Monthly Archives: November 2006

Ok, I got my first picture book up.  It’s on the Picture Book link to the right of this page.  Go check it out and let me know what you think!

Michelle and I spent the weekend prettying up our apartment.  We hung curtains, a mirror, and re-arranged the bedroom.  Next task is to take care of the den.  Soon, we’ll have it in shape to invite people over to hang with us.  Alright!

This was the point of today’s message at church.  Something we read in church was Matthew 5:42, “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”  This reminded me of something that I’ve been doing for about a month now, which then reminded me of a another set of versus in Matthew.  Matthew 25: 35, 37, 40; “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in…  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?’… And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”

This reminded me of something I started about a month ago, and have met several interesting characters doing so.  Where we live there are a good amount of homeless gents hanging out in different areas.  I wanted to do something to help them, without giving them money cuz I could pretty much guaruntee that most of them would buy beer.  I figured a good ministry would be to give them bottles of water with a small card or tract in it.  One day I saw 3 guys sitting by the dumpster just outside of our apartment community on my way to Target, so I figured what a perfect time to start this.  I grabbed a 12 pack of water from Target and drove back over and met the with the guys.  They were very happy to have some water and just someone to talk to and hang out with.  We talked about their lives, my life, all sorts of things.  Two of the gents were living in a low budget apartment with a roommate and had no jobs, but the last guy was straight up homeless.  After about 20 minutes I said my goodbyes and wished them on their way.  The last guys name was John and since then, I’ve had the blessing to meet with him 4-5 more times and been able to give him several water bottles, a small can of soup, and a jacket and blanket since it’s been getting cooler.

All people matter to God, even the homeless.  Just because they don’t have worldy posessions and debts, doesn’t mean they have less value to God, and if doing something for another person is doing something for God, then NOT doing something for another person is NOT doing something for God.  Next time you see a homeless person or a person who just needs, think about the way you look at or feel towards them.  Usually you’ll feel uncomfortable and uneasy.  You wouldn’t feel that way seeing a person in a suit on the side of the road.

My challenge to everyone is to go to the store, grab a 12 pack of water (as low as $3, I think you can afford that), go to OvernightPrints.com and order a pack of 100 little cards with a Bible verse on them ($7-$8), and anytime you see a homeless person asking for help, roll your window down and hand it to them.  You’ll be glad to see their reaction, it’s normally a very good one.

It’s very easy to bless other peoples lives and to show God’s love and kindness to these guys.  If you are lucky, you’ll be able to develope a friendship with someone and be able to share God with them on a more personal level.  Most of these guys are very interesting and have great stories to tell.  Just sitting there and listening to them can bless your day like you wouldn’t believe.

If you are unable to afford the $8 to buy these cards, let me know, we’ll get you some.

That’s all

Congratulations on making it to my website! Please feel free to comment on anything and check out everything. Right now it’s still in the works, and I will be making it way cooler soon. I’ve finished the development of the picture book, now I need to just start making the different books to post. When I do, they will go up pretty fast and I will make new ones as often as I can.

If you have any sweet suggestions for things that I should add, I’ll see what I can do!

Enjoy, Leave lots of comments!!
(First comment has to be approved, the rest will be automatically added immediately after you post it)

“Blind guides!  You strain out a gnat, yet you gulp down a camel!” (Matthew 23:24)

I’m sure you’ve all heard the term “Don’t try and remove the spec from your friends eye until you’ve removed the log from your own”.

Today’s devo was on Hypocrisy.  Jesus was talking to the Pharisees who were just really screwed up.  They were the biggest hypocrits of all time.

The lesson behind the devo today was to be careful with hypocrisy.  Be careful not to go around telling people who to raise their kids or live their life, when your’s is in disarray.

“There’s freedom from hypocrisy.  If you are prone to focus on the gnats in other people’s lives, then begin by letting go of things that really don’t matter.  Quit holding others to a standard you can’t hold to yourself.  Freedom comes when we extend the grace and forgiveness God gives us to those around us.”

Bottom line:
“When you put others first, the hypocrite in you slowly fades into oblivion.”

“Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not concieted; does not act improperly; is not selfish… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Today’s devotional was about blending families. It talks about 2 families joining together, particularly a man and woman in their 2nd marriage. Since that really doesn’t relate to me, or anyone even close to me, I went ahead and applied it to my life concerning my recent marriage and joining of her family into mine. Because I had known her family longer than I had known my wife prior to meeting her, I had just always seen them as these people. Then one day I fell in love with their daughter and married her. Since then I’ve been adjusting to the fact that they are no longer just my friends parents, but now my parents (in law) too. It’s not that I don’t like them or anything, it’s just that it’s taking more time than I expected to adjust to them as my family too. At least it’s been easy and fun, and we’ve never had any negative feelings, that makes it alot easier!

I love my new family!

For those who are in the other situation of marrying a woman who has already been in a marriage and has a kid, or you are the kid, just know that God is with you and wants to help you adjust. Just remember that “love is patient” and it may take time to fully adjust and find your place.

The passage associated with this Devotion is 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

I started a little, very short, devotion that my mother gave me.  It’s ironic too that the first devotion in it is about parents (I doubt she knew that )  It’s a devotion for men, so that’s why it is talking to men.

“When it is in your power, do not withhold good from the one to whom it is due.” – Proverbs 3:27

When you get older, it’s really easy to blame the problems of from your childhood on your parents, and then you’re off the hook for something in your own life.

As you get older, you begin to understand that why your parents did the things they did.  At the time, you thought they were crazy and didn’t know what they were talking about, but as you got older you began to realize that they were actually right.  As a dad, husband, or just a grown man, you can relate to some of the pressures that they were facing.

Your parents may have ‘traumatized’ you and treated you unfairly, but they were also passing down important wisdom and knowledge.  So focus on the good that has come of it now, and not on the bad that it was then.

Take some time to visit with your parents, either in person or writing them a letter.  Tell them that you are grateful for how they raised you and kept you alive!  Let them know that you appreciate them being your parents and you love them.

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” – Mark Twain.

Mom, Dad,  I want to thank you for how you raised me.  I know that alot of times I was mad at you for not letting me do certain things, or making me do certain things that at the time I thought was crazy and you just didn’t want me to have any fun.  Now that I am older and I am more aware of things, I see now that you were right and I was the ignorant one.  Thank you for keeping me safe and raising me how you did.  You guys did a good job and I’m proud of who I am, and who my parents are!  No matter what I say or how long it is between visits or phone calls, I want you to know that I love you.  You guys are great!

Your Son,
Chris!

Thanks for dropping by my site.  This is my personal site where you can see my blogs, my Digital work, my photo books, and more.

Be sure to come back and see all the new additions that are happening all the time.  I’ll be making posts every day on a variety of topics, so keep checking to make some comments!