Family weekend!!

I had an amazing weekend with my family!!
Friday, I got home from work and we all packed a picnic and our tennis raquets!! We went to the Euharlee covered bridge and threw out our blacket by the river. We ate our dinner and talked and laughed!! It was wonderful. Romantic too (even with the kids there). You know those shared looks that I am talking about!! Anyway.... we walked over the bridge and had fun scaring Bailey!! (She didn't like the space between the boards!! LOL) We then went over to Osborne Park and hit the tennis ball for an hour or so, before going back home drench in sweat!!
Saturday I had an early softball game in Aragon. It was a fun benefit tourney for the volunteer fire department of Aragon. A huge family day with bbq plates, craft booths, bouncy things for the kids, pony rides, softball tourney, and around 10pm a fire works show that was VERY impressive (as big, but not quite as long as the ones in Cartersville on the 4th!!) We came in 3rd in the tourney and arrived home at 4AM!!! Ouch. Which leads straight into Sunday morning....
After 3 hours of sleep, I had to be at church early because it was my day to sing. It hurt getting up, and I was not at the best I could be vocally, but wow did it turn out to be a very special worship service!! I prayed alot for God to help me get to an attitude of worship and not to be tired. God did just that!! I wasn't tired, and the music and preaching were on point!! It was a wonderful time!! When I got home I HIT THE WALL!! LOL.
I took a Sunday afternoon nap. A good one!!
Sunday evening, I cooked dinner. Pasta primavera with squash, zuccini, carrots, and garlic with fresh grated parmasean. Baked chicken and broccoli.
Then we sent the children off to bed and watched Gran Torino. Very good movie (I hated the ending.)
A good time had by all!!
Great weekend!!
C

Bragging......

Alright. I am VERY capable of bragging!! I've done it plenty in my life!! Too much.

Today, however, I want to brag on God.
And in the process "tell" on me. I screwed up this morning!!
I heard him talk!! I've been asking him to speak to me. To speak to others through me (even though I am unworthy)!!
This morning he answered my prayer!!
He spoke to me as clearly as possible!!
He told me to email a friend to tell that friend I was going to pray for him.
Wow. Just that plain. Cool right?
Right up until the point where in my mind I thought, "that can't be right!!" I blew it off. Boy did I mess that up!! You know how I know?
Because 30 minutes later!! (yep 30!!!!!!) this friend email ME. (He has never emailed me before!! (Just to show you that it wasn't a normal occurance!!))
Anyway, what do you suppose his email asked?
Yep, you got it!!
I blew it!!
I apoligized, confessed, and asked God to forgive me!!
Then immediately thanked him for the opportunity!! (Even though I blew it)
I pray that He sees fit to "try" me again!!

C

Searching....

Isn't searching fun?

Think about it.

When you were young, odds are, that at some point you made or "found" a treasure map and went searching for it.

Hide and go seek is all about searching.

Life is like that too. Everyone is searching for something. Some are searching for a spouse, or the right career, etc....

Most, if not all, at some point will search for the meaning of life. Even an aetheist at some point wonders what the purpose of man's existance.

For the christian, the purpose is to praise God and search or seek a closer relationship with God. You can't do that just by going to church every Sunday. You can't do that just by listening to your pastor or bible study teacher. You really have to formulate opinions on you own. You have to read the Bible regularly and ask God for discernment.

I have a NEW belief. Very new!!

I believe that MOST Christians, believe what they believe, not after careful reading of the scripture, but because a pastor, or bible study teacher told them.

Just because the Southern Baptist Convention or the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship or the Catholic Church, has a particular doctorine, doesn't mean that you should believe that doctorine without discerning what God says about it.

Here is my point; If you lock a brand new Christian in a room for a month with the bible, he will NEVER come out of that room thinking the gifts of the spirit have passed away from man. NEVER. It just isn't in there. Our lack of belief in the gifts of the spirit come from our lack of experiencing said gifts and from abuse of those gifts by persons who have in history wanted to glorify themselves more than glorifying God.

Still searching....
C

Just a question or two for you to ponder.

Do you believe in the inerrancy of the Bible?

Are you pro choice?

What is your greatest sin? Toughest one you deal with? Excessive drinking, gossip, pornography....?

Of those three questions. Which one did you answer with the most emotion? Which one produced the greatest desire to discuss or debate? If the answer is not the 3rd one isn't something wrong? If I am more passionate or emotional over a doctorine or a policy than I am over my faults and sins, is that not the height of arrogance? Is that not the type of hypocrisy that Jesus dealt with in the Pharaisees?? Do I even want to be different?
Do you want to be well? John 5:6 - Jesus asked that to a man who had been crippled for YEARS!! YEARS. What type of question is that? Of course he wanted to be healed!! right? Well, do I? Do you? We all deal with something. Do you want it gone?

******
I am a sinner. I am saved by grace. I sin daily. Most days, in the past, that fact didn't even bother me. Wow, is today different.

C

As morning dawns, and evening fades.....

Another phenomenal weekend!!
Friday night playing 4 square with Grif, Bailey, Donna, Jon, and Sydney!! Hot sour cream pound cake straight out of the oven (come on now!!). Saturday was an ALL day softball tourney because my team did great again!! First game was at 9am, and the last game ended at 11:30 pm!! 2nd place!! woohoo.
Father's day was incredible!! Bible study finishing our discussion on the 4th commandment!! Wow, good discussion. Worship was wonderful, with an ALL MALE choir of about 50 or 60 men!! What a great expression of worship, and I hope ALL those men come back in August when choir starts back!! Bailey and Grif gave me wonderful presents!! New garden hose, rolling cart to store the hose, desparately needed new socks!!, a shirt, and 2 books that were suggested to us by Shep and Andrea. Wonderful!! Being Bailey and Grif's dad is more special than I can put into words. God has blessed me with those two wonderful kids and an incredible wife, even though I am undeserving!!

S&A recommended these books because of some questions I was asking and seeking answers to. Both are by Jack Deere. And the one I am reading first is Surprised by the power of the Spirit. I couldn't help but start reading it last night, and finally HAD to put it down at midnite!! LOL. (getting up at 6 for the gym this morn wasn't easy!!) I wasn't but in the first chapter before I told Donna, "God meant for me to read this book". First of all S&A knew with the questions that I was asking, this book dealt with THE possible answers. 2nd (and S&A had no idea, but God did!!) the book got personal in a hurry through a church across the street from my office that my largest customer attends. (might seem small to you, but God tapped me on the forehead, and seemed to say, pay attention when reading this!!)
I have never read a book while using a highlighter, but 3 pages in I wanted to be marking it up. Stopping and praying. Talking. Listening. I really think this is going to be and interactive read!! We'll see.
One of the questions I was asking was "Why have I never witnessed something miraculous like we are asking for Caroline?" The bible is full of accounts (not stories) of miracles. Where are they today? When is the last time you saw someone:
1. see for the first time? or
2. walk for the first time? or
3. anything of this nature?
In chapter 1, Jack Deere, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and pastor, had those answers for me in 1985. God didn't talk to us that way anymore. God didn't give gifts of the spirit since the last apostle died. This first chapter hit me pretty hard, in that, Jack Deere was using the same language I was. Asking the same questions.
I'll finish with this; For the first time in my life, God has an open mind and an open heart in me to speak. I don't know what answers, if any, I will have when I finish reading this book.
I can tell you this: in the past, talking about "gifts of the spirit" would have sent me walking in the other direction. I would have been half willing at best to listen to anything about the subject. If God wants to speak to me on this subject, I'm open.
C

SENATOR Barbara Boxer claims she is NOT a lady.

I know. Strange title.
If you don't like politics, stop reading now.
A general with the Army Corps of Engineers is testifying in front of a Senate committee headed by Mrs. Boxer, when he has the audacity to refer to her as ma'am in answering a question. Mrs. Boxer immediately cut him off and asked him to refer to her as Senator Boxer, to which he replied yes ma'am.
I find it humorous since here in the south there is no greater sign of respect that you can show a lady than to call her ma'am. I have OFTEN been told "don't call me ma'am, I am younger than you"!! To which I ALWAYS respond the same way, "ma'am is a sign of respect, NOT AGE".
Anyway, I was taught that you use the word ma'am to show respect to a LADY.
Therefore, the only conclusion I can come up with is the SENATOR Boxer does NOT think herself a lady?

C

Ready or not - Summer is here!!

We have planted a garden this year at our house. A little late, but it is in the ground already with good rain and 90+ degree days coming!! WooHoo. Friday is suppose to be AT LEAST 96!! That'll be sticky in Georgia.
11 rows:
Watermelon and cantaloupe
3 rows of okra
2 rows of silver queen corn
2 rows of purple hull peas
butter beans
2 rows with cucumbers, squash, zuccini and bell peppers.
Hopefully it will all produce and we will be eating good!!


I am still exhausted from the weekend!!

C

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.

There was no flash of lightning or roll thunder followed by Caroline Helton getting out of her wheelchair. There was no army marching in the trees followed by her saying "Mommy, Daddy I love you." There was no marching around the wall seven times followed by Caroline walking. The point being, that to my naked and earthly eyes Caroline Helton is still awaiting a healing. That hurts. It hurts for our friends. It hurts for our church.
Pain is a feeling. It goes away.
Faith, however, is an action. It lasts eternally.
We are human, so there is some level of wallowing, or depression, anger, etc.
But, there is also a sense of pride. Granted, it may be hidden under some tears. But, pride nonetheless, because God spoke and I acted.
God spoke, and the Helton's acted.
God spoke, and the Strain's acted.
God spoke, and our church acted.
Not felt. Actually acted.
Acted.
Definition: To put into motion. Move upon.

Donna and I left the Helton's Friday night after a wonderful visit with them. It was almost midnite, and Caroline was not healed (that I could tell). But I was different. I wasn't the same person that I was, before last week. I think I realized that for a lot of my life, and all of my Christian life, I have been a negative, "that can't happen anymore", pharisee. This event, made me realize that God has called me to be "the church". Not to go to church. BE HIS CHURCH. I don't think you can be a pharisee and be the church at the same time. I really do think it is one or the other!!
So, hold a mirror up to yourself, and choose.
Don't just say I believe, show it.

Sunday school and church yesterday were something very special. Bible study we discussed the 4th commandment. Shep taught a great lesson on it, even though he would have probably preferred to be picnicing or something at his parents farm with his family close by!! Andrea had two solos during church!! (Turns out there is no verse or passage in the bible that allows us believers to only praise him when we are happy!!) It was INCREDIBLE!! That's all. Simply incredible!

Are you a pharisee or are you THE church?
C

Cautiously Optimistic? Pessimistic? Believe?

Sometimes you have to choose.
Somethimes you cannot sit in the stadium and cheer for both sides. Sometimes you can't ride the fence without falling with one leg on each side. (sorry for the visual men).
The bible says you are either hot or you are cold, because luke warm isn't an option (paraphrasing).
So, last Friday I learned that June 12th is a day like that for me. Showtime. Faith in action or no faith? I really shouldn't even write apost that makes it about me!! But it the situation put a mirror in front of my face and at first I didn't like what I saw to the point of tears.
When Jay Lowder was here he spoke about an addition to alcohol he had. Bad addiction. Attempted suicide. You get the picture. He spoke about God getting ahold of him and him being saved. He spoke eloquently about being called to the ministry. He then told the story of the reactions to that call:
The "church" folk knew who he used to be and sneered that God couldn't or wouldn't use him to reach a lost world.
The "bar" folk he used to run with saw a changed man that could reach the anyone because he had been where they were!! They were truly excited for his new mission, his new life!!

I don't want to be a pharisee. I don't want to be a pew holder. I don't want to talk about the miracles God used to do!!


Is God smaller than he was when he raised Lazarus from the dead?
Or is the Lazarus thing just a story?

Is God smaller than he was when the four men dropped the man through the ceiling to be healed?
Or was that just a story?

When Andrea & Shep had a little girl years ago. Andrea and Caroline almost died during the birth. Caroline came out of it severely handicapped. Caroline can't walk. Caroline can't talk. Caroline can't eat. Caroline can't, can't, can't.
Now allow me to tell you what Caroline can do!! Caroline can light a room up. Caroline has an infectious smile. Caroline CAN communicate with you. I have seen Caroline on stage with her class when all the children were singing a song and dancing, performing for their parents, Caroline is singing and dancing, but she doesn't know that her parents are in the room. I promise you that I have seen Caroline worshipping at the feet of God.
Shep and Andrea have believed from the start that Caroline would be healed. They have received encouragement through MANY ways.
I have always SAID that I stand with them. That I believe that God CAN heal her. Through many different ways they feel that God has told them it will happen this Friday. June 12th.
Interesting huh?
There in lies the title to the post:
Am I pessimistic?
Am I cautiously optimistic?
Do I believe?
There is where the mirror got held up for me. You see, Wednesday until Sunday we are going to Jackson (Donna's hometown) to see family, go to a reunion, and pick in the garden.
But, that makes NO sense.
If I BELIEVE that God can heal her, why would I be anywhere else on Friday but near Caroline Helton? That wouldn't make sense. The only reason I would go to Jackson, is if I did NOT believe that God could heal Caroline.
Well, Craig, it's not that God can't heal her, maybe they just got the date wrong, or they WANT it to happen so bad they are hearing things that aren't there. NO. Period.
That is not what it comes down to today for me. See, I have been struggling. Since Friday.
Whether Andrea and Shep got the date right is not relevant to the discussion God is having in my life.
Whether or not June 12th is a day that changes the world or not is not relevant!!
What is relavant is this:
Do I believe that God USED to perform miracles?
Do I believe that God is still big enough to perform miracles?
Do I believe in God?
Since the answer to all 3 of those questions is YES, the reason why it is not relevant as to whether June 12th is going to change the world, is that June 12th is going to change ME and my family.
WE ARE GOING TO BE IN CARTERSVILLE GEORGIA ON FRIDAY IN ANTICIPATION THAT GOD IS GOING TO ROCK MY WORLD.
We are cancelling our trip and I am taking Friday off from work; why you ask?
Because....
What if?.

C

Weekend plans

This weekend is going to have work, and fun!!
Not work, work. The home type work!!
Tonight we have the end of the year fathers versus the sons baseball game!! Always fun!!
Tomorrow, we are going to plant a garden!! Cut grass!! Tune up the corolla!! Wash the corolla!! And make something special for dinner!!
Sunday, we have a family reunion in Ellijay!! Fun, Fun!!
I hope everyone has a great weekend!!
C

Multiple Stuff

My softball team won the spring nationals!! This is one of the biggest tourneys of the year. Teams from GA, AL,TN,SC,NC,MS,FL are represented. 1st place receives $2000 and a paid berth to the ISA World Series in Polk Co Florida at the end of Sept. 2nd place receives $500 and an unpaid berth to the world series. We won it!! We had the toughest bracket and it didn't matter. We played well as a team, and had fun.
I've decided I don't have enough going on in my life, so I have started a garden and compiling my family tree. Both are time consuming, but theraputic in their own way!!
Work is slowing for the summer, but this summer we don't NEED it to slow down!!
Everything else is pretty good.
C