Fall Retreat

Dear Lord,

I want to praise you for who you are! You are an amazing God that has plans so complex and perfect that I cannot and will not ever comprehend them. You are the God of the universe, you set the world into motion. You control the stars like a puppeteer. I long to glorify you with my life. It's the least that I can do. You grant me each day. I praise you that your mercies come new every morning. You are too good to me.

Lord, this is hard for me. It shouldn't be, but it is. Lord, I agree with you that I am wrong. I know that I have taken matters of life into my own hands. I have put my desires and wants over what you would have for me. I have sinned and done what is wrong in your eyes. Bring me back into right fellowship with you. Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

Yes there is joy in your salvation and I thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you for that. I am not mired in the pit of sin, but I am above sin, it has been washed away!

Father, I beg you for the students of the youth ministry. I pray that you would wear down their hearts right now. Leave them hungry all day at school. Give them an uneasy feeling in their hearts. I pray that your spirit would move so hard and fast that it would blow some of them away. I pray that you would bring these students into a real relationship with you. Reveal who you are to them. Reveal to them the worth and meaning that you bring to a life that is wholly devoted to you! Show these kids how awesome life can be!

I love You!

Chris

what is education?

What does education really mean? Is it a classroom with books and desks and kids and a teacher that pours out knowledge? Is it standards? Is it even learning? Is it regergitating facts in order to appease a man (or woman) in a nice suit, sitting in a comfortable leather chair, in a quiet office over looking a downtown street, sipping tea after their two hour lunch break with a possible campaign supporter? Is it neat? Is it dirty? Does it make sense?

What do you think?

Response to a question about Matthew 24:13

"but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved"

This section of Matthew is talking about the middle point of the seven-year period preceding Christ's second coming, great distress will be experienced. The Antichrist will rise to power. Many people will be deceived by false prophets. This verse does not refer to a personal self-effort at endurance that results in salvation. It instead talks about physical deliverance.

Basically, if the people who follow Christ during the Tribulation can stand firm in their faith by trusting in the Lord, they will be taken up to heaven in their physcial bodies. They would have already been "saved". They will simply be deleivered from the pain and sorrow of the Tribulation. Remember, there is nothing you can do to "earn" or "win" salvation. It is complete trust and faith in Christ Jesus!

let me know what you think!

Chris

Response to a question about Matthew 11:28-30

Think about times where you have let a sin really get to you. Think about the feelings of regret and frustration that you feel. You seem beat down and entrenched in this tangled web a burdens. I don't know if you have ever experienced this or not, but I have...multiple times.

Matthew 11:28-30 is in direct contrast to what they Jewish leaders are teaching at this time. They are teaching a doctrine of "earning salvation and forgiveness". Jesus is speaking directly to all of those who are weary (Greek meaning = those tired from toil) and heavy-laden (Greek meaning = those loaded down), he is inviting these unforgivable people in. He uses the agricultural analogy of a yoke. A yoke is used to bind oxen together. He is saying in verse 30 that two will be working to plow the field, Jesus and who ever chooses to slide into the vacant spot. Christ is not saying here that life will be easy, he is saying that the burden of sin will not effect you because I have given you ultimate peace. I have washed your sins away for good, so there is no point in toiling with them, it is now time to move forward with a purpose with me!

Let me know what you think!

Matthew 11:28-30

Think about times where you have let a sin really get to you. Think about the feelings of regret and frustration that you feel. You seem beat down and intrenched in this tangled web a burdens. I don't know if you have ever experienced this or not, but I have...multiple times.

Matthew 11:28-30 is in direct contrast to what they Jewish leaders are teaching at this time. They are teaching a doctrine of "earning salvation and forgiveness". Jesus is speaking directly to all of those who are weary (Greek meaning = those tired from toil) and heavy-laden (Greek meaning = those loaded down), he is inviting these unforgiveable people in. He uses the agricultural analogy of a yoke. A yoke is used to bind oxen together. He is saying in verse 30 that two will be working to plow the field, Jesus and who ever chooses to slide into the vacant spot. Christ is not saying here that life will be easy, he is saying that the burden of sin will not effect you because I have given you ultimate peace. I have washed your sins away for good, so there is no point in toiling with them, it is now time to move forward with a purpose with me!

et me know what you think!

Chris

3 miler

I got home today and King looked up at me, then looked up at his leash, then looked back up at me with a "question mark" look on his face. I took that as, "Dad, let's go run 3.1 miles." I took him up on it. Well, he ended up running me for 3.1 miles, I just held on for dear life! With my dead weight, King only ran it in 24:53. I'll be ready for next time!

As I sit here with King panting uncontrollably next to me, and my legs screaming profanity at me...I'm not sure who's more tired!

1 mile

This morning i started running at 4:56. I ran one mile as fast as I could...i completed it in 7:09. I didn't think that was that bad!