I know it is very hard sometimes to slow down and allow the spirit of Christmas to enter into our busy lives. It's sad, but true. Yesterday I watched a youth soccer game where one team demoralized the same team two weeks in a row, at work today I had an upset client that could not get $1,500 out of the ATM over the weekend, next I received an email from a usher at church that was "shocked" to see their name listed to serve on Sunday (even though the 2011 schedule was emailed to all in February and ushers serve one month at a time), tonight I saw a lady at dinner, celebrating her 74th birthday share she is trying to catch up on all of the beer she did not drink the first 30 years of her life in front of her two teenage grandsons and then I saw a very grumpy man run a lady off of her table while she waited for the server to bring her the bill.
All of these are minor examples of individuals who should have so much to be grateful for. Grateful to be a good soccer team and recognize when they have superior talent, grateful to have $1,500 in their checking account, grateful to be able to serve at church, grateful to have lived a full life and grateful to be able to have dinner with their family. But yet, gratitude seems to be the last thing on their minds this Christmas.
I'm grateful my daughter enjoys soccer, that we have money in our account, that I get to serve others, that I recently celebrated a birthday sober and that I do not sweat the small things in life anymore.
These are all things I get to be apart of and get to share with my family and friends. So my hope is I will see Christmas tomorrow and be able to enjoy the spirit of Christmas for the rest of my life.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Keep it in the fairway!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
For God so loved the world
Nothing I'm about to post is original material. Most comes from a sermon I heard last Sunday that nearly moved me to tears of joy. The sermon was on the first part of John 3:16 "For God so loved the world" (stop). When Tim Tebow posted John 3:16 under his eyes in the NCAA Championship a few years ago 92 million people "googled" it. There is approx. 330 million people in America. There is approx. 6 billion people on Earth. These numbers are even hard for me to wrap around my little mind.
So How big is the world? The world that God created in 7 days. The pastor contiuned...he held a golf ball in is hand (that got my attention) and shared that the sun, a star, is 1 million times the size of Earth. He kept going to the largest star ever see by telescope in the universe, named VY Canis Majoris. I guess this means one BIG ASS STAR. To give us an idea of its circumpherence, the pastor said a plane travelling 900 miles per hour can fly around the earth in 1 day. In order for this same plane to fly around VY Canis Majoris it would take 1,100 years. WOW.
I have been practicing meditation for a few weeks. It was suggested to me to begin by setting a timer for 7 minutes and just talk to God. Well that lasted for about a week and now I'm up to 15 minutes. This time with God is helping my peace and serenity. Since I heard this message on Sunday I have had a different perspective on how big God is and how big this world really is and just think there may be other universes out there that human technology will never find.
To think for God so loved the world and little old me. What a deal.
May we all try to improve our personal relationship with God and the next time you talk to God try to visual the God that created and loves the world!!!
Keep it in the fairway
So How big is the world? The world that God created in 7 days. The pastor contiuned...he held a golf ball in is hand (that got my attention) and shared that the sun, a star, is 1 million times the size of Earth. He kept going to the largest star ever see by telescope in the universe, named VY Canis Majoris. I guess this means one BIG ASS STAR. To give us an idea of its circumpherence, the pastor said a plane travelling 900 miles per hour can fly around the earth in 1 day. In order for this same plane to fly around VY Canis Majoris it would take 1,100 years. WOW.
I have been practicing meditation for a few weeks. It was suggested to me to begin by setting a timer for 7 minutes and just talk to God. Well that lasted for about a week and now I'm up to 15 minutes. This time with God is helping my peace and serenity. Since I heard this message on Sunday I have had a different perspective on how big God is and how big this world really is and just think there may be other universes out there that human technology will never find.
To think for God so loved the world and little old me. What a deal.
May we all try to improve our personal relationship with God and the next time you talk to God try to visual the God that created and loves the world!!!
Keep it in the fairway
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Rainy Days
There was a time in my life, let's just say most of my life that I cursed mother nature when I woke up to rainy days. Especially on a Saturdays when I had important things planned like golf, yard work or a football game. Pretty selfish huh? Well today was one of those rainy Saturdays. Soccer got cancelled but that did not mean we did not have plenty to do. There was a Easter egg hunt at church, a UK blue white game, Keeley had a birthday party and then errands to run. Never a dull moment.
But before we got going this morning I did get a chance to do some extra reading and with Easter being tomorrow I have really beefed up my Bible reading the last few weeks. It's pretty cool. For the first time in my life the words in the Bible are coming to life. This week my Bible AP was updated and now has a feature with audio, real cool. Using this feature, here is one of the scriptures I read and had read to me this week.
Romans 8:5-6. "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace".
There sure is a lot of good stuff in that Bible. I can't wait for our next rainy day!!!
Keep it in the fairway.
Chris
But before we got going this morning I did get a chance to do some extra reading and with Easter being tomorrow I have really beefed up my Bible reading the last few weeks. It's pretty cool. For the first time in my life the words in the Bible are coming to life. This week my Bible AP was updated and now has a feature with audio, real cool. Using this feature, here is one of the scriptures I read and had read to me this week.
Romans 8:5-6. "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace".
There sure is a lot of good stuff in that Bible. I can't wait for our next rainy day!!!
Keep it in the fairway.
Chris
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
March Madness
It's that time of year again. It seems all of North America is coming out of the winter thaw and looking for a good excuse to get out of work early and this excuse comes in the form of March Madness. Millions of dollars will be wasted on worker productivity and millions of dollars will be spent on wagering on these games. I get it and will even participate in it, but what I do think is sad is that for many people they will spend more time studying the NCAA brackets over the next few weeks than they will trying to improve their relationship with God for the next 9 months of 2011 or for that matter the next several years.
Can you imagine how different this world would look if all 300 + Million of the people living in the United States would place as much emphasis on improving their relationship with God as they do analyzing their NCAA brackets. I'm not going to sit on my soap box and preach, but I will present this challenge, how about we all try and put March Madness into proper perspective and spend a little more time talking to God during March Madness than we will spend chatting it up about how well we are doing in our pools.
Keep it in the Fairway!
Can you imagine how different this world would look if all 300 + Million of the people living in the United States would place as much emphasis on improving their relationship with God as they do analyzing their NCAA brackets. I'm not going to sit on my soap box and preach, but I will present this challenge, how about we all try and put March Madness into proper perspective and spend a little more time talking to God during March Madness than we will spend chatting it up about how well we are doing in our pools.
Keep it in the Fairway!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
NO PAIN NO GAIN
I had a basketball coach in high school that used to say this to me a lot. Of course I can reflect back now and in looking back that coach was right. Anything in life that I have ever tried to accomplish came after experiencing some pain. I had a friend say to me today that we live looking ahead but we learn looking back. Today, when I reflect back on my life I can say with full confidence that I have been transformed into a new person. I'm trying everyday to grow in this new life. I'm trying to think of spiritual things more often and trying to consciously grow my personal relationship with God.
But yes you guessed it. It seems to me the more emphasis I place on my spirituality and becoming a better Christian the more growing pains I feel like I'm experiencing. I was recently reading Job. Job really did experience some rough times and he often questioned God. In chapter 3:16, Job said "I wish I had been born dead and then buried, never to see the light of day". In verse 20 he says "why does God let me live when life is miserable and so bitter"?
I have in grey seasons of my life had some of the same thoughts as Job. But today I try to consider myself lucky and even Job says in chapter 5:17-18 "Consider yourself fortunate if God All-Powerful chooses to correct you. He may cause injury and pain, but he will bandage and heal your cuts and bruises".
I pray today that I may see signs of my growth in my new life. I pray that I may always keep trying to grow. I realize there are still going to be grey seasons in life, but the good news is today that those grey skies do not get as grey as they used to and they do not stick around as long as they used to.
I have an attitude of gratitude and know that God is not going to put more on me than I can handle.
Keep it in the fairway!!!
But yes you guessed it. It seems to me the more emphasis I place on my spirituality and becoming a better Christian the more growing pains I feel like I'm experiencing. I was recently reading Job. Job really did experience some rough times and he often questioned God. In chapter 3:16, Job said "I wish I had been born dead and then buried, never to see the light of day". In verse 20 he says "why does God let me live when life is miserable and so bitter"?
I have in grey seasons of my life had some of the same thoughts as Job. But today I try to consider myself lucky and even Job says in chapter 5:17-18 "Consider yourself fortunate if God All-Powerful chooses to correct you. He may cause injury and pain, but he will bandage and heal your cuts and bruises".
I pray today that I may see signs of my growth in my new life. I pray that I may always keep trying to grow. I realize there are still going to be grey seasons in life, but the good news is today that those grey skies do not get as grey as they used to and they do not stick around as long as they used to.
I have an attitude of gratitude and know that God is not going to put more on me than I can handle.
Keep it in the fairway!!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Golf mirrors Life
I never thought I would hear myself saying this, but one of the most exciting things that happended to me this week was a friend introduced me to a new "Bible App" for my Iphone. My old one stunk. I was so excited that I helped Candice put it on her Ipad and Keeley on here Itouch. I especially enjoyed having my new App this morning at church. This App allows for bookmarks and community comments on just about any scripture. It is so cool to receive another person translation, perspective, etc. on the word of God right there at your figure tips.
Golf and Life. When you hit the golf ball all over the place like I do, several times per round I'm left with choices. Punch out? Lay up? Go for it? Pitch it? Putt it? Everyday in life we all are given the freedom of choice. Sounds great, but free will can cause some folks lots of issues. In some cases, our free will choices are the difference in life and death.
Our minister talked about this today and I liked how he used Deuteronomy,Chapter 30. Verse 11 - "You know God's laws, and it isn't impossible to obey them". Verse 15"Today I am giving you a choice. You can choose life and success or death and disaster".
Man I wish Life was that easy. I wish I would have made better choices 25 years ago. In golf you make a bad decision and go for it and maybe you end up with a double bogey. You go for it in life and put the wrong substances in your body or allow jealously, anger and greed to make decisions for you and the next thing you know (maybe 10, 15 or 25 years later) your sitting in jail or rehab and banging your head against the wall saying how the hell did I get here.
I know my bottom was not as low as you can go and maybe my bottom was not as low as yours, but let me tell you, you have a choice today and that is to choose life and success or death and disaster. I have experienced enough of the later and today I choose life.
Keep it in the fairway,
Chris
Golf and Life. When you hit the golf ball all over the place like I do, several times per round I'm left with choices. Punch out? Lay up? Go for it? Pitch it? Putt it? Everyday in life we all are given the freedom of choice. Sounds great, but free will can cause some folks lots of issues. In some cases, our free will choices are the difference in life and death.
Our minister talked about this today and I liked how he used Deuteronomy,Chapter 30. Verse 11 - "You know God's laws, and it isn't impossible to obey them". Verse 15"Today I am giving you a choice. You can choose life and success or death and disaster".
Man I wish Life was that easy. I wish I would have made better choices 25 years ago. In golf you make a bad decision and go for it and maybe you end up with a double bogey. You go for it in life and put the wrong substances in your body or allow jealously, anger and greed to make decisions for you and the next thing you know (maybe 10, 15 or 25 years later) your sitting in jail or rehab and banging your head against the wall saying how the hell did I get here.
I know my bottom was not as low as you can go and maybe my bottom was not as low as yours, but let me tell you, you have a choice today and that is to choose life and success or death and disaster. I have experienced enough of the later and today I choose life.
Keep it in the fairway,
Chris
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Walking with God
It seems like it has been a while since I made a post to this blog. But that does not mean my spiritual life has been short on activity. I believe I have mentioned that I have been meeting with a small group of men for the past several weeks. We are studying a book by John Eldredge "Waking with God". This is the second book I have studied written by John Eldredge. I must say I admire and have a little jealousy of the intimate relationship he has with God. It is almost as if he has this selfish relationship that God is only here in this universe for him. I actually used that analogy yesterday in our small group when one of my friends said he has a hard time bringing "little things" to God. He said he is almost ashamed to bring up some of the minor issues he has in his life compared to some of the real suffering that people are experiencing in his community, our country and the rest of the world. I shared that I really do think we must all treat our relationship with God in a very possessive, selfish manner as if he is here walking right along side us and he is here to guide us through this day.
I know we are taught to serve God serve others and then ourselves. But I truly do believe in my heart that God wants us to have an intimate relationship with him to the point where we have daily conversations with him just like we do our spouses, our co-workers and our friends. I have not always felt this way but do believe this today.
I'm going to wrap this up with the homework that Eldredge gave us this week and suggest you also give these questions some thought:
1). Why is it hard hard for you to hear from God?
2). What would you love to ask God?
3). What would you love to hear from God about?
Here is a little insight to my answers:
1). I can not differentiate between "my will" and His will. I second guess lots of impulses because I'm not sure whose will I'm listening too.
2). What really happens to us when we die?
3). Is He proud of me and has He really forgiven me?
Well that is a little update of where I'm at today. I continue to look forward to seeing what God has in store for me in the future.
Keep it in the fairway.
Chris
I know we are taught to serve God serve others and then ourselves. But I truly do believe in my heart that God wants us to have an intimate relationship with him to the point where we have daily conversations with him just like we do our spouses, our co-workers and our friends. I have not always felt this way but do believe this today.
I'm going to wrap this up with the homework that Eldredge gave us this week and suggest you also give these questions some thought:
1). Why is it hard hard for you to hear from God?
2). What would you love to ask God?
3). What would you love to hear from God about?
Here is a little insight to my answers:
1). I can not differentiate between "my will" and His will. I second guess lots of impulses because I'm not sure whose will I'm listening too.
2). What really happens to us when we die?
3). Is He proud of me and has He really forgiven me?
Well that is a little update of where I'm at today. I continue to look forward to seeing what God has in store for me in the future.
Keep it in the fairway.
Chris
Friday, January 21, 2011
Golf pocket guide by Golf Genie
It's Friday morning around 9:30 AM (snow day). Candice had a trip to Columbia, SC (left around 7:30 AM). My lite work schedule for today afforded me the chance to stay home with Keeley. I only had to move one appointment and in anticipation of this new 4 to 5 inches of snow we received yesterday, I went ahead and called him to request we change our appointment date.
I have now had a brownie and two cups of coffee and decided I would take advantage of a little quiet time (while Keeley is still asleep) and yield some time to God by reading, meditating, talking and maybe even create a new post on the blog.
After reading a couple of pieces of literature, I decided I was ready to turn on the computer and there sitting on the coffee table was "Tee to Green Pocket Guide" by Golf Genie. Inside the cover it says "Master your game...as you play". This was a stocking stuffer I received at Christmas and I was like okay that's it - that's my blog for today.
This Tee to Green Pocket Guide is designed for on-course play and off-course preparation. It gives you expert instructions on just about every aspect of the game of golf and helps to give you quick fixes to your swing problems. In summary, if you use this guide you will become a better golfer. Sound familiar?
As is in GOLF so is in LIFE. You can not build a new life in a day and you sure can not become a bogey golfer in a day. We all need pocket guides for life like the Bible, a church, daily talks with God and small group studies. There is no perfect way to do this. My suggestion is to take life and golf slowly, a little at a time. Building a new life and a golf game are slow processes, but if done properly with a strong foundation of techniques and principals then we can enjoy life without fear and a golf game that will be with us for the rest of our life.
Give this some thought. There are so many examples of ways that golf and life mirror one another. I never really saw this until about a year ago. I may refer to the Tee to Green Pocket Guide in the future. I love drawing parallels between golf and life.
Keep it in the fairway.
Chris
I have now had a brownie and two cups of coffee and decided I would take advantage of a little quiet time (while Keeley is still asleep) and yield some time to God by reading, meditating, talking and maybe even create a new post on the blog.
After reading a couple of pieces of literature, I decided I was ready to turn on the computer and there sitting on the coffee table was "Tee to Green Pocket Guide" by Golf Genie. Inside the cover it says "Master your game...as you play". This was a stocking stuffer I received at Christmas and I was like okay that's it - that's my blog for today.
This Tee to Green Pocket Guide is designed for on-course play and off-course preparation. It gives you expert instructions on just about every aspect of the game of golf and helps to give you quick fixes to your swing problems. In summary, if you use this guide you will become a better golfer. Sound familiar?
As is in GOLF so is in LIFE. You can not build a new life in a day and you sure can not become a bogey golfer in a day. We all need pocket guides for life like the Bible, a church, daily talks with God and small group studies. There is no perfect way to do this. My suggestion is to take life and golf slowly, a little at a time. Building a new life and a golf game are slow processes, but if done properly with a strong foundation of techniques and principals then we can enjoy life without fear and a golf game that will be with us for the rest of our life.
Give this some thought. There are so many examples of ways that golf and life mirror one another. I never really saw this until about a year ago. I may refer to the Tee to Green Pocket Guide in the future. I love drawing parallels between golf and life.
Keep it in the fairway.
Chris
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Walking with God
Rarely do we slow down and walk (at a slow pace) anywhere in any aspect of our life today. This morning has begun at unintentional slow pace. Apparently last night I set alarm #1 instead of the weekend alarm #2. So at 6:00 AM this morning I laid in bed a few minutes and thought about my situation. I could go back to sleep. Then I laid in silence for a few minutes and this urge came over me to get up and take advantage of an hour or so of quiet time. Because once we leave the house this morning around 9:30 the rest of this day is packed with activities.
So, I did and of course it has proven to be a great hour or so. A beautiful blanket of snow has joined us over night (maybe 3 inches). I also read some great literature and in reflecting on this week this theme of "walking with God" has been in the fore front of my mind.
Primarily because a couple of friends and I began the study of "Walking with God" by John Elderege this week. In the first session John beautifully describes that our goal in life must be intimacy with God. In John I, chapter 1:7 John says "But if we walk in the light, as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another".
I have probably read this verse a 100 times and it was not until this week that it hit me square between the eyes, John is talking about a walk with God. Like a friend. That is so cool!!! I don't think I have ever looked at this relationship between God and I and thought we can actually be friends. I seem to have always had a distorted view of this relationship like God is the shepherd or this punishing God that makes you go through all of this pain and then after you have been beat down- he says comes to me and if you will pick up your pants and ask for forgiveness I will make things better. I know this is not a very theological theory. But, in many ways I think we all could lessen the emphasis on theology and bring the scriptures to life in 2011. Make them relative to today.
This week I was sharing with another friend that for the first time in my life I feel like God is walking next to me instead of a 100 yards or a mile behind me. Of course I had to be the one to ask him to join me, but the key is he was always there I just might not have realized it.
I'm beginning to see and feel his presence in my life everywhere. Examples of this are as small as a text from my wife saying "Hi, I love you", hearing a bell ring and thinking of Clarence in It' a Wonderful life, when the voicemails and emails are piling up and I'm just about to lose my serenity (by 9:00 AM at work) and in walks a friend who was in the neighborhood and wanted to say Hi.
I know I know ..... coincidental. Well I now believe everything happens for a reason. Do I think God approves of everything, NO, but there are events preceding up to or events to follow that I do believe God has a hand in. This discussion can be saved for another blog.
I'll end with this....God, thank you for waking me up early this morning. I have enjoyed the beautiful scenery outside, some warm cups of coffee, great readings and an opportunity to improve our walk, not run, together. Help me to be constantly reminded we are friends.
Keep it in the fairway!!!
Chris
So, I did and of course it has proven to be a great hour or so. A beautiful blanket of snow has joined us over night (maybe 3 inches). I also read some great literature and in reflecting on this week this theme of "walking with God" has been in the fore front of my mind.
Primarily because a couple of friends and I began the study of "Walking with God" by John Elderege this week. In the first session John beautifully describes that our goal in life must be intimacy with God. In John I, chapter 1:7 John says "But if we walk in the light, as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another".
I have probably read this verse a 100 times and it was not until this week that it hit me square between the eyes, John is talking about a walk with God. Like a friend. That is so cool!!! I don't think I have ever looked at this relationship between God and I and thought we can actually be friends. I seem to have always had a distorted view of this relationship like God is the shepherd or this punishing God that makes you go through all of this pain and then after you have been beat down- he says comes to me and if you will pick up your pants and ask for forgiveness I will make things better. I know this is not a very theological theory. But, in many ways I think we all could lessen the emphasis on theology and bring the scriptures to life in 2011. Make them relative to today.
This week I was sharing with another friend that for the first time in my life I feel like God is walking next to me instead of a 100 yards or a mile behind me. Of course I had to be the one to ask him to join me, but the key is he was always there I just might not have realized it.
I'm beginning to see and feel his presence in my life everywhere. Examples of this are as small as a text from my wife saying "Hi, I love you", hearing a bell ring and thinking of Clarence in It' a Wonderful life, when the voicemails and emails are piling up and I'm just about to lose my serenity (by 9:00 AM at work) and in walks a friend who was in the neighborhood and wanted to say Hi.
I know I know ..... coincidental. Well I now believe everything happens for a reason. Do I think God approves of everything, NO, but there are events preceding up to or events to follow that I do believe God has a hand in. This discussion can be saved for another blog.
I'll end with this....God, thank you for waking me up early this morning. I have enjoyed the beautiful scenery outside, some warm cups of coffee, great readings and an opportunity to improve our walk, not run, together. Help me to be constantly reminded we are friends.
Keep it in the fairway!!!
Chris
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Happy New Year (2011)
One of my new years resolutions is I want to improve my communication with God. I feel like I did a good job of opening up the lines of communication with God in 2010, but now I want, even more than ever, to develop intimacy with God. I want to live as though he is sitting on my shoulder at all times.
One way I'm going to do this is, starting Wednesday, begin a book study with a couple of friends. We are going to study "Walking with God" by John Eldredge. I participated in a men's small group last winter and this proved to be very beneficial for me. It was something I looked forward to each of the 12 weeks we gathered together. I'm excited for what God has in store for me in 2011.
It's a new year so let's get started with my first post of 2011.
I read this week in Hebrews chapter 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". Our faith in God may appear, on the surface, to be a blind faith. But, I'm convinced blind faith in God is a better way of living for everyone.
Before getting sober I had a soul-sickness. I may have been doing all the right things on the surface of life, but deep down in my soul I was sick and crying out for help. I just did not know how to ask for help. Hopefully all of this darkness is in the past and in the new year I'm going to make each day a preparation for better things to come. I'm not going to dwell on the past or the future. I'm only going to concentrate on the present and doing the next right thing.
I'm excited about the new year and what God has in store for me. I pray that God will guide me one day at a time. I pray God will supply me with the wisdom and strength I need to learn how to improve my daily walk with Him.
I not only want to keep it in the fairway, but I want to soar with the eagles!!!
Let's all aim higher in 2011.
Keep it in the fairway,
Chris
One way I'm going to do this is, starting Wednesday, begin a book study with a couple of friends. We are going to study "Walking with God" by John Eldredge. I participated in a men's small group last winter and this proved to be very beneficial for me. It was something I looked forward to each of the 12 weeks we gathered together. I'm excited for what God has in store for me in 2011.
It's a new year so let's get started with my first post of 2011.
I read this week in Hebrews chapter 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". Our faith in God may appear, on the surface, to be a blind faith. But, I'm convinced blind faith in God is a better way of living for everyone.
Before getting sober I had a soul-sickness. I may have been doing all the right things on the surface of life, but deep down in my soul I was sick and crying out for help. I just did not know how to ask for help. Hopefully all of this darkness is in the past and in the new year I'm going to make each day a preparation for better things to come. I'm not going to dwell on the past or the future. I'm only going to concentrate on the present and doing the next right thing.
I'm excited about the new year and what God has in store for me. I pray that God will guide me one day at a time. I pray God will supply me with the wisdom and strength I need to learn how to improve my daily walk with Him.
I not only want to keep it in the fairway, but I want to soar with the eagles!!!
Let's all aim higher in 2011.
Keep it in the fairway,
Chris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)