I Warned You about the Camera....

Well, I warned you in an earlier post that I would try following Elizabeth around with a camera to capture some of her "antics." I'm also testing my own "posting" ability on the blog! Below is a sample of Elizabeth one Sunday evening before bedtime... And as you watch it, you may get an understanding of why Susan might seem so tired at times! LOL Not that Elizabeth is hyper or anything. No. Not that at all! (And you will love her ASU t-shirt!) Enjoy her version of a Sunday night's "Jesus Loves Me." I hope He loves her enthusiasm! I will work on our production values! :) I especially liked Elizabeth's ending: "the Bible tells HIM so!"

Room for Improvement

Sorry I've been away for a while!

A little something from Centenary's October newsletter...

Pastor Joe shocked the congregation when he announced his resignation from the church and a planned move to another church. After the service a very distraught Mrs. Smith came to the pastor with tears in her eyes, “Oh, Pastor Joe, we are going to miss you so much. We don’t want you to leave!”

The kindhearted pastor patted her hand and said, “Now, now, Betty, it’s going to be OK. The pastor who takes my place might be even better than me.”

“Sure,” she said skeptically. “That’s what our last pastor said too!”

Ouch! Sometimes we are tempted to fall into two categories: those who think the world revolves around them, and those who think they have nothing at all to contribute. But the reality is that we all have something to contribute, and one person is not more necessary than another! The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another” (Romans 12:1-5).

What we have belongs to God. Everything. When we serve the Lord in humility and in gladness, we can share all that the Lord has to give. Our time. Our talents. Our gifts. Our service. Out of thanksgiving for all that God has done for us, we can’t help but serve! We can’t think we’re too important, but we are all needed. You are needed! I thank God for serving him among all of you, and I thank God for each of your many talents. Let’s share them for him!

Laugh, live, and celebrate God’s love,
Oliver

The Best Sound!

I love to hear a baby laugh, and this has got to be one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Thanks to Susan for forwarding it on to me. Just hear this laugh, and know that God has really blessed us to have senses of humor. We need to all use them more often!

I have no idea who they are, but I'm glad they released this for the world! (Thanks for sharing -- whoever you are!) OK. I will post some video of Elizabeth once I figure out how! LOL

Have a great weekend!

Thank you for the prayers!

Thank you to everyone who has remembered Susan's father, Hugh Harris, in their prayers this week. If you're not aware, Susan's dad had a heart attack last Saturday night in Virginia while visiting family, and he was rushed back to Winston-Salem to Forsyth Medical Center. He is thankfully now home after a defibrillator implantation on Wednesday, and he is recovering well. Very well! God is good! Thanks for all your prayers...Please continue to remember Hugh and pray for God's strength and healing presence to be with him throughout his recuperation.

Who Am I?

Did you hear the story about the man everyone thought had been a major league baseball player? It turns out that it was all a lie. For over twenty years, this man had made his family believe that he was a former baseball player...but it was all a ruse...

I wonder: in what ways do we pretend to be what we're not because it's what people expect out of us, and we don't want to disappoint? How many times have we acquiesced to the opinions and feelings of others because we "don't want to ruffle feathers," but as a result we have clipped our own wings? How often do we take the easy way out because we resist making the effort, we don't want conflict, or we just believe that what we think or believe is not important?

In the Book of Joshua, the people of Israel were without Moses. Moses had died and the people stood at the banks of the Jordan. The Promised Land. What they traveled forty years to find. God had delivered on his promises. He had provided manna in the wilderness. He had guided them by day and by night. His presence was visible and mightily available. But still, at the verge of the promises revealed...they wait. God commands them to go. The words of Joshua chapter one contain the phrase "be strong and courageous" several times. Just as God had been with Moses, he would be with them. He will be with us. He will be with you. He loves you as you are. In the daunting face of uncertainty, in the knocking knees of fear, in the twisted mind of doubt, and in the troubled heart of pain, remember who claims you. God. As he commands Joshua, the people of the promise, and you and me: "Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

In the name of Christ, you belong to God. Don't forget that. When the temptation comes to doubt and resist your place in this world, remember who and whose you are. And remember it's all because of God's amazing grace!

Just in Case You Didn't Hear...

As we enjoy a great Labor Day, I hope you have been able to rest some today too! We are getting the grill out for some delicious hamburgers, and oh, by the way, did you hear that my Alma Mater beat Michigan Saturday? Whoo-hoo! ASU played a game of a lifetime to defeat Michigan in front of 109,000 stunned fans. Well, ASU is not a two-time national champion in football for nothing! It just goes to show -- that all things are possible!

Armanti Edwards dives over the Michigan Wolverines for another touchdown...

And it looks like the Michigan fans just can't believe their eyes...

And even though the game was 600 miles away, ASU students tear down the goal posts in Kidd Brewer Stadium and carry them to Chancellor Peacock's house...now that's celebrating!

Go ASU! ASU! ASU!

Hi-Hi-y-ike-us, Nobody like us,
We are the mountaineers, mountaineers, mountaineers,
Always a-winning, Always a-grinning, Always a-feeling fine
You bet, hey!

Listen to the Fight Song, as performed by the Appalachian Marching Mountaineers

Everybody have a great week!

Ways to Reduce Stress

I know a lot of people are probably feeling the stress with school back in session -- not to mention just feeling the heat! Pass along this newsletter article I wrote for our church's September newsletter, which included a list of ways to reduce stress that has made its way in e-mails across the internet. Hope your week is going well! As the mug on my study desk says: "have a relatively nonthreatening stress-free day." Hey, that wouldn't be too bad, would it?

“Ways to Reduce Stress”

WOW! I cannot believe that school has started back. Back-to-School sales have been in full swing (since July!), Halloween costumes are already in the stores, and before you know it, Christmas trees will be on sale in town. It seems like advertisers and store owners are always trying to get a jump on the holidays. But their efforts to prevent our procrastination only make us feel the push of time, ever marching onward. Stress is a symptom of our allowing the demands and duties of life to move God out of proper perspective. It’s easy to do. I start to think I am responsible for everything – that “it all depends on me.” That is dangerous thinking. No wonder doctors have noted that undue stress is a possible root cause of many health ailments from obesity to diabetes to heart disease. We let it get to us. But Jesus told his disciples (and us), “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). We are dependent on the grace of a loving, onmipotent God who blesses us and gives us strength! Before the stress hits, consider these 36 Christian Ways to Reduce Stress. Take it to Jesus!

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say ‘No’ to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule or will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, remember God is in control.
12. Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups: an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You every day.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that might improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Don’t wait until its time to go to bed to try to pray.
24. Make friends with godly people and follow Christian examples.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good “Thank you, Jesus!”
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the Universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Laugh, live, and celebrate God’s love,
Oliver

Take a Moment to Thank Him...

Another week is gone. It has been busy. Maybe you feel stressed and worn out by what the world has thrown at you. Maybe the weeks are going by so fast that you can't keep up. If you find yourself at the brink of exhaustion, or if you are just in need of a moment of rest, stop. Stop. Let your mind relax and focus on the one who loves you more than anyone else. If you have spent so much time trying to do it on your own that you just don't have what it takes anymore, stop. Stop. Stop trying to rely on your own finite resources when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords wants you to lay your burdens down at his feet. Go on. Lay them down. Stop and stoop at his feet and realize that by his stripes you are healed. By his great love you are whole. Complete. You don't have to do it all on your own. He is Emmanuel, God with us. God with you. Stop for a moment in the middle of the mess, in the midst of the moments flying by, and praise him for all he has done, is doing, and will do. He has loved you. He loves you. He always will.

"Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you..."

1 Peter 5:7

Remember Your Family...

Over the past few days, we have had several deaths connected to our church: Elak Williams (Tony Williams' father), Vanoyd Lee (Eddie Lee's father), and Allie Shulenburger (Anne Jones' mother). Please remember these families in your prayers. We also celebrate their lives, their faithfulness to family, and their faith in a resurrected Lord.

I have had several family members from these different families remark how important time is. They have spent time with their loved ones and been there with them until the end. They remind us all of how fleeting time is and how we should not take our families for granted. I know I am challenged by this, especially as things get busy. We must set aside time to be fully present with the people who love us most in this world. May we all remind one another of this when we see someone get "bent out of shape" by the busy-ness of life. Just simply ask, "Have you been home lately? Have you taken any time off?" After all, Jesus got away from the crowds so he could have some time with his Abba, his "Daddy." Love the people around you and cherish the time you have!

Laugh, live, and celebrate God's love,
Oliver

Big Brother 8 Update!

I know this is MY guilty pleasure, and many of you will not be interested, but the episode last night of Big Brother 8 was THE BEST EVER! When people get their comeuppance after being so smug, I love it when the "underdogs" come out on top. Dustin was evicted. (And was he ever surprised -- I love the America's Player twist and how Eric is forced to do America's bidding. It's especially fun how America is doing the opposite of what he wants to do!) And now Danielle is Head of Household again. Too much. Forgive me for my little dalliance with reality TV. It's all we watch, really (other than Boomerang, Playhouse Disney, Sprout, etc.) I can't watch any of the CSIs or Law and Orders or Without a Traces. I just can't see using acts of violence as a basis for entertainment. But -- that's the subject for another blog post! Everyone enjoy your weekend! (Come worship with us on Sunday!)

Does Anybody Hear Her?

I love the group Casting Crowns, and this song, "Does Anybody Hear Her?" speaks to me about what so many people must be facing in every day life. I wonder how many people walk or drive by our churches without knowing that they are truly welcome? I wonder how many people we pass every day think that no one really cares for them? I wonder how many opportunities we miss as Christians to share Christ's love because we are resistant to seeing Christ in all the people we meet? I wonder how many rolled eyes have passed over people in disapproval when what they really needed was to be seen for who they are: beloved children of God. We are all sinners in need of God's grace. We are all utterly and completely dependent on God. We must never forget that...

I am especially convicted by the line: "searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me..." Are we hiding our faith and only showing it when it's convenient or when we feel comfortable, or is Christ shining through all the time? People are watching...People are searching...People are hoping against hope that someone will notice...

A Little Something to Brighten Your Day...

Just in case you needed something to brighten your day, check this out...

God bless your day!

So... I guess I need to get my camera and start following Elizabeth around! :)

Laugh, live, and celebrate God's love,
Oliver

Big Brother 8...

Susan and I have a guilty pleasure for the summer. It's Big Brother 8. (Survivor is not on for the summer, after all!) It's a classic study in how people interact with one another, and it can be pretty entertaining. Although, I'm not sure why anyone would put themselves through the experience of being away from family for several months and having to wear a microphone for 24/7!

What has troubled me this season are the people in the Big Brother House who claim to be Christian but then curse every other word and lie and antagonize others in the house. Some are claiming to be "holier than thou" but are not representing Christians in a good light. And then the editors of the show play organ music to emphasize the pious moments of prayer and extemporaneous calling out to God. It is really irritating. Why can't people live out their faith in a positive way and stop claiming that God cares about helping them win a reality show? It's the same thing with athletes thanking God for helping them win a game or a race or whatever. (Never mind that God cares for all the losers out there too.) I'm glad that they acknowledge God. I'm glad that they claim a relationship with God. But I worry about the twisted theology they are giving the world.

But then again, we watch every episode and love our sports...

Thank God for Vacations!!!

Oh...

As I write this we are oh, so tired from getting home, but also so happy to have had a great vacation! We just love the beach, and with all the heat, Heat, HEAT -- it was so great to have the pool and the ocean to jump into at just the right time before you spontaneously combusted!

Elizabeth is the master of the ocean. She and I sat on a float and let the waves carry us back and forth until we could feel the sand in places we didn't want it. We especially liked the sand balls that Elizabeth left on the floor of the bathroom when she came back in to change! (Sorry for that, folks!)

Elizabeth also liked putting her cousin Bruce in time out for not playing with the beach ball correctly in the pool!

We had an awesome time the whole week -- it's just too bad we couldn't just move everything and everyone we love to the beach. Seriously.

Vacations are gifts. They are. We realize this every time we have to pack up and come home. They are taken too infrequently, and we need them to remember the fun people we are, the people God created to laugh and to rest and most of all, the people who should stop taking themselves so seriously. Vacations are reminders of what's important. The people you love and wish you could spend more time with. Perhaps they are windows into who we want and need to be. I want to be more fun, more often, and I want to be the man God created me to be -- husband and father and friend and faithful follower of his great love.

The ocean reminds me of the expansiveness of his love for us all. His power over all. Who can stand in front of the crashing waves and not be transfixed by him? Oh...I may be tired, but oh, so thankful for reminders of what's important...

So, when was the last time you took some time off? God rested on the seventh day. That was more than a hint for us!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

For those of you who have yet to read the final book in J.K. Rowling's series, I promise not to give away anything! But it is an incredible book! I couldn't put it down after I started reading it!

Someone once asked me what I thought about Harry Potter. I believe she was surprised that I was reading these books. After all, I am a minister, and she felt it was inappropriate that I was reading books that featured wizards and witches and magic. I can understand those feelings, but the Harry Potter series is so much more than those things that may appear offensive to some. After all, the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings also contain magical elements, and yet many people champion them as examples of Christian allegory.

Harry Potter, for me, is a story of the triumph of good over evil. And that triumph comes after much perseverance, soul-searching, gut-wrenching loss, and dependence on friends and people who unequivocally love you. Harry's story is filled with angst and pain, but also with joy and laughter and friendship. And aren't our lives filled with many of these same elements? No, we don't have a shared prophecy with Lord Voldemort. We don't have magic wands or spells that will help us to disapparate out of difficult situations, but we all have that daily struggle to keep on believing, to keep trusting, to keep hoping that God and love are there. And ultimately, we have that hope in Jesus Christ, who defeated sin and death, once and for all.

J.K. Rowling has created a masterpiece of an epic tale that is so unbelievably readable. Critics should take note that children all around the world were begging to read a 759 page book. In this age of video games and television that seep into the mind and drain the soul, kids were wanting to stay up all night to read! I, for one, am so happy that an author has been able to capture the attention of children (and adults) with her story of life and love and friendship, the ups and downs, the good and the bad. Now, I can't wait until Elizabeth is old enough to read them, and I hope she loves them. I can't wait to see the world of Harry Potter through her eyes, and I hope she sees the good. Just as in life, I hope we see the good and the promise that evil cannot win.

Virginia Tech Tragedy

Like so many, I have been shaken by the events at Virginia Tech. I cannot fathom the depth of hate and despair that must possess someone to enact violence against so many people. I can only surmise that this young man was beyond troubled and filled with self-possessed rage. I also cannot imagine the deep, deep grief and pain that the families of those lost must be experiencing. College is a place of sanctuary, often an idyllic existence that shelters students from the harsher reality of the "real world." On Monday, that idealism was shattered in Blacksburg. For 33 families, their worlds have forever changed. For a university community, their sanctity has been challenged and breached. For the rest of us, we have seen yet again that the presence of evil and violence is real. Our only recourse is to say that evil will not win. Violence will not steal the hope that we have in Christ. God's will for us to be the Body of Christ becomes even more pertinent in the face of tragedy. Death cannot win. Evil cannot prevail. Violence may rob our spirits and leave our souls scathed, but it cannot destroy the fact that Christ's love overcomes this world. He still says to us: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." A troubled, violent young man may have taken lives, but he cannot take away the hope we have in Christ Jesus, who promises to give us peace and eternity. Evil will try. But it cannot win. Ever.

Please pray for the families of those who died, pray for our colleges and universities, pray for Virginia Tech and the administration there that will undoubtedly come under scrutiny, and pray for the Korean community, which is afraid of backlashes against them because of the nationality of the gunman. Pray that none will occur and that we will instead come together in support and with peaceful remembrances of those lost. Pray for Christ's peace and comfort and strength. Pray for God's good love to overwhelm us all.

Finally Back!

After a couple of weeks of not being able to post, I finally am able to add a new post. It's hard being sick. Elizabeth and I have both had bronchitis and colds, and Susan has joined our fun too! It was difficult for Elizabeth to miss Halloween, although the Fall Festival was Halloween for her. (I don't think she really missed it; Halloween was probably more for Susan and me! We just wanted to see her in her costume and going on another "trunk or treat" event!)

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of "Companions in Christ: the Way of Grace" at our church. We have two classes, one on Wednesday night, and one on Thursday morning. It's interesting to see the subtle differences in the conversations between the two classes. I gain new insights from both. I mostly enjoy the peaceful interaction among the class members. We have had some powerful moments and revelations in both classes. It's rare that we enter into conversations about our faith journeys with one another. Too often we go through the motions of going to church, probably because it's "what's expected" of us. But faith is an adventure -- as I mentioned in a recent sermon, a journey is a trip where you know the destination and an adventure is a trip where you don't know where you'll end up! Life in Christ is definitely an adventure. We may not know where we're going, where Christ is leading, but we know he's in control! Jesus knows us, fully knows us, with all our frailties and foibles plainly visible to him, and yet he loves us, seeks us, and yearns for us to trust in him. As I travel down life's road -- this adventure -- I hope I always learn to trust him more. More on the adventure soon! God bless you and let's all stay healthy!

Fall Festival

What a fun day we had! So many people gathered at our church tonight for Trunk or Treat, silent auction, food, cake walk, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, food (did I already say that?) One of the best things about church and community is fellowship. I am so thankful that the people of the Centenary community come together for fun and fellowship. We spend too much time in this world working and trying to achieve the status quo, but Jesus ate and laughed with his friends (and sinners), and we should be encouraging one another to stop and live life before it passes us by. Some wise person once told me (and was it John Lennon originally?) that "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I plan on thanking God for the life he gave me, for the family I am blessed to have, and for the opportunities to celebrate the joys we so often overlook. Call me crazy, or Pollyanna (I've been called both), but I believe God has hardwired us for joy. God is with us. That alone should bring us joy....and life worth living.

A New Venture...

I have moved into cyberspace...
I hope church members, family, and friends enjoy this blog! I hope to update it often and share my thoughts and inspirations... Feel free to respond too! God bless you!

Laugh, live, and celebrate God's love,
Oliver