Happy Monday Everyone!
The photo glitch is still not fixed… so no fun photos AGAIN today. A special sorry goes out to all my VISUALLY oriented blog buddies! (fixed since this blog was posted)
Hope you all had a super weekend! We hiked St. Mary’s Falls on Saturday (I would post photos, but oh wait, I can’t!)… the hike was unbelievable! Church @ DFC was amazing on Sunday morning. And the Bible College I instruct on Sunday afternoon was off the charts! So, the weekend was a very good one here… it felt BLESSED and I sincerely thank God for every exciting second of it!
This should be a fun week for me. Going to a leadership conference… Emily’s birthday is on Friday the 13th (ooooowww)… and Saturday is VALENTINES DAY! Don’t forget that all you LOVE BIRDS! Proper planning prevents poor performance… so PLAN IT TODAY, make it great, have a blast with the love of your life. And hey, just in case you think you’re too spiritual for romance, check out Proverbs 5:17-19. (for married couples only) To all my singles friends: be brave, ask someone of the opposite sex out on a date, take them somewhere fun, give them a thoughtful gift, and make a special person feel special… oh, and keep it PG kids!
Maybe you’re slightly uncomfortable about today’s advice? Maybe you feel as if the topic is not a spiritual one? Just in case, I want to leave you with a few spiritual thoughts about love and romance. First, God created Adam… and when he saw that Adam was all alone… God said, “It is NOT GOOD FOR man to be alone… I will make him a helper, a companion!” (Genesis 2:18 MSG)
So it looks like God created other humans so that we could enjoy companionship with one another. Specifically, God created a WOMAN for the MAN that was all alone. God created EVE and brought her to ADAM… and they became the first two LOVE BIRDS in human history!
The Bible is filled with references about friendship, love, romance, marriage, intimacy, and family. God created us to enjoy life with one another… to have friends, fall in love, commit to a lifelong marriage partner, be passionately romantic, and have loving families.
When our son was pre-teen, Emily and I would teach him that girls are yucky… stay away from girls or you’ll get the cooodees! Now that he’s almost 18, the message has changed. We teach him to PAY ATTENTION to the girls in his life… to interact with everyone so he can discover the kind of girl he will want to spend the rest of his life with. We had to let him know that it was ok to date now (with strong boundaries of course). It’s so hard being young… trying to figure this all out… especially in a Christian home. Especially when you want to please God with all your heart and you don’t want to mess your whole life up with a few bad decisions.
I’m sharing this with you guys because I believe that way too many Christians live in the fear of messing up and thus deprive themselves of the interaction that exposes them to the right opportunities. Set boundaries over your life… know who you are… know what you stand for… and never allow yourself to be in a position where these values can be compromised. And then, with these values and a beautiful walk with God, BE BRAVE and PAY ATTENTION to the people in your social network. According to Genesis, God has a gal for every guy! Don’t be afraid to LIVE and LOVE…
Wow… I must be getting older if I’m giving out this kind of advice! Have a super week, planning for this VALENTINES DAY! If you’re married… plan a night to remember! If you’re single… get out of your comfort zone and spend some time with someone of the opposite sex. If you’re a kid… write a “be my valentine” card to your teacher! Have a super week you guys!! Chat with everyone later…
Beautiful advice! I will add to your comment about bible college being off the charts as it
definitely adds something to my life that a normal bible college class could not offer. I know
it's the anointing that flows from you that we as students and as church members just can't
quite fill up on in a regular church service but sitting there under your teaching drinking in
all you have to spill out over us is indescribable. Also I have to say, the class members also
adds to that mix. Its like you were teaching on the body of Christ, our class has become a
body together and when one is missing its a hole, an empty spot. I know as I was sharing with someone who wanted to drop out and he said I was harassing him but I was being honest. He adds
a dimension to our class that is truly missed in his absence. He inspires and challenges me in
my own personal reading time to dig deeper with my own curiosity. I personally want to put out
here to anyone in this area reading this blog who has an opportunity to attend this bible college
to come to a class and see for yourself! Its totally awesome!! Think about it this way. You love
Pastors preaching, you enjoy the blogs, imagine how annointed his teaching is?? Trust me, This
will change your world.
You really know how to make a person FEEL LIKE A CHAMPION Vickie!! Thanks for you constant words of encouragement! You and Bo are a beautiful people!
You're right about Bible College… I told Emily last night that this feels like the best group yet… the passion in that room last night was ELECTRIFYING!
Good Monday morning Pastor Chuck!
I truly enjoy your blog this morning about Valentine's. When Jessica Smith was little and she had her older brother and younger brother and younger sister, I was facing my first Valentine's day alone. Or at least without a husband. I was devastated & depressed. My mother sent me some money in the mail and told me, "take my grandbabies out and have fun!" I was like, "mom! Valentine's day is for lovers, for couples. I don't want to go out a lone." After some thought though, I bought long pink & red gowns for myself and the girls, and I bought little suits for my two boys and we took the city bus (I didn't have a car at the time) and we went to our first sit-down restuarant (not McDonald's or Burger King). This has become family tradition in our home. I am currently trying to talk Jes into coming down here Friday night so she can go out with us Saturday evening for our traditional Valentine's Dinner-but I haven't heard from her:( At the least, we could meet halfway between NC and VA for our Valentine's on Saturday evening sometime. Anyhow, we've been doing this for probably 15 years now. Valentine's isn't just for lovers-it's for THOSE YOU LOVE! Happy Valentine's Day everyone & God bless you.
Happy Valentines (soon) to you lovebirds Chuck and Emily from the land of Song of Solomon!!!
My parents just flew in from the States! Praise the Lord, somebody gave them first class
tickets to come to Israel, total miracle! God is good, be soooo blessed, you, your family and
your fellowship!!! and keep up the great work!!!
Hey… Christiana, do you guys really live in the land of Solomon? If so… we all need to chat about Song of Solomon sometime. I must say that after so much study… its true meaning is still so vague to me. Congrats on Mom and Dad coming to see you guys!! That is such a blessing and I pray for whoever did that… may God LAVISH them over the next 90 days!!! We miss you guys so much… maybe we also get blessed with a trip to Israel!! Have a super day… Shalom!
Valentine's is everyday in my life. Randy is an amazing husband. Plus even more than that Jesu' love is even more amazing!!! Great message Pastor Chuck. You should teach a class for young men. You're a great example and it shows in Coree. I had to laugh out loud at the kids part making valentines for your teachers. I can't wait until Friday to get my valentines from my students. I will come back and share them with you guys. They are always adorable.
Have a great day,
Nuala
Please do share a few of those cards with us Nuala… I didnt ever think about that when I wrote that section of yesterdays blog! That must have been the anointing! Have a super day!!
I LOVE YOU BROTHER.
Hey Skip… good to see you on the blog site… hope you're doing well my friend!
Great post Chuck. I went through the time when the no dating craze was going on. I'm a reformed parent now. I tell my kids that when they're old enough, to go on as many dates as possible. Get to know lots of people and God will make one stand out someday. Happy Valentines day tomorrow; BTW, I loved the tribute that you did for your wife.
Yesterday I was showered with Valentine's from my present students, past students, and a class of 2nd grade students that want to be in my class next year. It was precious. Kids are so honest about how they feel about you. I received a rose and even one of the parents showed up with pizza for the class. One of my students even bought me a transformer valentine since that is my favorite movie.
Here's the Valentine's I received:
Love from the 2nd grade class
Throw me a bone, Valentine with a chiwawa ( I know I didn't spell that right)
To my super stylin' Valentine
Bunches of Love
Make Some Noise, Valentine
Would you be my hunny bunny? (I got 2 of those)
Wood you be mine? with a woodchuck
You make my heart flutter, Valentine
Hope your Valentine fun reaches heroic proportions today with Ironman ( I don't know about you, but this one really touched me in a strong way)
Valetine, we make a classy team!
Have a crazy fun Valetine's Day with a goat sticking his tongue out (the boy who gave me this begged me to open it right then and he got tickled when I was laughing so hard I snorted)
Freedom is the right of all Setntient Begins, Valentine (the Transformers one and this one made me think about my freedom in Christ and how it is everyone's right, but they must choose it)
I am wild about you with a 3-d wolf
Be your own Star!!
Valetine, you color my world
These valentines will be added to my valentine box. I save them all. They are precious to me and I am just thankful to God for being blessed with the calling as a teacher!!!!
I hope you all have a great Valentines and that it is filled with faith, hope, and love.