Pastor Linus

expensive gifts... fancy new clothes... extravagant decortions... hectic schedules... commercialism... trying to please everyone except for the One who matters...

have we forgotten what Christmas is all about?

luckily, we have linus here to remind us...



"on earth peace, goodwill toward men"

Barefoot

yesterday's message at church focused on taking action for the helpless. Matthew 25:40 says "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me"...meaning, what ever you do towards others "less fortunate", or in need, you are doing toward Jesus himself. it's not about trying to justify things in your mind...it's about being obidient to God...even if it's inconvinent.

so, next time you see a homeless person on the side of the road asking for money, don't see a homeless person looking to score his next buzz, see Jesus. Could you spare some change for Jesus?

or, when your driving down the road and see someone with a flat tire....do you see some random person, or do you see Jesus? Would you help Jesus change a flat?

perhaps you see someone at a shoe store struggling to put shoes on their childrens feet. would you buy them a pair? after all, those shoes aren't for some little child you've never met before, those shoes are for Jesus.

and that's exactly what we did yesterday. hundreds of people did a simple, but inconvinent act...we unlaced our tennis shoes and dress shoes, slipped off our crocs and flip flops, unbuckled our boots and high heels, placed them in a box, and went home barefoot. see, we have closets filled with shoes, but Jesus doesn't.

i know that God is going to present me with so many ways that I can serve Him, even if it's not convinent. I am eager to see how I will respond. Will I just see another faceless person, or will i see Jesus? Do you see Him?

click here to listen to the link of yesterday's sermon: take action for the helpless

click here for the soles 4 souls website

Matthew 25:34-40
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Jackson the Comedian

this is my youngest nephew. his name is jackson. he likes to tell knock-knock jokes. he also likes to eat cake and ice cream. when all these things combine, laughter ensues. enjoy!

Run, Part II

well, yesterday i ran in the rock n roll san antonio marathon with my sister (and over 30,000 others). my sister and i didn't run the half-marathon to win the entire event...or with a specific time in mind as our goal... we ran the half-marathon with one goal, to finish! finish that which had began as a suggestion and a joke several months ago. finish that which i had forgetten about and given up on several times over the past several months. finish that which i hadn't trained for in several months (unless you count the 3 miles i ran two days prior), finish that which i had said i would do, only to forget about and had allowed the noveltly and newness of the idea to wear off several months earlier. to finish.

so, we finished. there was no prize money or big camera circus involved for people who finish where we did...in 12,132nd place. but, we never wanted that anyway. we got our prize...we reached our goal...we finished!

Run!

a friend of mine sent me this video clip on saturday. he knew i was running in the rock n roll san antonio marathon the following morning, and i guess thought i needed some inspiration to run..."even when your feet hurt, run... even when your knees ache, run... even when your mind says stop, run." thank you, mr. marks. this video inspired me to do more than just keep my feet moving...

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful...

sometimes it's nice when life gives you distractions... those things that allow your mind to drift off to happier thoughts... to help you forget all the frustrations that happen... the confusion... the anger... the saddness... the disappointment... the feeling that something is being lost... slipping out of your grasp...

those distractions are great...even if it's non-stop Christmas music on the radio... in early november... with 84 degree weather beaming down.

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...