THANKSGIVING

Top 10 things I am thankful for today:

• My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and brought me salvation


• My beautiful wife, Teresa, who has promised to always love me...regardless!


• My 5 awesome children...all incredible gifts from God!


• The privilege of being the lead pastor of a great group of people at Grace in Ohio


• A great vacation in warm and sunny Florida


• Athletes like Tim Tebow and Phil Dawson, who seem very genuine in their faith


• Romans 12, which I have memorized and meditated on over vacation


• All of the blessings God has given me


• Safety in driving with my family 24.5 hours yesterday, in rain and congested traffic


• To be with my wife and children, my parents, my brother and his family, today for Thanksgiving!!

HAVE YOU TEBOWED TODAY?

Last night, my son and I went out to eat at a restaurant that showed the football game between the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets. Recently, my interest has been piqued with all the attention, positive and negative, that Tim Tebow, the current quarterback for the Denver Broncos has received. Since he took over as the quarterback this season, the Broncos have 4 wins and 1 loss. Before that, they had 1 win and 4 losses. He is criticized for not being a good quarterback; and yet they keep winning.

What has interested me most is that he is a professing Christian. There are many professional athletes that profess Christianity; but many times, after hearing the things they say and seeing the things they do, I wish they never would have professed Christ. I realize that Tim may start losing every game, and he may bring shame to Christ at some point. But, what I am hearing so far, including from his own mouth, sounds different than the typical professing Christian athletes' response. Even after last night's win, he talked about his faith but he didn't use the typical phrases that are used. He just sounded more genuine. He didn't act as though God was on his side or wanted him to win. In fact, he said that win or lose, he knows what is most important and therefore, he can just enjoy playing, regardless of the result. God is in control.

So, for now, although I don't normally cheer for the Broncos, I am cheering for the Broncos, all because of Tebow. Perhaps you have seen the recent phenomenon on the internet, and elsewhere, that is referred to as "Tebowing". From what I can tell, it comes from the fact that the quarterback kneels in a prayer of thanksgiving after wins and perhaps at other times as well. It received a ton of attention after a win this season, when he came back to win in the 4th quarter. He was shown kneeling in a prayer pose and all of a sudden, "everyone" was doing it. This includes, of course, the Detroit Lions, who beat him the next week and made fun of him.

After last night's win, commentators are using his name in another way. When you get beat by the Broncos, and especially if Tim Tebow helps beat you, you are said to have just been "Tebowed"! I hope he does well, especially if he is truly a follower of Jesus; and especially if that will give him more open doors to share his testimony of faith in Christ. And for the rest of us, regardless of your football allegiances, we can all use a little more, check that, a lot more "Tebowing".

That is, if it means what I think it means to Tim Tebow himself: It means to pray, to remember who gave you the ability to do what you do, and to give Him all the glory". If that is true, then let's take some time to "Tebow" today, even though it is certainly o.k., and probably better, to call it what it is: PRAYER!

Georgia Billboards

Yesterday, as I was travelling through the state of Georgia, something really caught my attention: the big billboards lining the side of the highway. There may be other states that have similar billboards, but I have not seen any, at least to this extent, that compare with the ones in Georgia.
I saw a couple of billboards that were making very strong moral statements. One billboard, which I only saw once, said:" Homosexuality is a sin" - signed: God. I thought: wow. That is true, I believe, but is that the best way to communicate God's truth to people driving by at 75 mph? Another billboard I saw several times targeted abortion; or to put it more positively, were "pro-life". It had the picture of a mom who was pregnant and then a huge statement that was coming from the life inside of her: "18 days after conception, I have a heartbeat". To me, it is a moving billboard. And, in my opinion, it is a more reasonable, loving way to get a good message across.

Beside these examples, it was a series of 4 billboards that made the most impact on me. The first one had no pictures, but simply, in all bold letters, said: "STRIPPERS: Come and take a look!" Then, there was the encouragement to take the next exit and take a look. Probably 1/4 mile from that billboard was one that said: "What Can Wash Away My Sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"
Another mile or so after that was another billboard: "STRIPPERS: Enough said!" Then, about 1/2 mile from that, another billboard: "For God so loved the world". It had a picture of Jesus dying on the cross, and then the words: "eternally assured".

As I was driving, I had some time to consider what I had just seen. A series of 4 billboards, with interchanging messages. I wonder: was it on purpose? Did those who put the gospel centered billboards up mean to do it just after the inappropriate billboards (inappropriate not because of images, but because it is encouraging sin)? I wonder...

My takeaway was this: Whether purposeful or not, There was great truth told in these billboards. There is the allurement to sin, which is very strong (if not these types of billboards, then there is something else that allures us); and then in between those alluring messages, that bring death, there is life bringing gospel messages. Thank God for that. It is truth. What is it that delivers us from the sin of lust, or any sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! And what is it about God that I need to focus on, as it relates to my sin, and the strong temptations that I face? "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life!"

Next time you are travelling the Georgia highways, look for a great message of truth, in the midst of lies...just on the side of the road!

I Don't Get it!

I feel like I say this quite a bit, and many times it is just because I am me and the topic I am trying to understand is beyond me. However, there are also other times when I Don't Get it!, but I really think it is the other party that simply makes no sense. And this was one of those times. I worked out the other night and, admittedly, I was sweating like crazy. It was a great workout and I was looking forward to my shower.

So, I got other clothes to change into, took my shower, changed and took my "dirty clothes", also very sweaty, down the hallway to the laundry chute we have on the main floor, that goes down to the laundry basket down in the laundry room. It is a pretty good system. Therefore, it was to my great surprise that I heard my wife say to me: Don't put your dirty clothes in the chute! I think my first words of response were: "But they're dirty clothes!

She went on to explain that my clothes were so "dirty", so sweaty, so smelly, that they went way beyond the "dirty clothes" category; and that my sweaty, smelly clothes didn't deserve (my words, not hers) to be with the other dirty clothes in the laundry room basket.

What? Are you kidding me? These were questions in my mind, not said out loud. Out loud, I think I said: "Yes honey". So, I'm bringing my "case" to those of you reading this blog. You understand where I'm coming from, don't you? If I didn't "stand up" for my own clothes right to survive, I think she might have burned them in the back yard!

Come on now: Am I right...or is she wrong? (Yes, that is exactly what I meant to say)!

5th Quarter

Where does this movie title come from? The movie itself reveals it: Many teams and fans, when the 4th quarter of a football game comes, will hold up 4 fingers to be a motivational reminder that they must play their best football as the game is coming to an end. It is about finishing well. In this case, the players and fans are holding up 5 fingers, in honor of a player's brother, who wore #5 when playing football, but had died in a car accident. The 4th quarter was now known as the 5th quarter.

The movie interested me for a few different reasons: It was about football, it received good reviews from sources I trust; and one of the things I appreciate the most: it was based on a true story. What also made the movie interesting, is that it had a strong message about organ donation, which is not something I remember seeing before. It also lent me an opportunity to talk to my newly driving teenage son about reckless driving; and even getting in a car with a reckless driver.

From my perspective, it was well done and well acted. Even though Wake Forest is not a team I have ever paid attention to, I found myself cheering for them, as they fed on the emotion stemming from a tragedy, and had an unlikely, incredible season in 2006. The story featured the real life experience of linebacker Jon Abbate. It is a compelling story.

So, let me recommend, if you like emotional dramas involving families, or if you are a football fan, that you find time to watch: 5th Quarter. It was one of those movies, where I found myself being inspired to evaluate the challenges of my life; and to make the best of the challenges and blessings God has given me. ENJOY!

I LOST 21 POUNDS AND HAVE A BIGGER BUTT

Do you wonder how that could happen? It doesn't normally, I suppose, but it happened to me.
About a month ago, I heard about a contest being put on by Fit Me Up, a fitness group that is run by members of our church: Paul and Amber Theodore. We are honored to be the host site for many of their classes. They work with children and adults alike, to help them with fitness, but not just the physical. They are desiring to help people completely, in mind and body, as they also live out their relationship with Jesus in front of them. It is the total package. As they say on their website: "It's more than just fitness: it's a way of life." Let me encourage you to look them up:
www.fitmeupfitness.com

So, back to my bigger butt. The night before the 3 week contest began, my wife was really encouraging me to enter. It was a 3 week contest, to see who could lose the highest percentage of body weight in that amount of time. The idea, I think, was to motivate us to eat and exercise well, and then continue that lifestyle. Don't know if this had anything to do with the 21 days, but I hear it takes 21 days to learn a new habit. The timing was pretty good because I had decided I needed to do something, as I was not feeling good and definitely gaining weight.

I wasn't going to do the contest, but Teresa thought I could win and really wanted me to do it. The last thing I wanted was to not join the contest, then find out later that I would have won. So, I did it. Weighed in at 210 pounds, almost 50 pounds more than when I married my sweetheart some years ago. I think she was hoping I might lose some weight as well. Fit Me Up helped me stay with the plan to get things in order. So, with God's help, I disciplined myself for 3 weeks and did the best I could. I didn't really expect to win, but I knew this would help me in an important area. So, in the 3 weeks, I lost 21 pounds. I pray I won't put it all back on in the next 3 weeks!

So, how did I lose 21 pounds but get a bigger butt? Well, I ended up winning the contest. That means I take the prize money, put it in my wallet, and then in my back pocket, gives me a heavier, bigger butt...Got it?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Since I am now married to a mom, I get a closer view of what moms go through. And they go through a lot. Unfortunately, the children for whom they labor and love don't seem to appreciate it very much, or know how to show that appreciation...until they are grown. It is not that children don't, deep down, appreciate mom; but it seems to go against natural tendency for the children to really "get it" until they are older. That has continually reminded me that I probably took all mom did for granted, in my growing up years. For the past several years, however, I have been forever grateful for mom, who she is and all she has done. But, much of my praise has been within my own heart; when what I really need to do is tell her.

So, mom, let me just say that you are incredible. You have given your life to God, to love dad, and to love us, sacrificially. You still do that today, even though we now have our own families. I cannot say enough how special you and all that you mean to me. I am sorry I did not do a good enough job over the years telling you so. At least I don't remember doing so...enough. Your faithfulness and loyalty is unparalleled; and I have never doubted your love for me. You taught me many things growing up; but the most important things you taught me was just by your life: humbly serving those around you.

Have a wonderful birthday mom - you deserve it!
Greg