What has happened to the world today?

There have been a lot of things lately that have had me wondering what ever had to the world to get it to where it is today.

Please let me know if any of the following have ever happened to you:

1. You are driving and minding your own business when someone cut's you off and you don't even respond in any sort of way... only to have the person who cut you off than flip you off as if you have done something to them instead of vice versa.

2. You are in a Wal-Mart and smile and say hello to half a dozen people who not only don't say "hello" back but instead frown at you and than mutter to whoever they are with as if you have done something weird or unusual.

3. Been waiting for some people to pull out of their parking spot only to have someone else pull in when it was obvious that you had been waiting there several minutes for the spot only to have them glare at you in a challenging way.

4. Smiled and said hello back to a small child who has walked up to you and said hello first only to have the parent snatch the child away and look at you as if you were recently featured on America's Most Wanted sex offender of the week episode.

5. Been carrying a baby in a stroller (or other device) where you were in obvious difficulty and had to watch as others hurried to open the door for themselves and not take the one or two moments it would have taken to hold the door open for you.

6. You have been honked at by another car when your light turned green and you did not immediately roar to life and push for 0-60 in 7 seconds.

7. Made ANY type of customer service phone call to wind up waiting for 5+ minutes before finally speaking to a person who acted as if they were having to pay for your situation out of their own pockets.

8. Waited patiently in a line only to have people deliberately cut in front of you and look at you with a bad attitude.

9. Paid $3-$5 extra dollars because of a "convenience fee" when you are just paying a bill.

10. Dealt at all with any government employee only to receive the "if it doesn't affect my paycheck I will take my sweet time about it and act like helping you is a big bother" attitude that is so common is seems as if that is what they are trained to do when they are hired.

If you have ever experienced ANY of the previous 10 situations (which I bet you have), than you understand what I am talking about.

What has happened to the world that I used to know?

Customer service used to be a priority to a company and now it is something that cost you extra money to receive (try carrying a bag on to an airplane).

I remember when people used to bake cakes to give to new neighbors to welcome them to the neighborhood and now I have lived in my current house for 2.5 years and there hasn't been 5 people that have ever talked to me.

People used to pride themselves on being friendly to one another but now friendliness is frowned upon (literally).

Every commercial that has a man in it portrays him as a bungling idiot and every commercial with a woman in it has her portrayed in a sleazy manner... is this what the world has become?

People used to dress up for Halloween to simply have fun, but now it seems their goal is to entice and seduce others (count the number of playboy bunny outfits you see this year).

In the past I have used blogs to try to draw conclusions and to try to come up with solutions but this one is meant for people to vent on and share their funny stories of how other people have been rude to them or for people to point out things that they see as wrong with our world today.

What will you be remembered for?

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1

In the past couple of weeks I have been researching some of the old High Schools that I have attended and I have even gotten back into contact with some of the people that I knew of were friends with. I had some really great times in some of the High Schools that I grew up in and I was really interested in seeing just how much change has happened with some of the old friends that I used to have while growing up.

In coming into contact with many of my friends from the past (who have just been great people by the way - you know who you are), I have found a couple of things that have really surprised me.

1. I have been really surprised by just how many people I grew up with who are not Christian or religious in any way (this is not saying something negative about these people, it is just an observation). While growing up I was an atheist and when I was 24 years old I became a Christian and I was truly wondering if anyone might have some insight at to why. Geographically the schools are located in Japan, Texas, and North Carolina. I am very open to input and would love to receive some different perspectives about why this is.

2. I have also been surprised to find out that not too many people even remember who I am (I bet I got a bunch of laugh out loud's from that one). I am naturally a very introspective person so needless to say this got me to thinking about why only a few people would even remember me. I mean, come on, I grew up knowing 1,000's of people and hundreds I considered my friends; why would such a small amount even remember me? Is there something about my personality that has pushed people away or is there something about my personality that people found hard to develop a close relationship with? I have seen that the people that I have just gotten into contact with have developed great friendships with others that we went to school with, so what happened with me? Is this due to mistakes that I made in the past (I did make a few doozies in my time) or is this due to constantly moving around? I am asking for some input on this so that I can see if there is something that maybe I can change about myself to make myself more accessible to others so that I can develop some lifelong friendships.

I would just like to challenge everyone reading this to contemplate their own lives and look inside of themselves to see if they are living the kind of lives in which the people they are surrounded with will remember them in 10-20 years (learn from my mistakes), and if they are the kind of person that people will always remember, what will people always remember you for?

All of the loss that I have recently seen...

Recently there has been a number of people that have passed away that I have known of.  There have been those famous people who have passed that everyone already knows about and there have been a couple of people in my own personal life that have passed away recently as well.  

These other people are not famous or rich (I am not putting down anyone who is famous or rich that has recently passed away), but they were still people who had potential and lives in which they impacted many people.

The first one was a young man named Glen (he was only a couple of years older than me) who passed away recently.  Glenn was a person who attended the church that I pastored at last yea and he was a very good man.  He left behind a beautiful child named Emma and a special woman named Lois.  He was very educated and was involved in the ministry and he liked to help people.  He helped to make the world a better place. If the world was filled with people like Glenn, the world would be a lot more peaceful than it is.

The second person was a child named Michael who was 2 years old.  His father is a Marine named Brian who just had back surgery and is in a wheelchair.  Brian is currently at a hospital having a nervous breakdown and could use your prayers.  Michael is survived by Brian, his mother Melissa and Joyce, not to mention his siblings.  Michael had the kind of smile that made you believe that anything was possible and he even dressed up as the Flash for Halloween.  Eyes couldn't get any more bluer than little Michael's.

How many of us have been affected by the loss of a loved one in our lives and in what way were we impacted by those that we have loved and lost?  How long will we remember those that have gone on before us?  

I remember a girl that I knew that passed away 18 years ago when I was 16.  I remember the anguish, the pain, and the despair, as well as the things about this person that made me care for her.  Even to this day I still think about her and I wonder if I will ever forget.

I can't help but imagine what people would say about me if I passed away tonight.  What legacy will I leave behind, who have I hurt, who have I helped, is the world different because of my life? 

The big question is what will people say about you if you were to pass away?  Is the world better because of you?  Did you help someone to believe in something?  Did you help other people?  Did you love as much as you could have?

I invite everyone reading to share some stories that they might have about someone they have lost and I invite everyone to answer the questions that I have asked.  If you are one of the people blessed enough to have known either Glenn, or Michael, than I encourage you to share what you feel.  I also strongly encourage everyone to please direct your prayers to both Glenn and Michael's family.  I can only imagine just how much they might need those prayers right now.

With Hope

This is not at all 

How we thought it was supposed to be

We had so many plans for you

We had so many dreams

And now you've gone away

And left us with the memories of your smile

And nothing we can say

And nothing we can do

Can take away the pain

The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope

We can say goodbye with hope

'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end,

And we can grieve with hope

'Cause we believe with hope

(There's a place by God's grace)

There's a place where we'll see your face again

And never have I known

Anything so hard to understand

And never have I questioned more

The wisdom of God's plan

But through the cloud of tears

I see the Fathers smile and say well done

And I imagine you

Where you wanted most to be

Seeing all your dreams come true

'Cause now you're home

And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor

'Cause we believe that everything

God promised us is true, so ...

So we can cry with hope

And say goodbye with hope

We wait with hope

And we ache with hope

We hold on with hope

We let go with hope

God bless,

chris g.

A song for a tough year and a half...

Today's blog is going to begin with a chris g. fun fact :)  

I have been a writer of poetry, song's, short stories, and play's since I was about 14 years old and have often used the written word to attempt to express in words what my heart feels (Maybe one day I will share some of my writings).  I'm not saying that I have done a great job but I have won $, rewards, and scholarships based on my past writings.  I was actually about to go to UNCG for their creative writing program but I felt God leading me to finish college at John Wesley College which I found to be a blessing to me in my life, ministry, and spiritual growth (I find I need to keep growing so much everyday).  

We all hear songs that we have to share, or read story's that touch us, and sometimes we even hear a song in which the lyrics touch us so deeply that we have to share them as an extension of what we are feeling in our own personal lives.  Today is just a small blog about a song that recently has touched me.  I have had a rough time for a little while now with some thing's that I have been dealing with and this song seems to express it better than I can.  How often in life have we felt tossed about by a storm?  How often do we feel as if we are drowning in life's troubles?  How often do we feel as if our world is upside down?

As you read the lyrics I encourage you to maybe share with me some of the storms in life you have gone through recently... if you want to place it anonymously, than there is no way for me to know who it is that sent it (not that I would even try to search), so feel free to send your "Storm story" to me anonymously.

Storm by Lifehouse

How long have I been in this storm? 

So overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form 

Water's getting harder to tread 

With these waves crashing over my head 

If I could just see you 

Everything would be alright 

If I'd see you 

This darkness would turn to light 

And I will walk on water 

And you will catch me if I fall 

And I will get lost into your eyes 

And everything will be alright 

And everything is alright...

I know you didn't bring me out here to drown 

So why am I ten feet under and upside down? 

Barely surviving has become my purpose 

Because I'm so used to living underneath the surface 

If I could just see you 

Everything would be alright 

If I'd see you 

This darkness would turn to light 

And I will walk on water 

And you will catch me if I fall 

And I will get lost into your eyes 

And everything will be alright...

My testimony...

It has been months since I last blogged (not like anyone missed it, j/k, I hope), and I thought that I would share a small thing that I did for the Wednesday night bible study at church.  It is simply my testimony...

In June of 1999 my life was changed in ways that I had never before thought were possible.  Way to start out my story, huh?  Would it do any better if I started from what I was like before my life was changed?

Before June of 1999 I was not the kind of person that would be standing before you now.  I was not the kind of guy that you would want to have dating your daughter, I was not the guy you would let house sit for you, I was not the guy that would go to college, I was not the guy who would graduate high school, I was not the guy who would even live to see 25 years of age, and to tell the truth I wasn’t even the guy you could trust with the Happy Meals at McDonalds. 

The guy that I used to be was scum.  I was the guy who used drugs and alcohol, I was the guy who hurt every person around him, I was the guy who hated the world, and I was the guy who was an atheist who not only didn’t believe in God, I didn’t believe in love.

But let me tell you about a weird thing that happened in 1999.  I got out of the Army and one day I decided I was going to take a chance and believe that there was a God who not only existed, but a God that loved me.

From that moment my life was drastically changed.  I went to college (got 2 bachelor’s degree’s), got off of drugs and alcohol (clean for 10 years now), and I feel a joy that the worst times of my life could not erase.  I have changed only because of what God has done through me.  I was worthless and priceless at the same time.  I was of no value to the world, but Jesus found me to be a jewel without measure.  I owe everything to the one who changed me into what I never thought I could become...I owe everything to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.                                                Chris G.              5/20/09

Just a little while longer I wanna pray

I can't get You off my mind so I came to say

Thank You Lord, just for loving me

Many times I do forget

Every need that You have met

Oh thank You Lord, I know You show in me

You are there when I am down and out

You're holding me, Your love is so amazingIt changed me

Here I am with all I have

I raise my hands to worship You

I wanna say thank you, Lord thank you

For everything, for who You are

You cover me, You touch my heart

I wanna say thank you

I could have died in my sin but You saved me

I didn't have any hope at all

You gave me peace divine, strength to carry on

I should have been the one to pay

But instead You took my place

Amazing grace, it's more than just a song

Even though I don't deserve Your love for me

You look beyond my fault and You showed me mercy

Here I am with all I have

I raise my hands to worship You

I wanna say thank you, Lord thank you

For everything, for who You are

You cover me, You touch my heart

I wanna say thank you...

The above song is by the Katina's and the lyics just fits so well.

Showing some kindness...

This morning as I was teaching our Sunday School class an interesting topic came up that I am very passionate about and it wasn't even me that brought it up...

I was teaching on how big God is and somehow, someone brought up how Christians are supposed to be encourager's of one another and the world.  (Either my age is showing or my memory is not great, but I can not for the life of me remember how we jumped from the hugeness of God to this subject.)

Ah, I remember now, we were talking about how God has talked to us, and we were sharing things that God has told each of us individually to do, or things that God has told us we need to improve upon.  A wonderful person shared how his wife and him often seek to encourage and compliment others because that is what they feel God has called them to do and I couldn't agree more.

This is something that I am very passionate about.  If you have known me for any length of time than I have more than likely given you some type of compliment.  It might be your hair looks nice today, your selection of tie was a good one (I gave that one today), you are doing a great job, keep up the good work, God has given you a talent, you are wonderfully skilled, etc.  

I honestly believe in the power of a compliment and I think that we are supposed to help the people in the world to feel better about themselves.  The world is looking for something to make itself feel good (that's why we have drugs, alcohol, addictions), and the truest way to feel better than you ever have comes through the love and power of Jesus Christ.  Believe me, I know, I had already tried everything else before I became a Christian.  Nothing worked.

The bad news is that there are a lot of people that will get offended if you compliment them.  There are people that don't want to be happy, and there are people that are just looking to be angry because they are not happy in life.  That is a part of life and it is something that you can not change, you can just do your part and love others.  

The thing that makes it worse from a Christian standpoint is that if you want someone to not acknowledge you, you want someone to frown at you, you want someone to make you feel like you are not important, than talk to some "church" people.  I am a "young" Christian, having only given my life to Christ a decade ago, and the worst persecution and the worst treatment I have received has been at the hands of "church" people.  Please DO NOT get me wrong, the most encouraging people that have made me feel important have been in the church, but the ones that have hurt me the most have been in the church as well.  To make a point, I bet that everyone reading this can think of a person who has completely ignored them and made them feel as if they don't matter, and I bet that every person reading can place a time when they were treated cruelly by someone who was supposed to love them from the church.

The good news is that YOU can help to make the world a better place just by talking to someone and letting them know that they are important enough to you that you can take some time to talk to them.  Don't ignore the person that says "hi" to you in church next Sunday.  The next time a friend (or even if it is someone you don't even like), is really hurting, PLEASE reach out to them and let them know that they are worth talking to (Jesus did it for you).  The next time you are eating in a restaurant after church and you see someone who looks at you, PLEASE share a smile with them.  

Matthew 22:39 -YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

If we care than we will show it...

I would just like to say that the purpose of me putting out this blog is in the hopes that the readers will take a look at themselves and try to make themselves more available to others who might be going through some of these things.  This particular blog is not directed towards anyone, and I am the first to admit that I myself have failed in the area that this blog addresses.  It is my sincere hope that the people reading this who claim that they are Christians will not feel bad or even angry, but it is my hope that they will read this and become even more open to listening and helping others.  Once again, I am not calling anyone out or trying to anger anyone, I am saying my own faults in this matter.

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

I have recently attended a Christmas party with a group of friends and towards the end of the party a wonderful individual (who has been going through an extremely difficult time this year due to marital issues) was asked how she has been doing right as she was about to leave.  The wonderful person blew up and vented saying that she is finding out who her true friends are because the ones that have known she has been going through these things have not called or tried to find out how she has been doing and she was obviously very hurt.  The sad part is that the normal Christian approach to someone being in pain is to:

a. leave the person alone, 

b. stay away from them, 

c. take a hands off approach, 

d. shun them, 

e. act as if they have done something wrong (even when they haven't), 

f. think that they deserve what they are going through , 

g. or even to just drop them from your friend list(I'm not talking MySpace, I'm talking acting as if they are no longer a friend).  

As Christians we say :

a. I'll pray for you (I am not against this,I support this, but surely we can do more for a person than remember them when talking to God.  How about we pray for them AND do something else).

b. Call me (This is the most common line that I hear.  As Christians or even as decent human beings, we should take the initiative to reach out to someone we know is in pain.  Think about it, when would someone in pain finally call?  When they feel they can't take it anymore.  If you don't matter to a person enough to call them, than why should they call you?).

c.  Let me know if there is anything I can do (People are not normally going to ask for something, so how about YOU/WE keep calling that person and SEE if there is anything that can be done.  Being available is sometimes the best thing a friend can do.)

With mush shame, I must admit that I myself am one of the people who has failed this wonderful person.  I have talked to her (when I have seen her) and I have called (2 or 3 times over the year and all of that was before/during the summer), but besides that, I myself have not reached out to "minister" to another person who claims they are a Christian when in reality I should have.  Not only have I not ministered to this wonderful person, I have not even been a very good friend to her.  As a Christian I have failed.  

Sure I have had "reasons" not to reach out.  I myself have had issues over the year, but that is no excuse to not even being a good friend to another person who was in need. The fact is that I should have been much more proactive than I have been.  The trap that "church people" or even true Christians fall into is that we become Fair weather Friends.  We are only there for each other as long as things are going great for you but if you have something that could bring us down/make us think less of you (such as a dissolving marriage, loss of a job, financial problems - all of which we coincidentally use to judge someone as a success) than we will not be there for you.  True Christians (myself included) need to make more time for others.  

As this is the Christmas season, why not reach out to someone in pain (and statistics show that everyone knows someone in pain) and earn the title of being called a friend.

I once had a class in bible college in which the professor continuously stated that we should always be available for those who need us.  How can we be a minister if we are not ministering?

The place where your hearts most authentic desire calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.

If every one's feeling it, but no one is seeing it, than how are they supposed to know it's real?

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.  1st Peter 4:10