What are you created for?
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Thursday, 17 September 09 - 04:47 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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A friend of mine e-mails me a "daily devotion" - somedays it really makes me stop and think. Today was one of those days. I'll paste content here and take no credit for it, but since I don't know where it truly originates, I can't give credit either. So, no disrespect to original author, just want to share:
Joy in Serving
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
—Psalm 100:2-3
I want to let you in on a little secret: I think it is fun to serve God. Now, I am not saying that it isn't hard to serve Him. I am not saying that it isn't challenging. I am not saying there aren't times when it is depleting. But I am saying that I derive great joy from it. And by serving God, I don't mean preparing or delivering a message. I mean being used by God in any way that He would see fit to use me. I count it a great privilege to be called by God and to be able to represent Him. And if you have discovered this, then you know what I am talking about. There is a joy in it. And when you serve Him, you sense His blessing on you.
One of my top ten favorite films is the 1981 movie, Chariots of Fire. I loved it. It is the story, among other things, of Eric Liddell, a young runner from Scotland who was a great athlete and competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics. Also a committed Christian, Liddell struggled for quite some time with the decision as to whether he should run or whether he should preach. Ultimately, he went to the mission field. But in the film, there is a scene in which his sister was pressing him to abandon his career in running and start his missionary work immediately. Liddell responded in his classic Scottish brogue, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."
Do you feel God's pleasure in what you are doing? Are you living your life well? If not, then start today by doing what He has called—and created—you to do.
What a gift!
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Wednesday, 24 June 09 - 02:52 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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Some of you have probably seen this link from other sources (Mark's blog, Facebook pages, etc) - it's certainly making the rounds, but for good reason.
This young man goes to our Church and has an amazing gift of a beautiful singing voice. This link is from a performance at our Church this past weekend. It's a big church with about 7 or 8 (I lose track!) services per weekend, so this doesn't happen to be the exact performance we saw, but clearly, equally as good. Now, I happen to think that standing ovations have become too commonplace, but he got one - and deserved it! At the end of this clip, looks like he got one at the end of this performance too.
He has quite a story too - if I recall it correctly, never had a voice lesson. In fact, at one point (again if I recall it correctly) he was told "you're no good, give it up" Luckily for the rest of us - he didn't listen to that and decided to keep on singing! You go man! We'll keep on listening too!
This weekends performance and another recent performance are linked below. When you get to YouTube, you'll see other links to videos of him singing too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phRhrDauCos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNAa-y0bRJM&feature
Uhm...WHAT!??!?
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Thursday, 28 May 09 - 08:32 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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Do you do it?
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Wednesday, 29 April 09 - 05:09 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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"How's your wife?" "Good but still struggling a little" "I'll be praying for you" "Thanks, we need it"
"Did you find a new job yet?" "No, the market is really tight, getting laid off is really taking it's toll on the family" "I'll be praying for you" "Thanks"
The question is - DO YOU? I have a fear that the phrase "I'll (we'll) be praying for you" is becoming something said in passing like: "Hey, how are you?" "Great! You?" "Outstanding!" Really? Are you great? Are you outstanding? What would you do if you asked someone how they're doing and they said "Horrible! Do you have time to talk?" I'd bet a good portion of us would avoid that person next time! We WANT them to say "great" whether they mean it or not.
So...when you tell someone you'll pray for them, do you? Personally, it's something I don't take lightly. I currently have a lot of people in my life that need prayers and I've been doing it....and telling them I'm praying for them....and following through! I don't know what your personal beliefs are, but I can tell you - I see the benefits. Now, that is not to say everything is rosey and no issues/concerns, but I know the prayers are helping, in a number of different ways.
If you tell someone you are going to pray for them or even a simple statement like "we'll keep you in your thoughts and prayers", please do it and follow through! They are counting on you!
Some more info....
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Friday, 23 May 08 - 02:19 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/
http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/
Sad story....
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Thursday, 22 May 08 - 03:00 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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If you listen to Contemporary Christian Music at all, you know the name Steven Curtis Chapman. If you've ever considered adoption, you probably know the name Steven Curtis Chapman. He is a prominent voice in both.
Some very sad news today:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24766629/
He has a new song entitled, "Cinderella" and reportedly, the song was written about this very daughter that died yesterday. Read through the lyrics, I'm sure he didn't realize when he wrote the song how meaningful the lyrics would become, "...'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone..." I'm sure Steven and the family could use our prayers.
She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...
She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone
Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
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Tuesday, 04 March 08 - 10:23 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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Is this guy serious or is he just trying to get the next headline in the "National Enquirer"? If he ever had any credibility as a professor, it should be gone now..... Tune in next week for the gripping interview with the aliens who abducted Jesus from the tomb to go live with Elvis....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23468364/
The world keeps on turning....
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Monday, 18 February 08 - 11:30 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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I've been in a relatively isolated situation the last 10 days. For the 3rd year in a row, I went on a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico. No phones, no cell phones, no computers, no TV, no magazines, no celebrity gossip, no business or sports scandals, no updates on scores, and no blogging (you might have noticed). In many ways....I guess it might be utopia.... In many ways.....not.
It's a little bit odd to be back, not much has changed, the world keeps on moving at break-neck speed, even when I'm not as "connected" to the daily happenings. But the world keeps moving in an abandoned garbage dump in Juarez, Mexico too....one day at a time. The people there are fond of looking across the border at the glimmering lights of El Paso and the United States and saying, "You see that over there? They think we have problems here, but that's where the problems are..."
I hope to write more about it in the coming days, but for now....I'm back.
Bring on the rain...???
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Monday, 30 July 07 - 10:39 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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Have you ever noticed how many times your emotions are on an unplanned roller coaster ride? Now, I'm not talking about, "Oh yeah! My team just scored a field goal! OH WAIT, the other team just scored a touchdown.... But....we're driving the ball, across the 50, the 40, the 30...." I'm not talking about that, I mean real, true, deep, heartfelt emotions. When it happens, you can find yourself affected exponentially...
I'm talking about climbing out of a NASCAR racecar in pit road of Daytona Speedway, grinning ear to ear after going 3 laps at 170mph, only to pick up your cell phone and find out you missed two calls giving you news that family and friends have lost their jobs in a big "right-sizing" and your job, too, could be in jeopardy. That's a quick change of emotions.
I'm talking about celebrating, being joyous and thrilled when you have several friends and family that are all expecting children, only to find out that one experienced a miscarriage. Devastating. Roller coaster. You hurt with them, you cry with them. You feel their pain.
I'm talking about tears of JOY and quick phone calls to those eagerly waiting back home when the surgeon says, "The surgery was a success!! I was able to accomplish even more than I thought I could. He's going to be fine, and you can see him soon". Then 20 minutes later a call on the P.A. for a "Code Blue in ICU, Code Blue in ICU!" Followed by many hospital staff sprinting past you to respond and soon, the crushing blow of the policeman and chaplain looking for the <insert name> family and soon the doctor saying, "I'm sorry, we lost him. I don't what happened." Ending in tears, but not joy this time...far from it....sorrow...disbelief...
Those are the kind of things that can just wipe you out, devastate you, and make you wonder how you can possibly deal with this. Unfortunately, I've been through every one of them in the last 6-7 months. It's hard, I have to admit. Not every one of them affected me directly, but it's friends, it's family...seeing them hurt is as hard as your own pain.
Honestly, I had a hard time figuring out what "category" to put this post in, I've been thinking about it all weekend. But then yesterday during Church, I got my answer....recall my posting of "there's no such thing as coincidence..." I had been writing this blog post in my head since last week, and then yesterday, a very poignant and meaningful, and relevant song was sung in Church. Now, it doesn't erase all the pain or hurt, but it does remind me that there's a plan bigger than I could ever understand and I just need to trust in that plan and know it's all for a purpose that I can only hope to someday comprehend....
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain
I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me whats a little rain
Disappointed...
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Tuesday, 10 July 07 - 07:41 PM (GMT) By Chad Holtz in Religion/Faith |
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I've stayed rather clear of religious type posts and comments for a while on this blog. However, I would be remiss if I didn't publicly state my disappointment with this:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19692094/
After all the movements and some gains in minimizing the gaps of "denominations" and trying to focus more on core Christian beliefs, I am just disappointed that there has to be this big of a step backwards.
“But it said they lack something because they do not recognize the primacy of the pope — a defect, or a “wound” that harmed them, it said.”
Honestly, I could probably write about my thoughts on this for several pages, but I won't. I just wonder where in the Bible they could show me that it says that in order to be saved as Christian you must believe and recognize the "primacy of the pope" and that Jesus set up "one church" with that belief. I guess I haven't read that part of the Bible...
I'm not Catholic, and I don't happen to believe all of their teachings, but I wasn't hung up on denomination. I happen to believe that there will be Catholics in heaven right next to Protestants and other Christians too.
This is just a disappointing step backward in my opinion.
... More items are available in my News Archive
