I was going to...

HEADLINE from January 30th, 2008

GONE - Millions and Millions of “Christians” Magically Disappear

Just seconds ago, I was sitting in my living room enjoying a glass of coke and some potato chips and now I’m flying, naked. What is going on? Where are my clothes and what is happening to me? Am I dreaming? Thoughts begin to wildly race through my head. Then it hits me – Jesus came back for His children. I am amidst the rapture of His church. How amazing! Then I begin to ponder all the things I never did. Not a bucket list – I want to see the Eiffel Tower or visit St. Petersburg, Florida and St. Petersburg, Russia in the same day – no I’m talking about Christian things, things for God, things that would make a difference in this world.

I was going to…
Stop with the pride, jealousy, anger and lust.
In fact, I was going to stop sinning completely.

I was going to…
Read my Bible every morning and every night and pray continuously.
Not in just the bad times, but even in the good times.

I was going to…
Meet new people, do different things and expand my horizons.

I was going to…
Feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless and clothe the needy.
I was going to be content with what I had.

I was going to…
Care for the sick, cry with the hurting and lend a hand to the elderly.

I was going to…
Smile with my family, laugh with my friends and dance with my enemies.

I was going to…
Work harder, play longer and sleep less.

I was going to…
Look for the lost no matter what the cost.

I was going to…
Tell everyone in the world about Jesus and His love.

I WAS GOING TO...BUT I NEVER DID...

TIME is UP - Do Something!

Unnecessary Touching

HUG – to clasp tightly in the arms with affection; to cling firmly or fondly to; to cherish

What is so special about a HUG?
Is it the gentle touch that stirs us up?
Is it the warmth that overflows from that moment?
Is it the feeling that someone actually cares to hold onto you?
Or is it just a nicer way to say goodbye?

I have always had, until recently, a quirk that I called “unnecessary touching” – rubbing my shoulders or tickling my stomach or poking my side. It always made me wonder, “Why is this person touching me and what gave them the right to do that?” After hearing about my touching fears, people started doing it just to annoy me, which it did. Time went by and I eventually just didn’t care anymore. However, I do have a new problem with the HUG.

I need to clear some things up before I get going on this HUGging ordeal. I actually enjoy HUGS but like I just said I’m not touchy-feely like other guys. I like to think that I make up for that area in ways of laughter and smiling and just having a good time. I’m not trying to downplay the HUG. It is a great weapon to have in your arsenal but it has to have its proper time and place.

Now I know that you girls absolutely love HUGs. I don’t know why but you do. I don’t understand a lot of things about you but I do know that much. Anyways, I’m not down with hugging every time I leave your presence. As much as I may have enjoyed it, every time we hang out does not warrant a HUG. I want my HUG from me to you to actually have some meaning – have some depth to it. I don’t want this being something that I just do out of routine – like waking up and brushing my teeth or making my bed in the morning. I want this HUG to actually have a purpose and feeling behind it. This is me saying that I care about you and you care about me. And in those times, when I don’t HUG you, please please please (did I say please yet?) please don’t overanalyze the situation and think that I don’t like you anymore or you said something wrong or I’m grumpy. I’m just not feeling the HUG at that particular moment. It’s not that I don’t want to but I just don’t want this to be something that becomes numb. Something that is done just because it has to be done.

In closing, HUGs are special times that have to be cherished. If by chance my arms open wide and you find yourself amidst a HUG - know that it is a genuine HUG, not something done just because but rather something done out of true care and friendship.

Luke 15:20 – “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him…”

The Worst Thing about Being Single

As I sit here and look back on my trip to New York City, I can’t help but laugh and smile. I think back to all the funny things that were said – P Diddy - and funny things that were done – nearly tripping like 3 times in a row - and all the memories that were made. When you spend time with people, you make memories. You create pictures that will forever be with you. No matter how hard I try, every time I think of Times Square or hear about the New Year, I’ll think of standing for 8 hours. Not a pleasant thought but still a great memory (and I would encourage anyone to do it – it’s not that bad). That brings me to my main idea about the worst thing about being single.

Imagine, if you will, your parents pulling out pictures from when they were 21. I’m sure you might have a little laugh at first and then your parents would go into how that was the style and those were the fashions at the time. They might try and to describe to you that they actually were cool back then with the big afro or the wild disco clothes. No matter how hard they try, you probably aren’t going to buy it. They look funny. How could that be cool?

This is when it becomes difficult. They try and describe to you something that you weren’t even a part of while you try and picture it way back then. How could you possibly understand? As good a picture as they can paint for you, you’ll never fully understand because you weren’t with them when it all happened. It’s different to actually live and be in the memories as opposed to hearing about it. There’s just something about being able to relive that experience in our head that brings it right back to life like it just happened yesterday. So…

The worst thing about being single is not having someone to be there with you during all the memories as you travel through life.

I know that’s part of getting to know someone – you ask questions and learn about them – you make new memories. On the contrary, how much more fun would it be to be able to sit back and laugh about the things that happened in high school or college? Those times spent on the beach during Spring Break or on the football fields in New Orleans. Those times you toilet-papered the principal’s house or went streaking through the quad. To the new girlfriend, they are only past recollections. They mean nothing because she wasn’t there. Sure she cares about them and loves to hear the stories but she doesn’t have any sort of tie to them.
How much easier is it to remember things that you were a part of rather than having to imagine being involved in it?

You may be sitting there completely in disagreement with me and that’s fine. I just sit here and look back at my life. Sure things have changed since high school and college and I have had a chance to make changes. However, look at all the stuff that my future mate has missed. I’ll actually have to talk to them – gosh! Just kidding.

In the grand scheme of things, the past really doesn’t matter. It's in the past for a reason. You'll meet someone and make new memories together. You’ll be able to sit on your porch in your rocking chairs while sipping on some wine and look back at a picture from January 7th, 2008 and say, “Gosh, I look awful in that picture!”

Make memories and make as many as you can!

The Fork of Life

You’re traveling down the road of life and you come to an intersection. You’re only options are to go left or go right. Continuing straight is no longer an option – it’s barricaded. The detour signs are up and now you have a decision to make. Which way will you choose? Will you go left or go right? When life throws a curveball at you, how will you handle the situation?

When facing trials, I like to find the source of my detour.
Who put this bump in my road?

God often puts bumps along our journey to test our faith. The book of James opens with talks about trials.

James 1:2-4

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith

develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

God puts obstacles along our path to test us. When facing a problem, which way will you choose? He wants to know if you are with Him or not, because the testing of your faith develops perseverance. The choice that you make will either make you stronger or break you in half. Will you focus your eyes on Him and trust in His plan or try and do things on your own?

When I look at hardships in my life, I see them as a positive thing. God is trying to mold me into the person that He wants me to become. He really is testing me to see if I have what it takes to become great and make a difference for Him. If I choose the other path and fail the test, He can always go elsewhere and find someone who can.

The Devil also throws roadblocks in our way as we travel down the path of life.

James 1:13

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.”

Temptations, therefore, come from the Devil. Matthew 4 has the account of the Devil trying to tempt Jesus with sin. Imagine fasting, not eating, for 40 days. I don’t know about you but I would be really hungry. The Devil saw this as an opportunity to tempt Jesus with food. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread (4:3).” Jesus, however, resisted his temptations. He actually tells the Devil to leave.

Jesus had a decision to make amidst the temptation. Should he eat some food and fall into the temptation or trust in God’s plan and provision? Make or break situation. Obviously, Jesus did not succumb to the temptation because we know that He lived a perfect, sinless life. But how do you handle the Devil’s temptations? Do you ponder them? Do you dive in head first? Or do you flee and run the other direction?

Ps. 25:15

“My eyes are ever on the Lord,
For only He will release my feet from the snare.”

Lastly, how many times do we bring trouble and strife into our own lives? Out of my laziness, I put off fixing my headlight and chose to drive around with only one and risk the ticket. Thank God that didn’t happen.

In looking at our own lives, how many problems do we bring on ourselves? Skipping our time in the Bible or in prayer – the friends that we choose to have – the places that we choose to go – don’t you think these things could become a hindrance?

By sticking yourself in these bad spots, you make it very simple for the Devil. I can see him looking at us and thinking, “This is too easy. I don’t even have to do anything. They do it to themselves.” We have a hard enough time fighting through temptations, so why bring troubles on ourselves?

When problems come, realize the source. Is this sent from God, the Devil or did I do this to myself? And when you find yourself amidst the trial, focus your eyes on God and let Him guide and direct you. He wants to make you, not break you.

FOCUS ON YOUR TEMPTATION – YOU STUMBLE
FOCUS ON GOD – YOUR TEMPTATIONS TUMBLE

Was Joseph ever called Jesus' baby daddy?

In this season of Christmas, I like to watch Christmas movies. Without snow and sometimes rather warm weather, the only thing that gets me in the mood is shopping and movies. I have compiled a list of movies that I would like to see before Christmas arrives. If you have any good ones, please share them with me.

-Elf
-It's A Wonderful Life
-Santa Clause
-Home Alone 1 & 2
-Family Man
-The Grinch
-Fred Claus
-Christmas with the Kranks
-Charlie Brown Christmas
-Jingle All The Way
-The Nativity Story
-ABC Family Christmas movie

No Re2grets

The intramural football season at UCF was coming to a quick end. All season long, The Franchise, had fought hard; not only in the games but against both the refs and administrators. We were a hated team. Nobody liked us. We had something to prove. We wanted to win.

The playoffs had begun and we easily had advanced through the first couple rounds. Our semifinal showdown was set for Pi Kappa Alpha, aka Pike. All the practices, hard work and game plans would be put to the test. We had our work cut out for us. However, we did feel confident. The motivation of playing a frat team was fuel enough. They were what we wanted. A frat team has a swagger like they are the best thing that has ever happened to this planet. Not only did we want to prove something to the UCF staff, we wanted to show those frat boys what we could do.

All these events were taking place during the month of November but to get a clearer understanding, we need to venture back to the summer of that year. My mom likes to make vacation plans early like most people do. She asked if I would like to visit my cousin in NYC and without hesitation, I said yes. Who would pass on a trip to the Big Apple in November? As great as Florida is, it’s nice to see the fall colors, feel the cold wind rip through your clothes and be in a big city full of mass chaos and excitement. Little did I know when I signed up that this vacation would start the same day as our football game.

Herein likes the conflict. What should I do? My team needed me. It wasn’t like I was the back-up punter and had a little role on the team. I was the QB - The one that touched the ball every play - The one that the offense ran through. I made the decisions - Who got the ball and how it would get there. They needed me there. They needed their leader.

I loved sports and I loved both playing and winning with The Franchise. It brought so much happiness and joy. I’d like to say that I really weighed my options and thought about it but I’d be lying if I said that. I was going to NYC and I was hoping my team would pull of a victory in my absence.

My flight left on a Thursday afternoon in Tampa and the big game was later that day in Orlando. I remember flying into La Guardia, dropping off our stuff and heading down to eat at the ESPN Zone. My buddy called me later while I was in the middle of Times Square to share the news with me. We had lost and it was ugly. I felt bad. My team needed me. As much as I can sit here and sulk in the lost and the people that I let down that day, I have no regrets about it. As I’ve told them once and Ill say it again – I would do it again if I had too.

Certain things in life you have to do – no matter what the cost. It’s a now or never thing. You get one shot. One chance to experience it. Who knows when God will shut the door and leave you questioning - I wonder what would have happened if…

**we had many more semifinal appearances and many more shots at frat teams of which we never lost another game**

Ba1ck In The Day

Ah, childhood memories. The good old days as we often call them. How we wish we could just go back to being a kid again.

Freedom - No worries – Just live and have fun

Memories from my childhood:
Hitting a baseball over my house and onto the street when I was 2 - Scoring the winning touchdown in a make believe game of football with my grandpas - Summer vacations to Indiana - Playing hide and seek with my grandparents at the park - Playing playground kickball with Mr. Mills - Traveling all over Florida to play soccer - Ski trips to Tennessee and Colorado

All my memories involve either sports or my family. Sometimes both. Everything else is fuzzy. I really can’t remember things outside of these areas from days in middle or high school. I don’t know if I erased them from my memory or they are just tucked way back and I can’t seem to find them. Does anyone else have this problem?

Why is it that good memories from our past are so alive and vivid in our head that we could retrace each and every step from that particular moment? I could replay a soccer game in Orange Park when I was ten like it happened this morning. Or relive sitting in a hot tub while it was snowing with my family in Tennessee. Good stuff is so easy to remember.

The dark things in our past however– the things we wish we never were a part of – where do they go? Does God take them from us so we don’t have to live in that hurt and pain anymore? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that I had this terrible childhood or awful school experience. There were some things that I’m glad that I can’t remember any longer. I just want to know why. Where did all those things go?

As Psalm 103:12 says,
“As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
He removes all of our sins the moment that we accept His free gift of eternal life. Does this count for all the bad memories? Does God wipe those all away too?

It almost seems like God is putting us one step closer to the glory and magnificence that we will see one day when we step foot into Heaven. Heaven, like our childhood, is a place of freedom - no worries - just live and have fun. I couldn’t think of anything more fun than hanging with God. I’ll still be able to score touchdowns, play hide and seek and go skiing. Now He is the one throwing the touchdowns, hiding from me and sitting with me on the ski lift. How cool.

Back from that bunny trail and to the question – where does all the pain go? I actually want to believe that God takes it all away. He took it all on the cross. All my sin. All my past. Why wouldn't He take all my hurt and pain? Why do you think He suffered so much?