. I have to rely on the power of God to overcome this. I know that he will. However, this is more difficult than I imagined. I am trying to find the lessons in this situation, human nature is to say that I did something wrong or that along the way something happened to create this moment in my life. Therefore, I am sitting in a place that I know well and that knows me well, to see if here, I can find an answer from my past.

Not much has changed since my days at this old ballpark. A new concession stand and new bases, but other than that it is the same. This is not where I found God although as a kid, this mattered more to me. See, by coming here I am trying to remember times when God was speaking to me but I was more worried about the count, than His voice. Perhaps, God was telling me twelve years ago that no matter how hard I try, His will for me is stronger when I was up for the all star team but never made it at this park. Or maybe God was telling me that happiness and love cannot be purchased when I would spend all my money on Fun Dip and Big League Chew for a girl that never showed interest back. For a fact, God was showing me how to be humble and apologetic in time of turmoil when I spent all week telling everyone that there was no way a girl could strike me out, underhanded. Only to have that girl blow three strikes by me, one of which I never saw leave her hand. On the other hand, maybe there is nothing to learn from these past memories, maybe they are just character builders, not life lessons.

You see, no matter how long, or how often, we look back on what we did in the past, God does not care. Jesus tells us that, “By faith son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5). So whatever I did or did not learn here in this park doesn’t matter anymore. I have asked for forgiveness and have been given that. What matters now is that I show the world I can make it on faith in Christ. What God wants from me now, is my strength in Him, so that others can see I do not rely on worldly means; my trust, hope, and courage rest in His hands.

Lord, I believe. I know that I have not been as faithful as You would want me to be but I ask your forgiveness and help. I pray that you give me the strength and knowledge that this journey requires. Lord, keep my head from the past and let me rest on the fact that the future is in Your hands, not mine. That because of my repentance and Your grace, what matters is the now, is not the past.

Picture by: Rupak, find more information at www.kamaldi.com

Your Glory, or His?

2009-01-13T18:24:00.007-06:00

Let me start by saying that this post will probably get me in trouble. Still, it has been laid on my heart to say.

I am really tired of those that want to share the Word with others making the same mistakes. Granted, the mistakes I see are mistakes to me. I can’t tell you what God has laid on your heart. You may be doing God’s will and doing it the way He told you. So, let the argument begin.

One hard thing for followers to maintain is being in the world not of the world. I struggle with this daily. However, you must, to a degree, step out on the edge of the two distinctions. Without doing that, you might not get noticed by those who refuse to come closer to the crease that you are standing on. The way I see it, they are not going to walk your way, you must walk theirs. Then the question is, how do you do that and maintain your "in the world" status?

There is on simple way, make sure your focus is ALWAYS on Christ and His good. It does not matter in what manner you do this as long as your focus is on Christ. In the last five years, we have been given so many new ways to find new believers. One of those ways is by blogging. One of the tendencies I see is that followers only stay in their close circle of blogging friends. If their blog gets noticed by someone else, great, it just seems that they are content with just using the platform to encourage current believers. Fine, if that is what God wants you to do then, so be it. That is not what God wants me to do, or what Jesus asks us to do.

Jesus said “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people” (Matt. 4:19). He didn’t say follow me and we will encourage believers to be strong in me. Jesus wants us to find new people - save more people. It is easy to stay in your comfort zone and only put your voice out to those who want to hear it.

I do have a Christian group of online friends that I follow and talk to, but I also use all those tricks that the other bloggers use to get myself out there. Some of my friends might say I want the glory. I do not want the fame for myself, what I am putting out there is Jesus. I hope anyway. If you read my articles you will see that. If you do not see that, please let me know. I have wandered too far from the path.

My website, as you can see, is ChrisDepewWrites.com, my name, which I just attribute to my lack of real creativity in that department. Although, I can hear some saying that I am just making a name for myself. Is that really a bad thing when someone associates what I do with Christ? I join all the blogging catalogs and carnivals I can. I run ads on my website for revenue. It’s true. It is not free for hosting. Trust me, if I was making enough money from blogging I would not be an accountant by day. I want those who hate God and religion to see my site. They might take a ten second look and then be done with me, but they looked. I want to comment on teenagers who claim to be atheists blogs just in the off chance they click the link to my site. I write about the hard questions and subjects, sometimes, just to show up on searches about things other than God, Christ, and the church.

So, I make no apologies for having my name on my site or putting ads on my blog nor for advertising on Twitter. I do not try to keep quiet and not spread my blog all over cyberspace. I refuse. I will always promote with the best of them, all in the name of Christ. My challenge to all my Christian blogging friends is this; put your name out there, use some of the tricks that secular bloggers use to draw people to them. What, they cannot be used for good as well? Expand your site to those who do not know God. Just remember, you must remain focused on Christ.

God bless and happy blogging.

Uncomfortable Moments with God

2009-01-04T17:05:00.004-06:00

Surely, you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is the mystery made known to me by revelation.
Ephesians 3:2

Paul has been imprisoned for speaking for Christ. "Surely we have heard", he says. That sounds like he put the announcement on Twitter and the whole world re-tweeted it. Perhaps that is why he is in prison. He says that God gave him these things to tell and even though he has been imprisoned because of them, he calls it God's grace. He is so excited to be in prison for Christ that one might think he was crazy, just crazy enough to pay attention to.

Paul is definitely not in his element. He should be out walking amongst the people, preaching the good news, not behind bars. Having to be uncomfortable is part of growing in faith. I was never fond of sharing my faith openly with other adults. It always became a very uncomfortable situation for me. I had worked with youth before and found this enjoyable, it just seemed very unsettling to share with other adults. Then, through a wonderful man named John Robbins, God sent me on an Emmaus weekend. Here my faith grew through having to share my faith story with people my age and older. It was the best time of my spiritual life. Paul was certainly uncomfortable being in prison. However, that is where he found himself and praising God for the opportunity. He had grown because he saw what God was doing. He had seen Roman soldiers listen and accept the story of Christ. Other prisoners were also listening to what he had to say. This was all God's grace at work.

Next time you are in an uncomfortable situation, look for God's grace, it is there. See how he is working through you. See and feel the transformation. Use your uncomfortable feelings as Paul did. It starts with one person; can you be His hands today?

What's in your Tackle Box?

2008-12-07T19:15:00.003-06:00

As I am sitting in the stadium seating of a United Methodist Church attending the annual conference there are a few things that come to mind I speak on now. Before all that, let me say that I love the Methodist Church. So please do not think this bothers me bad enough to change my mind on the whole denomination. However, in my first hour and a half of this conference these were a couple of observations that might need to be addressed.

What is it with all the preachers/politicians? You’re a minister; you are not running for office. With God’s grace and will, I too one day will be a part of this conference as a clergy and not a layperson and there are many reasons that I made that decision none of which include politics. Leaving corporate America is the first reason that comes time mind. I feel that it is damaging my relationship with God. There are so many politics that have to be played it makes life a constant struggle. From where I am sitting looking at the politics and preacher/politicians in thousand dollar suits, I am not sure it is any different. I am done with a life that requires me to have the nicest suit to advance. Tell me, how are the meek, the weak, the weary going to be able to relate to you as you speak from a place you made so different from theirs? Is this how Jesus conducted himself? I think we need to address this matter before it gets out of hand.

The next issue I bring to light is stadium seating. Oh, stadium seating, good for a movie theater, poor for a church. How do you get close and build relationships that matter with your brothers and sisters when you are separated from them by a plastic armrest? It makes it more difficult from this comfy, slightly reclined movie chair. They sure don’t make you want to jump and shout to the Lord. If you are lucky, you might stay awake. Matter of fact, they make a great spot to take a nap between sessions at this conference. Bring the pews back. Where on Christmas morning it is so packed you have to put your arms around possibly two people you don’t know, just so you can breath. Please put pews in your new mega-churches, please.

Bottom line, with all the things that we add to worship, we seem to have lost a vital part. What is that? New believers. That is our job as the body of Christ, right?
“Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people”. (Matthew 4:19 NLT) I think we need to change lures.

How do you search?

2008-10-28T21:33:00.001-05:00

Jeremiah 29:13
“When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with your whole heart.”

If you have ever played on a sports team you know one of the first things a coach tells his team, “ You got to give it one hundred percent”. This letter that Jeremiah writes was in many ways a pep talk for the people that Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile. However, there are two keys points that draw my attention.

You would think a good pep talk would not have a qualifier. That being, when you search yes, you will find, but only if you seek with your whole heart. Simply put, we cannot find God by halfway attempting the process. Sort of like having a search party for a missing child with no search dogs, something is missing. Have you ever truly found God before? Had him speak to you? I have and let me tell you, he does not halfway tell us it is Him. It is stated so simply, God will not reveal Himself to us unless we are committed to finding Him. So, next time you are seeking God remember, bring it all or do not bring it at all.

The other thing that catches my attention is that it says, “When you seek”. Well, is it not our duty to always be seeking God? The answer is, yes. However, God has been through the fall of man. He was there; he knows what is in our hearts. He knows that we do not always seek him. Funny thing is, He leaves it up to us. That is how much God loves us. He let us go. What is that old saying? If you love someone, let him or her go and if they come back then they truly love you. Think about that. I know I come back time and time again, what about you?

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Winds of Change

2008-10-13T11:49:00.002-05:00

It is almost as if I am not suppose to figure out my plan. As if the constant swirling of possibilities and open doors will never end. Once I think I have it figure out things always turn in a new, mysterious way. I was once told that God doesn’t throw in these situations, it is the devil trying to make it more difficult for me to decide that His work is for me. For now that is the theory I am going with, for several reasons. As always I am open to any discussion of this matter.

I decided many months ago now that I am going to forego my education in accounting for seminary and follow a calling that I have ignored for a long time. I knew that things would be difficult from a current career path situation. I am slated and was being groomed to be the next controller. The company that I work for is not going to be happy that I am not going to continue with my accounting education. They didn’t hire me to be a preacher; they hired me to be a financial wizard. All of that, I was giving to faith and was not worried about. I was going to go about my business and start seminary and eventually tell them that I was leaving them to follow my heart and my Lord. They would understand once I left and I had a church to go to. I should have known that would not be the end of this, there had to be a twist like a lemon in a glass of gin.

There was a heavy air lying around in my office last week. So thick even that I was having a hard time breathing. Something was not going to be good about this week. You know those heavy eyes dog get in the heat of summer, the controller had those eyes this week. As if her master had just banished her from the shade of the front porch. An afternoon just like most afternoons is when it hit. Our controller announced that she turned in her notice. She was leaving us.

I am not a fan of change. Some change is good; some change is just down right stressful. This change is going to involve a choice for me, or a forced move anyway. Either way it boils down to this; I have everything that I ever wanted, one year ago, at my fingertips, and I am not happy. This might sound odd but just give me a minute. I already don’t have enough time for my family and now if I add this extra responsibility and also seminary classes I really will not have time. Then again, I might be worried about nothing. They might bring in a new controller and leave everything as it is. I guess only time will tell. I do know that God is with me and he will show me my way. It was once said, "I know that I can handle anything that God gives me, I just wish he didn't trust me so much".

Looking over what I am writing it sounds like I haven’t fully given into His plan and that I am still worried about the how and not the now. I am struggling with what to do. Is this a blessing and God’s plan, or is this a diversion; something to make me question my call and show me that I can still have all that I use to want, all those things, the life, money, and car. All of them, dangling in front of me like a carrot in front of a donkey. I am in deep prayer and hope that you will save a small window for me in your prayers as I am sorting out the new changes in my life and what my calling truly must be.

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Time

2008-10-03T05:42:00.001-05:00

I am sorry for not being able to post on here like I want, but I am having such a blast raising my daughter Ella Grace that I can't pull myself away from her or my wife to blog. I hope that you understand. This weekend will have a new post up. I hope to have several devotions done. So keep an eye out. Thanks for reading.

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Be careful what you twitter

2008-09-06T12:16:00.001-05:00

As most know, I love to twitter. It has become very addictive and it is just mindless fun. Most of you also know that I am a fan of mindless fun. I have many Christian authors and writers that I follow and that also follow me. This is great, I learn many things from people that have been writing for a long time. However, you must choose your words wisely when you are updating your twitter.

On an update September 5, 2005, I said that my boss was in a "pissy" mood. A nice young man that I follow had a problem with me using that word. He said that between my bio and my post these words were, "an interesting combination". Those words being, Christian, trying to make a change, and pissy. First off, pissy, really isn't a word, especially one that I should use in any of my writing. This was twitter for Budda's sake. (They take our God's name in vain, so I take theirs). At first I thought well, he is telling me that pissy was not a Christian word to use. I am not sure what strong words were back in Jesus's day, but I bet He had to use a few to make some points. I am way to lazy, on my birthday, to actually pull references from scripture to back this, if I am wrong, someone will tell me.

He said what he told me was not that it was un-Christian to say that, it was just interesting. Fine, we will leave it at that, but, as God always does, He instructed, and this man followed through on giving me a passage to read. That passage is Romans 14:22, from the NLT it is this; "You may have faith to believe that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who do not condemn themselves by doing something they know is right".

I am a big fan of Paul, if he had t-shirts I would have one. This passage is compelling to say the least. I love it for a couple of reasons. First, Paul is saying you who have faith walk side by side with God all the time. So, if you feel and think something is fine to be doing great, who would know better than you. Secondly, I see the second part of this passage as a mantra for activist groups everywhere. If you truly believe something is of God, just as Tom Petty put it, don't back down. You will be blessed for not condemning yourself for feeling and fighting for something strongly.

Having faith is possibly the hardest thing I have to do day in and day out. This world does not make it easy for anyone to walk by faith. Everywhere we go we see things that say, 'do this and you will have wealth'. 'Drink this and you will look like Hannah Montana'. As followers of Christ, we should know and always rely on the fact that nothing of this world can fill us and make us whole. We will forever feel empty and always be searching for more if we don't have faith. Why else have faith? Because it makes our decisions of right and wrong easier. God is right beside us, He tells us what is good and right, we just have to have the faith that He is there and he is helping us. The only catch, says Paul, is that we should keep it to ourselves. Just because you saying pissy is okay, does not mean it is okay for someone else. So, don't think that your way is the only way. God has a plan for all of us. Yours is much different from the person in the other room. The only correct answer is what God tell YOU. Just make sure you seek God on every challenge and every decision.

"Blessed are those who do not condemn themselves by doing something they know is right". God has given me an opportunity to change America with the Constitution Party. I know God wants to see a change and he told me so. I am now the Chair of the Constitution Party of Alabama. We work on restoring the faith of the country and the rights that the country was founded on. People matter and the Constitution Party agrees with that and agrees that the two party system could care less about what the people want. I will not put myself down for working with the CPA. Nor will I stop working on what I have started because other people say that it is wrong. It doesn't matter what the GOP says, it matters what God says. Blessed are those who stand up for what God wants and what God tells them is right. I suggest you ask God what is right and fight to make it so. That way God will have a bigger window into people's lives. That is what we are called to do as followers of Christ. Make disciples of men. When God told me that I needed to help the Baldwin Campaign I signed on. If I can get one person to see it God's way, I have done my job.

Thanks to my Twitter friend for giving me this passage to share, it was great one.

It's been awhile, I know

2008-09-05T07:56:00.002-05:00

I promise to get back to blogging as soon as I get some more time. With my job, the campaign www.baldwin2008.com, and life. I haven't had much time. Look for an entry sometime this weekend as I turn a quarter of a century old. I know, it is hard to believe.

Just thinking

2008-08-04T12:32:00.002-05:00

Something that I don't do on this blog is just type as I think and let that be a blog entry. So, here it is. Chris Depew not typing something up in another program and then editing it five-six times before it ever gets to his blog.

There is something on my mind that I just have to put down. For me there are two "parts" if you will of my life. One is my personal life with my wife and daughter. The next would be my professional life or work life. My work life is to be the best accountant I can be. I am on the road to being controller of a company and everything seems to be going smooth. Or is it. Then my personal life is excellent. I could not have hand picked a better life with my family. My wife is amazing and my daughter is the same. There is not one thing that I would change. My aforementioned professional life might need some adjustments.

I love where I work and what I do. It is fun and exciting and I am never bored. The people are great and I have lots of room for growth with my company. However, there is this void that can't be filled with what we do. Some tell me that you just go to work and come home. It doesn't matter what you do, you just do it and take the money and move on. Well, I can't do that. I have a calling to ministry that I can't figure out and my mentor seems to have too much to do so that is a little frustrating. Then there is my writing. I love to write more than anything in the world. When I write it is like every sentence is filling the void that feel up to the brim. If I had not answered the call to the voice in my head that told me to start writing, I would be institutionalized right now. Writing grounds me. It makes me vulnerable and I like that. See, in the corporate world you have to hide so much of yourself in fear that people might not like it and then they will have this preconceived notion about you and will never win from that point forward. I put everything that is me and all that is my heart on the screen when I write. I think that my call to ministry is my writing, but I can't tell. I have looked for open windows for a career in writing and it is just not materializing. I know I am not on my time but this sure is slow. I wouldn't be so impatient about this if it weren't for one thing. I need to figure it out and get my education scheduled. I am at a point in my accounting career where I need to go back and get my Master's so that I can sit for the CPA exam. If God is calling me away from that, I need to know where to so that I don't waste money and time on a Master's in Accounting. If my dream where to come true today. I would get a writing contract for a magazine for a column and I would then start my Master's of Theological Studies and eventually I would end up teaching theology at the college level. That is my dream. I just wish I knew if that was God's dream too. I know my dreams don't mean anything if it isn't what God has in store for me.

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Church Building Campaign Devotion

2008-07-30T15:50:00.001-05:00

I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3John: 4

As a new parent one of my goals is to show my daughter the truth of Christ and His way. Sometimes it becomes very challenging. Even though she is not talking yet she is listening to every word I say. One day all those words make up the language that she will use. Also, my actions are the actions that she mimics. Therefore, it is very important at this stage of the “game” that I act out the truth and the way in front of her. One day she will use what she has learned and become a great follower of Christ, or that is the prayer anyway. Truly, it would make me the happiest man alive if I were to know when she is grown up, she is still following the lead of Christ.

As a church we have the same responsibilities. Maybe not on as grand a scale, but it works the same way. We have to show and do the things that we wish younger generations will pick up on. We have to set up places and ways for them to grow. One way to insure that our children have a place that they want to worship in is to build that place. They do not have the means of doing this for themselves. We do. Remember, the church that we build is not for us, it is for our children. If we want to have them walk in the truth, following after us, then we must give them a place to grow. We must stop thinking about what our needs are today and start thinking about the needs of the people that will love this church for generations after us.

One day when we are in heaven Jesus may ask us to look back to earth with him. Then he might show us all the people that worship in our church and the good times they have in His name. Then Jesus might say to us, “You gave them that place to worship and learn about the truth”. Don’t tell me you will not hit your knees and thank him for the means in which to help build their church. Our call is to make disciples of Christ. We are his hands; we must do what is needed to make disciples.

A little devotion for you

2008-07-18T13:39:00.002-05:00

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.
James 2:8

“That jerk threw me under the bus today, I hate that man so much!” Without a doubt I have said that on more than one occasion. It is hard to treat everyone the way that you treat yourself. To love everyone seems like, at times, the last thing that you want to do. In life you are going to be wronged sometimes, daily. People mess up. So what could you possibly do or think that would make you love everyone all the time.

Now I am not saying it is even possible to love someone all the time or even for a moment. But one thing I try to remember is this; we have all done something that hurt someone else. If you were wronged yesterday then, so be it. When is the last time you did something wrong to someone? We just have to work toward not hurting people. We all live on this earth together. As long as we are working on being easier to love, we are doing our part. It is a learning process that takes time. Everyone can’t be on the same stage. The next time someone hurts you do not get mad and say things that you regret. Just look them in the eye and say, “That’s alright, I use make a point of hurting people.” They might just ask you why you used the phrase “use to”, giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place by sharing your belief.

Amazing

2008-07-07T14:21:00.001-05:00

My wife is the most amazing person I have ever met. She is able to pull out the best things from the worst situations. I envy her for that. She inspires me in everything that I do, including my writing. Last night, after a weekend of contemplating my purpose for writing, we had a conversation. This conversation was not about my writing but, my life and how I was living it. She told me that I was over thinking everything. I was analyzing too much. She said, “Just be”. I did not understand how right she was until I woke up this morning. This is where my revelation began.

Up to this point my writing was an analysis of various things and a critique from a Christian perspective. Mainly, they ended up as a more of a tell-all of how Christ’s side was not represented in whatever situation I found myself. What my wife made me realize was that the world does not need to hear about how bad Christ is needed on earth, we turn on the television and see that. The world needs to hear all the times that God IS present because God IS in the tragedy; it just depends on how you are looking and what you are looking for. For instance, I love writing about “Corporate America” and how God isn’t in the lives of those that run the “empire”. That is all completely backwards. People want to know that there are “Christ things” in a seamlessly godless situation, not how He is uninvolved. We all know this world is evil and sadness reigns over too much of this big round ball.

All in all, my wife, by having a simple conversation, and asking me to always be the man that she sees every night when I look at our daughter and know God is good, just, and right. She made me understand that I have to stop finding places that need God and start looking at all the places God is already. Thank you Sweetheart, I owe you everything, and I plan on giving it to you one memory at a time. I love you.

God, are you up here?

2008-06-13T15:21:00.002-05:00

“I sought to hear the voice of God, and climbed to the topmost steeple. But God declared, ‘Go back down again, I dwell among the people’.”

I want you to read that again and this time think about how true it is. Think about how Jesus lived, who he spent time with. I can’t take credit for that quote, it is from Louis I. Newman. Truer words might have never been spoken. Maybe it is not that they are true that makes it interesting. Maybe it is that we are not told bold truths anymore. We would rather just make things “softer”. Jesus walked on the same earth that we do, he did not set up camp and build a huge church in his home town. He went to the people. To the people that in his day others would say were worthless sinners. I know what you are saying, “things are different now”. Are they?

Are we getting to the people that Jesus says we are to care for the most? How many random; homeless, sick, oppressed people do you see walk in your doors every Sunday? If I were to try and put myself in their shoes the best I can, I would look at us and be so intimidated that I would be able to walk. I know that I have been in the room with some very important people in the business world and you just almost cannot say anything without wetting yourself. I have been there, have you? We all go to church in our “Sunday best” but, what for. We are to show our best to the Lord, and we know that He is present in our services, but is this enough? Don’t you think that He would be more impressed if we were in holey jeans and torn t-shirts but had in tow the homeless, needy, and the hurting? I think that he would not even notice the clothes are our back at that point. Why, because they were his ministry. Those of us that are fortunate enough to be able to go work every day and provide for our families are to take care of them. Jesus made the rich man give all that he had to the poor and then, walk with Him.

If we put ourselves on pedestals and act like the godliest of God’s people how are those who don’t know God going to find him in all YOUR “glory”. You see by living lives full of things, with all our focus on things, others can’t see that what we really live for is God. When someone thinks of you are they going to think of the nice suits that you wore every day or the car that you drive? Or will they remember the compassion you show and your gentle words on a tough day. You see that is what Jesus did. He spread God’s love to a world that needed it so bad. Is that not what we are called to do as FOLLOWERS of Christ? Do as he did? Try it; it might be easier than you think, with His help, of course.

We have to find a way to bring our big or small churches to the people. Make it easy for them to come to us. Finding ways to get people close to the love of God should be our number one priority in church today. Why is it that it seems that most places are more worried about attendance or an issue that is going on in the world today. Who cares, lets save some souls. My suggestion is to start small groups. They are perfect for bringing in people that are not comfortable in church as we know it. If you do try it, let me know how it works. Lets bring God to the people who need it. We can't sit in our pews anymore waiting for them to hear God. We are his voice they have to be able to hear us.

I need help!!!!

2008-06-04T07:29:00.004-05:00

I am currently in the process of getting 5000 signatures on a petition that will allow Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party to be on Alabama's ballot. If you would like to sign or if you would like to help collect please contact me. Also, check out the Constitution Party's platform and check up on Chuck Baldwin. If you want a conservative in office and you don't have one to vote for right now, you might like Chuck. Thanks. Please look at the links below.
http://www.badwin2008.com/
http://www.constitutionparty.com/

Really...me? Are you sure?

2008-05-03T13:03:00.003-05:00

This is just a little more personal than I have been before on my blog. But I don't question things that are laid on my heart anymore. This is the condensed version of this story. I figure if someone wants to know more they can email me. I have several fears about posting this all of which I am giving over to the Lord right now. I thought you might want to know that. Thanks for reading.

In the world that we live in we rely on our own smarts and abilities. It is not easy to rely on someone else for anything. The biggest issue being, who do we trust. Unfortunately this fear transcends into my faith. For a major portion of my life my faith only went so far. I didn’t seek God’s council on many very important decisions. Fortunately, God is just and fair. I have survived my own decisions and live a wonderful life with my wife and daughter. In more recent times I have turned over completely this void that I had been feeling in my life.

This void was major, it had a lot of mass. I had been making my own decisions in order to fill it and it just wasn’t working. One day God spoke to me. It was more of a calming than a voice in my head. He told me that that I had to give all my life to him. I had to let him use me for His will. Here is where my life began changing. I hit my knees and pray harder than I had ever prayed before. I told God I understood and that I was tired of making my own decisions. From here on out I was going to seek your council first and your council only. I will put all my faith in your hands and not some of it in my own.

Since this event, I have felt my void, slowly but steadily, filling in with His wisdom and His will. I have heard my call from God into his ministry and to His work. In the past I thought I heard God calling me to ministry, but always pushed it to the side- it was not what I wanted. This time I said, “Yes”. I don’t know what is in store for me but for the first time in my life I know that I am doing His will and not mine and I am okay with that. I finally have found peace.

Psalm 31:1-5;
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to same;
deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.

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Corporate America

2008-04-24T20:10:00.003-05:00

I have just left my desk in the middle of corporate America to try and find some peace. Corporate America never stops - it is never still. There is constantly bickering and fighting between the ranks. Corporate America needs God's love more than any "institution" that I know of. In the life that it demands you don't have time stop and enjoy anything but the next report or email. I can't live this life forever. I don't think I am going to make it.

So, I have found my peace in a local park under a beautiful pine tree. I finally feel like I am away from everyone and everything, never mind the miles of asphalt and plastic picket fence that is just a few feet away. Here is where I can really focus on what matters in life. I turn off the blackberry, the radio, and my busy professional life. If only for thirty minutes, I need this. God and I talk during this time. Today He reminds me of what the psalmist said in Psalm 46, "Be still and know that I am God."

You see, corporate America is so lost because no one living inside it can be still. You can't feel the presence of God that is always present if you can't stop and listen. The psalmist knew of wars coming and he also knew that he would feel God when the war was still. It is no different now, we have wars that we fight everyday in corporate America. One that comes to mind right now is one between us accountants and upper management. They want to know why we report certain numbers in a certain manner. Our response is, "Because GAAP said so". It is everyday all day. If corporate America wants to end the "wars" and the stress. They must be still and know that God is with them.

Life.....

2008-04-16T22:02:00.002-05:00

God never told anyone that life would be easy. He didn't say that things would work out good in everything we do. All we know is that we will be blessed. Blessing come in many different ways, I guess. Some times prayers are answered with a "No". I have a devotion on this blog that is all about how faith is hard. I have to re-read that all the time. Lately is seems that my prayers are being answered in ways that I can't see or just not being answered right now. I am not one to question God, but it would be nice to find out what I need to do next. Oh well, I need to live what I write and wait for God to do things in his time. That's all for now. Oh, one more thing. Please keep my sister Stacy in your prayers. She is giving a talk on Friday at a Chrysalis walk. I am proud of you Sis. If you would like more information on the Chrysalis walk please see the Emmaus Community link on my blog.

The Profit

2008-04-11T20:04:00.005-05:00

As I was sitting in a well know burger company's dining room enjoying a hamburger that I should not have been eating, something caught my eye. Almost half way up my cup there was a picture of a cup filled with ice to that point. Similarly, near the top was another picture of a cup with a line with liquid up that the mark indicated. At first glance you might say that they are informing you, the consumer, how to optimize your hydration efforts by indicating the perfect amount of ice and the perfect amount of fluid. However, and this is where the accountant in me speaks, I realize what they are really there for. They are there to optimiz the profit out of the drink for their workers. By profit I mean the money that is left over after you pay the bills and wages for that beverage. The worker's wages, not the cup's. Has the world come down to this, looking at even the smallest things and trying to study it so that we can expend as little effort or money as possible in order to get the most benefit?

Then I start to think about religion and our faith. Have we reduced this down to the smallest sacrifice in order to get the full benefit? Do we spend just enough time on our faith so that we can call ourselves christians and feel good about it? I hope not, but I think there is a majority of people that have. I know at times I have. There have been many times in my life when I have just gone to church and prayed every now and then so that I could say I had a relationship with God. Have you done that?

The gospel of Jesus is not cut and paste. It is not a, 'take what you like and leave the rest for the people who like that' faith system. Jesus says that we are to love everyone. Not just the people who call themselves christians. He meant the non believers too. The liars, cheats, homosexuals, adulterers, everyone. We can't study the gospel enough in order to shave it down to the smallest expenditure and still get the full profit which is our salvation through Christ. We have to give all, not looking for any profit, and in return for going "bankrupt" to the Lord, we will gain the greatest profit of all; eternity.

What are we going to do......

2008-04-10T12:42:00.003-05:00

A USA Today report about graduation rates across the country caught my eye today. Here is the link so that everyone can read it http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-06-20-dropout-rates_x.htm .

Ok, it says that Detroit has a graduation rate of 24.1%. That means if your child is in a Detroit school he has a 75.9% chance of never finishing. Is that not scary? I have said for a long time that this country is becoming a society that has to be educated in order to survive. We no longer have the factories that were around when my Grandfather was alive. If you want to be able to achieve the “American dream” you will have to be educated.

What is it going to take? I am not sure I have the answer, but I know one thing, we have to get them to stop believing in this make believe world that recording artist have made up. Now I know, if you know me I have always said that it doesn’t matter what you listen to or what video games you play, you are who you are and those things don’t shape you. Well, they shape you when you don’t have role models at home or in church. If you honestly believe there is a life out there full of parties and hundred dollar bills flying around with half naked girls dancing for you with out working hard, you are wrong. Most everyone that is reading this knows that to be fact and I am not talking to them. I am telling them to join a group, a community, something that teaches that it takes hard work to make it in the world. You have to go to high school and college. You want to play like they do on TV fine, but you have to work hard too.

Washing cars and serving hamburgers hoping that one day you will get a record deal is not a way of life. You will not make it. Now, is music the only thing that is wrong with this picture? No. I pick on music right now because I want to. So, what am I going to do about it? I am going to find a program where I can tell a low income kid that they can make it. That they don’t have to hope for a record deal, they can be where I am without that, it takes work, hard work. Nothing I have was handed to me by anyone other than God.

God and my hard work have gotten me where I am. In the end it comes down to you wanting more for yourself. As an individual, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to be whereever you want in the world. If you want enough money to throw the best parties, make it happen. Stay in school, find a good job and work at getting to that point. It will not be handed to you. The world is not a free ride. Get an education and get a job, all while living with and through Christ and you will never have worries. That is what I believe, that is how I live.