It's Over

Today is the last day of 2007 (like you couldn't figure that one out). This past year has brought about many good things in my life. Over the last few days I have shared some of those things with you.

I wish I could sit here today and tell you that my walk with Christ is where it ought to be, my relationship with my wife is where it should be, my work effort is where it should be, and that life is all and well. However, I just can't tell you that.

The fact is I hope that it never will be. See, if I ever get to the point where all of the above is where I want it to be then I have stopped growing as a person. When we become satisfied with where we are at, it is at that point we lose perspective in this life. When we think we are where we need to be with our walk with Christ, we tend to not read, pray, tithe, or witness like we should. When I think my relationship with my wife is where it needs to be, then I stop doing the little things that make her happy, I stop caring for her feelings, I stop thinking about her and start thinking about me. When I think I am working like I should, I stop visioning what God has in store, I stop contacting like I should, and I spend way to much time on YouTube.

The point is this. We should never be satisfied with where we are at in our life. We should always want to serve Christ more, love our spouses more, and work harder than ever before.

In 2008 I want to draw closer to Christ then ever before, I want wife to know and feel that she is the most important thing to me, and I want to work harder than I have ever worked in my life.

The Good and Not So Good: Part 2

2007 was a great year for Erin and I. Through this year we experienced many ups and a few downs. All and all this has been a great year. Tonight I sit in a room with all of Erin's family.

We are so blessed to have family. For many people they are not as blessed as we are to have so many loving people to care about them. WE ARE!!! My family and Erin's family have been so great during our short time of marriage.

The Good #2- This year Erin and I were able to go on several trips to Tenn. (mostly for Erin to shop) but also just to get away. We also spent a week at the beach with my family. It was a great week (even when our banana boat flipped out in shark land).

This year God has blessed us in so many ways. As this year ends we are truly blessed.

The Bad #2- There were so many things that happened in our world this past year. One story that makes me mad even today is the Michael Vick story. What makes me mad has nothing to do with Vick himself. Here is the #2 bad thing from this year. The fact that everybody in the world wanted Vick crucified for the way he treated his dogs, yet those same people allow hundreds of unborn babies to be killed everyday. That makes me sick. Don't get me wrong what Vick did was wrong, however we are in serious trouble in America when we put the lives of dogs more important then human life itself.

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

May God bless you on this most Holy Day!!!!

The Good and Not so Good

As I countdown to the greatest moment and not so greatest moments of this year I will start with the number 3 and then countdown to number 1.

Today I will reflect on sports. Erin says that I am obsessed with this concept. I say its my getaway from life. I don't which one of us is right, but I do know this. I am a die hard Gamecock. Don't misunderstand me, the Gamecocks are not the top priority in my life (Jesus and Erin would be at the top), but I do keep up with just about everything that goes on in Columbia. So as we countdown, I will talk about the Gamecocks today, and Jesus and Erin was the year ends.

The good #3- The gamecocks opened up the 2007 football season on a roll. For once would this be the year that we actually went through a whole season playing good football. With a 5th year Senior QB, a hard nosed running back, all conference defensive players, this is going to one special year. To top it off, Erin let me buy season tickets for the first time in my life. It all started on the first Saturday in September with a win over ULL . The next Saturday we go down between the hedges and beat those Bulldogs (2-0). The following Saturday SC State comes to town (3-0). The Gamecocks are now in the top 25 heading down to face the #2 team in the nation. The Gamecocks lose to LSU (not the end of the world) and fall to 3-1 and the schedule is shaping up nice. Next up was the Bulldogs of Mississippi State (Gamecocks win 4-1). The Gamecocks are now ranked #11 and host Kentucky on Thursday night. After a quick ran shower, two Eric Norwood defensive TDs, the Gamecocks have won the game and move into the top 10 at #8 in the country. Then it happened.

The Bad #3- The gamecocks head to Chapel Hill, NC to show who the real Carolina is. The first half could be listed under the good part of this review, however what happened in the second half proved to be the first crack in what turn out to be a very disappointing season. The Gamecocks lead 21-3 going into halftime only to hold on to a 21-16 victory (6-1 and ranked #6). What happened next is still a blur. Vandy comes to town and lays the smack down on us, we go to UT make a big comeback and take the lead only to get beat in OT, Arkansas is still running on our defense, Tebow is still scoring TDs, and then Clemson comes into town where we blow yet another lead and get beat on a last second field goal. After that we are 6-6, not going to a bowl game, and we are going to have to listen to all the Clemson crap for another 365 days.

In 2008 the Gamecocks should be much improved with a new DC (defensive coordinator), special teams coach, and lots of returning starters. OH, did I forget to mention that Steve Spurrier is still our head coach. The only question mark for this team will be at QB. Other than that, maybe just maybe it will be one heck of a year for Gamecock Football.

Baby Sitting

Well tonight we have the chance to baby sit our little niece Rilee. This is Erin's sisters baby.

So far it has been a pretty uneventful night. Erin is now giving her her bath, so I thought I would get in a quick blog post.

As promised I will post one good thing and one not so good thing that took place this past year. However, it will be tomorrow before I get around to it.

Today has been good. It was one of those days when you get home knowing that you have worked your hinney off, and got something done. Which brings me to this thought. Why does this not happen every day that I live? Christ called us to work and live as unto the Lord and not unto men. When I think about why Jesus was born (and I hope you know it wasn't on Dec. 25) then I ought to go to bed every night knowing that I have worked my hinney off for my Lord.

Tis The Season

Just a few more days (ok about a week) left to get all that Christmas shopping done. For the first time since I have been married, I have all my shopping done. Ok, I must confess it wasn't to hard this year. We put new floors in our kitchen and bought new lamps for the living room. There still may be a little surprise for Erin in her stocking when she wakes up Christmas morning.

We also just got back from the mountains as part of our Christmas this year. We had a great time getting away for the weekend just being together. As we this year comes to an end I am going to give you my 3 top moments form this past year and my 3 most disappointing moments from this past year, starting tomorrow.

Thought for today: "Don't give up, don't ever give up"- Jimmy V

Jimmy V gave one of the most powerful speeches right before he died at the ESPY awards presented by ESPN. Dieing of cancer he made this statement. So no matter what you are going through today. Don't give up, don't ever give up.

Thought of the Day

Just something to think about on this day. Its not from the devotion but I heard it on a message the other day.

"Is the work you are doing for God in this world, destroying the work of God within you."

As a minister or a lay person we can often get so busy doing the work of God that we often neglect our personal walk with Christ. We can never be who God created and called us to be if we don't spend time with Jesus daily.

Amazing

Amazing is the only word that I could find in my little head to describe what happened yesterday. Ever talked with someone a day after they had brain surgery. That's right BRAIN SURGERY. Last night I called down to Atlanta to check on Griffin. After a short conversation with his dad, Griffin got on the phone. After I hung up, all I wanted to do was fall on my face before God and give him praise. Sure the doctors and nurses played a big roll in Griffin's surgery, but we all know it is God who has done the miracle in Griffin's life. Griffin has had so much courage through all of this. Continue to pray for him and his family as they all recover.

Heart of the Problem: Thought of the Day

Relief from our problems is not found in this world, the only relief from our problems can be found in the WORD."

Today's study was on peace. So many people do not have true peace in their hearts. Everything looks good on the outside, but there is that one thing in them that has yet to be fulfilled. Its the peace that only God can bring.

People try to fill that void in their life with so many things that are found in this world. Money, alcohol, drugs, promotions, pornography, power, popularity, and the list could go on and on. These things may bring a quick fix to your problem and give you peace at the time, but in the end will only lead to more misery. Trust me I have been there and tried that.

The only thing that can fill that void in our life is Jesus. God's world says in John 16:33 that in ME (speaking of Jesus) you may have peace. When we have problems in our lives we must not run to this world, but rather we must run to Jesus. He is the only one that can give us the peace in our lives that will last for all eternity.

Heart of The Problem: Thought of the Day

Today's thought is this.

"We are all just a repentant prayer away from a change of heart."

God is in the business of changing us. However, there are steps that we must take in order for this to happen. The most important step is that we must repent. If we never repent of our sins then God can not change our heart. God does not force us to change. He gives each one of us the opportunity to change. When we make the decision to repent then God begins to change our heart.

Do you need a change of heart today? Why not repent of your sins and ask God to give you that change.

Final Update

I am going to paste from Griffin's care page what the final update is for the night. Thanks to all who have lifted him and his family up in prayer today.

The surgery is...................................OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was successful. Thank you, Lord and thank you everyone for praying. It was about an 11 hour ordeal today, and we are tired mentally and physically. However, we are so excited and grateful at the goodness of God and His people. During the surgery, they thought they had removed it all but when they did an angiogram while still in the Operating Room, they saw some they didn't get so they removed more. After that, they did another angiogram just to make sure and they still saw the tiniest spot of it left. So they removed a little more and repeated the angiogram one last time. They all feel satisfied that it is all gone now. So Praise the Lord!! Right now he is still in recovery and then they will move him to the ICU where we stayed for 3 weeks early on. Please just pray he will remain very stable overnight and that he will recover quickly. Hopefully, his left side will still be as strong as it was before surgery. Depending on the recovery rate we could be home in Easley as early as THIS Sunday or Monday!!!! I can't think that far ahead yet though. I just want us to have a smooth night at this point. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for all of you and especially our God. Can't thank you enough.

Update

Just wanted to let everyone know what is going on with Griffin's surgery.

I just got off the phone with Barney (Griffin's dad) and this is what he told me.

Right now everything is going as planned. They have done an angeogram (sp) and found that they still had some more work to do on AVM that they are removing from Griffin's brain. They will continue to work on it, take another angeogram and then see where they stand. They took Griffin back this morning around 9am and he has been back in surgery since then.

Please continue to pray for the doctors and those working with him. Also please pray for the family as they wait.

I will keep the blog updated as I get the updates.

Tuesday Two Step

I just got back from the big city of Atlanta Georgia. Once again I am amazed at how many people can actually be on one road at the same time. I would love to tell you where I stayed and what I had to eat while there, but you not not believe me. Lets just say that for a small town redneck like myself, it was a big deal.

1. Please pray. The reason for going to Atlanta was to see Griffin and his family before he had brain surgery today. The doctor talked like the surgery will be a good one. With that said, Griffin and his family need our prayers today. Lets pray that God would guide the hands of those working on him and that the recovery will be quick and easy. If all goes well they may get to come home by the weekend or early next week. We have seen God do some big things, I cant wait to see what else he does.

2. I have started a new devotional called "The Heart of the Problem." I went through this as a freshman in college and it had a major impact on my life. The other day I decided to pull it back out and go through it once again. In the days to come I will be sharing some thoughts of the day from the book. So far God has shown me new and fresh things while going through this book. Here is a quote from the book that has made the most impact so far.

"Do not underestimate the cleansing power available when anyone approaches God as a repentant sinner who has seen the sin and wants to be restored and renewed."

Wow. I would love to dissect this even more but you would get tired reading what I have to say. So in short, all I have to is that forgiveness is ours when we come to Christ, seeing our sin, repent of that sin, and truly want to be restored. Many people want to be forgiven of their sin but do not want to be restored. God wants to cleanse us and make us new again. Will you let Him?