FIVE THINGS FRIDAY – December 2nd

Hello, Friday and welcome to another edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. In today’s edition we are going to get “caught up” with all that has happened over the last few weeks. As I was looking back over the other posts, I realized that I have not shared anything from FIVE THINGS FRIDAY since the first of November. So much as happened in that time. So, without further ado, here is this week’s edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

SOCCER CHAMPS!

The Kool-Aid Jammers won their soccer championship defeating the Palletown FC by a score of 3-0. It was by far one of the coldest nights I can remember. The temp that night was somewhere around 49 degrees at the start of the game. However, they persevered through the cold weather and reminded focused on finishing the season strong. I couldn’t think of a better way to end the soccer season. It is so much fun watching these young ladies go out and compete each and every week. I am really excited about spring soccer because so many of them will be playing against each other through their middle school teams and as a coach, I cannot wait to watch those games! As a fan and parent, go GRANDVIEW!

CHRISTMAS PARADE SEASON

It is officially Christmas parade season and our church had the opportunity to be a part of the City of Hickory Christmas Parade. The weird thing is that the parade was the Friday before Thanksgiving, so it didn’t quite feel like Christmas time. But being a part of the parade and seeing all the floats and people in the streets definitely brought the Christmas spirit alive! As you can tell from the picture above it was a little chilly that night. I think the “dancing dinosaur” was one of the biggest hits of the parade! Overall, it was a fun way to kick-off the holiday season and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas season!

TURKEY TROT 5K

The morning after the Hickory Christmas Parade, my family got up and participated in the Hickory YMCA’s annual Turkey Trot. And yes, as you can tell, it was super chilly that morning. Not only was it a little cold, we were all extremely tired from the night before, so our energy level wasn’t quite up to par for this race. However, Gracie knocked it out of the park and recorded her best time ever for a 5K. Jana and I stayed even with our times, although I felt a lot slower than what my official time said. We are no where near “expert runners” but I am glad that we enjoy running races together. It makes for a fun family time considering that our schedules are some what a little busy at times. We are already trying to get ready for our next race in December when we run the FROSTY 5K. Pray for us as we mentally and physically prepare for the cooler weather. Some people like running in cooler weather, they say it’s easier for them to breathe. I’m not sure if I agree with that yet or not, but I will keep you posted.

Along with running more, I have also purchased a new 21 speed bike that I have been trying to ride more. I don’t know the science behind it, but I can tell how riding a bike as helped my breathing and speed as a runner. I attempted a challenge over the week of November 20th -26th where I was supposed to ride a total of 66 miles… yeah I missed that challenge by quite a few! But, that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to try it again!

ANNUAL YOUTH TURKEY BOWL

Last Sunday our students competed in our Annual Youth Turkey Flag Football game. This is a tradition that is now 13 years old. It is always a fun time and I love to see our students compete against one another. The best part is they get out and play regardless of their skill level. They just enjoying being together! The High Schooler’s beat the Middle Schooler’s/College by a score of 63-42 this year. As you can tell by the score there was no defense in this game. I think one of Gracie’s highlights of the game was intercepting a pass from her dad! She still “brags” about that, but I will give her the small victory for now. 🙂 After the game we came together for a FRIEDNSGIVING meal, Turkey Bingo and devotion from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

What is something that you are thankful for today? As believers, we have so much to be thankful for, but we sometimes take the things that God has blessed us with for granted. I want to challenge myself to be grateful for the things that God has given me and my family each and every day. Sometimes, I fail at that, but I am trying to be more aware of those things that He has given me.

BASKETBALL SEASON IS HERE

Well, this is a first for our family! We thought that things might slow down a bit after cross country and soccer, but then our girl ended up making the basketball team for her middle school. I was surprised seeing that she has never really played basketball. I mean, she plays at the church with the youth, but that’s about it. Needless to say, we were very proud of her and excited about this opportunity she has been given. We are two games into the season and some of the nerves are starting to go away. She works hard in practice and she is not embarrassed to ask the coaches questions if she doesn’t’ understand the specific play they are working on. She also helps encourage her teammates when she isn’t in the game, which I absolutely love about her. But another thing that she has helped me to remember is that it’s ok to fail. She has never played basketball, but she hasn’t let that stop her from trying to learn the game. Too many times when something is difficult or we don’t understand it, we get frustrated and quit.

As a believer, that is a lot like our Christian walk. There are going to be moments when we don’t understand, we may get frustrated over things, but God calls us to be faithful and walk with Him each and every day. Think about the last time you tried to share the gospel with someone else. How did it go? Did you allow your fear of the unknown to beat you instead of trusting and being faithful to the Spirit’s leading and help? God promises us in Joshua 1:9, “that the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” That is why He sent us the Spirit to guide us and to help us. What is it that you are afraid of today that you are not trusting God with? Maybe you haven’t trusted in Him because you are afraid that the things in your life will change. Well, yes, they will change. We will live to glorify God instead of self. Maybe, you haven’t been to church in a while and you’re afraid to step back into the church doors for whatever reason. Maybe the Spirit has laid it on your hear to share the gospel with a coworker or friend. Or, maybe there is something else going on in your life that you’ve been hurt too many times and you simply cannot “trust” God to help you in those moments. All I can say is that I empathize with you! We all have things that have happened to us. But I can say that all the things that have happened to me have been to bring about God’s glory and how He demonstrated His power, grace and love in each and everyone of those situations.

I look forward to sharing with you how this basketball season will go and keeping you up to date on her progress. But, I also look forward to hearing from you about how God is demonstrating His power, grace and love in your life today. Thanks for reading and we will see you next Friday.

MOTIVATION MONDAY: RUN THE RACE

“Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us…”

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2, CSB

If you have been with me for any amount of time, you have probably heard me talk about (at least once) the analogy of the Christian life being described as running a race. This picture comes from the verses above in Hebrews, along with the apostle Paul using it frequently in his letters to encourage Christian’s to persevere, press on and “run” as if competing for a prize (1 Cor. 9:24-27; Gal. 2:2; Phil. 2:16, 3:13-14).

I don’t know if you consider yourself a runner or if the very thought of running makes you cringe. The idea of running doesn’t make me cringe, but I don’t consider myself to be a runner either. I guess I am more a work in progress, which is a perfect description of my Christian walk. The Christian life isn’t a sprint, let’s get there as quickly as we can. It’s more like a ultra-marathon.

In a marathon, if you tried to sprint the whole 26.2 miles, you will eventually burn out and crash. Instead, you work on pacing yourself, finding a good rhythm, keeping your eyes focused on what’s ahead. Most definitely there will be times that you will need to “press on” and dig deep when your body tells you to quit and you feel like giving up. This is where our training and endurance help us out. Well, in the Christian life, we are only able to run with endurance if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the one who sustains us and gives us the strength we need to continue on.

So, today, how is your race going? Are you fixing your eyes on Jesus or have you lost sight of Him? Have you focused too much on your weaknesses, stresses and anxiety and allowed them to overcome you?

If so, let me encourage you today, to forget what is behind you and press on towards the goal that Christ has called you to!

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY – September 16

Hello, Friday and welcome back to another edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. This week as been much slower than last week which is always a good thing. Sometimes it’s good to not be so busy and to be able to sit down and unwind. But there were some fun moments that happened along the week and I will try to share those with you as we move along. If this if your first time with us, then we welcome you. So without further ado…

I. FALL SPORTS IS BACK

This past Monday our girl had her first cross country meet of the season and kicked off the official start to fall sports. I admit that I hate to see summer go, but there is something about fall sports that gets me excited. Fall sports seems to bring about a fresh start for everyone competing and participating in sports. Not only do we have the start of a new school year, but we get the start of a new athletic year as well. For us, this is cross country and we absolutely love to see our girl go out there and compete as a runner. Practices are sometimes hard and she is worn out when she gets into the car afterwards, but I am thankful for her dedication and leadership that she is displaying to the rest of her team even as a 7th grader. Each practice she encourages others even after she has already finished and that is something that is hard to find now days. I will go ahead and warn you in advance that you will probably see a weekly post about cross country for the next several weeks! But another thing that makes this year more fun is that she will be running against some of her friends that play on our soccer team together or have played together. As a coach it is always fun to see your players who go to different schools and to have the opportunity to joke around with them and still see how you have helped make a difference in their life. I seriously think that I was more excited about this first meet than Gracie was!

But another thing about fall sports is the start of a new soccer season at the YMCA. We have our first game this Saturday and I think I already have the pre-game jitters. Again, I am almost positive that you will be hearing about soccer too in the up coming weeks, so go ahead and prepare yourself.

II. BIG GAME THIS WEEKEND

Ok, so most people are not die hard college football fans and I understand that. However, I am one of those weird fans that I absolutely love college football. And this weekend is going to be an exciting one because my Liberty Flames travel to Winston Salem to take on the #19 Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Am I concerned that all the “professionals” are picking Liberty to lose by 16 points, not at all. For years the “professionals” have always underestimated Liberty. Also, Wake Forest has been known to choke in high pressure games and this is one of those games for them. It should be a fun one to watch, but this game does carry a little bragging rights with it. One of my buddies is a die-hard Wake Forest fan and we have agreed to a little fun wager. If Liberty beats Wake Forest, then he has to wear a Liberty t-shirt for one full day next week. If Wake Forest wins, then I will have to wear a Wake Forest t-shirt for one full day next week. We play on the same adult kickball team and I thought about telling him that instead of the t-shirts, we have to face paints the other teams colors during our game next week, but we aren’t trying to scare anyone! You will have to check back next week for the results to see who wears which teams t-shirt for a day.

III. SUNDAY NIGHT FALL KICK-OFF

Last Sunday we kicked off the start of Fall with a “slime war” and our students had a blast. We made slime and put it in 5 gallons buckets and then gave them blasters and they ran around squirting each other with all colors of slime. We may have had a leader or two covering them with a little powder paint too! It was a great way to help kick off the year as we focused on building unity as we welcomed our new students. But, the thing that I have absolutely come to love about our Fall Kick-offs is the challenges we get to hear from our seniors. This has been a tradition that I started at least 6 years ago and I absolutely love it! Having the opportunity to see and hear other students investing in each other is priceless.

This week we begin our new series ROOTED where we will help students understand what it means to be rooted in God’s love, God’s Word and their faith in Jesus. What are some things that you do with your youth groups to help build unity and enthusiasm? What are some studies that you have done that have been beneficial to the students?

IV. PUMPKIN SPICE CRAZINESS IS ALL AROUND

I have noticed over the last couple of weeks that this whole pumpkin spice thing has gotten majorly out of control. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good pumpkin spice latte as much as the next person, but there is no need to see Pumpkin Spice toothpaste, cereal, waffles, oatmeal, cookies, chips and before too long we’ll see pumpkin spice shampoo… actually it probably already exists. I guess over the last few years I have noticed how the whole pumpkin spice thing has really gotten out of control. Just yesterday, I saw 6 different flavors of pumpkin coffee. I understand people are getting excited for fall and I am in that category as well. I don’t know, is it just me? What is your favorite pumpkin spice food or drink that you look forward to every season?

V. A NEW CREATION

“Therefore, if anyone is inChrist, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, CSB)

Here lately, my daughter, Gracie has started making this snack called “Sugared Grapes” and they are very addictive and delicious. She makes them with Jello powder and then sets them in the freezer for about an hour and they are actually a really great snack. She made them for our church picnic a couple of weeks ago and before I could get any, they were already gone! They had eaten them all up, the whole bunch.

That’s a lot like what happened to you in Christ. Just like those grapes were gone, Jesus made your old nature vanish. When you accept Jesus as your savior, you become entirely new. There’s no trace or crumb of your old nature left in you. That old nature has been swapped for a new nature.

The sin nature is done. It’s gone. Now we have a new nature. And while we are still tempted to sin, our new nature desires to do the right thing. If we stay sensitive to what our new spirit desires, we’ll make godly choices. And when old habits of our old nature pop up, it’s just up to us to say no to those things.

So today, choose to thank God that He has made us fresh and new. Our spirit is recreated and free from sin. Determine to make decisions in light of that new nature. Choose to let that nature rule the things you think, say and do.

Well, that’s a wrap for this week. Thanks for reading and we will see you back here gain next Friday, Lord willing. Have a blessed Friday and a great weekend.

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY

Hello and happy Friday everyone. Thanks for joining me today for FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. This has been a very busy and crazy week and I am not even sure where to begin. It has been a week flooded with high anxiety, emotions and at times, frustrations. So, this edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY may be a little different as I express my thoughts from the last week or two with things that I am struggling with in my heart and head. Without further ado…

JESUS: The ONE Who Holds All Things Together

Somedays it seems as if this world is spinning out of control. However, we know that it may seem that way, but the reality is that Jesus has everything still in control. This is where I want to begin today because it is highly important that we understand that everything that happens in this world is under Jesus’ control and power. In fact, Colossians 1:17 reassures of WHO is in control.

“He(Jesus) is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”

The image of our Savior, Jesus Christ holding all things together in an intimate, hands-on fashion is absolutely beautiful. And the idea that He delights in doing so, should be empowering. God didn’t simply create you and leave you to fend for yourself. He’s intimately involved in your day-to-day life. He has all things planned accordingly to His will… And we can trust Him with that. When I look around our world today, it is a complete mess, there are things that happen that I do not understand and probably never will. There are things that happen that make me scratch my head at times and wonder why God isn’t doing something about it. But, He is. He has all things worked out according to His plan, not mine or anyone else’s. It’s His plan and work to do as He pleases. It is my place to simply trust Him more in my fear and doubts. So, no matter how chaotic this world may seem, I can take comfort in the fact that the hands which were pierced for our transgressions are the same hands that fashioned the universe and hold all things together today and everyday. We don’t have to merely trust Jesus to save us when we die, but if we trust and submit to Him, we can trust He’ll help us maintain and sustain our lives today. It might seem like your world is coming apart, but don’t be afraid to put yourself in His hands. Not only is He capable of putting your life back in order, but He can be trusted to keep it together. 

THE TRAGIC DEATH OF ELIZA FISHER

Last Friday, Eliza Fisher went out for her normal early morning run around the University of Memphis, but unfortunately her run was interrupted as she was abducted and murdered. She left her home that morning simply looking forward to her morning run before returning home to her husband, her two young sons and the thought of getting herself ready for work where she was Pre-K teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School. However, that never happened and now her husband and two young sons will now go on without a wife and mother, all because one man decided that he was going to cause pain and affliction to someone he did’t even know. (I might add that he was a convicted felon too!) If I sound bitter about that, it’s because I am. I am tired of story after story of where our elected officials and Justice department refuse to do the job that they were elected to do. I do not care what political party you are a part of. I do care that we do not expect accountability with those that we elect to serve!

But I digress, this isn’t a political post. This is about Eliza Fisher and the support that her family will receive from their church community and many others. In fact, one organization runsignup.com set up a free virtual race for runners to remember and honor Eliza Fletcher. Eliza was a runner who competed in races, marathons, and even runDisney events and races. She was beloved by her friends and other runners who knew her. Since Jana and I have been running more regularly the last year, we have quickly come to realize that runners are not just “runners”, they are a community. Like the RV community, they share a tight and special bond with one another. So, it is amazing to see the outpouring of support from runners all over the country. The virtual race is set up from September 9 – September 18 and its goal is to encourage runners to finish Eliza’s run (#finishelizasrun).

Jana and I gladly took part in this as we got our morning run/walk in. However, it wasn’t easy for neither me or my wife, but for two separate reasons. At the end of the day, I should not have to fear for my wife’s safety if she chooses to go on a run/walk without me. She can handle her own I have no doubt, but we shouldn’t have to have those thoughts. In fact, just the other day, I wasn’t able to go with her and as she walking around our churches parking lot a random car stopped, backed up and tried to get her attention. Who does this at 6AM in the morning? Needless to say, she was startled by this and the more she reflected on it, the angrier she got. She should be able to get up in the mornings ready to go and conquer her day with a run through the neighborhood without feeling shame or fearful of her life. In fact, any person should be able to do this. But, we live in a fallen world that is corrupted with sin. That is why we need to trust in Jesus because even in the midst of chaos, He has everything under His control. In times of confusion, times of fear, times of frustration we run to Him and trust in His plan. In Philippians, Paul tells us to “not be anxious about anything”. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart…” I will be the first to admit, that these things are easy to remember but harder to accept sometimes. However, I know without a shadow of a doubt, that God’s ways and God’s plans are perfect and that is why I choose to trust in Him as my Savior each and every day.

THE PASSING OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND THE DEATH OF TRUE LEADERSHIP

Yesterday, the world was rocked with the news that Queen Elizabeth II had passed. She was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and she did it with class and dignity. She sat on the throne for more than seven decades. That is truly remarkable as I think about what all has changed in 70 years. But the one thing that is most remarkable about her reign was the promise that she made as a young 21 year old. She promised the people of Britain that, “my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.” That was a promise that she kept for more than seven decades. She was a rare example of someone who practiced servant leadership as she served Christ up until her very last day. Queen Elizabeth II put Christ at the heart of everything. That is truly remarkable for a world leader! She spoke often of Jesus Christ.

Reading from part of the queen’s first Christmas radio broadcast in 1952 at age 25, she asked her subjects to pray for her: ‘Pray for me that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making. And that I may be faithfully serving Him and you all the days of my life.’

The beautiful thing is that that is exactly what she did. She served her people, her subjects, and she served Christ, her God, all the days of her life up until her very last day.

As I think about her legacy, her faith and her leadership, it was focused on Jesus Christ. The heart that she had for her people was from knowing and following Jesus Christ. I know she wasn’t perfect and I am certain that she had her flaws, we all do. But she chose to live her life for Jesus Christ and it showed by the way she lead her country. She never cried like a toddler like so many of our American politicians do today. In fact, that is why we are in the shape we are because we have taken our eyes off of God and the truth of His Word. Instead of being accountable to God’s Word, repenting our sins, seeking forgiveness, too many of our “leaders” choose to pass the buck and not accept responsibility when things go wrong. Our leaders us their positions has one of power and control rather than one of service and devotion to their people. My heart breaks when I look at our country. We have become our own gods and we think that we above God’s Laws. May God have mercy on us and may we commit to pray for our nations leaders each and every day.

THOUGHTS ON MATT CHANDLER

Recently, news as come out that Pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church is stepping aside for a time due to “inappropriate conversations” with another woman. Of course, when this news came out, many Christians (myself included) were left in shock. Matt Chandler has come to be one of the most respected preachers and teachers of our generation. So, to hear that a scandal had finally “caught up to him” was completely shocking. But, honestly, it shouldn’t be. I am a firm believer that too many pastors get put on a pedestal and then when they “fall short of God’s glory”, people lose their minds.

However, this situation is uniquely different. Chandler has confirmed multiple times that he is not stepping away for any idolatry or immoral issue with another woman. In fact, he is being “disciplined” for having a conversation through direct messaging (DM) with a woman that is not his wife. Now, the story goes that his wife, Lauren and the lady’s husband knew of the conversation going on. They both have confirmed that nothing sexual or perverted was being shared. But, the elders of the church are making claims that the conversation is inappropriate. Because of this the elders have asked him to take a leave of absence.

We do not know what all is going on and we may never know. We know that there is always three sides of the story (yours, mind and God’s). Whether Matt Chandler did anything immoral or not, this is a good reminder of why we need to guard our hearts with the truth of God’s Word and how careful we should be with our actions and words to others. This hits home for me because I do not always think about how my actions and words may affect someone else, especially someone who doesn’t know Jesus Christ. For anyone who knows me, you know that I have a tendency to speak first without thinking. This is a character flaw that I know I need to work on. I’m trying. In fact, my prayer is that every single day I am turning more and more into the person of Jesus Christ. I know that I will not be like Christ until the day that He calls me to be with Him. In the meantime, I want to strive to be more like Him with the time that He has given me here on earth. I may fail, I may succeed, but at the end of the day all glory goes to Him!

My heart breaks for Chandler, his family and those he has been called to lead. This is why it is so important for you to pray for your pastors daily. Don’t place them on pedestals for them to fall, but lift them up to God so that He can carry them and hold them with His mighty righty hand.

STRUGGLES WITH ANXIETY

If you have read FIVE THINGS FRIDAY before, then maybe you recall me sharing about my struggles with anxiety. It’s hard, it’s painful and it sucks (sorry if I ‘m not allowed to use that word!) It’s a battle each and everyday of constantly fighting all the noises going on in your head and you can’t make them stop. Some days are better than others, some days I feel like my head is about to explode because my mind will not stop. It’s a constant banging and clashing noise that not only affects my head, but my body as well. I know that my level of anxiety may not be as severe as some and I am thankful for that. However, it gets old having to try to constantly battle every thought and emotion.

I understand that some of the stress and anxiety comes from me. I have a tendency to put too much on my plate at times. I also battle with trying to please everyone, which does not help. Also, this may sound weird coming from a youth pastor, but that is why I said above that it is important that you pray for your pastors because you may never fully know all that they are battling and fighting daily. Over the years I have found ways to treat and cope with my anxiety when it shows up. Some things work well and others not so well. I know that one of the best ways to help reduce anxiety is to get regular sleep, but when sleep is one of the things that triggers your anxiety, that makes it hard. So, I have come accustomed to getting roughly about five hours asleep per night. (Six is a blessing!) Other ways that I help with my anxiety is through exercise, running, and journaling/writing down my thoughts and prayers. Ironically, I told my wife the other morning when we were running that for most people running is a good way to reduce anxiety, except for me. Most of the time my anxiety gets triggered while I’m running because I get a thought and then it just snowballs from that moment on. Just like with anything we all deal with, there are good days, there are bad days and then there are days from you know where. Lately, it has been those types of days. Bu tI don’t say this for sympathy, I say this to let you know that I am a work in progress. Each and every day I want to strive to be more like Christ. And even though anxiety is not a sin, I still choose to rejoice in those small victories where Christ conquers my fears and doubts and turns them to times of praise and adoration of Him.

So, if you struggle with anxiety today, I want to let you know that you are not alone even if you feel like it. I won’t even say that if you gave your life to Christ that your anxiety, doubts and fears would automatically disappear over night. They won’t disappear, but He will give us the strength to fight those moments as we place our eyes and trust on Him. Whatever is you are battling with today, lay at the cross, look to Jesus and trust Him.

Thanks for reading and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. See you next week for another FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

WEDNESDAY DEVOTIONAL: Dealing with Disappointment

“And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:7, CSB

We’ve all been there. They day you find out you’ve been passed over for a promotion. Not landing the job you really wanted and knew you were qualified for. Not being accepted to the college you’ve been dreaming your whole life of attending. Losing a championship game and having to watch the other team celebrate in front of you. It’s watching all the time and effort you put into something crumble away in a matter of seconds. Sometimes disappointment can be more devastating than tragedy, because it requires you to have invested in the outcome first.

The Bible tells us that we should rejoice in our sufferings, but I’d be lying if I said that what I did every time I was disappointed. Most of the time I just want to go off and be alone, or I end up angry and resentful. Sometimes I even find myself complaining to God over what just happened. So, what are Christians supposed to respond when faced with disappointment? Personally, I think there’s only one thing we can do: hope.

The early disciples faced their own share of letdowns. Paul, in particular, had his share of troubles in life, but look what he writes in Romans chapter 5,

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. – Romans 5:2-6

Sometimes disappointment can’t be overcome, only endured. In moments like that, it’s important to remember that we have hope on our side. Hope in Christ’s love, hope for better days to come, the hope to maybe even try again. So when the storms of life come your way don’t let yourself be troubled, instead pick yourself up and remember with God there will always be hope.

 Whatever you may be going through remember to hope in the Lord today.

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY

HELLO FRIDAY! Welcome back to another FIVE THINGS FRIDAY and boy, has it been a long week! It has at least been a busier week than usual, what about you, how has your week been? Also, if this is your first time reading FIVE THINGS FRIDAY, welcome! FIVE THINGS FRIDAY is a collections of the things that I am interested in, learning or just casual writings about the things from the past week. I use FIVE THINGS FRIDAY as a way to help reduce the anxiety and stress that I struggle with on a regular basis. Thanks for reading and without further ado, here we go.

1. POST RACE BLUES AND ANOTHER 5K

This week has been a hard week to find consistent motivation. I didn’t have a problem of finding that brick wall that I couldn’t seem to recover from. Some of the lack of motivation may be caused by the runDisney crash from last weekend. I wonder if there is a thing called “runners high” where you just crash after the race. It’s the high from all the training and the race itself and then BOOM, the race has come and gone. So, what do you do when you have the post race blues? Well, you go and sign-up for another race or two… or three! That’s right, we have signed up to run a couple of more races in the coming weeks. My daughter and I are running our local YMCA 5K and then as a family, we are signed up to run a 5K in April that helps support a local camp.

Then, there is another runDisney race that I went and signed up for while my wife has been at a conference. I signed up for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler virtual race! That’s right, you read that…a 10 MILER!!! Yup, I’m going to die but it should be fun training for this since I have until April 3 to complete it. The next few weeks should be very exciting and challenging and I look forward to keeping you all up to date on these crazy adventures. This will by far be one of the biggest physical challenges I have faced in my life. The thought of actually scares me, but I thankful for my girls who will be there to support me, coach me and cheer me on as I strive to complete this challenge.

2. WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

I am still trying to finish the podcast series, “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.” I am on episode six and although I may not agree 100% with the approach, I have come to appreciate this podcast. It’s a good reminder of how fast we can truly fall when we allow our eyes and hearts to become focused on anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ. I will never understand all that went on under Pastor Driscoll’s ministry at Mars Hill, but it is a great reminder to all us on just how much we need accountability in our lives from other godly believers. I cannot say enough of just how thankful I am for the men that God has placed in my life to help keep me accountable. Their investment in my life can and will never be repaid! I am also thankful that God has allowed me to surround myself with older and younger men. I could go on and on about this, but my point is that we need others in our lives that are willing to walk with us, to get their hands dirty at times, to clean us up and help bring us back to a right relationship with Jesus. Ministry is one of the toughest things a person could do, but it is also one of the most rewarding things. If any of you are reading this, know today that I am eternally grateful for each and everyone of you.

Who are you investing your life in today? Who are you walking with and encouraging today? We are not meant to walk this life alone, we all need community and friends that will help us grow in the person and image of Jesus Christ.

3. SOCCER SEASON IS HERE

I never thought I would be one to be excited for soccer, especially a full season of it. But, this soccer season has a different “feel” to it with my daughter making her middle school soccer team. I am so excited to go and watch her play! I have been able to watch her a little bit at the end of practice when I go to pick her up and it is so much fun to just sit and watch. I can just enjoy seeing her play and not worry about going into “coach” mode. (We will leave that for her local YMCA team, the Hickory Hot Sauce.) Another reason I am excited is that another one of girls made her middle school team as well and it will be so much fun to see them play against each other for the first time ever. They have been on the same soccer team for a few years, so seeing them face off against each other is going to be fun. (I may cry a little because I am just so proud of them!) I will go ahead and warn you, there will be multiple posts about her games throughout this season. It was funny to hear her talk about her getting her uniform the other day. Since she is in sixth grade, they get last dibs on uniforms. Eighth graders go first, then seventh graders, and so on. So, the uniform she got stuck with is an adult large. She is going to look like a hot air balloon running around the soccer field with that big of a jersey on. Also, she didn’t get her “number” which is understandable when you have last dibs. She got stuck with football lineman’s number (31). However, she is excited and a little nervous to begin play next week. I know from a parent/coach position, she is going to be just fine once the nerves settle. The girl loves the game and she has a natural talent for it. I cannot wait to bring you along on this journey with her.

4. UNC vs DUKE RIVALRY

This Saturday marks the end of an era for Duke basketball. Coach K as he is known for, will be coaching his very last game at home and against their rival, North Carolina. This is a dream match up regardless of which team you are pulling for. Trust me, I cannot stand Duke, never have, never will. In fact, if you know me, I may pull the New York Yankees before I would ever root for THAT school. But, I am excited to watch this game because it will be one to remember. Yes, Duke will probably crush Caroline (they beat them by 20 in the first meeting), but I am actually excited for Coach K. I may not like his team, but he has been a staple there for the majority of my life. I have never known another coach other than Coach K. He has gone on to become one of the most successful coaches of all-time. It was always fun to watch his players play with so much passion, especially in the Carolina/Duke games. Those were some great battles. I may not like Duke, but I have always respected Coach K. He always got the best out of his players. They may not have been the most talented, but he has a way of taking a mediocre player and making him a Duke legend. Now, don’t get me wrong, just because this is his last game at Cameron Indoor, that doesn’t mean that I will be rooting for him. I hope he loses his last game at home and by a large margin actually. I know that want happen, but we can dream, right? I am sad that we never got to see a Carolina/Duke National Championship game between Dean Smith and Coach K. That would have been a fun game to watch… as long as Carolina won. Whatever the outcome, I wish Coach K all the best and thanks for all you did for college basketball. You were a great ambassador for the sport. Have fun in retirement, Coach.

5. PREACHING WITH ANXIETY

“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” Psalms 94:19

I am preaching this weekend and as much as I am looking forward to it, it always seems to heighten my anxiety level. I know that sounds weird, especially coming from a pastor, but anxiety is something that I have struggled with for years. It’s not something that we openly share, but I am thankful for a wife that has been there for me through thick and thin of those attacks. They’re not fun, they hurt and they completely shut down my body, but I have come to fight through them the best I can. Then on the weeks I have to preach my anxiety is through the roof, so to speak. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy having the opportunity to share God’s Word with my church, but I don’t enjoy the added anxiety it brings. What I mean by that is that in my anxiety, I struggle with insecurities and fears. In those moments, I find myself letting satan win the battle and allowing those insecurities and anxieties to fuel my thoughts for a whole week. It makes for a long days, sleepless nights, lots of stress eating, loss of energy and one extremely long week. If you are a person that deals with anxiety or depression, my heart goes out to you as I empathize with you and what you struggle with. It is amazing how powerful our anxieties and insecurities can quickly lead to a lack of motivation in our day to day life. Maybe, one day I will share a post on how to deal with anxiety and anxiety attacks. For now, one of the ways that I “deal” with those symptoms is by immersing myself into coaching my daughters local soccer team, working out and simply just trying to get away. Lastly, as much as I may struggle with those things, I know that they do not define me as a person, pastor, husband and father. I know that I am made in the image of God, and that I am His child. I’m so thankful that I have Him to run to in moments like this. God is faithful and I am so thankful that I have Him to run to in moments like this.

Well, thanks for reading and I pray that you have a blessed Friday! See ya next week.