Today is Thanksgiving! 

Are you thankful? 

Out of all that you are thankful for – what tops the list?

Man!  I am so messed up today!  I keep thinking that today is Thursday!  But today is Wednesday – The reason that I keep thinking that it is Thursday is because I am having to get everything done a day earlier, because tomorrow is Thursday – which is Thanksgiving and since I am not going to be in the office tomorrow, today in a lot of ways is just like Thursday, except it is really Wednesday!  Have I got you confused?  Do you know what today is?  Oh – never mind – just enjoy today whatever day it is in your head!

I am a little late writing today, because I have been in the kitchen all morning cooking a meal that we had the privilege of serving to the teachers in one of our local elementary schools.  We were helping the PTA to say:  “WE APPRECIATE YOU!”  Most of you that know me, know that I am a little particular when it comes to these kinds of events.  In my opinion – if it’s worth doing – it needs to be done first class!  So some of our church staff/volunteers and some of the PTA Volunteers came together to serve a first class meal made up of ham, green beans, mac and cheese (the old fashioned kind), rolls and apple cobbler!  We had the teachers come on in and take a seat and then we served them their drinks, food and dessert!  I think that everyone of them really enjoyed it and I think it was an extra special treat to be able to sit down and be waited on!

First, a word about our teachers – they work hard and they give of themselves in ways that most people just don’t ever seem to understand.  They need to hear and feel us saying “thank you” a lot more often than they do.  People tend to complain the very moment that something does not go the way they want it to, but fail to say thanks for all of the things that go right in a typical day!  So – Thank you teachers for getting up early and staying up late.  Thank you for battling run away noses and frustrating coughing spells.  Thank you for teaching our children the things that they need to help them advance and grow in life.  It is simple, but we mean it:  Thank You!

Second, I want to talk a moment to talk about service.  One of the things that I heard again and again today, was the unbelief in the voices of those that were being served.  They just could not believe that someone would do this for them.  They were surprised that someone would want to keep their tea glass full.  They just could not believe that someone would want to fix them a special meal – not catered, but home-made!

It is really sad that “SERVICE” surprises people!  I think the reason that it is such a big surprise is because there is so little of it!  Here is the really crazy thing:  My feet are tired and my back hurts, but I really feel good, because I really feel like maybe my service to others today made a difference in their day!  The funny thing about serving others is this:  We rarely look forward to it, but after it is over – we are sure glad that we did!  Who can you serve this week?  Think about it!

Be careful with your TURKEY!

Where can I get one of these to take to my Family Thanksgiving?

The physical and emotional part of me is living in this world, but the rest of me (mental and spiritual) is living in a spiritual place that I think most people call and think of as Heaven.  I know that this most likely sound crazy to some of you, but I think I really began to understand the whole concept in a lot better way today.

I don’t think of myself as an oddball!  I like to think of myself as somewhat normal.  I like fried chicken, sweet tea and just about anything that is chocolate!  I love life and really seek to get the most out of “every day” living.  I like people and enjoy spending time with and interacting with most most of the time!  But there are just some days when I can’t seem to get or understand anybody.  It’s like I am in my body, but can’t get out to make a connection!

Today was one of those days!  I was trying really hard to connect.  To understand and be understood!  Today was a great day – don’t get me wrong – there was not anything wrong with the day!  It’s just that I had such high expectations.  I thought that today we might all be able to take it up a notch spiritually and maybe we did!  It’s hard for me to see, feel and figure that out, because part of me is here and part of me is there!  The part of me that is here is so excited about the possibilities!  The part of me that is there has such a high expectation and for such a totally different reason.  I think that my judgments get crossed in the mail and this can be very confusing!  I will continue to work on it and I hope that understanding will bring blessing and growth for all of us!

I am not sure that any of this will make any sense to any of you, but I feel a little bit better by taking the time to just share my thoughts!  I hope that my life with God in Heaven is making a difference in my life with you here on earth – If so then, everything is much better than I could dream or imagine!

I used to not really be a big fan of the beach, but then I had two little girls and now I love the beach!  My favorite thing about the beach is going “boogie boarding” with my girls.  We can literally spend hours waiting for and catching wave after wave.  The best waves are the ones that grab you and take you all the way back to the shore!  To catch a good wave, you have to be patient and you have to be focused!  You can’t get distracted by all of the other things that are going on at the beach.  You have to get out into the water.  You have to get in just the right place.  You have to wait for just the right wave, because not just any wave will do.  When the right wave comes – you have to be ready and jump on!  Then you better hold on, because you are going for an amazing ride!

Riding A Wave With Hope!

Our church is at a place where we are getting ready to catch a wave.  If we will pay attention and keep our eyes on the prize – we will not miss it, and we will all enjoy an amazing ride.  We need to be patient – knowing and trusting that God has  plan and we are in the center of it.  We need to stay focused on what is really important and not allow ourselves to be distracted by the many different things that compete for our attention.  We don’t make the wave – God sends it and God has us as a church at just the right place and just the right time to catch a “God-Made” wave.  A wave that will take us as a church into our community to make a real and meaningful difference in people’s lives!  The wave is coming – are you ready?

     My name is Geoffrey, and I’m very fortunate to be able to job -shadow my pastor, Michael Joe. I’m supposed to be job- shadowing someone so I can see what its like in the job life.  I’ve seen how  Michael Joe is so friendly to others and in how he talks to them and how he reacts to things, people, and problems. I’ve learned that when people have problems, weather it be with marriages, friends, or any other problems that you need to make sure that your relationship with God is right! Then things may start to shape up for you.   

     I hope that everyone will have a great week and I’m looking forward to presenting and telling my career teacher what a great experience I had with Michael Joe.

I just wanted to share some quick thoughts with you today.  I have a shadow – a young man from our church is following me around today to see what all a person in the profession of ministry does.  He is going to be a guest blogger today, so while I am typing up this blog he is working on something to share with all of you.

I just wanted to remind you of some awesome things about God!

GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING!  I can never tell God a secret that will surprise Him, because I don’t have any secrets from my all knowing God.  We like to think that we are hiding stuff from God, but we can’t - not even if we wanted to – He knows it all.  God knows everything about you – when you went to bed, how you got up, the number of hairs on your head.  God knows when you are happy or sad.  God knows things about you and your life that you do not even know!

GOD LOVES YOU!  God loves you with an incredible and amazing love!  Most people are trying to figure out ways to cause God to love them more.  We do not earn our love from God.  We cannot earn our love from God.  God’s love is sacrificial.  God was willing to give His most precious possession – His Son Jesus as a sacrifice for you and for me.  God loves you so much that He gave you Jesus before you ever even thought to offer to give anything to Him, so know this:  God loves you with the most incredible love right now in this very moment with as much love as you could ever be loved with!

GOD HATES SIN!  God loves you, but He cannot ignore your sin, and He cannot pretend that it does not exist.  God is perfect – Holy and whenever we sin we practice disobedience to God.  Every time we commit a sin, a sin debt is accrued to our account – a debt that we cannot pay.  The payment for sin is death!  But God wants you and me to live with Him forever and this is why He sent Jesus to die on the cross.  Jesus never sinned, so he did not owe any payment for sin.  So when Jesus died on the cross – He was paying for our sins by making the choice to die for us!  If you accept Jesus’ payment fo sin, you can have everlasting life and meaningful relationship with God.

We have much to be thankful for – most especailly our relationship with God through Jesus.  Don’t take it for granted and don’ waste it – not even for one second of one day!

Last night Joy and I ran across this video and we must have watched it a hundred times.  It appears to be the Senior Adult Choir from FBC in Columbia.  They are taking a swing at singing some of the really modern day popular and contemporary music.  A few of the songs can even be found in todays “Top Ten”!  Watch the whole video and see if you can figure it out!  Amazing and funny – I hope you enjoy it!