The Victory Blog

I'm Going Through #Facebook Withdrawals

2012-01-11T07:42:00.001-08:00

I started my 21 day break from Facebook on the 1st of January. Prior
to that, I was a daily/all day facebooker. I've got the app on my
phone, so it was pretty easy to scroll through a few dozen status
updates on my phone at any given time.

Having spent a week off (I've still got two to go), I've got a few
observations that I have noticed about facebook:

1. It has become the conversation. No one calls. No one texts. No one
stops by. Everyone Facebooks. It has become the primary means of
communication. Often times meeting people around (my own mother and
brother included), they reference "did you see my post about...".
People don't personally share news anymore. They broadcast it on
Facebook. People put a post and expect you to read it.

2. Most people are sharing day to day stuff. I'm missing hearing about
the new first steps for the toddler. The day to day updates about the
cancer progression. The job search. The job frustrations. The day to
day challenges.

3. It provides a means of connection. Some nay sayers quip that
facebook ruins relationships because people don't interact as much.
The truth is that my life is so busy that I often don't have time for
multiple 15 minute conversations everyday with people from every stage
of my life. I do on the other hand have time to read 15 updates in 3
minutes while standing in line at the bank. I like the connection.

4. There is far too much drama. One bad point, which honestly has
caused me to re-think my long-term facebooking style. The sad part is,
facebook has become a way for disgruntled people to broadcast their
frustrations to a wide audience, usually to theirs and others
detriment. The "facebook post heard around the world" reaches past the
web, and into the lives of those who are not on facebook. The constant
bickering, slandering, and veiled put-downs of people, politicians and
persuasions is vicious. It used to be you could just distance yourself
from these people. Now you must hide them or unfriend them.

Whats this all mean? If you're a facebooker like me, let me assure
you. Life goes on without facebook. I'm getting along just fine. I
know that if I completely removed myself from facebook I would live.
The challenge for me, as a Christian and member of this global society
is, what role does facebook play in my world? Its a difficult question
to answer, but here's what I got.

This morning I was reading my bible (Acts 9) I was thinking, the whole
bible is status updates. Long, well written cosmically influencing
status updates, but updates none the less. As a Christian I base my
faith on written words. I read them and they inspire me. They comfort
me. They influence me. The connection I made this morning (albeit in a
self-loathing facebook withdrawal) is that while people may have
negative things to say about facebook, it is somewhat like the Bible
in that it is a written text that provides connection.

The largest difference is that one is inspired by the Holy Spirit, the
other, for the most part is not.

I encourage you to take a facebook break sometime. Its refreshing. I
think it provides perspective on what really matters in our lives.

Be blessed.
pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

My #Labrador Spoke To Me In The Night

2011-12-27T08:34:00.001-08:00

My dog was snoring last night.

It was pretty annoying. I'm a light sleeper as it is, but last night, that dog was 'sawing logs' so to speak. He's a big dog, about 90lbs and typically is not a snorer, but last night he was going at it. Maybe its all the stress from Christmas or something.

He sleeps on the floor at the foot of our bed, so as he was snoring, I had a few options. One of them was to get up and pet him and rouse him and tell him to stop snoring. The other option was to call him to the side of the bed and wake him up, so I could get back to sleep.

I chose option two. Since Crystal was asleep, I didn't want to be too loud, so I whispered "Ranger" and made a little kissing sound, and he got up and came to the side of the bed.

As he was standing there in the dark, leaning up against the side of my bed, and I was giving him some good loving on his ears and neck I was amazed at how obedient that dog is. In the middle of the night, with no clear hope for a walk, treat, or trip outside, he came to where he was called.

Total and complete obedience to his masters command. No questions. No hesitation. No agenda. That dog exists to do my bidding. He lives to please me and always comes when I call him. He lives for me. He is my dog.

In the middle of the night I thought, we should be that obedient with God. When he tells us to do something, or asks us to come to him, we should comply. Like my dog, we often don't know what it is that he wants from us, or where He is leading us, but that doesn't matter. What matters is obedience. Obedience to his voice and prompting of the Spirit.

Are you obedient to God? Do you do what he asks you and follow His lead? I pray that in the middle of the night, with a whisper, if he calls your name, you'll get up and come to his voice and do what he asks you to do.

If my dog can be obedient, I think we can be.

Be blessed

pastor matt

ps. this is a pic of ranger on my fence going for squirrel.

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

5 Ways To Have The Best #Christmas This Year

2011-12-22T07:50:00.001-08:00

Christmas is this Sunday! I know, you probably didn't realize it, did you? Of Course you did! Everyone knows when Christmas is! I'm not sure how it happened, but some how, Christmas became a day that people seem to place a lot of importance on. The common theme I see around is that a perfect Christmas has snow, lots of presents, a lot of family, a lot of food, and sleigh bells in the snow.

For most people this isn't the case. Christmas is a weird time of year. Lots of emotion. Lots of stuff going on. So, today I am going to share with you a few sure-fire ways to have a great Christmas this year.

1. Remind yourself what Christmas is really about. About 2000 years ago, there was a miraculous event in the middle east where a young child was born. This child (Jesus) was born from a woman who was a virgin (she had never had sex before). This 25th of December, however historically inaccurate the day may be, is a day that we set aside to remember and celebrate that day. Take a few moments and remind yourself that that is the original point of Christmas- to celebrate the Mass (church service), of the Christ (baby Jesus). His arrival announced a completely different direction of the entire planet in regards to our relationship with God. It was a pretty big deal.

2. Go to a church service. This year its kind of different how the day falls on the calendar, but make a decision and go to a church service on Sunday. Christmas on a Sunday doesn't happen that often, so take advantage of it this year and experience Christmas with a group of people who live for this Christ of Christmas. Its hard to explain, but bellowing out Christmas tunes with other tone deaf people seems to have an impact. Trust me on this. Go to church on Sunday.

3. Expect nothing. That's right, expect that you'll get no gifts for Christmas and be OK with it. Seeing how that is not what the day is truly about anyway, having this mindset will do a few things- you'll have lower expectations, and if you do get a gift or two- it will mean even more. Setting yourself up to be showered with presents is a sure way to be let down. If you are blessed with a present, it will mean even more, because you weren't expecting anything.

4. Savor the moment. No matter where you find yourself this weekend, savor the moments. If you're with friends, sit back and soak in the reality of their presence. Watch for a laugh or a meaningful touch. If you're alone, get around other people. You don't have to even know them, you can sit in a restaurant or public venue, and watch other people enjoying life and have joy in their joy. Trust me. Seeing people being happy makes people happy, if you savor it.

5. Love people. The greatest gift you can give people is your love and attention. Tell those around you how much you care about them. Share a specific example of what they mean to you. Look them in the eye and give them a hug. Invite someone over that you know would appreciate it.

I know its a short list, but just a few thoughts for you to ponder as you head into the weekend. Trust me. Try a few and you'll have a better Christmas than you expected.

Blessings

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

A Note For All The #Christians on #Facebook

2011-12-15T08:11:00.001-08:00

I struggled on whether or not I should write this post, seeing how the act of writing seems to negate the point I'm trying to make. Indulge me for a moment. I think you may see my point.

I am a facebook guy. I spend a lot of time on there. I see the value of social media as a means for putting forth ideas, connecting with friends, fostering relationships. Its a great tool for interaction. At the same time, I think there are some very detrimental things that can happen from it. One I notice a lot is people who claim to be Christ followers throwing stones at other Christ followers.

Let me explain- often times a post will include such things as attacking other churches, or pastors or schools of theological thought. I assume that these posters are well meaning in that they probably take to heart the call to "contend for the faith" and proclaim "sound doctrine" to those who are following their posts. More than likely they see it as a time to make sure that someone isn't being led astray by some whack job.

Here's the issue- everyone who is my friend does not share my beliefs. Because they are my friends, I am aware that even before getting into the Calvin-Arminius debate or the Gifts-cessastionist debate that they don't even believe the beginning of the story- Adam or Jesus. That being said, any time I spend proclaiming doctrine or theology 'clouds the waters' so to speak and portrays our faith as divisive and contentious not unified and loving.

Brothers and sisters this should not be so.

Here's what I propose- if you have a theological difference that you would like to discuss- start a private group or send a private message. Don't put a post that attempts to put some doctrine down or prove some theological point. No one is being influenced or brought to your way of thinking by doing this. You are confusing those who do not believe and making following Christ more about getting the doctrine right and not the heart right.

There is a scripture that changed my heart a few years ago- it comes from Philippians chapter one- the Apostle Paul was setting straight some people who were concerned about some other people who were preaching a Gospel they thought was false- this is what he said to them-

" It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."

He follows up by saying- "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ".

What is my point? Spreading the Gospel is not hurling stones at someone else's persuasion. Obviously they are fully persuaded in what they believe or they wouldn't be believing it. Spend more time spreading the love of God and His truth in a way that directs people towards the Cross and not towards the way that you think or the theology you believe.

There. I said it.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

My two cents about #Tebow #NFL #Jesus

2011-12-13T07:51:00.001-08:00

Tebow Tebow Tebow. Man, its everywhere. Talk about Tebow. Videos about Tebow. Terms like "Tebowing". It seems like every where you turn there is a Tebow reference, or a Tebow Facebook post. This Tebow guy is getting a whole lot of press, with good reason. Tim Tebow is a recent Broncos football phenomenon that is surprising people with some unexpected comebacks and football wins.

Tebow is the flavor of the week.

Front and center in this Tebow talk is Tim Tebows faith. He is unashamedly a believer in Jesus Christ. Some may say that he grandstands it, or that he is to demonstrative about it. Recently he even got some negative feedback from the likes of Kurt Warner, another Christian athlete who asked him to tone it down http://www.theblaze.com/stories/kurt-warner-to-tim-tebow-dont-be-so-bold-with-your-faith/ . There is no denying that Tim Tebow is a Christian. He is not ashamed of it. He does not hide it. He doesn't make any excuses for it. He is a Christian. You can read Tim Tebows response to one guys view about his faith here- http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/11/tim-tebow-responds-to-jake-plummers-comments-on-his-faith/1

Let me throw in my two cents about Tim Tebow and what I think.

I love that Tebow is a winner right now. I love that there is a guy who is a professing Christian who is winning. Often times the current trend in America is to characterize people who are passionately in love with Jesus as losers. They are viewed as people who couldn't hack it in the real world, so they decided to give Jesus a try. "Christianity is a crutch" they say. A means by which the losers of the world can rally around someone that gives them a sense of purpose.

Tebow is no loser.

I love that Tebow isn't weird. Often times Christians are portrayed as whack jobs who have odd prophecies and weird practices. They are the 'snake handlers and poison drinkers' of the world. I think that some people think that it is odd to believe in Jesus and try to live for Him. There are Christians all over the world that are just as normal as the next guy- what makes them abnormal is their belief in Jesus, not their actions.

Tebow isn't weird.

I love that Tebow is relentless about his faith. In this multi-cultural-accept everyone-melting pot-America that we live in it seems that it is acceptable to be anything but a person who is a Bible believing Christian, and Tim Tebow is putting Jesus loving Bible thumpers center stage. He loves Jesus and he refuses to back down.

Tebow is relentless.

This time right now is fleeting. Tebow will go away. His faith will no longer be an issue. But right now, its being discussed, and I like it, why? Because I think that faith in Jesus Christ is the most important thing in the world, and Tim Tebow is making it possible to discuss it, and for that I am thankful. Sure, it has been possible to talk about Faith before, but in this America in which we live, where we idolize winners and scorn losers, Tebow has demonstrated a faith that produces results that America rallies around- the scoreboard.

Is the hand of God of Tebow? I don't know. Is God giving Tebow favor over his enemies? Not sure. But of this I am sure- Tebow loves Jesus. He is winning, and I like it.

blessings

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

The Truth About #Santa and #Christmas... is he really Satan?

2011-12-07T07:21:00.001-08:00

I'm a Christian if you didn't know that already. I believe in Jesus Christ and have given my life over to Him. Since I've been a Christian, there has always been a real contentious relationship with Christmas and Santa Claus. I think it stems from Christians wanting to make sure that the holiday remains a day that honors and celebrates the birth of Jesus as an important historic day that changed the course of humanity. Not a day that celebrates a fat man in a red suit coming down a chimney.

The current situation is that you see more images of Santa than Jesus during this time of year.

I was watching this program last night about the history of Santa Claus, and a few things occurred to me that maybe I hadn't really thought of before. Now, I'm not elevating SC at the expense of JC as much as I am just making a few observations about it. Please do not label me a heretic. I am no historian. These are just my thoughts.

The modern day image and idea of Santa Claus comes from an actual person named Nicolas who gained Sainthood for a miracle he performed back in the 900s or so. He was a Christian man who followed the precepts of Jesus. According to this program, he came from a very wealthy family, and was known for his generosity. Who he actually was and who he is portrayed as today are not exactly the same, the process by which we got the modern day Santa was largely influenced by folklore, artists, and the Coca Cola corporation.

It got me thinking, its a pretty amazing feat for a flesh and blood person to have that kind of global influence. What are the chances that 1000 years from now, what you did with your life would some how translate into an iconic image like Santa? Sure, how he is represented today is not the same as who he actually was, but its connected. No sleigh, no reindeer, no "ho ho ho" but the name, the gifts, the giving, its connected.

Whats my point? I guess its this- I used to be in the Santa is Satan crowd pretty strong- but last night I thought about it- its pretty funny that Christians say that meaning of Christmas has been lost and society doesn't want any images of Jesus around during Christmas. Why is it funny? Because if you really think about it- (I know this may be a stretch) Santa is a religious symbol, even if the world doesn't know it.

How? It symbolizes that if someone truly allows the love of God into their hearts, it can change them in such a way that their generosity will be known for generations to come. I don't think that guy Nick ever assumed that one day who he was would be used to sell waffle makers, but he didn't care, he was doing what he knew in his heart was right- being generous. Being giving. Somehow who he was has carried on way past his life.

So should we worship Santa? no. Is he the reason for the season? no. If you think about how we got Santa can it point to Jesus? yes. Why? because if Nicolas didn't know Jesus, I doubt who he was would have carried on for so long.

Go be generous today in Jesus name. Maybe 1000 years from now people at some cosmic mall on Mars will be having kids sit on someones lap in your name asking for gifts. Heck, they might even write a song about Jolly ol' St. you!

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

3 Great Gifts To Get For Yourself This Year

2011-12-06T07:24:00.001-08:00

Everyone loves gifts, don't they? Well at least we like the good ones, not the ones that are impractical like jewelry and stuff like that. I know people especially like gifts they can use. That's why I am getting my wife a blender for Christmas. I think she'll love it. She blends stuff all the time!

Seriously though, I was reflecting this morning on Christmas gifts this morning and thinking about how when people go shopping for gifts, they typically grab some stuff for themselves, while they are out. So I figured I would share with you some great gifts you should get for yourself this year.

1. Get yourself the gift of forgiveness. Christmas time is a great time to be reminded that the cancer of unforgiveness ruins every relationship. I am sure that there are people that have hurt you and let you down. I am sure that it affects you. Give them a gift while you get one yourself- forgive them. It will bless God and you at the same time. Its a gift that God gives us to be able forgive. Receive it.

2. Get yourself the gift of love. Love comes into our lives in so many forms. Look for it throughout your day and receive it. I've started hugging this greeter at wal-mart. Its a long story how it started happening, but now, every time I see them, we hug. Sure, I get low prices at wal-mart, but bless God, I've found another place in my life to get the gift of love!

3. Get yourself the gift of joy. This certainly is the most wonderful time of the year, and realizing it will bring you the joy of Christmas. Its not just the presents and the lights, it really is "God and sinners reconciled" when you reflect on it, it will truly give you joy. Receive that gift of joy!

Christmas isn't really about giving, its about receiving. That little babe wasn't born in Bethlehem for himself, he was born for YOU.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Do This One Thing and Your Relationships Will Improve! #relationships #imjustsayin

2011-12-01T08:02:00.001-08:00

Relationships. We all got them. Some good, some bad. Some deep, some surface. Listen to the people around you, if you listen close enough, you will find that is what most people talk about- their relationships or the lack thereof.

As a 'man of the cloth' I spend a generous portion of my time with people, and many of them struggle in their relationships. Often times it becomes clear that the struggles that they have would be manged more easily if they would put themselves in a position to have a greater opportunity to succeed.

Let me explain- most people do not have a clear game plan for their lives, with that, they have no game plan for their day to day life. For a lot of people, life happens to them, they do not make their life happen. Setting yourself up to win is the beginning of relationship success, and if you're not setting yourself up to win, well, you're obviously going to lose.

What is one of the greatest things you can do to help your relationships?

Here is the first and most important one- make time for relationships. If your life is so over scheduled that you do not have time for relationships, they will never happen and they will never improve.

I had a wonderful pastor who told me one time that there is no such thing as quality time, only quantity time. Quality time happens while spending quantity time. What does that mean? It means you can't plan one hour on a Saturday to have a great interaction with someone you love. You block out the day, spend the whole day together and then turn around and realize that you connected at some point, and it wasn't planned.

People are too busy. Too many activities. Too many responsibilities. Too many things they 'have to do'. The truth is that we often over schedule ourselves because we are afraid of having down time, when the down time is the exact time that you have the greatest opportunity to build relationship!

Get relentless with your schedule. Tear off the stuff that soaks up your time and spend more time hanging out with people and find out that your relationships will improve and your life will be less chaotic.

Less scheduled time means more relationship time.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

3 Ways To Improve Your Mood #dogood

2011-11-29T07:51:00.001-08:00

Has the Turkey worn off yet? Its only been a few days since Thanksgiving, and for most people I would think that they are kicking the Christmas plans into high gear. Thanksgiving is over. Turkey and mashed potatoes and some pepper spray on black friday. Done and done.

I want to encourage you today to not forget about being thankful. Thankfulness is an attribute that has the capacity to drastically influence our happiness and mood every day. Often times when people spend time thinking about what they do not have, instead of thinking about what they do have, their mood improves.

Do you practice thankfulness on a daily basis? Here are some quick tips to increasing thankfulness in your life.

1. Genuinely thank anyone for anything that they do for you. Make it a point to look them in the eye, send them a message, call them on the phone. Let people know that you appreciate whatever they did for you. Don't let anything slip by.

2. Spend a few moments reflecting on things to be thankful for first thing in the morning. Thank God for these things. There are big things to be thankful for, and small things to be thankful for. I am thankful for my family, but bless God, I thank him every day for my hot cup of coffee in the morning!

3. Get excited about the little things. Maybe the load of laundry equaled up and no socks were lost. Perhaps you got the coveted front parking spot at work. Somehow your sandwich got an extra piece of meat in it today, whatever it is, be thankful for the small things, not just the big things.

Hope that helps. Don't give up on Thanksgiving. Its not just for one week a year, you should do it every day.

blessings

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Guest Blogger! Todd Sommer and The Irrigation Pipe Dinosaur

2011-11-18T06:01:00.001-08:00

This is the lesson that I have learned from my father. We should never place limits on God and we should always be open to the opportunity to do something slightly crazy for God's glory.

My father has always been a collector. From the working stoplight, to a chair that has the shape of a hand, to the giant wooden marlin, you never quite knew what dad was going to bring home. About a year ago however he started bringing home more and more fossils. Maybe to some people that might sound strange but to my family that sounds perfectly normal. You see dad has always had a passion for rocks, science, and archaeology.

For some people science and God don't mix, but for my Dad it's always been a passion to make people realize that they do. So as he was collecting rocks as fossils and thinking and praying he came up with the idea of creating a Creation Museum. The idea is little crazy when you type it out on paper.

My father is going to open a Creation Museum in Broken Bow NE (population 5000).

Undaunted by such minor things my father has pushed forward and is not only opening this museum sometime in the spring of next year, but has also managed to construct a giant replica of a Tyrannosaurus Rex (made out of irrigation pipe) to place in the front just so no one could possibly miss what he was trying to do.

When I asked dad what was the reason you decided to open the museum. He said “To show that the bible is the authoritative word of God. To do that, I need to show that Evolution is not true.”

I look at that and I think “wow” that is so cool. He took his passion and his desire and transformed it into something that is supporting one of the bedrock principals of our faith. The bible is true.

This is the essence of what it is to be Christian. You take your time, your energy, your money, your passion, your talents and you give it to God. You surrender it all. Granted most of us will never be able to open a Creationist Museum, but we can choose to glorify God with the things that we are good at.

So whatever your talents are I hope that in the back of your mind your thinking, I wonder how God could use this to further his kingdom. Also if you ever happen to make your way to NE stop on by the Boneyard Creation Museum and take a look at what happens when you are a little crazy about following God.

Blessings,

Todd Sommer

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

An #MMA Fighter In the #WalMart Parking Lot?

2011-11-17T08:08:00.001-08:00

I don't get it. It happened again this week. Someone wanted to fight me. Seriously, I'm not joking.

A couple of days ago, we were walking through the walmart parking lot ( I needed a new pillow for my big head) and apparently Crystal and I did something wrong as we were walking. Or at least that is what we gathered from the yelling.

We got there and parked, and got out of our vehicle, and began to walk towards the door. As we walked, I did notice another vehicle with its engine running and its reverse lights on immediately as we began to walk down the line. So when we got to it, we didn't stop, we kept walking, because it hadn't begun to move. (it had been in the same position for 20 seconds).

I'm not exactly sure what parking lot etiquette is, but I think that in most cases, pedestrians have the right of way.

Or maybe I am wrong, because a few moments after walking past this vehicle, what sounded like an irate man began to holler in our direction (there wasn't anyone around us) and berate us for not letting him out of his parking spot. He called out about what we were wearing and appeared to be encouraging me to interact with him.

So I didn't what any 6 foot 5, 250lb pastor would do. I turned around, cocked my neck, and said "what did you say?" as I was walking towards him. Then, I proceeded to take him down to the asphalt and put him in a rear naked choke.

How you like me now? Services at 9 and 11 sucka!

Okay, I didn't do that, but I thought about doing that. What did I do? Absolutely nothing. I just kept walking. I didn't turn around. I didn't look. I didn't speak.

I have learned in my short life that turning around to confront an irate person that far from you makes it worse. It never goes well.

Why am I telling you this? Proverbs 17:19 He who loves a quarrel loves sin.

Sure, I'm sharing an altercation in a Wal Mart parking lot, but I am sure that you have interactions in your life that are quarrelsome. Times at work or at home when people try to get you to argue or fight with you. Here is my advice- don't even get into it with them. It never turns out well.

When you are a person that walks away from a physical or verbal altercation, things turn out better. Getting involved with them rarely turns out well. Granted, you have to swallow your pride to be able to do this, but in the end you will end up honoring God, and not getting yourself into trouble.

If you love a quarrel, you love sin. That's what the Bible says, and I'm sure you don't love sin.

Walk away.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Cancel The #NBA Season? #OccupyWallStreet

2011-11-15T08:07:00.001-08:00

I think that the occupy people are slipping. According to a recent article about the NBA it appears that there are over 4 billion dollars in profit revenue available that they have not addressed. Some of them need to pack up their stuff and go to the NBA headquarters in Mid-Town. Its only about 5 miles. They could probably walk it in an hour or so. You can read the article here. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e119fa50-0eff-11e1-b585-00144feabdc0.html

I figure that if these guys are all about going after greedy people that have too much money that aren't sharing it with the 99% and this is another stream of untapped revenue that they should seriously consider. There is no shortage of people who are making ridiculous amounts of money that they should be protesting in the NBA.

Do they realize that these people are making millions for bouncing, passing and throwing a inflated round ball? Furthermore, they have burdened the American people with higher taxes to pay for civic centers in which they play and they are making even more revenue selling licensed products to kids and adults alike. I tell you that if Freddie Mac was making money on $75 dollar jerseys that kids were wearing to school they would be protesting that lickety split!

Or maybe they aren't doing it because the know the reality- they don't have what it takes to play in the NBA. If LeBron quit tomorrow, there isn't a person in one camp at any occupy event that could fill those 200 dollar Nikes.

Here's the issue- I can completely understand that natural tendency that we all have to find someone or something to blame for our problems. Often times, we find a person or an organization that we decide is the reason for our problems and then we 'set up camp' and protest them. Either in person, or in our hearts. This search for a reason for our problems will always leave us empty, because the reality is that most of our problems have been created by ourselves.

Deep down inside a lot of people know that we don't have what it takes to be in the NBA that's why we don't protest them. For me, I don't have the level of dedication, or the natural ability to throw the inflated ball through the wire hoop. I can't jump. I know this about myself. I don't blame the NBA. I don't protest those guys.

So what do we do? Trust God in the midst of our challenges. Realize that he can take care of us. Do not be angry at people who seem to 'have more'.

What am I saying today? I'm not sure- but this is what I got- I love the story of the fishermen in Luke chapter 5. These guys were struggling to catch some fish and they listened to what Jesus said, and then they had so many fish that their boats almost sank. Part of that lesson was that Jesus wanted them to trust him for their increase and provision. Jesus didn't say "go and take someone else's fish" he said "trust me and you will get more fish".

The NBA can do what they want. I don't care. Jesus can fill my nets.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Do You #Love Your #Money Too Much?

2011-11-10T07:24:00.001-08:00

Money is an awesome thing, and by awesome, I mean that it has a whole lot of power over people and institutions. People feel as though money equals power, therefore they clamor to get as much of it as they can. They will do whatever it takes to get it. Think of all the news stories that center around money. Political clout attached to money. Books about money. Money money money. It truly makes the world go round.

Take these guys-http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/09/four-men-rob-barona-casino/ they tried to rob a casino for 250k and found out that the display case they tried to rob only had about 3k in it. Oops. Better luck next time.

Money in and of itself is not inherently evil. Its just cotton fibers and paper with ink on it. We place the value on it, its not valuable for the substance that it is. There is the same amount of paper in a one dollar bill as there is for a hundred dollar bill. But people will still do anything for it.

This should not be so.

People who spend their life seeking after riches often find that it is not as satisfying as they had initially hoped. There is a bible verse that talks about money that I think says a lot " People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." (1 peter 6:9). Often times people who want more than anything to get rich find themselves in ruin and destruction because of the things that they were willing to do to gain money. It can destroy you.

Why am I sharing this with you today? Because I think that people think about money a whole lot more than they talk about it. They worry about it, fret about it and focus on it. Money is a good thing in that it can pay some bills, put some food on the table and get some clothes on your back, but it is not everything that it is cracked up to be.

I am writing this today to you as an encouragement if you are a person who focuses too much on your finances. Here's the encouragement- don't get so wrapped up in it. Its just money. You can't take it with you and it is not everything in the world. Your value is not connected to your bank account and your purpose is not to amass wealth.

Be free from your love of money today. Sure, make money, pay your bills, but do not love it to the point that it brings your ruin and destruction.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Majority of #Democrats Seldom or Never Go to #Church?

2011-11-08T07:54:00.001-08:00

The Gallup polling organization released its latest data yesterday and revealed that 52% of the democrats that they polled, seldom or never went to church. While this number is only 2 percentage points away from being half, and 3 percentage points away from being majority in the other direction, the number to me is still interesting. You can read all of the data here- http://www.gallup.com/poll/150611/Democrats-Liberal-Less-White-2008.aspx

As I was going over the data, a different number stuck out more than what a political group is doing. Of the United States Population, only 33% attend church weekly, and 46% attend seldom or never. Almost half of the US never goes to church.

Almost half of the adults in the United States of America seldom or never attend church.

That means that only one in three people go to church on a weekly basis according to this poll. So I ask the question- do you go to church? Actually, I ask that question to a lot of people that I meet. I think that they expect it from me, since I am a pastor. Often times, it is fun for me to watch them go through their mental Rolodex (I just dated myself) and try to come up with the name of some church in hopes that I will leave them alone and not invite them to church.

It doesn't work. Its easy to see the people that are trying to act like they attend a church when they don't.

One of the most common statements that people make in regards to church is that while they believe in God, they don't believe in 'organized religion'. And by organized religion, I am assuming, to them that means, they don't want to miss sleeping in on Sundays, or having to leave their house and commiserate with other human beings.

I can understand and sympathize with people who don't want to go to church. There are hypocritical churches. There are charlatan preachers. There are whack-o churches. There are churches out there that shouldn't exist. But, just because that is true, doesn't mean that there aren't good churches also.

Just because you got food poisoning one time you ate at a restaurant doesn't mean you will never eat out again. I'm sure of it. You'll just stay away from that buffet place.

Democrat, Republican, Independent. You need to find a church and attend.

Church is awesome. Its a place where the Spirit of God moves in the midst of the people that attend. God never intended for people to believe in Him on their own apart from other believers. From the beginning of time, God has always desired for people to be in community, and in that community, no matter how big or small, they are able to connect with God as a collective whole. Church is the place to do this.

Do you go to church? If not, you should. I tell people that churches are like restaurants, you just have to keep looking, and you will find one that you like. The best church for you is the one that you will attend on a regular basis. Church isn't supposed to be a place you stop in, is a place that you become a part of. A place where you are able to connect. To give and receive love. To hear from God and worship Him.

If you don't have a church, find one. If you have a church go to it. Regularly.

I do not care if you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, and God doesn't either. He wants you to go to church.

And so do I.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

#Obama Says That God Backs His Jobs Plan?

2011-11-03T07:41:00.001-07:00

President Obama yesterday, while talking about a 'jobs' bill that he was trying to push through congress made the claim that "God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work". Carney, the White House press secretary followed up by stating "I believe that the phrase from the Bible is 'the Lord helps those who help themselves,'".

Clearly politicians. Clearly not theologians.

I can understand that desperate times call for desperate measures, and Mr. Obama is doing whatever he can to try to influence the members of congress to push through a bill that could possibly affect the unemployment rate, but more importantly affect his re-election campaign. It is no wonder that he has invoked the name of the most high as a top level endorser of his plan for America.

There is a problem with this tactic, and Mr. Carney's statement about the good book. God never said that he helps those who help themselves. Its a good idea, and it sounds really biblical and all, but its just not in there.

Here is a verse in the Bible that speaks about work that I would like to share with you this morning.

Proverbs 14:23 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

I think that is a more important statement about work and one that is actually in the Bible versus making something up. I love this verse. Not in regards to the Jobs bill, but in regards to our own lives. I think it is a great idea to be people that work hard. Now, there is a point of working too hard, but we still were designed to get some work done. It was never intended for us to sit around.

There is a huge difference between talking and doing.

This verse specifically is not talking about a Congressional jobs bill, but I think that the essence of the verse may have been better for the President and Mr. Carney to quote. Perhaps they should have said something to the affect of "God doesn't want us talking about work, He wants us to get to work". I think that would have been better.

Application for today? Are you a talker or a doer? Do you merely talk about what you are going to do, or do you do it? Don't be a person that talks a big talk and then doesn't put any action behind it. I believe that God does want us to work. That he does bless the work of our hands, and that we should be more than just talkers. We should be workers.

Search your heart. Shut your mouth. Get to work.

Be blessed

pastor matt

You can read the article here- http://news.yahoo.com/obama-presses-republicans-bridge-scheme-151914720.html

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

3 Things You Should Do Before You Complain About Anything

2011-11-02T08:08:00.001-07:00

Complaints. We all got them. There is a list of things that we can complain about at any given time of the day. What we have. What we don't have. What we want. What we need. Who hurt us. What is wrong. So many things to complain about. Things to worry about. Things that need to be fixed.

I try not to complain if I can help it. It does not seem to help my situation when I complain in the midst of them. Usually it just makes them less bearable and really annoying for the people around me.

I was talking to a friend yesterday who is going through some stuff, and I started asking some questions about his life to see where he was at in a few areas. He indicated to me that he had never thought about these three areas of his life that directly impact his emotional well being. Therefore, I thought I would share them with you, because perhaps you have never thought about it also.

Here's the deal- I am a pastor. I believe in God and the power of His word, but I have been serving him long enough that there are few things I have figured out along the way. I know that the way he made me directly influences my ability to deal with every day life. My body is part of the equation. I am sharing these 3 nuggets with you in hope that they can help you also.

So what are the three areas?

1. Sleep. Dude, you have got to get enough sleep to make it in this world. Life demands so much from you that if you are not well rested when dealing with it, it is going to throw you into such an emotional tail spin that you wont be able to deal with the tiniest of tasks. Have some discipline in your sleep hygiene and make sure that you go to bed at around the same time every day and get the amount of sleep that you need to function. For some people it may be 6, for others, it may be 8. For me, I know if I don't get a consistent 7.5 I am worthless. Even God rested. Get some sleep.

2. Eat. Seems simple doesn't it? Of course you are eating! But what are you eating? Is it healthy? Are you eating consistently? Do you starve all day and then gorge at the end? Are you restricting your caloric intake to the point that it is making you angry? If you are not eating a consistent healthy diet throughout the day, it affects your mood. Trust me on this. If you are not eating well, it has an effect. Be diligent to eat something, however small, at least every 3 hours or so.

3. Move. I don't run marathons. I never will. But I know that if I am sitting around in front of a computer screen all day, or sitting in a chair all day that I get cranky. Motion creates emotion. If you are not raising your heart rate on a regular basis, you are going to become depressed and lethargic. You have to get out there! Get up early for a walk. Go to the gym. Ride a bike. Take the stairs. Whatever it takes to get moving, get moving!

What is the point? I am all about believing God for the miraculous, but I am also about operating in this life and this body the way God intended. Often times I find that those small insignificant things that bother us in our lives are minimized when we are doing what we can do to influence our emotions. To control what we can control.

The truth is if you are tired, hungry and sedentary, it makes everything else in your life seem tedious. Trust me on this.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

If you Celebrated Halloween you are a Devil Worshipper!?!?

2011-11-01T08:01:00.001-07:00

It happens every year. The Christians of the world come out in full force against Halloween. I know that my commentary on it is the day after, but I've got such a ridiculous chocolate hang-over its all I can think about this morning.

I made the decision ( for you Calvinists, I came to the realization of my election) to follow Jesus in August of 1990. Since that time I have been around for 21 Halloweens. Every year, there is a camp of people who 'rise up' against the 'evil' of this holiday and decry the Christians participation in it for its pagan roots and demonic influence. Many of these people appear to believe that people who take part in this holiday are worshipping at the footstool of Satan and becoming one of his minions for a night.

Now, I don't have the time in this blog to go into the historical record of Halloween or come up with any scriptural references for it or against it, but this I will say:

If you are mad about Halloween there are few more days and a lot more things that you should be upset about and boycotting besides the annual feast of the chocolate.

Here is the arguments I hear- that I am teaching my children about evil. I am taking part in something highly spiritual. I am supporting the work of the devil. I am part of a day that is wrought with destruction. And of course, my personal favorite- what would Jesus do?

As a Christian, I believe that it is my God-Given right to infect and over take any and all spiritual forces of wickedness in any way shape or form. I am not called to become evil to do this, but am called to bring the light of Christ into every dark corner of the world and spread the love of God into it.

I was thinking last night as I was sitting in my garage, where were all the trick or treaters? I only had one come by in 1.5 hours. I'll tell you where I think a lot of them were- at all of the Church sponsored trunk or treats. The church has seen this 'evil' holiday as a opportunity to share the Gospel. I know, some of you hardliners will say that we don't have to become evil to share the Gospel, but wearing a Ewok suit and grubbin' on some Junior Mints isn't as evil as every is saying.

Should we praise Halloween? No. Should we try to make it a holy day? No. Am I saying that it is a Christian holiday? No. But, can we, as Christians infiltrate that day to the point where it loses all of its perceived spiritual power and it becomes a innocuous as it truly is? We can take this day and make a National Christian Candy Outreach day.

Going down the slippery slope of declaring and decrying will eventually make us all Amish. But, then again, those Amish sinners with the belt buckles and the cellphones are probably in the danger of the pit-fires of hell anyway.

Heck, we took the pagan day of Ishtar and made it into Easter. (you can google that one).

I don't love Halloween, but I do love that it is the only day of the year that I can knock on someones door to share the Gospel and they will answer it and that I can invite them to my church for an event and they will come.

Eat some candy. Live for Jesus. Praise his name. Don't worship the devil.

be blessed

pastor matt

ps. comments and facebook shares are appreciated!

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Would Jesus Occupy Wall Street?

2011-10-27T07:38:00.001-07:00

I got a text from my friend Scott yesterday. He said that CNN was asking viewers on the show if Jesus would occupy Wall Street.

You can see the 'news' story here- http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/26/cnn-asks-would-jesus-occupy-wall-street/

It is an interesting question, and possibly one that needs to be addressed, but here is where I am coming at this thing this morning- when did the Jesus stamp of approval become the litmus test of whether or not something has value? I know, it was back in the WWJD days. Back when someone made a rubber bracelet and shoved it on any kid that even stood next to a youth group door. It was supposed to be a way to gauge our moral compass I guess. A way to simply understand any question that an individual may have in regards to their life situation.

Just ask, What Would Jesus Do?

There seems to be some holes in the WWJD camp. For example- Jesus hung out with a bunch of Fishermen, but he never fished. One of his disciples was a physician, but he did not practice medicine. Paul of Tarsus who brought the Gospel to the gentiles made tents, but Jesus was the son of a carpenter. The Bible never says that Jesus made anything out of wood, but many have assumed that since his father was a carpenter, then Jesus was also.

So can one assume from the Bible that asking would Jesus occupy Wall Street that he wouldn't because he would be too busy at his job? Is that the answer? Are they asking about the post-Cana Jesus who spent most of his time walking around preaching and healing? Or are the asking about the Pre-Cana Jesus who was making benches?

Here's my take- even when Jesus arrived, people wanted him to be to them what they wanted Him to be not who he was. At that time they were asking Jesus "Deliver us from Rome, be our King!". When they found out he wasn't going to do that for them, they crucified Him.

Jesus never was or will he ever be on any side of a political movement. He never held an office. He never organized a march. He never told people to protest. The call of Jesus was call to personal repentance from Sin and a charge to go and make disciples. It was to draw us closer to the Father, not to encourage us to rally and vote. Sure, there were things that Jesus talked about that influence our moral decision making, but using WWJD as a catch all to make life an easier decision is simplistic and illogical.

Jesus never rode a rollercoaster. Jesus never drove a car. Jesus didn't have any products from Apple. Jesus never ate hot wings.

Would Jesus occupy Wall Street is not the question. The question is, will you let Jesus occupy your heart? That is what he is more concerned with. Not who has what and who is doing what. He is most concerned with you and where you are at, and if you are letting him occupy your heart. Do not ask if Jesus would occupy Wall Street. Ask if Jesus is occupying your heart.

Occupy My Heart Jesus!!

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

A Lesson From Stacking Wood

2011-10-26T07:23:00.001-07:00

The gravy train has been shut down at our house lately. The wife and I have decided over the last few months to stop buying our kids anything that they don't wear or ingest. Basically, now that our kids are getting older, their wants are getting more expensive, and its also a good time for them to start learning some life lessons.

Its not an easy transition, because our kids are used to eventually wearing us down to the point where we give in to their requests. Its not huge stuff. Its 20 dollars here, 20 dollars there, but it all adds up. They have been doing chores for money for the past year or so, but there has been this 'slush fund' mentality that they have built that they someone how work me over to get something extra in the cart whenever we go out shopping.

Its done. Those little trouts are going to learn some life lessons no matter how much it hurts them (or me).

There is a video game my son wants to purchase that comes out in November. He started asking about it a few months ago and I told him I wouldn't buy it for him, but maybe (big maybe) he would get it for Christmas. You would have been amazed to see his little mind making the change over a matter of minutes- he finally realized that if there was something superfluous that he was desiring, he was going to have to make some money on his own to make it happen.

Immediately he asked if I knew any ways for him to make some money.

So yesterday he went to stack some wood at a friend of mines house. I had to drive him, and sit there for 2 hours while he did it, but that guy worked for 2 hours stacking wood. I was really proud of him. He didn't complain. He dug in and did some good hard work. He is learning a lot of different life lessons from this experience, but this is the one that I am most excited about- if my son wants something to change in his life, he is going to have to do something about it.

Did you catch that? If you want your life to change you are going to have to do something about it.

I know, I'm sure some of you are already thinking, aren't you a pastor? Aren't you supposed to speak words of faith and trust in God? Yes, of course I am. That is what I do- but even the act of Faith is an ACTION. Its requires that we have to get involved in the equation. Even when we begin to trust God it is an action. Its a process that we are involved in that requires some involvement on our part. No, its not entirely up to us, but there is this sense of cosmic interdependence between us and God that exists, but we must move. We must act. We must take part. We cannot sit on the sidelines and merely wait for everything in our life to somehow unfold.

You have to get out of bed in the morning.

You have to get dressed.

You have to stack some wood.

All that from stacking wood? Yes. Like I said, I sat there for 2 hours watching that kid stack.

Is there an action that you need to be taking? A process that you need to get involved in that you have been sitting around waiting to happen? Get involved in the process. Yes, pray and believe and ask of God, but realize that no matter what, at some point, you are going to have to get involved at some level in the process.

Sitting around doing nothing never produced anything. Unless you think nothing is something, then in that case you got something, even though I think its nothing.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Adult Stuck In A Playground Swing For 9 hours! (article included)

2011-10-25T07:22:00.001-07:00

Have you ever done something that you wish you hadn't done? I am sure that this guy in this article wishes that he wouldn't have taken the bet against his friends on whether or not he could fit into a child's swing at a playground. He got in there, got stuck, and then his 'friends' left him there for 9 hours to hang in the air! I guess he got back all that time as a kid when he asked his parents if he could stay on the swing for 'one more minute'. He got 9 more hours in fact!

You can read the article here- http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_19176380

We have all done stuff that we wish that we had not. I think the difference is that usually what we did does not show up on a news story!

I was reflecting on that article this morning, and I was thinking- what would compel a grown man to try to shove himself into an apparatus that was obviously only meant for a child? The article does not say how large the man was, but I don't think that I could have fit in there, that is for sure. But even if I could, what would be the point?

I'm guessing it was to get a laugh.

Ha ha buddy. Ha ha. Its not that funny for him 9 hours later I'm sure. Maybe he shouldn't have tried to be a kid again. Perhaps he has grown up to the point where doing childish things aren't as fun as they used to be.

But here's what I was thinking this morning as I was reading this article- often times we do childish things when it comes to our own lives. It may not be soaping up and getting into a swing, but maybe its something different. The way we talk to someone, the way we respond to someone, the attitude we have in a situation. Something childish that comes through in our daily life.

These two verses came to my mind- Matt 18:3 "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". and 1 Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put the ways of my childhood behind me".

Two different views. How do we reconcile them? I think we should always have child like faith when it comes to the things of God, but I think in our actions and our demeanor we should move past our childish ways. The things we did as children we need to move past, but the faith we had as children should not change.

What is the message today? Have child like faith, but don't act like a child when you are an adult. I am sure that you won't be getting into any swing sets anytime soon but I think you can get the point this morning- there is a point when you have to grow up, and if you don't you may find yourself in a situation that you may not like, simply because you made a childish decision.

Stay a child, but grow up.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What About Those Protesters Anyway?

2011-10-11T07:50:00.001-07:00

Have you been watching or reading the news? There are some protests that are going on in the United States right now. I'm not exactly sure what they protests are about, but from what I can tell, it has something to do with money. There are large groups of people that are protesting against other people that have money, and asking them to give their money away.

They are saying that 1% controls all the money and the other 99% don't have it, so they want it. At least that's what I seem to get out of that whole thing. I'm not exactly sure what they are expecting. Should the billionaires walk out into the street and give cash away, then the people will go home? Then what?

I am sure that some people that will read this blog today will challenge my commentary and declare on moral grounds, that the protesters are right, and that for me to stand up for the rich, I am a conservative right wing whacko.

Save it. I'm not standing up for either of them.

Take either side of this 'argument' and you can declare that there is stream of greed. One side has it, the other wants it. Wikipedia defines greed as "an excessive desire to possess wealth, goods, or abstract things of value with the intention to keep it for one's self."

That sounds to me like the definition fits for the nameless people who are sitting there counting their billions, and the people who are standing outside holding a sign. The intention is to keep it for themselves = greed.

In the book of Proverbs, I found this verse- Proverbs 28:25 A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

That is my take on this whole thing. I can appreciate that are times that protesting can influence cultural change, and that it has produced results in the past, but when it comes to money, you can say whatever you want- it always comes down to greed.

We are not to trust anyone else but God for our provision. Sure, have a job, get a job, work, but realize that the only way to prosper in this world is to continually trust in God.

Are you a person who is greedy? Do you complain about what you do not have? Learn to trust God with your provision. Do not waste your time worrying about what someone else has or someone trying to take what you have.

Spend more time trusting God and praying for His provision. You will have less dissension and more prosperity.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

My First Computer I bought Was Mac Plus

2011-10-06T07:41:00.001-07:00

My first computer I ever bought was a MacPlus. I got it in 1993 to take to college with me. I loved that computer. It was so simple to use, I had a whopping 4 megabytes (not gigabytes) of RAM and 125 megabyte external hard drive- which people balked at and asked me- "what are you going to do with all that space"?

The MacPlus is gone. As of yesterday- so is its inventor.

People in my generation grew up on Apple computers. We had them at our schools as kids and played "Oregon Trail" and carried around 5 and half inch floppy disks in our folders. I learned my first things about computers on an apple. I do not own an apple product at this time- but I have a respect for what Apple did, and what they produced. That company did some amazing things.

What I think was the most amazing thing about Apple is that they created a culture around a product. People who love Apple love Apple and are relentless in its defense. Who would have thought that just by making earphones white instead of the standard black, that you could influence people to buy a product that is 3 times more expensive than the non-apple product.

Apple did. They created a cult following, and its pretty amazing. All from Steve Jobs garage. Wow.

Makes me think- we all have an ability to make an impact on the world. Sure, more than likely not a world-renown company that changes the culture of the face of the earth- but we all have some ability to make an impact.

I was thinking about that yesterday when I was at a funeral- everyone dies and everyone leaves some sort of legacy- the question is- what kind?

Every single day you have an opportunity to impact the world around you. You have the chance to love on people and encourage them. You can make a difference in peoples lives simply by being a friend to them. You don't have to invent a million dollar product to leave a mark. Make a difference in one persons life and you leave a mark.

Be encouraged with that today. Make a decision to leave a mark on this world through relationships. Love people relentlessly and you'll leave an impact that really matters to the world. Just because everyone in the world doesn't know you doesn't mean you don't matter.

You matter. Love people and leave a legacy.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Apparently Romo Likes Field Goals

2011-09-27T07:45:00.001-07:00

Did you watch Monday Night Football last night? It was a game between The Cowboys of Dallas and the Redskins of Washington.

I'm not sure if you watch football, but our family watches it quite often. It is a fun sport to watch, because it includes these really inspirational sporting actions called "touchdowns". Touchdowns are when the team with the inflated piece of leather runs or throws it across a line at the end of the field.

For some reason, when this happens, its pretty cool. Someone runs hard and gets across the line. Someone jumps and catches a pass that was thrown. Its the reason people go to football games. To see touchdowns.

Last night, the Dallas cowboys won the competition over the Redskins with a score of 18. The Redskins posted a score of 16. Here is the interesting part though- the Cowboys did not get one touchdown. All those points we received by kicking the ball through the goal posts and getting field goals.

For most football fans, it wasn't the most exciting game. Like I said, people like to see touchdowns.

Here is another component of this sport though- the goal is to have more points than the other team when the time is expired. The truth is that it doesn't really matter where the points came from, the team with the more points wins, plain and simple.

I was thinking about that this morning through the filter of Faith. Often times I think that people of faith can get discouraged if they are not "touchdown Christians". I think its easy to look at the heroes of the Faith and think that just because you never healed the sick, raised the dead, set free a nation from slavery, wrote a book of the Bible or heard God speak from a burning bush that your life doesn't matter.

That is not true. Yes there are exciting events that happened and do happen in the lives of people who follow Jesus Christ. But do not worry that you don't have any spiritual touchdowns that everyone cheers and talks about. Understand that the only thing that matters in your walk with God is to finish the race. It makes no difference if it looks pretty or if people write books about you.

I like the verse from 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith".

Like in football, the only thing that matters is winning. If you keep the faith, you win. That is it.

Do not harp on the Cowboys today. They won. Do not be hard on yourself today. If you have Faith in Jesus Christ and you live for him that is all that matters.

Keep the faith. Finish the race.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Are You Childish?

2011-09-20T08:09:00.001-07:00

I have children. Two of them. Lately is been pretty awesome having them around. They are finally getting to that age when you can have real conversations with them and joke around with them a bit. Like on Sunday, it was raining on the way home from church and one of them asked "Daddy, why does it rain?" and I said "Rain happens when God is crying, its probably because of something you did". We all had a good laugh (I didn't really say that, that's an old SNL Jack Handy quote).

But seriously, we like to joke around and have fun a lot.

I was thinking yesterday about how much we can learn from kids and our relationship with God. In Matthew 18:3 it says- "And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Here are some child-like traits that would be great to apply to your relationship with God (this is a non-exhaustive list).

1. Children trust easily. They don't think too much about the why's or the how's. They will do stuff that adults won't because they don't over think things.

2. Children are obedient. For the most part, Children do what their parents ask (eventually). There is a part of them that knows that disobedience comes at a price.

3. Children are loving. Most kids have to learn to be mean from someone else. They are naturally loving and accepting. You don't have to be exactly like them to play with them.

4. Children follow. If there is a leader, kids will follow them.

5. Children are forgiving. They rarely hold grudges. The person you fought with yesterday is your friend at recess the next day.

Now I am sure that there are exceptions to these statements, but for the most part I think they are pretty commonly held beliefs. If this isn't how the children are that you know, this is how they should be.

Its also how we should be in our relationship with God.

Do you trust? Are you obedient? Loving? Do you follow the Lord? Do you forgive?

Take a small lesson from a child today and realize that God desires child-like faith from us for us to be able to see His kingdom.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Are You on The Shore or in The Waves?

2011-09-15T07:48:00.001-07:00

When I was in elementary school, my father lived in Hawaii, so my brother and I would go there to visit him a few times a year on the island of Oahu. It was a fantastic place to visit when you are kid, because there are so many beaches, and places to do fun stuff. We would go to beaches with names like Makaha and Makapuu and a beach that we called the "Gold Mine" because it had so many shells to find on the beach.

We loved collecting the beautiful shells. I can't even describe the colors that they were and how spectacular they were. They were amazing.

Upon my initial visit to Hawaii, I remember that I would spend a lot of time on the beach walking up and down in water that was only up to my knees. It was fun, but it didn't take me long to figure out that when you are walking on the beach, you only get to find the type of shells that get left behind by other people (ones that are small, broken or undesirable). Eventually, I figured out that to find the best shells to collect, you had to get into the waves. Not only did I have to get into the waves, I had to get into the deeper water where I couldn't touch.

It was out in the deepest water that I found the best shells.

I was reflecting on that this morning and thinking about faith in God.

Often times I think that our spiritual lives are somewhat like that also. We want to have the great things of God, but we want to stay on the shore where its safe. Where we can touch the ground and not be encumbered by any un-forseen circumstances that may cause us any harm. We want to be safe.

Faith is not safe. Faith puts you in circumstances where you have to trust God and believe that He is going to take care of you as you are going through something that is uncomfortable or scary. Typically, the situation is not as terrifying as we think it is, its just that we can't touch the bottom of the ocean floor, so we assume it is going to be too difficult.

The truth is that more often that not, God has given you the ability to swim, and he will be there with you as you do.

So what to do? Walk by faith! Do not be a person who constantly stands on the shores of life refusing to go somewhere where you have to actually trust and believe. Instead, be a person who trusts God through all circumstances and endeavors. Believe that even though the situations around you may feel like waves crashing over your head, that through it you will find a "Gold Mine" of resources that will bless you beyond anything that you could imagine.

But you have to get off the shore.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Possibly The Best Video I Have Seen on The Internet In a Long Time

2011-09-13T07:43:00.001-07:00

What does it take to get you motivated? Is it the hope of pleasure or the fear of pain? Is it when you read something, or when you hear something? When you see something or you feel something?

Motivation is an interesting thing. Its a word that is thrown around a lot. Its something that we talk about often in varying circles of our life. How many times have I said to myself, 'I'm just not motivated today"?

Its important though. Without any motivation or inspiration, often life can become a dreary drab drag of a day that feels like it will never end. You end up feeling loathsome and depressed and you don't get anything accomplished in your life.

This should not be so.

Luckily, I have scoured the Universe and have found the key to all motivation for all people from this point forward. Oddly enough, I have found it in a video on the internet. I do not know the context of this Inspirational speech, or the Television show from which it came. I do know this- if you watch this video you will be utterly and completely motivated for all endeavors for the rest of your life.

Its the truth.

There are two things from this video that I would like to draw attention to.

1. I absolutely love the part when the guy talks about people blaming others because of their lack of success. I think this part is key. Often times people blame their upbringing, their family, an event, a relationship, or something else as the reason why they are the way that they are. All it is is an excuse. A reason they can use for why they are seemingly unsuccessful. Its not true. Its a lie. You can become anything regardless of your background or experiences.

2. The battle cry at the end. Honestly, that is one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. At first it seems out of context, but the more I reflect on it, it has fantastic context, and here's why- Emotional intensity. In life, regardless of the endeavor, you must have a measure of emotional intensity. This guy has some emotional intensity that is over the top, and in this case appears to have not saved him from being kicked off whatever pointless reality show this clip came from. But I still think it proves a point- be emotionally intense.

How are you on those two things? Do you blame others? Do you have any emotionally intensity to your goals?

Here's what you do- Next time you are talking to God, ask Him to help you forgive those people in your life that you have been holding a grudge against so that you can move forward. Declare that you will no longer hold them responsible for your shortcomings. Secondly, ask for inspiration for some emotional intensity. Now, this may not be manifested in such a way as this guy, but you should get some emotions behind what you do.

Don't blame others. Get emotionally intense.

Be blessed

pastor matt

</object><div style="padding:5px 0; text-align:center;">See more <a href="http://www.todaysbigthing.com/">funny videos</a> and <a href="http://www.todaysbigthing.com/">TBT</a> at <a href="http://www.todaysbigthing.com/">Todays Big Thing</a>.</div>

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Every Body's Working For The Weekend (Video Included)

2011-09-09T08:06:00.001-07:00

I get on the social networking site Facebook every once in a while, and when you are on the site on Fridays there are many people who post about the global significance of it being Friday.

There are posts like "Its FRIDAY", "Hey everyone, Friday!" and "TGIF" which is my favorite because it thanks God that it is Friday. Many people seem to be very excited that it is Friday and that their workweek has come to an end.

There was a Music Band named Loverboy that had a song "Working for the Weekend" that came out in 1981 (I was 6 years old). And whenever I hear someone get excited about Friday, for some reason I always hear this song in my head.

I am including the song so that from this point forward you can join me in thinking about this song every Friday for the rest of your life.

Here's the issue I have with a "Friday Centered" mentality- what this Friday centered mentality produces is a contingent of the American worker that seemingly only enjoys their life two days a week. Monday through Friday are drudgery and Saturday and Sunday are King. (Sunday more so since you get to go to church).

When someone spends their work week drudging through, waiting for the end of the week, they may miss out on some joy and blessings throughout the week. There are great things that can happen throughout the week if you would look for them.

First off- thank God for the work of your hands. If you're at a job or you are at home, thank God that you have hands that have the ability to get some work done. There is something intrinsically satisfying to getting something accomplished. "Moving the needle" as I like to say, is a gratifying task in and of itself.

Secondly, focus on the positive. Work, no matter where, is filled with people. People like you and me who are getting it done. Use this opportunity to connect with other people and share some joy and love. You are with them 8 hrs a day, use it as an opportunity to affect other peoples lives. If you are at home, surround yourself with others in your phase of life and connect with them.

Last- Praise God for the gift of a day. Here's what I mean- every day ends. If it is good, or it is bad, it ends and that is a good thing. Often times we forget that His mercies are new every morning, and that we can find joy in every single day that we live, not just Fridays.

Don't just work for the weekend. Live every day to the fullest.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Do You Want A Fruitful Relationship?

2011-09-08T07:47:00.001-07:00

I was on the radio last night, and shared these truths on the show, but I thought it would be good to put them down here on the blog for those of you who missed the show, and for future reference.

Relationships are important. They are the what makes this world go around. If you don't know how to make and keep healthy relationships, you will struggle in this life. Here is a list of some things to think about when it comes to relationships. (I acquired this list- it is not wholly mine, but it is still good.)

1. Begin with the guy in the mirror. (Matthew 22:39 – love your neighbour as yourself). We can only love others to the degree that we love ourselves, and we only love ourselves to the degree that we know the love of God.

2. Be a faithful friend. (Prov. 17:17 – a friend loves at all times). We need to love our friends even when they are being unlovable, for it is then that they need our friendship the most.

3. Speak only encouraging words to everyone. (Prov. 18:21 “the power of death and life are in the tongue” & Eph. 4:29). You’ve heard the rhyme, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." That’s not true. Words can wound greater than sticks and stones!

4. Be friendly to everyone you meet. (Prov. 18:24 – he who has friends must be friendly). If you have a real negative, grouchy attitude all the time, you will have a hard time making friends!

5. Practice love everyday. (READ 1 Cor. 13:4-8a). Don’t just say, "I love you." Love is patient, love is kind, love believes the best, etc.

6. Help people in trouble all the time. (Gal. 6:2 – God wants us to share each others troubles & problems).

7. Pray for one another daily. (James 5:16 – pray for one another). Never pass up an opportunity to pray with someone.

8. Pursue peace with all men. (Rom. 12:18 – as much as possible). This is not easy, but this is very important.

9. Know how to deal with offenses. (Matt. 18:15 - if someone offends you, go and talk to them about it, don’t go and talk to others about it). Jesus said, “Offenses will come,” but its how we deal with it that makes the difference.

10. Forgive one another. (Eph. 4:32 - forgive each other as Christ forgave us). In any relationship, you will have to choose to forgive the other person when they hurt or offend you.

Hope this blesses you as it did me.

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

No Blog Today

2011-09-07T08:08:00.001-07:00

No Blog today- must use all my brain power to host radio show on KGNW this afternoon from 4-6pm.PST Tune in on 820AM and have a listen!! you can listen to it live streaming on the website if you are not local.

http://www.kgnw.com

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

If I Can't Go To The Moon, I'm Not Going Anywhere (pic included)

2011-09-06T07:50:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had a huge goal? Something that you wanted to do or accomplish or get done? Big or small, goals are good. But there is a dangerous part of goal setting that is important to remember. I call it the "Moon or nowhere" syndrome.

Let me explain.

I have come to the realization that I am never going to walk on the moon, and I'm okay with it. By some estimates, there has been about 105 billion people that have ever lived on this planet, of which 12 people have walked on the moon.

Not very good odds of me going to the moon based on that statistic.

Now, at this point, I have a choice to make, I am either going to find an achievable goal that will be somewhat as exhilarating or monumental or I will state that since I cannot go to the moon, I am not going to go anywhere.

I fell victim to this syndrome a few years back with my workouts. When I was in college, I was very fit and quite consistent with my workouts. I was making great advances in my overall fitness.

Then I got married, and started eating, and found out that when you have a life and a wife there isn't a lot of time hanging around for weighing your food and going to the gym for 2 hours a day. For a while, because I could not accomplish in the gym what I wanted to, I did nothing. I didn't care what I ate and I didn't do any physical activity.

Let me let you in on a little secret- when you don't care what you eat and you don't do any physical activity it will eventually catch up with you.

So what do we do? If we can't go to the moon, do we do nothing? Obviously not. I got back into the gym and set some different goals and realized I am not a 20 year old college student anymore.

The correct mindset to have is to realize that possibly the goal that has been set is too high, therefore a new goal must be set. One that is measureable and achievable. I may not be able to go to the moon, but I can hike a mountain. I may not be able to go into a rocket ship, but I can jump out of a plane. (for the record I do not want to go to the moon, climb a mountain or jump out of a plane).

What things are you not doing in your life because they seem too far out of your reach? What can you do today that is a more realistic goal? Set a more realistic goal and you will find that you are accomplishing more because you are setting the bar at a height at which you can reach it. Once you reach it, you will end up setting a higher goal.

Set a goal today. Spiritual, physical, emotional, financial or career. Whatever it is. Set one.

Be blessed

pastor matt

ps. here is a slick pic of the moon my friend Dmitry took.

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Oh My Goodness... there is a flaming ball in the sky!!!

2011-08-26T08:14:00.001-07:00

For a Seattle morning, it doesn't get better than this.

We have had a pretty lame summer this year, but the last week has been beautiful. That is, if you think beautiful is a lack of rain and lots of sunshine. It has been quite different than the weather that we have had the rest of the summer.

On days like this, I sleep with my window open in my bedroom, and wake up to the smell of the outside and the coolness of the morning. I find that when it is sunny, and dry and warm, I wake up with a different spirit.

I wish it weren't that way.

I am not trying to take the fun out of today- but here's the reality- the dreariness of a cold dark wet morning is looming right around the corner. Ask any Seattlite and they will tell you. Its sunny, but rain is around the corner.

The truth is that the weather shouldn't dictate my happiness.

Every day, regardless of weather, should be started positively with a spirit of expectancy. Its a spirit that says "God, I know you are going to do great things today, and I want to be part of it".

I was reading the psalms this morning and found this verse " In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (psalm 5:3).

The important part of that verse is this- "I lay my requests". I think that is the key to a great day- connecting with God and letting him know your desires for the day. Don't be afraid to talk to him about what is going on or what you need. Because, here is the second part of that verse- "expectation".

Expectation is assurance that something is going to happen. Its not just that you have made your requests to God, its that you expect that He is actually going to act on that request. That great things are going to happen in your day because you have connected with the creator of the Universe, and He will move.

Have a great day today and every day when you talk to God every morning and expect Him to move. Don't just merely trudge through the day and get by- spend time with God and watch your day flourish regardless of the weather.

Sunny is good. But its not the only way to have a great day.

Expect God to MOVE!!!

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

My Computer is Talking to Me

2011-08-25T08:38:00.001-07:00

I think computers are pretty smart. Maybe too smart. I'm not saying that we are half a step away from our computers becoming self aware, but they are definitely smarter than the Apple IIe I used back in the day to play Oregon Trail.

I'm not sure if you have figured this out yet- but your browser for the world wide web 'learns' over time. Yep. If you search for something on google or something like that, your computer has 'cookies' that file away what you search for and then 'they' put forth advertisements that 'they' think you will click on. (you can clean out your cookies by the way).

Its rather interesting to see what advertisements come up all the time for me- some of which totally apply to me, and some of which do not.

Disneyland- I see Disneyland advertisements every single day. I am sure there is someone in the home office who is personally sending those because they know "The Krachunis family will eventually come, keep putting those up". The ads say things to me like "its not too late for some summer fun!'.

Netflix- I'm already a customer, but apparently they know I've been searching for alternatives, so they must be trying to keep me.

"Maple Valley Mom Makes $1,734 a month sitting at home"- I have been seeing this one for years. I haven't searched for this one before, but sure, I'd love to make that much money for doing nothing. Haven't clicked yet, but it just may work.

Cruise Deals- I searched about some cruise stuff a while back and they are still trying to get me.

Camera Stuff- I am always looking at camera stuff. New lenses, new flashes. All that gear is fun to look at.

All of these attempts to advertise to me have yet to influence my purchase. Maybe it will overtime, but as of yet, I am holding strong. This is what I will say-

They are relentless, and they have learned what I like. Or at least what I search for on the internet.

What's the point? 2 Corinthians 2:11 says "in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes". Satan is somewhat like your web browser. He learns what you like and what you will gravitate towards so he uses it against you.

Let me explain- as sure as there is a God, there is the Devil. In the spiritual realm, the forces of evil do whatever they can to to try to entice us to stay away from the things of God. They will use whatever they can and do whatever is necessary to pull us away from the Lord.

We must not be unaware. We must not give in.

So how do we do that? Be aware that you are being enticed. Pay attention to your 'triggers' that pull you away from God and stay away from them. If there are things that you do or places that you go that pull you away from God, don't do them, or don't go there. Its that simple.

Its a scheme of the evil one. Be aware of it. Put some simple controls in your life to keep you from those things and you'll find that your spiritual life stays more in tact.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Kick it hard, but don't use your hands!

2011-08-24T08:49:00.001-07:00

Some of you may have heard- I have signed up to be a soccer coach for my 8 year old daughters team.

She has never played soccer, and neither have I, so this experience is going to be rather interesting. To tell you the truth, I am a little nervous.

I am going to have 9 little players who are going to be depending on me to teach them the basics and lead them to victory. I could honestly have an Olympic hopeful on my team and one day they could be standing at some podium and say something like "I owe the foundation of my excellence to my first coach, Coach Matt" or "I never thought I could achieve heights such as this when I started with the worst coach I had in my career when I was 8 years old".

This is serious business here.

But there is part of my plan for success that I am going to share with you, that I think applies to other areas of your life that may encourage you. Here it is-

1. Find Someone Better.

No, I'm not saying the team needs a better coach, but already I am contacting and talking to other coaches that have done this before who can guide me. I know that my chances for success are that much better if I ask for help from someone who knows more than I do.

2. Read something.

Books- they have existed for a long time and still contain valuable knowledge to teach us things. I am reading books about soccer and ingesting as much information about it as I can. I heard a phrase one time- "Leaders are Readers". Text is a great way to learn.

3. Set Realistic Goals.

Initially, I was thinking about going for the youth soccer world cup, but then I came to my senses and figured I would settle on everyone learning something, and everyone having a good time. Winning is fun, but playing is fun too. Sometimes we set our expectations so high that we don't enjoy the moment.

4. Be Committed

I know before I start that at some point I am going to want to quit. It will probably be about half way through the season when it is cold and rainy and things aren't going as well as I expected. But now, before I start, I am committed to seeing this to the end, no matter what.

Now, this is for my soccer team, but I am sure that there is some area of your life that you can apply this to also.

Set a spiritual, emotional, physical or financial goal today and stick to it. Realize that God wants to help you through the process, that there is something you can learn and that you'll be better on the other side because of it.

Be blessed.

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Excuse Me, Is that a Cat on your Shoulder?

2011-08-19T08:29:00.001-07:00

I do not believe that you need to live your life to please other people. That is a fruitless exercise. You cannot please everyone, that is obvious.

But there is a component of living this life that we have to interact with our fellow humans. Through that, inevitably others will form opinions of us based on what we wear, what we say, how we act, and how we speak.

What we do conveys what we are about.

I was thinking about this yesterday when I was sitting in a fast-food restaurant watching a young lady holding her cat.

That's right. She was sitting there, having lunch, trying to keep her cat from crawling all over the place.

I'm not going to go into great detail about what she looked like, but from where I was sitting, and what she was wearing, and what she was doing, I got this sense that she was somewhat rebellious. This wasn't a kitten. It was a full grown black cat that she was walking with around her neck.

Cats are okay to use as clothing if they are alive nowadays I guess.

Dead cat pelt around neck = bad. Live cat around neck = good.

Whatever.

Here's what I'm saying- and this is from the pastor who wore a Seattle Seahawks jersey as his uniform for the day yesterday- if we have something about us that becomes a focal point of our life that everyone looks at, it defines who we are to them.

The guy who wears all camouflage all the time is probably a hunter. The guy wearing the full body spandex suit is probably a bicyclist. The person who constantly talks about politics is probably into politics. You get the picture. What they are doing, or what they talk about all the time begins to define who they are.

They are now known as "the hunter" the "bicyclist" or the "politically charged guy".

Or "the lady with the black cat around the neck".

All that stuff is well and good and fine and all that but here is my issue- is that what those people want to be known for? Is that what they want to be remembered for and be identified with?

In your life, is there something that you are allowing to dominate your persona?

Step back, and think- how would most people describe me? By what am I known?

Here's the best part- you can be known by what you choose to identify with and what you choose to identify with will define who you are.

Decide today what you want to be known by and live it out.

Even if its a 'lady with a cat around your neck'.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Got Hosed At The BK Drive Thru

2011-08-18T08:35:00.001-07:00

I don't know what it is, but somehow, my kids know how to soak me for a few buck every chance they get. It is always a dollar here and a dollar there. Buy me this and buy me that. Those little trouts need to get a job I tell ya.

So last night the kids coaxed me into getting them a "slurpee" (which is code for any slush type drink). They said that they wanted to go through the drive through at Burger King, rather than have to walk into the AM/PM and get the drinks that way.

I was all for it. The Icees at BK are only a buck. The drinks at AM/PM are twice that.

Except deep down in my heart I knew that the ulterior motive behind my children's culinary choice was that they would have the opportunity to up sell their dad to getting more off the menu then they bargained for.

I'm no dummy. I know the trick. Its the "Dad I'm so hungry I haven't eaten in weeks I'm going to die" ploy. Or they "don't you love me enough to get me just one small thing off the dollar menu" ploy. I'm a softie. I always give in.

Now I'm hoping you can follow this, and hopefully you can- We get to the window, and I tell the kids that they get the one dollar drink and they each get one item off the dollar menu. That would bring the bill to about 4 bucks.

At the order microphone, I ordered 2 Icees, a BK single stacker and a Small fry. The total on the screen is over 7 dollars- the screen flashed so fast that if I hadn't seen it, I would have missed it, but they gave me a double stacker ($2) vs a single stacker ($1) so I said, I only wanted a single stacker, not a double, so she says she will have my new order total at the window.

We get to the window, I give her the debit card (crystal and I were in conversation at this point- also the kids are loving each other so loudly that it is distracting) so I am not really listening- I just pay and we go. Enroute Gabe exclaims "We got an extra burger" which turned into "Isn't it wrong to keep this if we didn't pay for it Dad?"

Crystal checks the receipt. We paid for 2 burgers 2 Icees and a small fry. The total was over 6 dollars.

What? How the sam hill did that happen? I'll tell you how it happened- either I wasn't clear enough, or they didn't hear well enough- the order change on the burgers was wrong and here's the kicker and the point of this blog- apparently when you ask for a 'small fry' you don't get the smallest order of fries that they have to offer. You get the order of 'small fries' that costs 1.79. If you want the smallest fries that they offer you must have to ask for the "BK Value Fries" which are 1.29.

I got hosed for an extra 1.50 at least. I'm sure of it.

But as we were driving away, I was thinking- that's kind of like our prayers. We are not clear. We don't listen. We don't ask for specifics. How can we expect God to bless something that we are not asking specifically for? Shouldn't our prayers be specific?

We ask God to 'bless us' but then we don't let him know what area specifically we want the blessing or in what way. God wants to bless us, but we need to let Him know specifics. Sure, he may in his wisdom choose something else for us, but at least from our end we will be clear. If there is something you need or want, make sure you're being clear.

Are you praying specific prayers? Are you letting God know exactly what you need? Be as specific as possible and see what God can do with that prayer. You will see that your prayers will get answered in a different way than before.

Trust me and trust God on this one. Get specific. You might be missing out on $1.50 more of blessings.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

The Blog Is BACK

2011-08-17T08:04:00.001-07:00

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes. It takes a while for me to 'get something' that God is trying to speak to me. Often, I am either not listening, or not paying attention (sounds like High School) to what He is trying to say, or I am choosing to not listen.

I haven't written the blog in about 7 weeks. I know. I've been a slacker.

A few weeks ago, I was in Pasco, Washington, and was at a family friends house. I met this lady who introduced herself and said "Hey, where has the blog been?".

What? Someone other than my mom reads the blog?

About a week ago a new couple came to visit our church on a Wednesday night they told me that that had been reading my blog and decided to come to church, but hadn't seen in it a while so they decided to come to church and see if I was still alive.

Yesterday my friend Chris put me on blast on Facebook and encouraged me to get back at it.

I think I'm getting the point. I'm going to get back to the blog.

Laying in bed this morning, I was thinking about what my blog return was going to be. Should it be epic? Should I quote a bunch of scripture? Include a picture? Lots has happened in the past weeks, but one theme kept coming in my head. This theme was directed towards me, but I'm sure in your life, it applies also-

The little things you do matter.

I'm no superhero. I have been known to give into self-defeating self-depreciating self loathing thoughts. When that happens, I beat my self up and think that the little things I do don't matter. I begin to think that they are fruitless and pointless. I believe the lie that the little things have no value, when the truth is that they do matter.

The little things matter in my life and they matter in yours too. I'm sure of it.

God can strategically use your personality and your connections to bless someone else's life. The trick is that you actually have to do it. You have to talk to those people at work that you pass by every day. You have to encourage that neighbor who doesn't have any close family. You have call that person that has been on your mind. You have to write the blog Matt.

Don't fall into the trap of believing that what you do in other people's lives doesn't matter. It matters a lot.

Live that out today. Find someone to encourage and someone to bless. Don't worry about if they will receive it or not. Just be obedient to who God wants you to be and you will find that you will be blessed in the process. Think about something that you used to do that you thought was fruitless and start doing it again.

The little stuff you do matters. I'm sure of it.

Be blessed.

I've missed you

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Blog Block

2011-06-24T08:47:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the lack of a blog this week- I've had blog block.

Read your Bible.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Why I Don't Like The Last Day Of School

2011-06-21T07:29:00.001-07:00

Today is my kids last day of school for the Summer. They are very excited. When you're a kid, the last day of summer seems like the answer to all of your prayers. No more getting up early, no more homework, no more sitting in class all day and no more having to learn.

Now, days can be spent sleeping in, turning brains into mush with TV and video games, and eating an abundant amount of sugar. What a life.

I loved the last day of school when I was a kid. Its almost indescribable what it felt like to know that I would have freedom for a few months. It was exhilarating to say the least.

I have changed my view of the last day school now that I am an adult. Now I think that it is lame.

Let me tell you why it is lame.

I am not sure exactly when it happened, I think it may have been when I was about 25 or 26 years of age, but I came to the realization that I had been duped. That's right. Duped. See, what had happened was that I was lead to believe that life was what I had experienced up to that point, and when I found out it wasn't as I had expected, It frustrated me.

For 17 years of my life I was in some form of school. Kindergarten through College. During that time, I remember thinking, all I have to do is get through this 9 months, and then I get 3 months off.

Then the sad reality hit- as an adult- there is no such thing as 3 months off.

The truth is that responsibility is a really big word. When you're married, with a couple of kids and a job there is truly no end in sight. Retirement? At 25, you'll be lucky to retire at 65 and that is 40 years away! Stuck in the drudgery of the reality of the repetition of life for the next 40 years, you have to do some serious re-ordering of your thoughts.

Here's the reality- life isn't summer vacation. Life is work. Life doesn't have a foreseeable endpoint- you have to stick with it and realize there isn't a 3 month vacation waiting for you every year. I found out that the sooner you realize it, the better off you'll be.

Where's the victory today? Here it is- in the midst of the realization of the truth of a life with no 3 month vacation God gave me peace. He helped me to realize that while goal setting, or having an endpoint is good, it can be deceiving. It can get you to despise where you are at because you are always looking forward to something better. Often times, there is a great deal to be learned in the midst of today. Right now, in this moment. Not in some moment in the future.

Make no mistake, I'm a goal setter, but sometimes, looking towards the goal too far, can keep you from enjoying where you are at right now, because it appears that happiness is in the future, not right now.

Find happiness in the here and now. Strive for the future, but don't think that you'll only be happy once you get to where you are going, because once you get there, you'll still have somewhere to go.

I gotta go rain on my kids parade now and put them to work for the summer- no better time to understand life than at 8 years of age....

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Did Something Yesterday I've Never Done Before in My Life

2011-06-16T08:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was my "carb day" on my eating plan. I wont go into great detail, but on certain days, I allow myself to consume desserts and such, and yesterday was one of those days.

We have church on Wednesdays, and somehow, we have got into the habit of getting ice cream after service. Obviously, the kids love it, so it happens quite often. This can get a bit expensive.

By our church there is a Dairy Queen. To get cones for 4 people at DQ is close to 8 dollars, and recently, we have noticed that the creation of the treats have been slightly inconsistent. I'm a guy who wants as much as he can get for his ice cream dollar, so I've been disappointed when its inconsistent.

Last night, I had an epiphany. At the McDonalds by our house, a vanilla cone is only 50 cents. I calculated that if I ordered two cones, that I would be ensured to get the absolute most out of my ice cream dollar. I'm was pretty sure that buying 2 cones for a dollar would give me more ice cream than one cone at 1.89. We decided to try the theory out.

As we pulled into the drive through last night, we were all giggling when Crystal told the guy "8 cones please". We got to the window and he said that was the biggest order for cones that he had ever seen.

We're trendsetters. We got an abundance of ice cream for just over four dollars.

Who would have thought that buying two smalls would equal one big for less than the price of medium? I'm changing the world of ice cream folks, I'm the John D. Rockafeller of Ice Cream I tell ya.

This is a spiritual blog with spiritual truths and here's what I got for you today- Sometimes its okay to get two cones.

Let me explain- I think the reason that people only get one cone is that the vast majority of Americans have been conditioned to believe that one cone is allowed. You get one cone and that's it. You find a size, you find a cone and that's it.

People think because that's what they see, that is what is allowed. The truth is that you can ask for as many cones as you want.

This translates to people's spiritual lives too. They think there are limits with God. They think that He is a one cone God because they have never asked for two cones. They see everyone else getting one cone so they figure that's all they can get.

God has far more than two cones. His cone supply is unlimited.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that just because everyone else is getting one cone that that is all that is available. Sometimes, you just have to ask for the extra cone.

Mediate on that today. Have you been limiting God? Have you fallen into the 'one cone' mentality instead of thinking bigger? God has the ability to bless you abundantly, but often we limit Him because of our own perceptions, not because of who He really is.

Sometimes its okay to ask for two cones.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Does Your Pain Determine Your Plan?

2011-06-14T07:43:00.001-07:00

This morning, it has been a bit of a struggle, because it seems that no matter what I am doing to try to come up with a topic, I keep focusing on the pain in my back. I didn't injure it or anything, its just really really sore.

Yesterday I was at the gym and did some deadlifts with my friend Dan, and my legs and back are smoked.

I'm not sure the last time you went to the gym or worked out, but often when I am done I'll be remembering the workout for days. Not because it was momentous, but because of the pain in my body from it. For some reason, when that happens, it constantly goes through my mind- the pain in my body.

It makes me want to quit.

Now, this pain is self-inflicted, its not by accident or anything, but I'm sure you can agree that when there is some pain in your body, you're aware of it all day every day. You feel it when you get up, or move, or are just sitting there. Its a constant.

It makes you want to quit.

I wish there was something I could do to make it go away, but I think the only thing that will help is time. Time to recover. Time to heal.

Here's what happens when you are in pain- it has the possibility to consume you. You can spend every waking moment thinking about it, and focusing on it because it is so painful. It limits what you want to do, or can do, and you can spend too much time focusing on it.

It got me thinking- often emotional pain is the same way. It can become very painful and debilitating to the point where you are no longer able to function because of the focus on your pain. When this happens, you run the risk of being directed by your pain and your attempts to alleviate it. Emotional pain can be just as bad as physical pain.

People avoid pain, and pursue pleasure. So if there is something painful, you're going to run from it.

What's my point today? You can't let pain be your guide. Physical or emotional. Sure, it can give you an indicator of what you should or shouldn't be doing, but it can be a deceiver also. If the only guide in your life is your pain, you can be directed away from something that is critically important in your life- growth.

That's right. Sometimes when you're growing it hurts.

Now I don't describe to the 'no pain no gain' camp, but I do think that sometimes the growth in our lives can be painful. Its painful to change and have to re-evaluate where you are are at. Its not easy.

It might come through weight training, or spiritual growth.

Don't focus on your pain today, don't allow it to be your guide. Its a horrible compass. If God has birthed a vision and path for you, follow it regardless of the pain you may be perceiving. What you may find is that the pain will pass, and you'll grow in the process.

Pain is what it is, but its not what should direct your life.

Be blessed.

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs

2011-06-09T06:18:00.001-07:00

Have you ever seen the movie Cool Hand Luke? Its an older movie, with Paul Newman. If you haven't seen it. I highly recommend it. Its one of my favorite movies. It has some really memorable quotes in it, such as-

"No one can eat fifty eggs" and "What we have here is a failure to communicate" and "Spend a night in the box".

The movie is about a guy who goes to jail on a chain gang for taking the tops off a bunch of parking meters while he's drunk. Not very moral, but the theme of the movies centers around watching the spirit of a guy who will not be broken, no matter what.

In the chain gang prison on Saturdays, they have grudge matches with the prisoners. The prisoners don boxing gloves and then proceed to beat the living pulp out of each other (we may be instituting this at church- more to come). The point of this exercise is that if you have a problem with someone, you save it til Saturday, and it starts and ends there.

In this pivotal scene, Luke and Dragline (George Kennedy) have their match. Luke is clearly not in a position to win. He is smaller and not nearly as skilled in the pugilistic arts as Dragline.

He gets the pulp beat out of him.

In the scene, Dragline is beating him, but to the amazement of the spectators, Luke refuses to stop getting up. Time and time again he gets up out of the dirt to once again face this man who slugs him in the face or gut, and then he falls down again.

Eventually, after watching Luke get up again and again, Dragline stops swinging, and walks away from the fight.

I love that scene.

You can see the scene here- the audio is off- but the scene is there-

I love it because Luke wins the fight even though he didn't inflict the most damage. Anyone who knows boxing knows that the guy who lands the most punches wins, but in this fight, the guy who won was the guy who didn't quit. Luke refused to stay down.

Sometimes, that's the best way to win- to never stop getting back up again.

Oftentimes when faced with dire circumstances or repeated attacks, the initial response is to quit or give up. The problem with quitting is that you'll never achieve greatness if you give up every time things get hard.

You have to pull yourself up out of the dirt and take a few more licks. Sure, you may not be able to swing as hard as the next guy, but take enough licks and eventually, you'll be the only one standing. I'm using a metaphor here- but I think you get the point.

Don't quit.

If you're going through something today here's the word of the Lord- don't give up. Don't give in. Keep fighting the good fight. Don't allow discouragement or past defeat keep you from getting up one more time. Feel like you don't have what it takes? Take another line from the movie-

"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand".

God moves in our nothingness- in our inabilities- in our failures, but we need to keep ourselves in the equation and allow him to move through us. But we need to keep getting up.

Be blessed

pastor matt

ps. according to www.imdb.com Luke's prison number is 37 in reference to Luke 1:37- look it up.

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Got Motivated- You Should Too!

2011-06-08T07:53:00.001-07:00

Are you a 'motivated' person? I found a definition of motivated- 'provided with a motive or given incentive for action'. I think that's a pretty good definition. Motivation is a good thing. When it comes to the things in our life that truly matter, it is important that we are looking for motivation to get to action in our lives.

Yesterday I went to a "Get Motivated" seminar at the Showare Center in Kent. Its put on by a guy named Peter Lowe, and they have been doing it for many years now. What happens is that they get together a bunch of famous people to give speeches that are supposed to get you motivated (they also try to sell you some stuff-but not much).

The event was amazing. I got to hear General Colin Powell, Laura Bush, Steve Forbes, Brian Tracy, Krish Dahnam and BIll Cosby. There were some fantastic insights that all of these people brought to the table. But of course, as with most things, there is always a favorite.

I absolutely loved listening to Bill Cosby. I think that guy is hilarious! He talked for about a half hour about next to nothing. He talked about Camille, He talked about his kids. He talked about a friend from Walla Walla Washington. It was funny to listen to him, but as he was speaking, I kept thinking to myself, "what does this have to do with motivation, I'm just laughing". Throughout his speech, he never really got to his point- He kind of rambled from story to story.

The only thing he said about motivation in his whole time of speaking was "Why are you here? Why aren't you motivated"? It was really funny- and kind of uncomfortable at the same time- you could hear the crowd's nervous laugh as they realized the simplicity of his statement and wondered to themselves what the answer was.

I heard statesmen and business leaders and all I remember is Bill Cosby asking in the middle of a comedy set "why aren't you motivated".

It begs the question though- why aren't you? What is holding you back from moving forward in that one area that you can't seem to get started on. Do you not have a motive to take action? No incentive? I can't give you a motive or an incentive, but I can challenge you to think and find one for yourself. If you would take the time to sit and think for a minute about what you would like to change, find a motive or incentive, I think you'll get motivated.

Here's the deal- talk is cheap. Action pays the bills. If you spend more time talking than moving you're just flapping your gums. You can read books, go to seminars, do whatever, but at the end of the day you have to take ACTION. You have to start doing something.

Take action today. Do something to move you in the right direction. You'll find that you'll be better off for it.

Get motivated. Stay motivated.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Yes Its National Donut Day. No I will not be having one.

2011-06-03T07:56:00.001-07:00

As far as food is concerned, my favorite is the donut. Most people that know me know this, because, well, I really like them. I really think that if they didn't exist I would weigh about 40 lbs less, because I wouldn't have any food that I craved. Honestly there isn't a day when I would turn down a good donut. I could eat them every day.

Today is national donut day and there are donut places all over this great nation of ours that will be giving away this manna from heaven. Free donuts. Did you catch that? To me that is like if a bank was giving away free samples. Who would turn that down?

The calls, the emails and the facebook posts are coming my way. People that know me know that I love them, so they are trying to help me out. God bless them.

But alas, today I will not be taking part in this most momentous occasion. I will not ingest one single donut.

I'm not protesting here, I'm just on this new fangled eating plan that is not allowing me to consume a fried ball of flour and sugar. I wish it was, but on this plan i'm on, I am restricted to eating those type of carbohydrates only two days a week, and today is not one of those days.

Now understand, as I write this blog and share with you some insight I am not the shining example or pinnacle of restraint. I'm not speaking from a mountain of achievement or a platform of success. I am merely a fellow sojourner on a path of discovery.

And here's the word for today- Delayed gratification.

Actually that is two words, but you get the point. I was thinking about that this morning and realized how important delayed gratification is to be successful and how lacking it is in most people's lives. Most people want something right now, as soon as they can get it. Smart people realize that often when you delay some sort of gratification, in the long run, you're going to come out ahead.

Wait to spend. Wait to eat. Wait to go there. Wait to buy that.

Waiting isn't fun, but in the long run, its usually the best thing to do because then you get the bigger things that you want, not just a simple immediate satisfaction that it usually fleeting.

Am I making sense this morning? I hope I am. Here it is in a nutshell- In a lot of things, its good to wait, and better if you do.

Is there something that you need to wait to do today? Are you getting ahead of God on something? Have you become a person who doesn't have the ability to wait? Make the decision today to put it off to the right time and watch what happens.

More than likely you'll find that delaying your gratification will bring greater satisfaction in the long run.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Do You Have HD Vision? I do! (Check out the pic)

2011-06-02T07:52:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, I had to go to Office Depot and redeem my 17 dollar rewards card. It expired on the 31st, so I had to use it before then. Walking around Office Depot with 17 dollars to spend isn't that exciting. There really isn't much 'fun' stuff to buy that isn't paper or pencils. I was going to buy a new Blackberry cover, then I looked at some cheap software, then I looked at some headphones. Nothing really seemed worth it.

Then I found the "as seen on TV" section. There was some pretty good stuff there. Click lights, Topsy Turvy's, foot washing slippers. I don't know why all this stuff was in Office Depot, but on the shelf were these slick HD Sunglasses.

I'm not sure if you've seen the infomercials about HD Glasses, this video isn't the exact product I bought, but its pretty much the same-

When I watch videos like that I am totally excited to get a product like that. I want to see better. I want things to be in HD. I wan't to be part of the 'in' crowd. If all it takes is a pair of glasses to be cool, I'm buying them.

So I buy the 10 dollars glasses, get in my truck and start to drive. I'm thinking that by wearing these I'm going to feel like I'm driving the time machine from Back 2 the Future or something. But the truth is that they just feel like sunglasses. Regular old sunglasses.

Somehow, I think I've been duped.

How did I get duped? Because I believed someone's emotionally laden plea to buy their product. I actually thought that what they were selling would change my vision, when in actuality, they were just regular ol' sunglasses. They are nice, but not that nice. I believed what they told me instead of figuring it out for myself.

Here's what I was thinking about my sunglasses- how pointless is it that we are so concerned with sunglasses when there are so many people that are spiritually blind. Spiritual blindness is much different than regular blindness in that most people who are spiritually blind, don't even know that they are blind. Even worse, they think they can see, which is even worse.

Spiritual clarity is far more important than HD vision.

How do we gain spiritual clarity? Read the the Bible. When we spend time reading the good book we find out what it says, and the Holy Spirit reveals what it means. Through doing that, we find that our vision of what the world is and what it should be about changes. We find that how we are supposed to see the world may not be how we thought before, but through God's HD glasses of the word, we can.

Do you have the HD Jesus vision? Do you have spiritual clarity? If not, for only free ninety free you can get it in the Word of God.

Read the book, and you'll get some slick HD vision.

be blessed.

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Are You Secure, or Insecure?

2011-05-27T08:17:00.001-07:00

I've had a pretty interesting week. Being a pastor is the type of job that is quite Gumpish, "you never know what you're gonna get". One day is pretty quiet, and then the next day is filled with activity and stuff.

Without going into great detail about the circumstance of my week (which is truly insignificant), I realized, or should I say that I admitted to myself, that there are areas of my life that I am insecure.

Yep. I am insecure.

Wait, don't stop reading the blog quite yet. I know that this may come to surprise to you. Part of this process of admitting to myself my insecurities, was when someone actually said to me, "I thought you were more secure than that".

Got me to think- do I portray a personality that is secure? Now, when I say "secure', that's a pretty deep word, but for this discussion, I guess I'm talking about interpersonal esteem kind of secure. The one where you feel good about yourself. Confident. Sure that you can get it done. The kind of stuff they fill you full of in elementary school to help you conquer the world.

For the most part, I think that people expect others to not be too insecure, and expect our selves to be secure. We're a' society of people that want everyone to be secure. No second guessing. No wondering about our value. No need for affirmations.

As I was reflecting on that term "insecure" it got me to think- do I want to be a person who is so secure that I don't need anyone else? That I am so confident of my self that I can be completely self-sufficient, not requiring anything from anyone?

The answer I came to was, no.

Here's the power I see in insecurity- when we are insecure, we are constantly dependent on God. Now hear me out here, I'm saying being insecure about our salvation, or insecure about our inherent value. I'm saying that there is a benefit to not being so secure that you feel as though you do not need a relationship with God, or other people. That you have arrived to such a place that you don't ever put yourself in a position where you have to depend on God or someone else to build you up.

I think that would be a bad thing.

Security is good. Being secure is good, but a dose of insecurity in your life opens you up to dependence on God, and for that, I think it can be a good thing.

Are you insecure about an area of your life? Turn to the Lord and ask Him to build you up. Admit that you need His affirming love and encouragement. Allow Him to cover you with His love and realize that in spite of your insecurities, you can find security in the one who created you, knowing that you are loved.

Don't be too secure.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Here- Take This Jesus Pill. You'll Like it.

2011-05-25T07:37:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been sick? Have you ever gone to the Doctor? Dumb question, right? I'm sure you have. We all have at some point or another. Going to the Doctor isn't the funnest thing in the world, but when you're in need of some meds or something, it often is quite helpful.

Found this interesting article about a Doctor who got in trouble for talking to a patient about Jesus.

you can read it here- http://www.myfoxny.com/dpps/news/offbeat/prescribing-jesus-gets-doctor-censured-dpgonc-km-20110522_13318742

It troubles me on so many levels that this Doctor would get in trouble for talking about the most influential individual in the history of the world. If you don't believe me, look at the date today. Its based on when Jesus was born.

I can appreciate and understand that this opens up a discussion on religion in the workplace. One could say that allowing this guy to talk about Jesus would have to open the door to others talking about their faith. That doesn't trouble me at all. Put my Jesus up against anything and He will prevail every single time.

Here's the biggest issue- worldwide, there is antagonism against Christianity. Not through individuals, but through organizations. It appears to me that it is culturally acceptable to be anything but a person who believes in the God of the Bible. This should not be so.

The truth that this Doctor knows, that everyone else should know is that a trained Doctor can only do so much. They can prescribe pills and 'practice' medicine, but they are limited in their overall power. At some point, you have to go to the Creator. You have to bow your knee and admit that you need something more powerful than yourself to get you out of what you are in.

You need a touch from above.

Have you been going at it on your own strength? Have you not been to see Dr. Jesus lately? His office is open. No waiting line. No HMO and no co-pays. Go in, sit down and take a dose of what He is giving and He will cure you of the pain that only can come from the Savior.

Nothing wrong with prescribing some Jesus.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Open Letter To Harold Camping

2011-05-24T08:21:00.001-07:00

Dear Mr. Camping

I heard this morning that you changed your prediction for the end of the world to now arrive on October 21st 2011.

Would you please stop making predictions about the rapture? You have got your predictions wrong before this past week, and I think at this point you should remove yourself from doomsday prophecy predicting and move onto something else.

Its pretty clear this isn't your gifting.

Here's the problem I have Mr. Camping- I'm not doubting that you have faith in Jesus Christ. Obviously you do. My issue is that for a lot of people in America you have now become a point of ridicule that are making the majority of us Christians who are not like you look really dumb. While the majority of us do not agree with you, because you are getting so much press, people are putting us in the same group as you. I share your faith in Jesus, but not your prediction.

I know you love the Lord Mr. Camping, but at this point, I think a better approach would be to warn people that the rapture is going to happen "eventually" or "at any time" or "when you least expect it". This approach would remind people about the impending arrival of our savior and would probably produce the effect that you are looking for- a turning towards God.

I can appreciate that you want to narrow it down to an exact date, but I want to remind you what Jesus said "no one knows the day or the hour", so I think that probably includes all of us, doesn't it?

You're getting old. You're like 80 something now, aren't you? The good news is that you're going to be with Jesus soon anyway, even if the rapture doesn't happen in the next few years. I'm not saying it won't happen, I'm just saying that you'll be seeing Jesus pretty soon anyway, so you shouldn't fret about it.

Well, hope this didn't come across too harshly. I was trying to be nice. Trying to protect the faith of the scores of good Christian people on this earth who truly love the Lord, believe in the rapture, but understand that they can't predict when it will happen.

Have a blessed day. Remember- NO MORE PREDICTIONS.

Pastor Matt Krachunis

Faith and Victory Church Auburn Wa

www.faithandvictory.com

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Its Not The End of The World

2011-05-20T08:15:00.001-07:00

I'm going on record to say that tomorrow won't be the end of the world. For those of you that have succumbed to the panic, its okay. You'll still be able to attend church on Sunday (I think its going to rain Sunday).

End of the earth prophecies have been happening for ages. There is always someone who says that they have figured it out, and knows what is going on, and when it is going to happen. The truth is that the Bible declares that no one knows the day or the hour and that the end is going to come like a thief in the night.

Here's what I think is happening- those that believe that it is the end have either fallen to false theology, or they want the world to end. Somehow, they have been deceived in such a way that they think that they know what is going to happen.

They don't.

However much comfort they may have is fleeting, and their hope groundless. As Christian people, we are to live our lives in such a way that we are living as if the return of Christ is going to happen today, not tomorrow. We're supposed to put our hope in Christ as our Savior from our sins, not our Savior from this world. He will save us from this world, but that's not why we serve Him. We serve Him because of what He did on the cross.

Are you living like Christ is coming today, or as if He is going to come tomorrow?

People who live like He is coming tomorrow will find themselves constantly putting off the spiritual necessities of the day, and the things of this world that truly matter. People who live like He is coming today live with a constant expectation of His arrival in such a way that it impacts every aspect of their day in such a way that they have a constant awareness of His presence.

Don't live like the end of the world is coming tomorrow. Live like its coming today. Be encouraged that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, who lives for Him, you have nothing to fear. You can live each day like His arrival in imminent, knowing that your relationship is grounded in the truth of His word, and the Salvation that He provided.

He's not coming tomorrow. He's coming today.

Be Blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

The Greatest Marriage Proposal Ever- (Video Incl)

2011-05-18T07:25:00.001-07:00

I'm married. When I asked Crystal to marry me, we were sitting in a car outside a restaurant about to have dinner with our families. It wasn't that exciting. Not a lot of work went into it. I was going to do something really cool, but I was in the Army, living in the barracks, with no car, time or money. It is what it is. She said yes.

Now, this other guy named Matt did a completely awesome job of asking his girl to marry him. Its so totally completely over the top. <SPOILER ALERT> In the video he asks her, and she says yes.

Watch the video-

As I was watching this I was thinking how hard that guy must have worked to make that video. The amount of time that he invested and how hard he worked. The cynic in me woke up this morning and thought "I wonder if this is a fake video made by Ford to showcase their car". Its that good of a video. So good it must be fake.

Fake or not, here's my take on it, and I'm sorry if it seems like I'm kicking over their bucket. I've been married for almost 13 years. Its not that long, but its long enough to realize this- marriage is hard work. It doesn't come easy. There have been good times and bad and through it all I've realized what a commitment it is to cultivate the relationship once you're hitched. Its seriously like having a second job.

I wonder if this guy will go to this level of commitment 10 years into the marriage. I wonder when they get in a fight over the temperature of the bedroom or are faced with disease in their home that he'll be willing to work this hard to keep it together.

My guess is yes, but my real point is this- marriage is not about a proposal or a wedding. Courting is short. Proposals are short. Weddings are short. Marriages are long.

The way that marriages work is that you work on them. You don't give up. You don't settle. You are willing to do what is necessary to meet the other person's needs. If I was this guys friend, and 9 years into it he's losing steam, I'd show him that video and tell him to make another one to show her how special she is.

Here's the spiritual application today- did you just have a wedding with Jesus or are you married to Him? Did you get really excited about the proposal and the wedding, but now that you've been together for a while its not as exciting?

Relationships are work. They don't come easy. They take the investment of energy and time to be able to flourish. If you're not investing energy or time into the relationship it will falter and cease to be enriching.

Check your heart today- what relationships do you have that have become stagnant that you need to put some energy into? What can you do to make it better? Because sooner or later, time creeps up on you and you realize that you're no longer doing the same passionate things you were doing at the beginning. And it were those passionate things that made the relationship awesome.

Be blessed

pastor matt

$12,000 Dollars For a Coin Anyone?

2011-05-17T08:16:00.001-07:00

Have you ever seen that show "Pawn Stars"? We've got Netflix at our house, and I've been watching a ton of episodes of that show lately. Its a great show. Compared to a lot of the other drivel that is out there, its pretty clean. If you don't know the show here it is in a nutshell- people come into a pawn shop to either sell or pawn what they have. The show centers around the shop owners who try to get the merchandise for as little money as possible, while the owner of the item tries to extract as much money as they can from the shop.

It can get pretty interesting.

One of the sub-plots of the show is that often, people bring things into the shop that they 'know are authentic' that eventually are proved to be a fraud. The person wasn't trying to deceive the shop, they genuinely thought the item they had was real, they were just misinformed.

Here's is something that also happens in every show- someone always brings in an item that they think is worth far more than it actually is. One episode I watched last night there was a guy who thought his 'authentic' coin was worth $12,000, when in actuality this guy had paid $285 for paper weight.

Needless to say, the guy was quite sad to find out about the true value of his possession.

As I was watching the show it occurred to me- often times people put far too much value on the things that they have. I think I'm close to reason why this happens. Often people put high value on the things that they have because they believe, either consciously or sub-consciously that if the item(s) that they possess have a high value, then somehow that translates to their value.

They think that if they can hold something of value in their hand, that they themselves are valuable.

On the flipside- (and you see this in the face of the shop patrons) if the item they bring in has little to no value, they feel devalued. As if they no longer matter.

Here's the deal- what you have does not define who you are. How much something is worth that you possess does not make you more or less valuable.

Who defines the value of something? The person who created it. Whatever we create we find valuable. So here's what I want you to focus on today- God created you, and therefore you have value. The value that He has in you is intrinsic. It cannot be bought or sold. It cannot be fathomed by the world. It does not require the validation of another person to be true.

It is true because God's word says that it is true. He says that you are the best thing that He has ever made. He says that He loves you.

Chew on that today. Don't go around looking for value in what you have or don't have. Realize that your value is directly connected to the one who created you, and He says that you are highly valuable.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait vs. Ice Cream

2011-05-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

I've come to realize in my life that there are two types of people- people who like rules and people who do not like rules. I guess there is a third group too- the group that likes some rules and doesn't like the other rules. Rules are what they are and they exist in many different areas of our lives. Sometimes they are called something different like laws or whatever, but they are every where.

So, two groups: rule likers and rule haters. Also, there are two types of rules. Those put on us by someone or something else, and the rules that we put on ourselves.

Up at our kids school for example- there is a clearly marked "no waiting" zone that people park in every single day (rules from someone else). They see the sign. They just don't care. They think the rules don't apply to them. And then there are the rules that we set up for ourselves. Such as, "I will do this" or "I wont do that". Typically these rules that we put on our self are a means by which to help us get to a goal, or keep us from calamity or whatever.

Its the second set of rules I often find myself breaking.

They are not cosmic prison inducing rules that I break like "Don't rob that bank" or "Don't start that subversive anti-government militia", its more like "don't eat sugar" and "read my Bible" and "exercise". I set those rules up all the time, and then I..... break them.

Usually I break them because I justify the decision in my mind to do or not do something.

Like last night. I've decided to not eat sugar or desserts this month. We were at McDonalds and I looked at the nutritional differences between the Yogurt parfait (21 gr sugar) and soft serve ice cream (18 gr sugar). In my mind, I justified that although the ice cream was a dessert, because it had less sugar than the yogurt, I should be okay with getting it.

Mental games like that are a slippery slope. Once you start justifying something in your mind, after you've set up some rules, you can justify yourself far away from your original goal.

It goes like this- one ice cream one day is fine. I had ice cream yesterday, so one cookie today doesn't matter. Two cookies isn't much different than one. Since I had two cookies yesterday a donut today doesn't matter. What? You have a dozen donuts you'd like to share? I'll take 3. Hey guys, lets go down to Krispy Kreme and get a hot dozen. Honey, I'm going to the store to get a bag of sugar, a two liter of Jolt and some easy cheese to snack on while I'm eating a pound of bacon in front of the TV.

You feel me? It all starts with one little justification of one rule that you thought would be okay.

So what do we do? We stick to the rules we set up for ourselves. At some point it was for a purpose, so when that time comes that you are enticed to go against your original plan, remind yourself of the original purpose of the rule and why you set it. Remember, it was YOU who set the rule, not someone else, and you did it for a reason, probably a good one.

God has given you the ability to be disciplined, so walk in. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you maintain control and stick to the plan. You'll be glad you did.

For the record, I got the parfait.

Be blessed.

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What My Momma Taught Me

2011-05-06T09:14:00.001-07:00

Its mothers day this weekend, so I thought I'd share a few things that my momma taught me. I grew up with my mom and brother from the time I was about 3, and well, young boys left to their own devices can learn a lot directly and indirectly from their mom.

So what did I learn from my mom?

1. When applied to the tooth brush, liquid soap will remind you if a cuss word spoken much longer than if the bar is used.

2. No matter what you may think, if you get close enough, and breathe through your nose deeply enough, you can always tell if someone has been smoking.

3. Not all people who you think are your friends, are.

4. Breakfast in bed makes every birthday special.

5. If you start going after your child immediately to discipline them, you can go up a flight of stairs faster than a teenager.

6. Hamburger can be prepared more ways than you can count.

7. Trying to be 'cool' never works.

8. No matter how big of a fight, if you don't kiss and hug before you go to school, you'll have a bad day.

9. Everyone who is in the house at bedtime gets a hug goodnight.

10. Everyone gets hugged into the house and as they leave.

11. It doesn't matter how much money you have, if you're loving your family and other people you'll feel rich every day.

12. No matter what, go to church every Sunday.

13. Giving stuff away to people is better than keeping it.

14. A compliment kept to yourself is wasted.

15. Presents don't make the day- presence makes the day.

I love you Mom! You're the best mom in the world. Thanks for believing in me.

Happy Mothers day! Be blessed

Pastor matt
Sent from my BlackBerry- sorry if its brief...have you tried to type on a small keyboard?
www.faithandvictory.com

No Eating Bagels With Cream Cheese On the Couch

2011-05-04T07:43:00.001-07:00

There is a morning routine in our house. I'm sure there is one in yours also. Ours consists of prayer, coffee, cuddling, and blog writing on the laptop. We attempt to get the kids in and out of shower, fed, chores done, and ready for the school day. Its a process, that's for sure. The order of getting up in our house is usually Me, Crystal, Faith, and then Mr. Gabe.

Lately I've been going down to my office to write my blog because there are less distractions upstairs, but this morning I decided to sit in the living room.

This morning, when Faith got up, she was sitting on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket and wanted some breakfast. She wanted bagels with some cream cheese on them. She got them, and sat on the couch, and began to eat.

I don't like kids sitting on couches eating anything. Especially not something creamy and sticky like cream cheese.

Gabe got up, came into the room and almost immediately commented that Faith was sitting on the couch eating, and he wasn't allowed to sit on the couch and eat. Out comes the famous sibling words- "its not fair". "why does SHE get to eat on the couch when I have sit at the TABLE"?

Then begins the process of convincing Mom and Dad all the reasons why sister should get off the couch and get at the table. From his perspective, the only viable outcome was that since he was unable to sit on the couch and eat, she shouldn't be able to sit on the couch and eat. It has to be fair.

Or does it?

I wonder what the conversation would have been like if He would have praised her for getting the special treatment and encouraging her to lavish in the opportunity to eat on the couch. Instead of trying to bring her away from what she was enjoying, to where he was where he wasn't enjoying himself, maybe he could have just said nothing and later regaled in the story of how they "got one over" on the 'rents and partook of the bagels on the comfy couch.

You and I know that rarely happens. With kids, or with adults, people always want things even. At work, at school, at home. Big or small, if there is any inclination that someone is getting even the slightest edge over us, we want to make sure that the treatment is equal and the same. No one should be able to do or have something that I am not able to do or have.

But here's the flip side- would my son have voluntarily removed himself from the couch for the sake of fairness? Or would he have been on the other side, declaring his right to sit on the couch?

What's my point today? People want judgement for others, and mercy for themselves and it starts as a child. However big or small, people are very keen seeing their own disadvantage and someone else's advantage, but not so much when the roles are reversed.

So what to do? Give other people the same level of grace and mercy you would want for yourself. In a real world application that would mean not reporting your co-worker who showed up to work 5 mins late when you did the same thing last week. It would mean not expecting more out of your spouse than what you expect out of yourself. It would mean when someone wrongs you, to extend the same grace that you would want if you had wronged someone else.

Its not easy, but I believe its what God calls us to do- Matthew 6:15 If you do not forgive others their sins, your father will not forgive your sins.

Chew on that today- toss out some mercy to someone and see how it works.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Osama Bin Laden and The Twin Towers (pictures included)

2011-05-03T08:27:00.001-07:00

Look at those two pictures. Notice the similarities of the two. Both have flags. Both have people cheering and being jubilant.

Both of them are after someone got killed.

I've been processing the death of Bin Laden since Sunday. (interesting enough its at the same time I'm processing the shooting death of the brother of one my friends in Auburn that happened Sunday also). Its hard to grasp the magnitude of the death of OBL. His death is symbolic of many things. For Al Qaeda, for America, for the individual. It is a complete mixed bag of emotions trying to figure out what I'm supposed to feel and think about this event.

I was in the US Army. I was trained to kill the enemy. I am a pastor. I was trained to love my enemy.

This dichotomy that exists in my experience and vocation clouds my mind to the point of confusion. Trying to unpack it all and come up with a sensible response is hard. On one hand, I guess I should be glad that OBL is gone, because 'they' tell me that means that there will be less terror upon America. On the other hand, I am faced with the reality that a flesh and bones person died on Sunday, at the hands of a military fighter.

As I look at those pictures, I reflect back to 9/11. On that day there were people cheering in the streets and we got upset. Now, we look at ourselves, cheering in our streets over someone's death. I'm challenged to think that maybe we're no different than any other nation. Perhaps we're a bunch of revengeful thugs, wanting to extract blood from our enemies. Sunday was no VJ day. No war was ended. No one is coming home. The threat has not been averted. It will continue.

I don't like terror. I don't like death. I don't like having to deal with the reality of my own rage that lives inside of me and the reality of the propensity for violence that lives inside of me also. It all doesn't make sense.

So what is my response to it all?

I'm going to pray. I'm going to put it in God's hands. I'm not giving up, I'm giving it over. There is a difference.

I can't begin to understand everything or make sense of it all, but I do know this- There is a God who created us who loves us and I don't think that likes us going around killing each other. Does He allow it? Apparently so, because it continues to happen. But I'm not so sure that its the best course for humanity, this back and forth of killing and death.

What the nugget for today? This is all I got- Before coming to Jesus Christ, the Bible says I was an enemy of God. Now, through faith, I am now a child of God. I can appreciate the necessity of defense of the person or the country that at times necessitates violence, but in any scenario, it is not something to cheer over.

Who knows if this makes sense today- its my ramblings, but I wanted to say something, however so incoherent and try to make sense of it, for me at least. Put in a comment for what you think. I want to know.

Be blessed

pastor matt

ps. I pulled these images off of google- dont' know whose they are, they are not mine. Please do not give me credit for them.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Going to Fiji With My Deodorant (pic included)

2011-04-28T07:59:00.001-07:00

Check out this sweet deodorant. Never in my life have I ever been more excited about putting something under my armpits. This deodorant, smells like palm trees, sunshine, and freedom.

That's for me. 100%.

I used to just wear Old Spice "sport" deodorant, but that didn't make me want to do sports, or play sports. No one called me 'sport' or said that I looked 'sporty'. But for some reason, I think this deodorant is going to be different. Finally, I'm going to be free and get some sunshine.

It seemed like a normal day last Tuesday when the wife was going to the store and asked if I needed anything. I asked if she would please pick me up some underarm deodorant, because mine was about down to the nub. Imagine my surprise when I saw it yesterday in the medicine cabinet waiting for me.

Who would have thought that a consumer product used under the arms to change the foul smell of my man sweat could do such amazing things. To think that for a mere 3 dollars, I could experience freedom and sunshine under my arms is an experience that is next to impossible to describe.

For the record, I haven't used it yet. I have to wait for the other one to run out, but I'm really looking forward to it.

I was thinking though- even after I apply this magical product, and even if it does smell like freedom and sunshine, I don't really think my life is going to change that much. Sure, I may smell slightly different to those that go around smelling my underarms, but for most people, no one will care.

How sad. Freedom and sunshine under my arms and no one to share it with.

Perhaps consumer products are not all they are cracked up to be. Maybe this is just a ploy to get me to buy their product. To get me to think that my satisfaction can be found in what I buy, use and have, and not in something else.

Its a pretty dirty trick if you ask me. I've been duped.

Here's the deal- stuff like this happens all the time, and I know you are not the type of person that gets sucked in by advertising, but sometimes I am. I will see something, that for a moment will make me feel like my life could be different, if only I had that product. I buy the product, and my life stays the exact same.

I think the lesson is to put our faith and hope in something a little more powerful than a consumer product. To realize that the things in this life that matter most are not found on a shelf, but found in the soul.

Have you been allowing the world to suck you into their schemes? Learn from the deodorant today and make a choice to seek after the Lord rather than a product or thing that will waste a way. What you will find is that when you put your faith in God, rather than stuff, you'll be more happy, content, and fulfilled.

Still buy deodorant, but put your faith in God.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What This Blog Is All About

2011-04-22T08:26:00.001-07:00

I write this blog quite often. Today, by my count, is about the 387th blog that I have written. By a conservative estimate, if each blog takes me one half hour to write, that equals about five 40 hour weeks writing this blog.

That's a pretty big number.

Originally, back in 2008, I was prompted by my friend Dave, to write the blog after my trip to Ghana, and I figured, why not, so I made a goal of writing the blog 4 days a week in 2009. I think I came pretty close to that number. It has come, and gone. Consistent and inconsistent, but its still here, 3 years later.

There are many days I absolutely love writing this blog, and other days I absolutely loathe it. Its often painful to reach into the depths and pluck out something of spiritual significance that can be articulated in a few paragraphs, but alas, the Lord is faithful, and continues to give me the juice.

So why do I do it? One reason and one reason only- I want the people who read this thing to believe in Jesus Christ.

Sure, I know I talk about shopping carts and trips to the donut stand, but all of that dribble, all of that fluff is a veiled attempt to share a glimpse of the Love of God to people in their lives. How do I do it? Little bits and pieces to keep people coming back.

I'm not sure if its working, but I'm going to give you both barrels today.

Today is Good Friday. Why do they call it good? Because it commemorates the day that Jesus died on the cross. When He did this, he took care of the sin of the world. Now, because of that, we can know God intimately and live eternally, if we would truly believe in Jesus Christ and what he did.

God is faithful and He is true, and this weekend, Easter is a time to reflect on what Jesus did for us on the cross.

He didn't come for eggs, ham, or a reason for a family dinner on a Sunday. He came so we wouldn't have to spend eternity in Hell, separated from God, if we would believe in Him.

Understand this- God doesn't send people to Hell. People choose Hell over Heaven. God gives you the opportunity to choose eternity with Him, or eternity separated from Him.

That's what this blog is about. Jesus, and escaping H-E double hockey sticks. What ever funny story, rare insight, or story is an attempt to nudge you towards the one who came to save.

If you ever have any questions about it, or don't understand it, or want to talk more about it. Email or call me.

Go to church on Sunday. Its Easter.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Have You Ever Been Woken Up Early?

2011-04-21T07:42:00.001-07:00

I don't like getting woke up before the time I am ready to get woken up. It makes Matt angry! It doesn't happen nearly as often in the winter, but it often happens in the Summer because I sleep with my window open.

In the neighborhood in which we live, our backyard rests against a arterial. Not really a main one, but one that is frequently used. A lot of houses border this street, but most of them, it is the back yard that looks over the street, which is lined with trees.

On this street, there is a place on the side of the road, that is large enough for a car to park, or wait, and the cars to continue to use the road. There is such a place behind my house.

Every single Thursday since we have lived in this house, the trash truck parks behind our house at about 6:30am. Engine running. Big diesel humming bass creating engine running. Often, the truck is joined by another truck or two, and then the occupants stand outside the truck and commence to converse. About what I have no idea, but I know they are conversing, because I can hear them. Because they are talking loud enough to be able to hear each other over the loud sounds of the engines.

Apparently they figure because they can't see anyone, no one sees them, therefore, they are not disturbing anyone. I guess there is a noise ordinance that prohibits them from starting their route before 7am, so they have to wait if they get to the area early.

They have chosen to wait behind my house. Every Thursday morning for the past 7 years.

I've often thought about how to remedy this. The best idea I can come up with is a flannel shirt and hockey mask and just standing about 100 yards up the street in their headlights looking at them. There is a trail that I could enter and retreat through, and I am pretty sure that they wouldn't be able to find me after I stood there in the dark, with my hockey mask on. I wouldn't have a weapon. I think a guy in a hockey mask is scary enough.

I haven't worked up the courage to do that yet, but this morning it occurred to me- they only come once a week, and its necessary. They are not tormenting me, they are serving me.

Once a week they come and take out the garbage of my life that I don't need or want. My refuse. The junk I don't need to keep.

What a great thing! Someone comes by and helps me clean out my life! I thought about how the Holy Spirit wants to do the same thing in our lives, but do it daily. To come by, and help us clean the stuff out of our lives that we don't want or need.

He comes in, cleans it up, and you're better off for it.

I've fought my trash guys for years on Thursday mornings. Now I appreciate them. Maybe there is an area of trash in your life that you need the Holy Spirit truck to come in and clean out for you. I promise if you let Him, he will. It might be annoying at first, but once you realize what He is doing, you'll be better off for it, with a cleaner life.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Rollin' In a New Lex

2011-04-20T08:21:00.001-07:00

I've figured out that you're either a person who loves automobiles, or you don't. Those of us who do, care about what we drive, what it looks like, what it represents. The other half see a vehicle for what it is- a vehicle. A means from getting from point A to point B.

I'm usually not the point A to point B type. The Lord has grown me in this over the past few years as I went from driving a 06 Chrysler 300 to a 91 Ford Ranger. You can't really get the "posse on Broadway" or "ghost ride the whip" in a vehicle such as a 91 Ranger. You definitely don't drive "2 miles an hour so everyone can see you". That's for sure. Its a very utilitarian truck.

I had the experience one time of going with someone to buy a new vehicle. They had one, but it was breaking down, and they wanted another one.

We get to the used car lot, start kicking tires, looking for what is available. My friends credit wasn't the best. Not much to put down. Didn't make a ton of money.

Current vehicle: Minivan. Current want: Lexus SUV.

If that's your situation, your choices of vehicles are very very slim. No head turning 'whips' or 'rides'. It's hooptie-ville, and you're now the mayor.

As with most things- there is a discrepancy between what you want, and what you can afford. Its difficult when you come to that realization. I was there with my friend as they realized it.

This situation has so many layers- so many teaching points. Many things to touch on. What has value, delayed gratification, acting your wage, what's truly important.

But here's the one we're going to focus on today- reality of the current situation.

Now I say current situation, because often, the situation you are in is not the situation that you will stay in over the long term if you apply yourself and keep some perspective. Having a Lex isn't the pinnacle of life, but if that's what you want, then go for it. But realize this- just because your current situation doesn't enable you to get a lex, doesn't mean that you'll be there for ever.

Yes, I understand the spiritual implications of a luxury vehicle, but that's not the discussion today. My point is simple- have perspective that often the things that we want to change about our current situation are either temporary, or not of huge spiritual significance and we should see them as such. They will usually change in the long run, or the desire for them will wane, and realizing this brings current peace.

Are you in a temporary situation that is taking your joy? Are you getting wound up around the axle on something that really doesn't have long lasting spiritual implications? Have some perspective today. Focus on what you do have, not what you don't have. Spend some time reflecting on the goodness of God and realize that in the long run, you will always be blessed. That God will always take care of you.

Even if you don't get the Lex.

Reflect on that today.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Pastor's Book Review- Heaven Is For Real

2011-04-19T08:06:00.001-07:00

Let me start out by saying that for the most part, I'm really skeptical of people's personal spiritual experiences that are out of the ordinary. I have to see it or touch it for it to be real to me. When people have these stories of angels and visitations, I don't jump on the bandwagon.

I think I'm just afraid of being duped. Of being "that guy" that believed something that wasn't true, even though everyone else did. I'd rather stand on the sidelines and watch and save face. I don't want to look bad.

I know. It's not a great character trait, but its self-preservation. This is me. Welcome to my world.

Yesterday, we were at Costco, "dorking around" as we like to call it, and I saw that book "Heaven is for real". Our worship leader, the esteemed Emily Garrett, had read it and spoke of it, so I started to thumb through it. Since it was only 9 dollars, I figured I would buy it and see what it was about.

I got home, sat on the couch to begin reading it, and about 3 hours later I had finished the book. I couldn't put it down. It was an amazing read. I can't remember a more powerful book (beside the Bible) that I have read in the last 10 years that affected me so much.

Now, understanding what I've said about my skeptical nature, I need you to understand this- either this book is 100 percent the real deal, or completely false. If its false, woe be to the guy that wrote it, because it is off the charts inspiring. As I was reading it, I laughed, I wept, I praised God, I felt his presence. I don't gravitate towards books like this. I like to read personal growth books. Leave the squishy books to the other guy. Give me a manual.

I don't want to ruin the book for you, but let me explain- this book, which was written by a Pastor, is the account of his 4 year old sons visit to heaven. It chronicles the discovery of the event, what transpired, and how it affected the boy.

What affected me the most is the scriptural accuracy of the visit, and the father's attempt to understand what had happened, without feeding his child information. It didn't leave me with many questions about the experience. It was clear that he wanted to get it right.

You have to read it.

Here's the deal- usually you would not find me endorsing a book about someones experience, because typically, those experiences lead people in wrong directions. On this one, I'm putting all 250 lbs behind this paperback. I'll take the heat if it comes out bad in the long run, but this book doesn't send your heart any where it shouldn't be. Its solid.

I realize that this blog typically is about my insight and encouragement, and maybe you're not getting it in large measure today. I'm willing to let that go today to get you to read this book. It's that powerful.

Be encouraged today. I knew heaven was for real before I read this book, but now, I can see it even more vividly. You will to.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

On a short rope

2011-04-15T09:01:00.001-07:00

Today started off pretty fast, so I didn't have the time for a full blog today. I'm writing the blog, from my phone, while Crystal is driving down the highway.

I realize that there is nothing wrong with not writing today, but I would hate for some of you daily readers to be without a bit of encouragement.

There is a bible verse that talks about the gift of encouragement. It says that if that is your gift, to use it. I'm pretty sure God has given me the gift of encouragement, so I want to encourage!!! Its not easy going through without encouragement, and if somehow through this blog I can encourage you, I want to do it.

How? By constantly reminding you how much God loves you and wants great things for your life. He truly does. Remind yourself of that today as you go about your day- God loves you, and desires good things for your life.

Be encouraged today. Encourage someone else also.

Be blessed
Pastor matt
Sent from my BlackBerry- sorry if its brief...have you tried to type on a small keyboard?
www.faithandvictory.com

I'm Not Being Prideful

2011-04-14T07:55:00.001-07:00

Have you ever really wanted something in your life? I'm not talking about a product, or a thing. I'm talking about a visceral gut wrenching desire. Something you want so bad it keeps you up at night?

I have.

There have been many things like that in my life.

I can remember when I got this new job, and got hired as an associate, and had to work to get promoted to representative. It was a sales job, so what you had to do get promoted was to get a lot of sales and work very hard.

Most of it involved a lot of phone calling and knocking on doors. It was so emotionally painful I can barely describe it. To try to get you understand what it takes to walk through the door of 50 different businesses and make 200 phone calls every week and get rejected is next to impossible. Let me just say, it wasn't easy.

As I went through my week, I mentally had to force myself to push past my emotional limits. To reframe the rejection in my mind. To decide in my gut to continue on. To grit my teeth and try harder. Man it was hard.

Eventually, I did it. I got promoted to representative. I was elated. Nice bump in the salary, extra goodies like a car package and sweet commission package. I was on top of the world.

Then reality struck.

The pressure after I got promoted exceeded what it was before. How was this possible? I thought when you reached a goal things got easier, not harder. But this is what I discovered- success costs. Progress costs. Doing well costs. I had set it in my mind that things would be easier after, when the reality was that it was doubly harder. I had worked as hard as I could do get where I wanted, but I realized something- I hadn't allowed the Lord to help me. It was all me. I did it on my own.

It is then that I learned to lean on the Lord more than ever.

Here's the crazy thing about achievement- we can only do so much in our achievements. We can work, we can clamor, we can scrape our way to a goal. But if we don't have the Lord in the midst of it, when we get there, its truly a fruitless endeavor. If we're the ones that are doing it. If we're the ones that are getting it done, then the pressure is all on us. If we allow the Lord to sustain us and help us, when we get to where we want to be, we're working with Him, and we're not on our own.

Are you working towards a goal? Are you striving for an achievement? Ask yourself if you're doing it on your own, or if you're doing it with the help of the Lord.

He wants to help you. Honestly, a lot of times he'll do it for you if you'll let Him.

If you want to go at it alone- He will let you do that also- its just a lot more painful. Choose today to allow the Lord to help you achieve.

Lean on Him, and achieve!

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

A Burnt Bag of Popcorn

2011-04-13T07:37:00.001-07:00

Do you like microwave popcorn? I sure do. We like to buy the "Pop Weaver" brand from Wal-Mart. For us, its the most tasty popcorn we have found, and of course, since its at Wal-mart, its at a very competitive price.

Typically, our popcorn is eaten in the evening, while watching a program. Now that I think of it, I can't think of one time that I have ever made microwave popcorn and ate it when I wasn't sitting in front of the Television. That would be weird, just sitting there at the kitchen table chomping down on some popcorn looking at the wall.

I'm rambling.

Anyway, so last night was the season premiere of "Deadliest Catch", and I wanted some corn that was popped. I went upstairs, and put it in the microwave.

I've got to tell you, for some reason, I like mine a little burnt. Yea, I know its a bit odd, but I do. I've found that in my microwave, if I cook it for 2:20 it comes out normal, but if I cook it for 2:30 it gives me just the right amount of burntness. 2:40 and its a black ball of nastiness. Don't go 2:40, its way too much.

Such a balance in timing to make the perfect bag of popped corn. 10 seconds up or down and its not what I want.

As I was standing there in my kitchen watching the bag go round and round, it dawned on me- its kind of that way with most things in life- most things require just the right amount to be right. Not too much, not too little, just the right amount.

I think the word is balance.

Its like this- God has given us so much freedom in Him, but He has asked us in that freedom to not take advantage of it to 'indulge the sinful nature'. Finding that balance is hard, believe me, I live my life trying to find it. But here's what I've found- when you find that balance, there is peace and comfort. When you are out of that balance, it is not good.

I'm sure the Lord in His wisdom wasn't talking about the cosmic timing balance of microwave popcorn, but the principle still applies, doesn't it? The things in our life that are important are found in the 'sweet spot'. The place where God's will reigns supreme, our lives line up with His word, and we experience peace in the Holy Spirit.

Think on that today. Perhaps there is something in your life that is out of balance.

Ask the Lord to reveal to you what it is and change it. You'll find that you have more peace in you spirit about it.

Find the sweet spot, and live in it.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Smashing The Cars On I-5

2011-04-12T07:49:00.001-07:00

I think on some level, we all have some trust issues.

It starts from when we are a child. We learn to trust or distrust the people around us based on how we are raised or what we experience. If you get walloped upside the head when you spill your milk as a child, you learn to not spill your milk. Or, you learn to distrust the person walloping you. Seems pretty basic.

As they say, trust is easy to lose, hard to gain. It takes time to build trust, and it can be washed away very quickly if something is said or done wrong. That's normal.

Yesterday, the wife and I were driving around and she said something that has had me thinking. She said, "you know, you really have to trust the other people that are driving around you."

I never really thought about that. Its true. When I'm driving on the interstate, I have to trust that the scores of other drivers are going to stay in their lane, follow traffic laws, and be nice. Of course not everyone does that, but its the intent.

As I was thinking about it, it occurred to me- specifically in the area of driving, I trust thousands of people every day. I trust that they are not going to smash me with their cars. Without even thinking about it- I trust a lot of people.

Sure, you purists might say that we have safety protections that keep us from being harmed by other people's driving, and that's true, but here's the point that I'm making today- even if you have trust 'issues' more than likely you trust more than you realize. It takes trust to eat out at a restaurant, walk on the road, drink municipal water, pay a bill, send your kids to school, work at a job.

Trust is everywhere.

The point? Realize that even if you've been burned or hurt by one experience or person, not everyone and everything cannot be trusted. If you pay attention and look around, you'll see that you probably trust a lot more than you realize.

Think on that today. Think about how much you do that requires trust. Then, realize how much you actually trust the people around you. Realize that if you can trust at all, anywhere, you can learn to trust God more.

That's what He wants from us anyway. Not to trust other people, but to trust Him. And if we allow other people to ruin our idea of what trust is, it can effect our trust of God, and that's not good.

You can trust Him.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Increased My MPG by 25%!

2011-03-29T08:36:00.001-07:00

In this economy, you don't have to have a good product to sell it, you need good marketing. If you've got a great website, or a bunch of ads, you can sell just about anything to anyone.

Even a schmoe like me.

I've got a hog of a vehicle that sucks an enormous amount of gasoline, and currently these gas prices are not fun for me. So of course, in times such as these, the people who sell the gas reducing, flow increasing, mpg increasing snake oil come out of the woodwork. You can google and find a bunch of items that will claim that they can increase your mpg for your car, by just installing some little thingamajig that's made of plastic.

I'm initially very intrigued by products such as these (because of my situation) and then immediately skeptical (because of my intellect). Like the old saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I've never met one person ever who has used a product like that and it worked. If it did, they would be talking about it on the 6 o'clock news and everyone would be using it.

Here's part of the problem with things such as this- we learn to be skeptical about anything and everything, and sometimes that can backfire on us.

We get hurt in a relationship so we don't ever go into another one. We got bad service at the restaurant so we never go back. We get hurt at a church and stop going to church. We meet someone nice and think they are trying to manipulate us.

Its human nature to be skeptical, but there has to be point at which you decide to move forward anyway. You can't spend your life as a skeptic thinking that everyone and everything thing is bogus and that you're going to be the one who can say "I told you so" on the sidelines one day.

More than likely, you'll never experience all that life has to offer because of your skepticism, and in the long run you'll be less likely to have a full rewarding life because of your strong emotions of self-preservation.

What do we do? You move forward understanding that sometimes you may get hurt, you may get taken, and its okay.

Why? Because you'll never experience all that God has for you if you're a person that never fully engages life. I can appreciate that you may have been hurt, or that you don't want to trust, but God calls us to be people that trust. People that move forward. People that engage.

He never intended us to live life half way.

Engage today. Take a risk. Do something you're not sure of. Expect to get taken or hurt, and say its okay- here's the ultimate guarantee though- He will be with you through it all.

Rest in that today.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I'm Going to Ride My Bicycle to The Moon

2011-03-24T07:41:00.001-07:00

I'm not a guy who loves exercise. I see it mostly as a necessary evil. I don't want to be out of shape and have long term health effects of a sedentary lifestyle, so I force myself to exercise. If I could have a body like a Greek god and know I'd stay healthy with never moving around, I'd probably do it. My wife gets me to the gym a few times a week and I go begrudgingly, because I know in the long run, I'm going to be better off for it.

Why am I telling you this? Yesterday I bought a used bicycle for 60 dollars off of the Internet, and I'm really excited about it, which is odd to me. Seeing how I usually don't like exercise, the thought of buying a machine that is going to make me exercise more, would probably not be a good day, but this time it was.

Here's what's been going on with me and the Lord- he's been challenging me to spend more time with my kids doing stuff that doesn't include watching television or spending loads of money. Forgive me if you're already on this boat, I've been sitting at the shore watching.

For the longest time in my life I've been a guy who likes the PLR- the Path of Least Resistance. If there is an easier way to do something, that's the way I want to do it. I don't like to be inconvenienced, I don't like to wait, I don't want to walk when I can drive. Typically, its because of my lack of patience and my need for instant gratification, I admit that.

This doesn't work well in the world of spiritual development or parenting.

For some reason, the God of this universe has set up this system that we have a role to play. That we're challenged to interact with one another, and through that process learn more about God and each other. He develops us through our experiences.

Again, for an impatient guy, this isn't the greatest process.

Oh yea, the bike. So anyway, I've decided this year that our family is going to do some outside together stuff with bicycles, and here's the victory blog nugget for the day- if you've made a decision in your mind to do something, it means absolutely nothing if you haven't put any action towards the goal. Yesterday was step two in the goal of outside with the family- get a conveyance that is human powered. The first step was getting rid of cable TV.

I don't think I'm grandstanding here, I'm proving a point- goals are reached when you put action behind them. Talking isn't doing. Taking one step isn't the end its the start. Buying the bike wasn't the goal, time with the family is. I've still got a few more steps to achieve to get to it, but I'm progressing.

Hopefully you're encouraged with that today. Maybe there is something you're trying to change that you're struggling with. Here's my advice- take the first step to get to the next one and then go on to the next. Take it from this impatient guy who is often satisfied with the PLR and work towards a God inspired goal that will benefit yourself or your family. I think you'll be pleased.

Share a goal in the comments!

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Have I Told You How Much I love Disneyland?

2011-03-23T07:49:00.001-07:00

I love Disneyland. Have I told you this before? I can't fully explain it, but for some reason, I love 6 dollar churros and waiting in line. It makes me feel connected to the world around me.

Truth is, I've learned a bit about the world through my Disney experience. What they do there, is special. They are perfect 100% of the time. Every employee has been trained to make every single persons experience great when they go there. I've never had a bad time at Disneyland.

There's a lot of reasons why they do so well, but one of the biggest reasons I think they excel is the words they use. They choose their words very wisely.

Its not customer, its "guest".

Its not a great time, its a "magical experience".

Its not a ticket, its a "passport".

Its not an employee, its a "cast member".

Disneyland's mission is to take you from your every day life to a different experience that you'll remember and want to experience again. Sure, they are a profit making monster, but I truly believe that at the core, good ol' Walt wanted to create an experience, and he understood that it started with words.

We are a creation of words. Its what sets us apart from the animals. We have the ability to be able to communicate through spoken and written and what words we use matter.

Do watch the words you say throughout the day? Are they painting the picture that you want portrayed in your life?

Are you really dying of hunger? or just really hungry?

Does it always happen? or just seem to happen frequently?

Do they never do it? or does it seem to not happen as often as you would like?

Can you really not make it through the week? or do you just feel overwhelmed today?

Words matter. What we speak matters. If it didn't matter, we wouldn't be able to speak. We'd walk around grunting and motioning with our hands. But we don't do that, God gave us the gift of speech, and I believe he intends us to choose our words in a way that glorifies Him, and other people.

Proverbs 18:21 says that life and death are in the tongue, and that those who love it will eat of its fruit.

Are you choosing the right words? Are you watching what you say? Learn from Disneyland and the word of God this morning and try to describe your life they way it truly is. Watch what you say and how you say it. What you'll find is that your life will look differently because of the way that you describe it. You'll go from 'have to' to 'get to'.

Don't stay at a place, stay at a home.

Don't go to work, walk in your vocation.

Don't say "I can't" say, "I'm struggling".

Don't say "I'll never" say "currently I'm trying".

Watch what happens.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Apparently I abuse my children.

2011-03-22T08:21:00.001-07:00

My son got his hair cut yesterday. Finally. That hair was so long I thought he was in a 80s rock band. We've been tolerating that hair for a long time, but yesterday we were just done with it and took him to the barber.

He's 10 years old. Its a difficult age, where we battle between what they want, and what we want. Yesterday, at the barber shop, we looked at some books of hairstyles and found a compromise. Something that we both liked. When he was done, it was considerably shorter than before.

I love it. He hates it.

He's really hating it this morning as he is getting ready to go to school and face the world. I'm sure you can remember what it was like when you were in school and got a haircut and how the kids were. When I was a kid they would chant "matt got a haircut, matt got a haircut". I wasn't special, we did that to every kid.

Sure, we were young, but I don't think adults are much different. Here's the common theme that runs through our society-

Change something and we'll ridicule you.

Good or bad people don't like it when people change. We want them to stay the way that they are. For some reason, when they change, it forces us to look at things from a different. perspective, and for some reason, we don't like it.

Its really hard to look at something differently after we've made our mind up that something should be a certain way.

What's the point today? I'm not sure if you've realized it yet, but God constantly expects us to be changing. He's got us on a path of development that necessitates changing our thoughts our actions and at the same time allowing other people to change. My son's haircut is demonstrating that today.

Are you resistant to change? Do you challenge yourself to get outside of your comfort zone, no matter how hard it is? Typically we don't like to be uncomfortable, so when faced with a time to be uncomfortable, however big or small, we avoid it at all costs.

Embrace it. Allow yourself to be uncomfortable and see what happens.

Here's what I think will happen- you'll find that in the midst of your changing experience that God is with you, He's guiding you, and you'll get through it. But if you never change anything, you'll never grow, and if you never grow, you'll be the same.

Try something different today. Get outside of your comfort zone. Allow God to change you. Don't worry about what everyone else will think, all that matters is what God thinks.

He thinks you should allow Him to change you, and allow other people to change.

Go get a haircut.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Magnets, The Trash, A Lie, The Dumpster?

2011-03-17T08:03:00.001-07:00

My mother has infected me with this notion that its better to need it and have it than to not need it and have it. Its pervasive in my life. I'm constantly fighting it. Often I keep things past their usefulness and have a bunch of stuff that I keep thinking that I will need it one day, when I never do.

This passes into my professional life at church also. Sometimes I keep things far longer than I should. This last Sunday, before church I was cleaning up, tossing things out, cleaning up and I found a bag of magnets in a drawer.

Magnets? What are these things for? They were powerful magnets, but were just in a plastic bag, in this drawer, with a bunch of other equipment. The labels on the magnets said to keep away from electronic components and other media, so I walked around and asked a few people if they knew what they were, and what they were for, and no one knew.

Now people lovingly give things to the church all the time that they think we'll need, and I thought that maybe this was such a time. I thought about it for a minute, and then I threw them away.

What do we need a bunch of magnets for?

So last night I'm sitting with this gal from church and she says "Oh, I got these great magnets we can use to hang stuff from the drop ceilings- they are amazing- they can hold like 25 lbs".

My stomach sank.

"How much did they cost?" I asked sheepishly.

"oh, about 100 dollars" she replied.

Right then and there, I really really wanted to lie. I wanted to tell her that was great, not say a thing about the magnets and hope she never found out what I did, but I didn't. I told her I threw them away.

Obviously she wasn't pleased. But I thought that maybe they were still in the just removed trash, so her and another guy from church went out to the dumpster to go through the bag to find them, but to no avail.

Good ol' Pastor Matt in his attempt to overcome his inability to throw away things threw away something that was valuable! That someone else needed! ( I know my Mom is going to bring this up to me in the future- grrrr). I felt horrible. I could hear my mother's voice in my head!

Here's the deal- we all have things that we try to overcome, things we try to change, and sometimes when we do it, we fail miserably. But that shouldn't keep us from trying should it? If we stop our attempts to change, because they are marred by defeat and setbacks, we'll never get to where we want to be.

Even though I tossed a hundred dollar bag of magnets- I'm still going to learn to get rid of things.

Be encouraged with that today. Maybe you're a bit like me, that when you try to change, it comes back and bites you, and then you feel like not trying again. Don't do that. Don't give up. A set back is just a set up for a come back. You can change. You can improve. You can get to where you want to be.

You're not alone- not only do I share with setbacks, but the Lord of the universe is with you also, helping you along the way. Rest in that today. Keep trying to change.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Why Is There No Looting In Japan?

2011-03-15T08:14:00.001-07:00

There was a Tsunami that hit Japan last week if you didn't notice. It was pretty bad. Lots of people died. The country has nearly been destroyed. From what I read and see in the news, its total devastation.

Interesting side note here- there has been little to no looting in the aftermath of the destruction tsunami by the Japanese people. Apparently they have some sort of societal norm of not taking things that aren't theirs in times of emergency and chaos.

I can't recall this being the norm here in the ol' US of A. The first events that come to my mind are Katrina, Andrew and the LA Riots of the 90s. When things go sideways in America- there are typically thousands of opportunists that begin to break into stores and loot anything they can. Usually they are not just taking diapers and water but TVs and clothes and anything else of value they can get for free.

I'm scratching my head this morning trying to figure it out. In the Seattle Times this morning an article describes the Japanese psyche- "One is "shikata ga nai," which roughly translates as "it can't be helped," and is a common reaction to situations beyond one's control. The other is "gaman," considered a virtue. It means to be patient and persevere in the face of suffering."

My Friend Abraham told me that his Japanese father used to say "the tallest blade of grass gets cut".

Not necessarily American ideals, are they?

Currently, America is more like the ideals of Ricky Bobby from Talledega Nights who said "If you're not first, you're last".

I'm no social scientist. I don't think we should become everything Japan is. But I do wonder- why is there no looting in Japan when there is always looting in America?

Listen, I love America. I'm proud to be an American. But I think that there are alot of selfish self serving people in America that have little to no regard for the thoughts, feelings and actions of other people and that's not a good thing. Yes, we can't be all things to all people, but for me, in my sphere of influence, I can choose to be nice to the people around me. I can follow laws and not take what isn't mine. I can try to make someone elses day better by giving a bit of myself.

Think about it next time you're in a situation that seems dire when you think you wont get what you want.

Because here's the bottom line- people live in fear of not getting taken care of so they feel as though they must do it at the expense of others. This is not true. God knows that is going on. Matthew 6:8- "your Father knows what you need before you ask him". Rest in that today.

Don't be a looter. Don't be a person that has to shove to the front of every line. Don't live in fear of not getting yours.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Trimming The Dog At Wal-Mart (pic included)

2011-03-10T07:54:00.001-08:00

Do you ever wonder what people are thinking when they do what they do? I do. Constantly.

Yesterday we went to WalMart to go pick up some things, and when we came out- it was raining. We loaded up our treasures and got in the truck. Crystal was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and she got a phone call. Since she was on the phone, I sat there and was looking around and saw a dog across the parking lot.

It wasn't so interesting that I saw a dog, what was interesting is that there were two ladies that were grooming the dog right there in the parking lot, in the rain. Now, in the picture you can't see it very well, but there are really big tufts of hair that are coming off this dog that are on the ground.

Did you get that? In the parking lot of a store, in the rain, people were grooming their dog and leaving the shavings on the ground.

What is the world coming to? I was surprised that they weren't wearing their pajamas like other gems I see at the Walmart. (That's right. I'm one of those rare people who think that you shouldn't wear bedclothes in public)

Here's the deal- I'm all in to 'freedom' and all that stuff. I think that we should have a semblance of openness and acceptance, but isn't there something to be said for social norms? Have we become a society of pajama wearing dog groomers who don't hold doors for people anymore?

If you're like me, you probably think that what you do is acceptable, if you didn't you probably wouldn't do it. But let me challenge that for a moment.

If what you are doing is annoying or inconveniencing someone else, perhaps you shouldn't be doing it.

Is there something inherently evil about grooming a dog? No. But who cleans up the hair? Is that the best place for it?

Who knows- maybe I'm off on this one. Its possible that I'm a social tyrant that thinks that people should be more thoughtful of others and think about how their actions affect people. In a world that is getting larger, with more people, I think that we need to work on getting along a bit better.

Sure, we do not have to be overly concerned with every last action that we do in fear of offending someone, but lets keep it real. There are, or at least there used to be, societal norms of acceptable behavior that most people adhered to. Speak when spoken to. Smile back. Hold a door. Pick up your trash. Wait your turn. Those types of things.

Reflect on that today. Maybe you've got an annoyance that is churning the stomachs of the world that you should stop. Don't be prideful of it. Allow the Lord to help you today to not annoy the world.

There is nothing wrong with being too polite.

There's the rant for the day.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Figured Out How to Pay For The Gas Increase

2011-03-09T07:46:00.001-08:00

Its March 2011, and gasoline prices have gone up about 15% in the last month or so. Its a bit of a jump. For us, because we own a gas-hog- it translates to about 60 dollars more per month for our gasoline bill.

I'm not really excited about it. It is what it is. There is nothing that I can do to change the price- all I can do is find a way to cut something else out of the budget.

I found it.

We ditched extended cable and the DVR yesterday and its going to save us about 75 dollars a month. Its not the only reason we got rid of it, but it sure will help. Frankly, we find that when we have less to watch on television, we watch less television. Interesting concept.

I want you to understand that I'm not saying that I'm not going to be watching the glowing box in my living room anymore, but what I am saying is that in addition to saving a bit of money, an added benefit is less watching of the box in our home.

I think that alot of the stuff that comes across that thing is pure garbage, and that's just what I get from watching advertisements for shows I don't even watch.

Listen, I'm not saying that you're a bad person for watching TV or that you're in danger of the pit fires of hell for doing so. I will say that like many things in our lives, even though it may be OK for us to do something, it may not be the most beneficial. Only you can make the call on that one.

There is something powerful in giving up something that you desire. When you do it, you begin to find what is truly important in your life and what things you value. Sure, maybe its not TV for you, maybe its something else.

Here's the deal- God wants to be numero uno in our lives everyday. Anytime we allow something else to get between us and him its bad. The best thing that we can do to ensure our relationship with Him is to remove those obstacles that keep us from fully serving him.

Reflect on that today. Maybe there is something you need to give up. Figure it out and do it. Watch what happens.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What Is Up With Ol' Charles Sheen?

2011-03-08T07:51:00.001-08:00

If you read the blog I'll assume you read the news. Over the past week or so you've probably caught a glimpse of Charlie Sheen and his apparent downward spiral.

I haven't gone out of my way one time to read or watch anything about Charlie Sheen. I've just soaked it up along the way. I was running on the treadmill at the gym last week and they showed an interview on CNN.

Yes, that's right, you heard it correctly. On CNN.

Now the breaking news isn't upheaval in Libya, its the breakdown of a guy who pretends to be someone else for a living.

The whole thing is a bit perplexing. Why does this story even get on the news. It doesn't even seem like news to me. Sure, the part about how he makes two million dollars an episode for some TV show that he's on is a bit interesting, but past that, not much. I've never even watched the show.

Here's what I think the draw is- most people do not want to even come close to facing inadequacies in their personality. Because of this, they are drawn to other people's issues and problems as a means to minimize their own issues, and steer clear of any focus on their own need for change and improvement.

Did you get that?

Its the person that finds the person that is worse off than them to feel better about themselves. Its the "at least I'm not like them" syndrome.

The problem with this should be abundantly clear- but let me help you out. Pointing out someone else's smelly breath when your breath stinks still leaves you with stinky breath. If the issues is the eradication of stinky breath, then all who have stinky breath should be encouraged to brush, floss and rinse. Not only those whom we think should. Everyone should.

Where are you at this morning? Are you the type that gets more joy out of watching someone else's troubles or are you the type that constantly reflects on your own life and figures out things to work on. I hope and pray you're the second one.

If you read my blog at all, you can guess that I'm a guy who emphasises personal choice. It would be odd if God held us accountable to our choices if we were not the ones making them.

So what to do? We must choose to not spend our lives trying to feel better about ourselves by finding other people that are worse off than us. God bless Charlie Sheen. He needs prayer and help, but I don't need to spend my days watching 'news' stories about this guy.

Reflect on that today. Pray- "God reveal to me what I need to work on" and watch what happens.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Are You Willing To do Whatever It Takes To Win?

2011-03-02T07:42:00.001-08:00

Who doesn't like to win? We all do- right? If given the choice to either win or lose, I would say 99% of us would choose win, and the other 1% would be lying. No one likes to lose.

Its a common societal norm here in America, to want to win. We teach our kids at a very young age to attempt to win at sports, in school, at board games. Winning is an activity that we pride our selves on. We love to win.

Here's an interesting flip-side to the winning equation- someone has to lose. Either indirectly or directly, when we win, typically someone else loses. Because we know that- often we begin not by trying to win, but by ensuring that our opponent will lose. We know if we can avert their win before the competition, our chances to be victorious increase.

Take this chap from Philly- http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110301/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_crime_pizza he decided to insert mice into his rival pizza competitors shops to try and put them out of business.

Seriously?

I can picture it now- He and his fellow conspirators sitting around thinking about the next big move for the pizza shop. One person suggests extra cheese, one chimes in and says to offer bread sticks. "No way" The owner says. "we're going to infest their shops with mice".

Wow.

The truth is that many of us can identify with the mouse man. We too have wanted to win so bad we have thought of less than honorable ways to achieve the win. Either in sport or in pizza, we too may have thought of ways to ensure our victory at what ever cost.

This should not be so my brethren.

Winning is what it is. But when we want to win so bad we are willing to break established rules, we dishonor ourselves and God. The Bible talks some about sport indirectly with verses such as 1 Cor 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runnersrun, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize".

Prizes are good. Winning is good, but winning at the expense of breaking the rules, or being dishonorable is truly not a win at all.

Reflect on that today. Push to win, but realize that those who consistently win are those who work harder, have more discipline and don't quit. Its rarely the people that for a way to go around or over. Like they old saying goes- winners never cheat and cheaters never win.

Win today. But do it the right way. You don't have to infest your opponent with mice to win.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What I Learned From My 7 Year Old Yesterday

2011-03-01T08:37:00.001-08:00

I typically don't like to use the blog as a means to grandstand my kids, but indulge me for a minute today. This is good stuff.

My daughter is 7. She's a wonderful little child. She's kind and warm. She loves people. She's obedient. She's everything that you would want in a daughter.

She's probably like a lot of other kids. She likes Hannah Montana. She likes to draw. She rides her bike. She bounces on her pogo stick. She's a ton of fun.

I take great pride in being her father. I'm proud of who she is and what she does. Its my hope and prayer that she continues to grow into who God is making her. So far, its pretty wonderful.

I was amazed at her yesterday.

I can't recall where I was coming from or what I had been doing, but I came up the stairs, and she was sitting on the couch in the living room reading the Bible. Not a kids Bible- the comparative study bible I have that is 4 inches thick.

"What are you doing?" I inquired.

"Reading the Bible" She said, not even looking up.

I was impressed. She's only been reading for a few years and here she is engrossed in the most profound book in the history of humanity.

I couldn't help myself- I asked her why she was reading the Bible and she said "I decided I want to try to read the whole Bible in a year".

She's 7.

Now I'm not sure if she'll do it. My guess would be that she'll get into Leviticus and give up like we all do. But this is what impressed me the most- she was attempting something great and something that wasn't easy. It made me question my own apathy and lack of motivation in certain areas of my life. If my 7 year old can start something, shouldn't I?

I'm sure you struggle with motivation sometimes. We all do. But here's why I'm sharing this today- I want you to understand that if my 7 year old can venture to do something great with no one pushing her, I think we can too.

The problem is not the idea. Its the putting of the action behind it.

Don't allow yourself to succumb to laziness and apathy today. Fully engage in those motivations that come into your head. Don't allow doubt and disbelief to keep you from greatness.

If a 7 year old can get it done, I think we can.

be blessed

pastor matt

ps. I asked her later what she read and she said Genesis 1-4. She was able to articulate the story of Adam and Eve with great accuracy!

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Boy Was I Impatient! (pic included)

2011-02-23T07:32:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wanted something really bad? Not something that you need, something that you want. Now, I know that there is a huge difference between the two of those, but I think that at some time or another, we all have something that we want.

I got a new camera last summer and since then I have always wanted to get a new lens for it. Not a lens that I needed, but a lens that I wanted. Let's be honest, I didn't even need the camera.

I may be a little different, but when there is something that I want, I zone in on it like a laser beam. I'll sit on the computer and read reviews and price shop it. I'll talk about it at the dinner table and lament about how different my life would be if I had what I wanted.

Typically the people around me get bored about me talking about it.

So I really wanted this lens for Christmas, and Crystal told me that I could get it for my birthday, so I waited. When February rolled around, I asked her if I could order it and she said 'no' because we didn't have the money.

I figured she was messing with me and was going to surprise me, so I let it go.

Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up in the morning, you'll never guess what Crystal got me- nothing. Not a thing. Not a card. Not a gift. No lens. I was a bit sad. I know I don't deserve it, but I really wanted it and was somewhat expecting it. When it wasn't there, I was a bit sad. OK, and a bit upset. Not a lot- a little.

So what did I do? I went on Craiglist, found someone who was selling it and sent them an email telling them I would meet them and buy their lens. Dang nabbit- it was my birthday and if no one was going to buy me that for my birthday, I'd break my piggy bank and buy it myself.

I sent the guy the email- but he didn't reply. But here's what did happen- Later in the day the UPS guy came and delivered my new lens! Crystal and the kids had chipped in and bought it for me and surprised me!

What a great gift.

It made me think though- how often do we get ahead of other blessings in our life. How many times do we want something, or need something and instead of praying about it and waiting on God to bless us with it do we go and do it ourselves. Sure, I'm talking about a gift here, but I think that the principle still applies- don't get ahead of your blessing. Sometimes you have to wait for it and if you go and do it yourself, you miss out on the surprise and the blessing.

Don't get ahead of God today. If there is something that you need or want, pray about it and leave it alone. Your blessing will come. You may just have to wait for it.

There is no reason to get your blessing yourself off of craigslist.

be blessed

pastor matt

ps. here's a pic with my new lens from last night.

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Smokin' Weed or Paying Tithes? What about you? (Video Incl)

2011-02-11T08:29:00.001-08:00

I don't smoke the Devil's cabbage. I have never even tried the stuff. I never even saw someone smoke it until I was in the Army. I never spent time with people who did things like that I guess.

I do pay tithes though. I've been doing that since I was High School. I fully believe in it. It is a cosmic thing that most people don't understand, but I do. I love paying tithes.

My brother sent me this video yesterday that is funny and sad at the same time- You can watch it here-

If you don't want the spoiler- watch the video before reading on- but here's what happens. Its on Family Feud and the question is "Name something that people pass" and the first guy says "a joint" and its the 5th answer on the board. On the other side, the lady answers the question to beat him, and says "the collection plate".

Passing a joint got more answers than passing the collection plate. Collection plate was the 6th answer.

I can't lie. Its a funny clip, but it struck a chord in my heart, a sad one. Not only did less people say 'collection plate' versus 'a joint' but the overall numbers were, out of 100 people, 8 said joint, 4 said collection plate.

Now listen, some people may say that that a preacher talking about tithing is like a dentist handing out candy at Halloween, but I do not see it that way. The truth is that every single person in this world loves their money and regardless of who says it- they don't want to give. They want more money and hate to give away any dollar that they don't have to. Look at the world- people turn in coupons for 25 cents.

To them, they see giving to the local church as an antiquated system that no longer applies. Somehow the church does what it does, the money comes from somewhere, but they are not sure where.

Understand this- every single church in America that you see. Every full time pastor that you meet. Every Salvation Army truck that drives by- exists because people give. Its the only way that it works.

Passing a joint never saved a soul. Passing the plate does it all the time.

If you attend a church you need to tithe. If you don't attend a church you need to find one to give to.

People want to change the world and to do that it takes money. Sure, you can go pick up trash in your neighborhood, but at the end of the day, someone has to pay to take that trash to the dump. Everything costs money.

Am I being self serving? I don't think so. I've got all I need. I'm not trying to line my pockets. I'm trying to encourage you to step out in faith and see what God does with the finances of people who give. I saw this video and thought- "man, I sure hope the blog readers are a higher percentage than the Family Feud crowd"

Reflect on that today. Ask yourself where your heart is in regards to giving. Give more. It will change you and the people around you.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Don't Have an iphone. Will My Sins Be Forgiven?

2011-02-09T07:45:00.001-08:00

Sin. It is the only three letter word that is a four letter word. We all struggle with it. We all do it. For some people. the reality of sin and the dealing with it is not the most enticing part of the spiritual life of the Christian. To some, its passe to talk about sin.

I'm old school. I'm stuck with the idea that is what its all about. Dealing with our nastiness and rooting it out.

Now, I'm not an iphone user. I'm not 'hip' enough for that. I'm a blackberry guy, but there is a new app for Catholic iphone users that they can use to prepare themselves for the rite of confession.

You can read the story here-http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/02/09/forgive-me-iphone-for-i-have-sinned/ its an interesting concept.

I'm not going to spend time on this blog discussing the differences between Catholics and Protestants and the process of confession. What I am going to do is say what needs to be said- sin needs to be dealt with.

Some of you may say "Pastor Matt! This is a blog about omelets and working out! Don't infect it with a diatribe about the evils of sin!" But we can't hide from the reality of sin my friend. It's something that needs to be addressed. However quip. However uncomfortable.

Now for me to spend a large amount of time discussing the ramifications and implications of sin and to outline a process by which you can be forgiven would be daunting. Lets keep it real. Let's get down to gist of it. This is some good stuff folks. Stick with me here.

1. Sin is stuff God doesn't want us doing (as outlined in the Bible).

2. Jesus paid the penalty on the cross for those sins.

3. We have to admit to God our sin and need for Jesus.

4 We then turn away from it and stop doing it.

There. I said it. App or no app. I got to keep it real. But this should be encouraging. This should be a great blog. Sure, there isn't a fancy little app you can take with you today to confess your sins, but you can spend some time with God today talking to him about what you shouldn't be doing and receive some forgiveness for it. Don't let another day go by with the weight of guilt and shame looming over you. Talk to God about it and be freed from it.

It's what Jesus came to do my friend. Believe it.

Honestly, did you really not know you shouldn't be doing it? Doubtful. Most of know the stuff we shouldn't be doing. The key is to admit it, confess it, receive grace and move on.

Be blessed today. Spend a few minutes with the Lord talking about some stuff you need to talk to him about. You'll find your burden a bit lighter today.

And you don't even need an iphone!

Love you

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What It Is Like To Eat The Beth's 12 Egg Omelette

2011-02-08T07:52:00.001-08:00

Have you ever heard of a place called Beth's Cafe in Seattle Washington? It has been featured on the televisions shows "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and "Man v. Food". The reason Beth's Cafe has been featured is because they serve an omelet that contains 12 eggs. Its enormous and indulgent. Most people order it to share with a friend or 3. It more food than one person should eat in a sitting.

When you order it, it comes with your choice of stuff to go inside, a heap of hash browns, and toast. The hash browns are all you can eat, if that isn't enough food for you.

Yesterday, we went there with some friends from church and some out of town guests from Mississippi. We figured that Beths' would be a place that would personify the Seattle experience- Old, Loud, Crayon drawings, good coffee and huge omelets. I've only eaten there one other time in my life, so when it came up as a place to go, I agreed.

The guy I was with encouraged me to get the 12 egger. He said we could both eat them and see who could finish it. I had heard about the 12 before, but never ate it. So yesterday I thought I would try.

Initially when they bring you the tray the meal is served on, the portion looks daunting. I like eggs. I like hash browns, but about half way through that thing it ceases to have the same level of culinary satisfaction that it did in the first 50 or so bites. My approach was to start at one end of the plate and work my way across- taking equal portions of egg and potato. Eventually I worked it down to where there was about 1/4 of the order left.

There was a man who had came over to our table and took a picture of my meal before I started eating it, so i thought this would be a great time to go introduce myself, and stretch my legs. I went over to his table and said "The Lord told me you're from Arkansas".

The man looked at me like I was looking into his soul. Then I said, "or your hat told me".

We had a great laugh, but our conversation was short lived. I returned to the plate, and forced down the last little bit of cold eggs and browns. I did it. I ate the whole thing.

Now, I know that it was gluttonous. I know it was indulgent. But for some reason, I wanted to eat the whole thing. I had heard about it since I was child growing up in Seattle and I wanted to see if I could do it. I could.

I was laying in bed this morning thinking about what spiritual ramifications that a story such as this. I found two.

1. Over indulgence of anything is bad. Moderation is the key.

2. Luke 11:11-13 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks fora fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Sure this isn't a huge spiritual blog today. But I figured you would like to hear about the omelet and see some pics

Be Blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Would You Like Some Extra Money?

2011-02-04T08:37:00.001-08:00

Heard a great story this morning that I wanted to share with you. It's pretty neat.

At my friends work, there is a guy whose wife is dying of cancer. Its not going well at all. Well, because of the situation, a lot of the guys at work are chipping in to take this guys shifts so he can be at home with his wife during this time. Its an awesome gesture. To take someone elses shift for them, not get paid for it, allow the guy to get paid, so he can get time with his wife during a horrific time.

If only everyone could work at a place that made that feasible. Its a special situation, but great none the less. I'm not sure how many people I would know that would step up to work for someone without pay, but there are guys doing it. Love in action.

So there was a shift that needed to be covered, and my friend took it for this guy. The reason why? My friend told me that he didn't know what the future held in his life, and he knew if something like that was in his life, he sure would love for people to step up and take care of him. So he did it.

Here's where it gets good. With no expectation. With no hope. With no demand. He got a totally unexpected overtime shift.

Now I'm not sure how your finances are or how you make money, but I don't know many people who would look down on a opportunity to make a few extra frog skins. For people who need or want the extra, the opportunity to get it is a blessing. And in a career field where overtime isn't a normal thing, its a huge blessing.

This is what I love about it- My friend loves God. He serves him diligently with a pure heart. He loves and serves people because its the right thing to do. He served this guy in the midst of his despair, not because he wanted a blessing, not because he hoped he could make some extra money because of it. He did it because it was the right thing to do, and indirectly he got a blessing from it.

I share that story as an encouragement today. Sometimes I think we forget that God is watching us, that he knows what we're doing and where we are at. Other people may not pay attention to what you do for others, but God knows. God sees.

Think about that today as you go about. Look for opportunities to bless other people and watch what happens in your own life. I would expect that at some point its going to come back around to you, and you'll be on the receiving end of a blessing.

Be blessed today. Go love on someone.

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Was Hopped Up on NyQuil Having Crazy Dreams

2011-02-03T07:46:00.001-08:00

I've been a wee bit sick for the past few weeks. Nothing huge, just a nagging cough and sniffle that seems to not want to go away. Last night, I couldnt' help it. I took some NyQuil- Ok, it wasn't NyQuil, it was the WalMart brand of Nightime Cold Remedy, but If I said, I took WalMart Cold Remedy instead of saying NyQuil, it wouldn't pack the same punch. Plus, NyQuil is like 2 dollars more. We buy on the cheap.

Anyway, when I take that stuff I have CRAZY dreams. They never make sense and always leave me scratching my head when I get up in the morning, wondering what they were all about.

Last night, I dreamt about a water leak in the roof of a house. In this house, which didn't have an old roof, water was dripping in from the ceiling, onto the floor. In my dream, I remember watching the water drip slowly, and then drip very fast. I ran to find a bucket, which was not easy to find, and placed it under the drip.

Placing the bucket under the drip was fruitless. The water came faster and eventually overtook the bucket. But in my dream, I just went looking for another bucket. I never went on the roof and fixed the leak. I just kept getting buckets expecting that the leak would stop. In the dream, I never fixed the root problem of the leak- I just fixed the symptom that the leak had caused.

Here's where it gets interesting. Yesterday, Crystal and I were talking about how people don't want to face reality. How there are numerous people whom we know who are in situations that they are either ignoring, or unwilling to face. I wonder if that's why I had that dream. Was it the conversation that we had yesterday that influenced this water leaking dream?

The dream and the conversation have value. There are alot of people who tell themselves something about their situation because they do not want to embrace the reality of the situation that they are actually in. I don't know if it is because of fear or because what they need to fix seems so insurmountable, but they just don't want to face what is actually going on in their life.

You would never sit in a house filled with smoke and tell yourself that the smoke will just go away. You would realize that the smoke was somehow connected to a fire. Then, you would respond.

What's the point? Is there an area of your life that needs immediate attention that you are ignoring or pretending doesn't exist? A health concern that you are afraid to diagnose? A relationship problem that needs to be addressed? A money problem that you should be working on? A life situation that if not addressed will get worse? A spiritual issue that you are denying?

Get to working on it. Quit denying it. It will not go away. It will get worse until you admit it, face it, and embrace it. Then, with God's help he can assist you in navigating through the process of making it right. Ignoring it will not make it go away. If you ignore it, it will get worse.

Here's another part of it. The people who are your closest friends see and recognize that there is a problem and want to help you. But you're not letting them by denying that the issue exists. Be honest with them and watch how they respond to help you through the root problem that you have. Not the symptom of the problem.

I know this blog is a little heavy today, but its real. Ask God if there is some lie that you are telling yourself because there is a reality that you don't want to face. When he tells you what it is. Work on it.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Use the Hot Sauce go to Jail?

2011-02-02T07:53:00.001-08:00

A 'how to' of disciplining children is an activity that has been discussed through every generation. Why? Because the world keeps producing children and they have been, and will always be unruly and in need of being reigned in. That's why people who write books on child rearing do so well. Parents are always looking for ways to better discipline their children.

Here's a story about a lady who is getting in trouble with the law for using hot sauce on the tongue as a training tool for her kids- you can read it here- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110131/lf_ac/7746304_mothers_hot_sauce_discipline_tactics_land_her_in_hot_water I'm not saying I agree with her 100% for what she did or how she does it, read the story and make your own conclusion. Its an interesting story. Raises some good questions.

As a child, by my mothers hand, I was spanked with a wooden spoon. I had my teeth brushed with liquid soap. I got "the chicken neck"- which was a grab of flesh my mother used to do under my brother and I's chin to get our complete attention when we were being disrespectful. I was put on restriction. I was told no. I was not allowed to talk back. I was forced to do chores. All of that, and somehow I turned out okay and never have sat in the back of a police car.

I think learning to discipline children is an important step in being a good parent. I think some parents are way too lenient with their children. You can't reason with a 3 year old. They don't understand a 'talking to'. They understand swat on the diaper holder. In my experience, the parents who do not exercise their God-given authority over the God designed seat cushion that we all posses, will suffer long term consequences of unruly behavior in the future. Call me archaic. I think this method works with young children.

Here's the main point- parent or not- No matter what our age, people don't like limitations and order. From the time we are children we desire to do what we want when we want. When someone tells us not to do it, we get upset, and if we don't learn as a child that there are limits to what you are allowed to do, we will become over indulgent self-serving adults who expect the world to serve us.

This is not good. God loves us and desires for us to love him. In that relationship, there is the greatest measure of freedom that one could experience. But in that freedom is a call to self-discipline that we must embrace. If we were not disciplined as a child, I think this is harder as an adult to embrace self-discipline.

If you're a parent- do yourself a favor and discipline your children- As Proverbs 13:24 reads-"Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them". There is nothing wrong with setting limits on your children. In the long run they will love you and appreciate you for the discipline. They are not your friend. They do not have to 'like you'. Discipline them now and in the long run they will love and respect you more for it.

What was your discipline like as a child? Too much or not enough? I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

The Challenger Blows Up- The World Shakes

2011-01-28T08:18:00.001-08:00

All over facebook this morning is talk about the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion that happened back in 1986. For some of you reading this, it may have been a huge event in your life, while for others it may only be a news story. On that day, a shuttle was launched to go into outerspace, but it exploded after take off. It was a tragic day. Many people remember where they were when iit happened.

There are a few "where were you when it happened" moments in my life. I am 35 years old, so the events that shaped my world view are probably not the same as my mother. Her events are JFK, MLK, and Viet Nam. Mine are NASA, OJ and 9-11. Different events in different times, but defining none the less

I'm not sure exact impact that the Challenger tragedy had on everyone, but I can speak a bit about how I think it affected me at the age of 11. I'm not sure how much emotional maturity one can possess at the age of 11, all I remembered was that it scared me. Prior to that, I don't think I grasped the inherent risk that life creates. The cost of pursuing your dreams. The name "Challenger" is quite fitting. Because it was challenging to think about the threat of death at the age of 11. It can be debilitating. Going past it is challenging

Events happen though. They will continue to happen for the rest of my life. This morning on the news I saw huge political upheaval in Egypt and a bank robbery in Maryland. A few weeks ago a congresswoman got shot. Its a crazy world. It will continue to be crazy until the day that I die.

Begs the question- are the risks we take worth it? Should we stay home and just watch TV and hide from our fellow man?

No. No we should not.

Every day is a risk worth taking. Merely getting in your car is a risk. But life was and is meant to be lived. You can't spend your life in worry. You can hide from the reality of pain. You must go out, embrace it and allow it to shape you. You can't live your life hiding from it.

Are you living in fear? Are there things you wont give up or places you wont go because of gripping fear? Allow the Lord to lead you away from it today. Be released from those shackles of fear and worry and walk in the Victory that Jesus provides.

Bad things happen. They will continue to happen. Don't let them rule your life.

Be blessed

pastor matt

ps- the blog address was updated- http://blog.faithandvictory.com

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

The Problem With Self- Depreciation

2011-01-27T07:16:00.001-08:00

Have you ever known someone who puts them self down constantly? The type of person that spends the bulk of their time talking about how worthless they are? I'm sure you do. We all know someone like that.

They usually talk about how dumb they are, how stupid they are, how fat they are, how worthless they are. If you're like me, as you sit there and listen to them, you get this feeling of uncomfortableness as you struggle with what to say. Clearly, these people need encouragement. They need someone to validate them and tell them that they are not what they think they are. Simply put, they want reassurance in who they are and what they look like.

Reassurance can be tricky though. Someone else has now decided your value for you, instead of you understanding your own inherit worth. Now you're at the whim of what someone else thinks.

Let me explain further- God created us. We are His. It is clear from the Bible that God intends for us to love ourselves as we love other people. This is hard, but can be easier if we look to what God says about us, rather than what the world or other people decide what is valuable.

The Bible says that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. God uses self love as the benchmark by which we should gauge our love of others. Easily, one can assume that the love that God intends for ourselves is not negative. If we constantly think and talk bad about ourselves, the love that will come from us, towards others, will be very unlovely indeed.

Which brings us to the big question- if we are to love others as ourselves, to what benefit is it continually put ourselves down? It is of no benefit. We have inherit value placed on us by God. If we degrade that, or are unsure of it, we devalue God himself by declaring that he has made something that is woefully inadequate. Now, we're not supposed to think of ourselves more highly than we should, but to have a sense of confident self value that has been placed on us by the one who created us in turn will help us to love other people.

Don't constantly search for reassurance. Seek out for God's approval. For his encouragement, for his affirmations. In the end it will empower you to live a more loving life and give you more confidence in your daily life.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Habits- Easy To Make- Easy To Break?

2011-01-26T08:51:00.001-08:00

Habits. We all have them. We eat, we live, we work. We work out. Some smoke, some sleep, some bite, some chew. Its inevitable. We create and form habits for what we do and how we do things.

We get up at the same time every day. We drive the same way to work every day. We order the same things at restaurants. Habits.

Some habits are good. Some are bad. But we have them. For me, it seems that I'm constantly trying to stop a certain habit and start a new one. I've been a nailbiter on and off for most of my life. I'm trying to stop. Its not easy. You have to get in the habit of carrying around nail clippers, when you're used to carrying around your teeth and using them. Its a hard habit to stop, and hard habit to start.

Take this blog for example- I kind of got out the habit of doing it. I like the blog. I like writing it, but I got out of the habit. I'm really trying to get back into it, but its hard to do. Why?

Circumstance.

Its a killer to stopping and starting any habit. As soon as you set out to change, circumstance comes knocking and wants to keep you from changing. Its true for me, I'm sure its true for you to.

So what to do? Force it. Demand it of yourself. Set up controls in your life that will help you to make those new habits stick. Sure you can reward yourself with stuff to help you, but the true reward is knowing that you are doing the right thing for you, that in the end is the best thing for you. If not, why would you not be working on changing that habit?

Try this- find one thing to change for the good, set a reasonable goal and do it. It wont be easy, but with God's help, you can do it. Decide what habits you want to break, and form new habits to replace the old ones that are destructive.

Be blessed

pastor matt

ps. I wrote this blog in 7 mins because I am forming a new habit. Sure, it may not be great, but I FORCED myself to do it because I AM CHANGING MY HABIT. Gotta run- love you.

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

One of The Nastiest Things I Can Think Of

2011-01-25T07:45:00.001-08:00

Do nasty things gross you out? Used rat traps, fly paper, dog vomit and the like? Things that make you go 'eeewwwww'? I hate those types of things. I'm kinda of a wimp when it comes to gross things. I get creeped out by them pretty easily. I don't know if its because I'm a germ-phobe or what, but I just do.

Yesterday, I was helping my mom out by doing a dump run of a bunch of stuff from her house. She had to get some plumbing re-done in her bathroom, so there was some leftover pipes that had been sitting around for a while that needed to be disposed of.

Now typically, when you go to the dump, you take everything you can, and send it to the landfill. But, for these pipes, I remembered that sometimes you can get some money for certain types of metals. I called the place and sure enough, the did take metals. When I got to my moms house, and looked at the pipe, one of them was the pipe that connects to the bottom of the toilet, with the wax ring still installed. Nice.

Gross city. Disgusting. To think what that wax ring had seen for the past few decades churned my stomach. It doesn't matter who, if you think about it long enough, a wax ring on a toilet is about as bad as you can get in my book.

With gloves on, I tossed that pipe, along with some others into the back of my truck to go to the recycle place. To myself, I thought that more than likely I wouldn't get much for the old pipe. It was gross. It was old. It was discarded. To me, worthless. Why anyone would want an old pipe that had been used like that is beyond me.

To my surprise, when we got there, the guy didn't even look closely at the pipe. He threw it on the scale and told me that he'd give me 16 dollars for all the pipe.

Wow. 16 bucks. Now, I realize that I didn't win the lottery yesterday, I got 16 dollars for an old toilet pipe. But here's the deal- something that I had deemed worthless, had value in the eyes of someone who knew what to look for. It didn't matter if I thought it had value. The guy who knew what to do with old things thought it had value and gave me 16 dollars for it.

Made me think- Isn't that what God does with us? He takes us, with all of our nastiness, all of our faults and accepts us. He looks past what we have done, where we have been, what we have been used for and says, "You have value". Sure, the world may not see us as valuable. People may see as a nasty person who used to do horrible things, but that's not how God views it.

When we turn away from those things that are nasty and turn towards the one who created us, we realize the inherent value that we have.

Think on that today. Turn away from your past. Turn towards the creator. Allow him to impart his spirit of value into you today. You're valuable. You're loved. You're accepted.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I'm Ready To Write My Autobiography- Are You?

2010-12-16T09:29:00.001-08:00

Autobiographies. They are an American institution. People who are famous write them all the time. Even the Bieber has a biography at the age of 16. At 16? What could have happened so significantly by the age of 16 that would necessitate a biography? I don't know, maybe selling a go-zillion records and being a teen heart throb or something like that.

Biographies, or autobiographies are books that are written that outline a persons life. It shares the good and the bad. The funny and the mundane. Its a means by which other people can get an insight into intimate details of someone's life. I guess if you're famous, people will want to read it. If you're some hack that no one knows? You're book sells on ebay from a used book seller for 99 cents for 4 years.

In a book about your life, the title tells it all. Good title means good sales. Bad title- no sales. But there is another component of the title- it has to be somewhat grounded in reality. If it doesn't bear witness to the actual life of the subject, then its kind of pointless isn't it?

If a book was written about me today, here are some catchy titles that I came up with that bear witness to the reality of my life.

1. Donuts I have known and Loved- A life spent looking for the perfect pastry.

2. Indecision- Thoughts on plans and dreams I never tried.

3. Sleeping In- The Art of Lethargy and Sloth and its impact on Spiritual Development.

4. Financial Mis-Steps and the Influence of the American Credit Card- a Money How-Not-To primer.

5. Great Television I was Watching While the Rest of the World was Living.

6. A Fat Gut and Winded Lungs- The Benefits of Muscular Atrophy and Sitting on the Couch.

Pretty Catchy Titles Eh? I thought so. Sure, they are funny. They are meant to be funny. But they also should shed some light on the reality of things in my life that I am not currently achieving and the level that I want to. My life isn't in financial ruin and I'm not in danger of needing a heart surgery, but I know that there are things I want to be doing in larger measure that I am not doing.

Is the same true for you? Every day you're writing your biography. Every day what you choose to do or not do with your time and resources. Granted, about 99.9% of us will never have a book written about us, but that's not the point.

The point is if there was a book written about you, what would the title be? Or what would you want it to be? And would that title match up with your life?

Today, you can start writing the type of life you want to have. You can change anything, start anything, stop anything or influence anything that you want to do. The question, is are you going to do it, or is your life going to be a story of regrets?

Everyone has regrets, its a part of life. But every day we can choose to lessen those regrets by making those things in our life that we know that matter a priority in our lives. We can choose to charge ahead, with God's help, and achieve whatever kind of life that you want.

Go start re-writing your life. Maybe your title will be-

1. Blogs that Changed My Life

2. How I went from Facebook to Facetime

3. The Day My Life Changed.

Go do it! For you facebookers- include your biography title on the comment stream!

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

The End of The World Was Coming

2010-12-14T08:27:00.001-08:00

We live in the Pacific Northwest, and last night, the weather was so intense that it woke me up.

Every night I go to sleep to the sound of rain. Not because its raining, but because I have a wave machine thing that puts out different sounds, one of which is the sound of rain. I love that sound. It helps me fall asleep, but last night, at about 1 am, as I was laying there, it sounded like my little rain machine was having problems. I turned down the volume to see if it had shorted out or something, but that wasn't it. The sound I had heard was the pounding rain and wind at my house.

I couldn't stay in bed. I got up and went and stood at our front window to see what was going on outside. It was quite the show. There were buckets of rain falling from the sky, wind that appeared as though it were a hurricane, and lightening that struck right near our house. Crack boom bang. We were in a storm last night of biblical proportions.

You may not know this about my personality, but at times, I'm known to give in to irrational thoughts of doom. Its been that way since I was a child. My mom tells stories about me getting up at night asking about killer bees. When Crystal and I were on a cruise one time, I started thinking about the movie Titanic as I was laying in bed and I couldn't fall asleep that night.

Listen, I know its dumb. Welcome to my world. I'm sure glad you're so normal.

Well last night, as I was laying in bed listening to the wind and rain, I began to think about a tree falling on our house. We are surrounded by big tall trees- like 70 footers. As I lay in bed I pictured what it would be like to have a huge tree fall on our house in the middle of the night. It kept me from falling asleep. I couldn't shake it out of my head.

I realize that this wasn't grounded in reality. It was irrational. I get that.

But here's what happened- last night, laying in bed I became fully aware of the presence of God. His protection. His provision. His staying power. I focused on Him, His love for me and my family, and His omnipotence and do you know what happened? I feel asleep. Almost instantly in fact.

Here's the deal- I'll make a broad assumption that everyone deals with some sort of uncertainty in their life, and that sometimes it is not dealt with well. We give into emotional despair, fear and loathing and don't allow ourselves to be comforted by the presence of God. We forget the good and focus on the bad.

God wants to be with you in the midst of your storms. Literally and figuratively. Often when we are in the storms of life we focus on the circumstance of the storm, give into fear, and allow ourselves to be consumed with fear and doubt of God's protection and provision.

Isaiah 26:3- You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Rest on that in your storm. Keep your mind steadfast on the Lord and His ability to provide and protect in your storm. He loves you and wants the best for your life. Focus on Him in your storm and see what it does for your situation. The situation may not change, but the way you deal with it will.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

The Plague Of The Small Dog Owners

2010-12-09T08:09:00.001-08:00

It happened to me a few months ago. I was at the Comcast office down in Auburn standing in line, watching an episode of "Family Feud" on the Television on the wall, and noticed the sign that read "Service Animals Only Please". Much to my dismay, not long after reading this sign, I happen to notice someone in line, who was holding a small dog.

What kind of service is that dog doing?

I understand the world that we live that there are 'service' dogs that do more than being a seeing eye dog, but for the most part, in my opinion the people who bring these small dogs into every last commercial establishment are not in need of a service dog. They are people whom live their life that believe that the rules don't apply to them.

Some of the other rule breaking dog owner types-

1. The "dog is in my purse so its okay" owner.

2. The "dog is wearing a muzzle so I can bring it on school grounds" owner.

3. The "dog is in the baby carriage so I can shop with it" owner.

4. The "my pit bull wont bite your kids so it can be off the leash" owner.

5. The "if I can carry my dog he wont bother anyone" owner.

Did you catch this little story? A Phoenix bound plane was diverted because the owner let the small dog out of its cage and it bit someone on a plane. You can read the story http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101207/od_nm/us_usa_airline_dog . If I was on that plane I would be annoyed if my plane got diverted because someone didn't follow the rules.

Here's the deal. I own a dog. A big one. He's about 80 lbs. If I was holding him in my arms at the check out line at walmart, I'm sure someone would look at me funny. But size is not the issue here, its societal norms and rules that are the issue.

Rules, however odd or constrictive have some sort of connection to allowing other people to live their lives without being affected by you living yours. I agree that some of these rules are not agreeable with me, but nonetheless, they exist, so I must live within in them. When I follow them, regardless of whether or not I agree with them, I allow other people to live in a way that they are not affected by my choice to not follow the rules- like if I parked in the no parking zone every single day when I pick up my kids at school (I didn't pull that example out of nowhere).

God has some do's and don'ts also. These do's and don'ts are not constrictive, they are actually freeing. Why? Because from the time we are children we learn that we operate better when there are limits with what we do. Its not always initially easy or fun to keep these limits, but when I keep these limits and 'stay within the lines' I find that my life is more fruitful. My soul more at peace. My relationships less strained.

Rules, being what they are, apparently are there for a reason.

Are you a rule breaker/bender? Do you look for ways around a rule instead of staying within the rule? Challenge yourself today to stay within the social rules no matter how much you may not agree with them. You will find that you feel better, interact better with others, and honor those around you with whom you live.

Be Blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Had A Sweat Sock In My Mouth

2010-12-07T07:42:00.001-08:00

These guys I know were telling me about this challenge that is going around when you try to eat a tablespoon of cinnamon. Have you heard about this? I guess you're supposed to put the whole thing in your mouth and see if you can swallow it, but its impossible. No one has been able to do it. When you put it in your mouth, immediately it sucks out all the moisture and you either cough, sneeze, choke or expectorate the cinnamon.

Sounds like the some good college fun.

Last night in the middle of the night, that was the image that came to my mind when I woke up, on my back, breathing through my mouth. I can't even begin to explain to you how dry my mouth felt last night. It literally felt like my tongue was a sweat sock, the sides of my mouth were coated with sand, and someone was blowing a hot hair dryer in my mouth.

Before I went to bed last night I distinctly remember saying to my wife that I hadn't drank enough water yesterday. I think it was true. Prudently, I had strategically placed a glass of water next to my bed, in case I woke in the middle of my slumber and needed to quench my thirst.

I cannot begin to explain to you how wonderful it felt to pour that water into my mouth in the middle of the night. It wasn't cold, there wasn't any ice. It was just room temperature water, but it was so so refreshing. It was glorious. "praise God" I said in the darkness of my bedroom. I didn't even have to get out of bed.

As I fumbled in the dark, found that glass and began to drink it I though- there is nothing as satisfying to drink when you're thirsty besides water. Sure, there are other things to drink, but nothing hydrates or fulfills the need for satisfaction like water. Yes Gatorade is good for you. Yes ice cold Coca Cola in a bottle is amazing. But nothing in this world is better for a dehydrated person that good clean water. That's the way God created us. When we're thirsty, we need water.

Jesus talked about thirsty people and said - "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

What he was saying was that we get thirsty, so we drink water. After that, we become thirsty again, and must drink water again. Its a cycle of life. We need water to live and if we don't get water we die. He uses that analogy to say that spiritually, the water we get from Jesus (which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit) will never ever make us thirsty again. He was saying in a roundabout way that people look for the wrong things in their life to satisfy their spiritual needs.

Did you get that? If we are thirsty physically, we need water. If we are thirsty spiritually we need the Holy Spirit. Those are the only two things in this world that can quench a physical and spiritual thirst. Water and the Holy Spirit.

Have you been drinking the wrong liquid? Have you been trying to satisfy your thirst in the wrong way? Perhaps what you have been using to try to satisfy the thirsts in your life aren't satisfying. Maybe you're drinking spiritual sand instead of the spring of eternal life.

Today, do these two things- drink water and pray to receive the Holy Spirit in your life. Water will satisfy your physical thirst and the Holy Spirit will satisfy your spiritual thirst.

That way, you wont have sweat sock mouth like I did, and you'll get some eternal life too.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Talking, Excercising, and Having Sex

2010-11-12T08:30:00.001-08:00

Yea. I said it. SEX. Who would think that a pastor's blog would include such a subject? This one would, that's for sure.

I comb the Internet for news articles all the time that would be 'blog worthy' and this one is top notch- read it- http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20101112/tls-health-us-brain-internet-aeafa1b.html its about happiness and the things that we do that make us happy, and not happy.

Things that make us happy-

1. Sex

2. Exercise

3. Talking

Things that don't make us happy-

1. Using a computer

2. Resting

3. Working

Now, as a Pastor, I wish that going to church or praying would have made the top three, but in this case, it didn't. Probably because the study was done with iphone users, and we all know that people of faith use Blackberry's and Droids, so that's probably where that disconnect is. Anyway, here's my take on it.

From this study, the 3 things that make us happy all include connection and movement. Sitting around doing nothing with no one gets you no where.

Talking about sex is fun and all, but here's the biggest part of the study that I think is important to note- it says, "people spend about half of their time thinking about being somewhere else, or doing something other than what they are doing, and this perpetual act of mind-wandering makes them unhappy". A wandering mind makes you unhappy- meaning, that when you think about things that you dont' have, or you places you wish you were, you get unhappy. Pretty simple, isn't it? But isn't it also something that we all do?

Raises the question- what do you allow you mind to think about during the day? What do you think about? What do you focus on? Do you spend your days thinking about what you don't have, or where you wish you were? Or do you spend more time thinking about the blessings that you have right now, the things that you do possess that you can be thankful for.

Here's my recommendation- if you're married, you need to be having some sex with your spouse ( from a Biblical perspective- sex is for married people- gotta throw that in). . Secondly, married or not, you should be doing some sort of exercise, and of course, you should TALK. Spend some time in conversation with people around you and watch what it does for your mood.

Most importantly I agree with this part of the study- we should focus on the things in our life which are good- the book of Philippians says "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things"

Think about good things. Not bad things. Don't let your mind wander. Go have sex with your spouse, exercise and talk.

God never intended for us to be disconnected people who sit around and do nothing. He created us for action and connection.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Paid in Blood

2010-11-11T07:16:00.001-08:00

I wasn't going to write a blog today, so this may be a bit short.

Trying to articulate something to say that will have meaning on a day like Veterans day is a challenge. I think its all been said before. When I think about Veterans day, I think about the cross that Jesus was crucified on. I know, it seems odd that these two events are connected, but let me explain.

When I finally understood what it meant when Jesus died on the cross, I could not longer deny it. It changed me. I couldn't ever look at the world the same because of what He did and what it meant. Because of the crucifixion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, I am compelled to live my life differently. I must. I can't hide from the facts.

I feel the same way about Veterans. What they have done and what they provided for me as an American is epic. How dare I shame the blood of the patriots that have gone before me and provided the freedoms that I have. Because of their sacrifice, there are certain things, easy things that I think every American should do.

1. Shut your mouth when the National Anthem is being played. Quit walking around, take your hat off and show some respect.

2. If you don't want to put your hand over your heart when people say the pledge of allegiance, stand up and shut up.

3. Every time you meet anyone who has ever served in any branch of the Armed Services, thank them for their service.

4. Don't ever bad mouth America or talk about moving to Canada. Quit talking about it. Move already.

5. Being disrespectful of America isn't patriotic. The blood that Veterans shed over the centuries was never intended for you to burn flags, cuss at politicians, and shame veterans.

If you haven't served in the US Armed you probably wont fully understand these gripes. If you have served, and don't agree with me, you should go back to boot camp. Apparently you weren't paying attention.

When someone does something for you, such as dying on a cross for your sins, or going across the world to some pit of destruction to provide some freedoms for you, it should change how you live. It should affect you.

No one liked watching the movies "The Passion of The Christ" and "Saving Private Ryan". But you should watch them. You should watch them, be uncomfortable and queasy. Why? Because what you have, who you are, and what you are able to do did not come cheap. It was bought with the blood of Jesus Christ and scores of patriots that you will never meet.

be blessed.

pastor matt.

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I'm Going to Wash My Friend's Mom's Car

2010-11-10T07:39:00.001-08:00

For a while now, I've really wanted to get one of my sermons typed out and get a transcript of it. I found out that my friend's mother does transcription, so I thought that would be a good connection for me to get it done. I asked him about connecting his mom and I, and he wouldn't give me her phone number and said he would take care of it.

Here's the problem with my friend- he has been known to drag his feet on stuff, so after constant prodding for the past few months, he still hadn't contacted his mom for me. Finally, about a week ago, he said that he talked to her, and told her that I would detail her car for her, if she would do a transcript.

This was not true. I told him I would pay her to do it, not detail her car. My suspicion was that my friend was trying to get me to wash her car for his satisfaction of knowing I would be vacuuming out his mom's car, and less about what she wanted. I know his mom. She's a great lady. I challenged him on it, told him I wanted to speak with her on my own, but he wouldn't give me her number.

I took matters in my own hand yesterday and friended her on Facebook, in hopes that we could connect about this small project. He found out that I had friended her through his mom and called me and told me she was going to deny my request.

Great. What have I got myself into this time? The friend deny from my friends mom? Am I losing my touch?

So later in the day, I get a Facebook message from his mom- and it says- "Chad told me that you would like for me to type up one of your sermons and I would be happy to. He said that you wanted to detail my car in return and that is wonderful.That is a very generous thing to offer. It means so much more than money. Let me know when you would like to come over and we can probably do them both at the same time."

Oh my heck. Now I'm in deep. What am I going to do? I don't want to detail any cars. I wanted to pay her.

I call my friend and tell him what the message says, and he asks me what I am going to do. "I guess I'm going to have to wash her car now, thanks to you". It was his fault. He told her that I would do it, and now I was going to have to do it. "it means so much more than money". Yeesh. How can I go back on that?

"Gotcha!" He says over the phone. He hacked his mom's account and wrote the message. She said she would do it for free.

That guy. He thinks he's so funny. I'm going to get him back. I'm not sure how or when, but I'm going to get him.

I was laughing uncontrollably over the phone last night when he told me. He got me good. Laughter really is good medicine as Proverbs 17:22 says. It was a good laugh.

Here's the problem- some people take life way to seriously. They can't find the humor in anything. They don't laugh and joke or have any fun. Now, would I always reccomend laughing at someone else's expense? No, but laughing at life? Yes. Laughing is fun.

When is the last time you laughed hard? So hard your sides hurt? The Bible is true. A cheerful heart is good medicine. Laughing is good for your soul. Look for something to laugh at today. Find the humor in something. Choose to laugh. Even if it is at your own expense.

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Matt Lauer Interview With George W. Bush

2010-11-09T07:56:00.001-08:00

Before I even begin, I realize that writing a blog about George W. Bush could be a very polarizing topic.Here's what I would recommend- save the anti-Bush rhetoric for a different forum. This blog isn't about his policies or being a republican. Its about the interview from last night.

Last night, Matt Lauer interviewed President Bush about his new book "Decision Points" for about an hour, and it was a very interesting interview. I like the office of the President, I always have. Regardless of the political office, the history of the Presidency is a great history of our nation. Last night was no different.

President Bush is not without his detractors. First there was the hanging chads, then 9-11, then Afghanistan, Iraq, Hurricane Katrina,the bank bail-outs, and "tax cuts for the rich". Talk to anyone and they have an opinion on W.

In the interview, Matt Lauer hit on all of those points directly. He asked Him if he would have done stuff differently. He asked him if he thought the intelligence was flawed, if Katrina was handled correctly. He asked President Bush how he thought about the bank bailouts and how it reflected the principles of a free market economy.

Here's what I saw and what I loved. Right or wrong, President Bush owned every last thing that he did in his Presidency. He didn't pass the buck. He didn't criticize. He didn't blame someone else. He didn't say 'the previous administration'. He didn't hide behind his words. His message was clear- what happened while he was President was his doing. He made the decisions and he stood by them.

I respect that a lot.

President or not, there are a ton of people today that refuse to own up to what they did, or take responsibility for their actions. Its always someone elses fault, and never their own. They live in a world of circumstance where they are powerless to affect the situations around them. Frustrates me. I like it when people take responsibility for their actions.

It made me think of what Jesus said in the 12th chapter of Matthew. "But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Words say it all. Its all we've got. We all make decisions every day, and when faced with them, we make a choice on whom we are going to place the responsibility of our actions and words.

Do you pass the buck? Do you blame others? When faced with a bad situation, do you grab a mental list of who to blame, or a mirror? Think about that today. Don't blame others when faced with the decisions you have made. Own up to them. Sure, you're no President, and Bush isn't perfect, but we all can own up to what we do and say.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Could You Give Up Showering?

2010-11-05T08:16:00.001-07:00

Could you give up taking a shower everyday? I know some people who do that already, but that's not for me. I absolutely love to shower. I look forward to it in fact. I don't know what it is, I just feel more human after taking a nice hot shower with a bunch of soap. It's the best.

Interesting story out of the UK about not taking a shower http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/nov/02/give-up-washing-showering . The article talks about how some people, in order to help the environment, are foregoing the daily shower. Apparently its supposed to have some long lasting impact on the environment, if you shower less.

I'm not so sure about it. Here's the indirect impact on the environment if people don't shower that I think they may have missed.

1. Depleted ozone from the stank above your head.

2. Driving around looking for different friends who don't care if you stank.

3. Taking a longer shower on the second day, washing off your stank.

4. Other people having to shower after being around you and your stank.

I'm a clean freak. I can't stand bad odors. I can't find a Biblical reference for the daily shower, but there is something ungodly about being stinky. I know there is. Shower up.

If these people really want to change the world, I've got some things they can stop doing that will have a greater impact on the world than not showering. Here's a few-

1. Stop cutting me off in traffic.

2. Stop honking at me if I'm not moving fast enough through the parking lot.

3. Stop saying mean things.

4. Stop doing mean things.

5. Stop talking bad about people.

Simple things, but I think they will have a better impact on the world than less showering. There are things you shouldn't do, and there are things you should do. You need to shower.

Here's the deal- I know that there are people in this world that want to help people and the world, but the reality is that it is the relational aspects of this world that are ruining our planet. I'm no eco-terrorist, I can appreciate taking care of the environment, I'm just a bit more concerned with how people treat people. If the world focused on that instead of the eradication of the Wheat Weevil, I think we could change the world a bit more.

Here's what I recommend- continue to shower, but find other things in your life that you can cut out that will help the world. Cut out a drive, recycle a bit, do something. But most importantly, find some ways to take some of the negative relational things out of your life that are hurting other people. Work on that.

Be blessed

pastor matt

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Anyone Can Change. Anytime.

2010-11-03T07:16:00.001-07:00

As a societal norm, people like people who are nice. People like people who are loving, caring, forgiving, and fun to be around. Most people enjoy the company of someone who has a positive attitude and an outlook on life that looks for the best, not the worst. In my short 35 years, I've yet to meet someone who is mean spirited, has a negative attitude, a poor work ethic and is vindictive that people like. No one says "Man, I sure love Mr. McClatchy he's such a sour existence of a man". It just doesn't happen.

No one likes mean people. They may tolerate them, or allow them into their lives because of circumstance, but seldom does a person seek out relationship with these types. Typically, they are stuck with them, not choosing them.

I've never understood sour people. I can appreciate that during a time of mourning, or a difficult season of life that a person may not feel on top of the world. I get that. But when a person lives a constant lifestyle of self loathing and negativity, I struggle to see what the deal is.

As a Christian and human being, I realize that these people need love and that I am called to love them, regardless of their disposition. The Bible says I have to love them. It doesn't say I have to like them.

I think what sour people don't grasp is that they can choose to make a change in their life whenever they are ready. I think they just don't realize it. Somehow they are stuck in the muck of their own despair to the point of pulling others down into their emotional hole of destruction.

I've seen change in people's lives I've never thought possible. People who used to be mean who are now nice. People who used to hurt that now help. Those who used to destroy that now build up. Its possible!

Here's the key to the sour turnaround- quit being sour. I know, big huge spiritual idea isn't it? But I think its true. Today, you can choose to smile all day long. No one will force you to do so, you have to choose to smile. Here's the greatest part- with God's help. he can turn any one's life around, if they will let Him.

The ability that God has to make someone into a new creation is amazing. He is in the people changing business. He changes mourning into dancing and pain into joy. He takes the wretched of the Earth and sets them up on a pedestal. He changes lives, but, you have to let Him. You have to spend time with Him and allow Him to influence you in such a way that it changes your persona and your outlook. He will do it, if you will let Him.

Are you sour? Stop it. Decide today to allow God to change you into a person who influences the world with love and joy, not hurt and sadness.

blessings

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Man, 73, Rides 3 Miles In Wheelchair To Save Sister

2010-11-02T07:53:00.001-07:00

Did you catch this story? In Oregon, a man, 73, got stuck in the snow with his sister, and he went for help on his wheelchair for 3 miles until someone found him and help. You can read the story here- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101030/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_wheelchair_rescue its a pretty amazing story.

The story isn't that long. The headline says it all.

I think that most of us if we were in dire circumstances like that we would be willing to do it also. Wheelchair or not, if I was stuck in the snow, I would find a way to get out. If it cost me my life I would die trying to save my family.

Makes me think- are there other areas of our life that we should be willing to fight that hard? Sure, its easy when there is a burning building, or a car wreck for the fight or flight instinct to kick in and cause us to act. But what about those things that we know would greatly benefit us or others, that we don't do, either out of apathy or laziness.

I know that there are things in my life that I need to change. I know there are things in my life that I need to attack.I know there are people I can love and help. But, many times, I constantly put these things off for days weeks and months, why? Because they appear to be things that are not life or death circumstance. Or are they?

Let me explain- I wont have a heart attack today if I eat some fried food and don't exercise. What may happen is that if I never exercise, and constantly eat fried food, it could contribute to health problems later in my life. Because the impact of the decision today, is so far off, it lessens the likelihood that I will be influenced by its effects.

No one drinks poison because it immediately kills them. People act in dire circumstance because if they don't someone will die.

The trick is to treat things that seem benign as if they were dire, so that you will be prompted to act now, versus later.

The Bible says "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act" (Proverbs 3:27). I think that's a powerful scripture. We can choose to act. We can choose to do good. We can make an immediate impact in the lives of others and our selves if we would act now.

Choose today to act. To not put off. To treat the day as if someone you knew or yourself were trapped and act immediately. Don't put it off.

If a 73 year old man can go in the snow in his wheelchair for 3 miles, you can do something, can't you?

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

It Must Be Someone Else's Fault- Sue Them!

2010-10-29T07:56:00.001-07:00

It is becoming more and more clear that personal responsibility is quickly fading. It used to be that if something happened in a person's life, the responsibility rested on their shoulders, and they admitted it. It doesn't appear to be that way in America today. Now, it seems that whenever something goes wrong in some one's life, there has to be someone else to blame besides the person who is involved.

People claim that the problem is their genetic makeup, their seemingly uncontrollable circumstance, or some other cosmic influence out of their control that guides their inability to make wise decisions. I understand that these are broad strokes that I am using to paint this picture, but I'm sure you can partly agree with what I am saying.

Let me use an example from my own life. When I used to work as a manager at my former employer, we always had a 7:00am meeting on Monday mornings. It was every Monday. It was always at 7:00am, and we always had people who showed up late. The excuses that people came up with for why they were late ranged from the believable- 'traffic was so bad' to the lies " I had to scrape the frost off my windshield" (when the person parked their car under a car port)

Here's what the excuses lacked- personal responsibility. Here are some good excuses that are truthful and paint a more adequate picture of what truly happened.

1. I chose to sleep in later and hope that traffic wouldn't be as bad as it is every other Monday for the past year, but my guess was wrong, so I was late.

2. I waited until the last minute to do my report and by the time I got to it the night before, I realized it was too late to call and ask for help, so now I'm going to say that I didn't understand the assignment.

3. I don't care about being on time. I leave at the same time everyday regardless of weather or traffic conditions.

4. I didn't plan the night before, so when I woke up at my regular time, I realized I didn't have a clean shirt or socks and couldn't find my paperwork, so I was late.

There's always an excuse, the question is does the excuse match up with personal responsibility, or does the excuse place the blame on someone else and their apparent power over you?

Let me drive the point home with this article- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101028/ap_on_he_me/lt_brazil_mcdonald_s_obese_manager Read it and ask yourself who is responsible in this story. I'm not saying that there are times when someone else is responsible for your malady, but in my summation, more often than not, people refuse to realize who is really at fault in their life.

Challenge the excuses in your own life today. The excuses about the things that you do or don't do. The areas of your life where you blame someone else for your circumstance. Then do this- declare that it was your fault. You did it, and then choose to make other decisions. Or at least be truthful about where you are at in life and admit who did what.

Am I being a bit harsh? Maybe a tad bit- but here's the deal- if you want to see powerful change in your life you have to go after where the problem is, and usually I find that the problem starts with me, not with someone else.

Here's the best part- when we truthfully admit our faults or admit our shortcomings to God, and ask for forgiveness His work begins. When we don't admit our ownership over our situations, and blame someone else, we never truly heal or move forward in our lives. We just simply pass the blame to someone else, hoping that in some way our life will be different.

Own up. Fess up. Ask for forgiveness. Move on.

Be blessed

pastor matt

www.faithandvictory.com

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog