Stephen Strausberg Pitching Phenom or Fufilled Prophecy?

I'm not a guy who watches baseball on a regular basis. To me, its a bit of a slow sport. I like sports where people strike each other, like football, mma, and boxing. I know, it may not be very pastorly, but its the truth. Maybe if baseball included chasing the other team around with the bats and throwing the balls at each other I could get behind it. As it is, the most exciting part about baseball to me is the garlic fries at Safeco Field in Seattle. Those things are amazing.

 

But when a player like Stephen Strausberg comes along, even a guy like me takes notice. Here's a kid who is 6' 4" 220 lbs. that throws a 100mph fastball. Wow. I don't know much about no baseyball, but I do know this. 100mph is a rocket fast arm. Strausberg played his first MLB game last night and absolutely crushed it. 14 strike outs and His team, the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburg Pirates 5-2. Amazing debut for a 22 year old kid.

 

Some Nationals fans are saying that his arrival is like a prophecy being fulfilled or a messiah arriving. For National fans who have been waiting for someone to pull their team out of the depths of despair, this is what they've been needing.  The team wanted a phenom that would energize the fan base and invigorate the town. They wanted it. They got it.

 

People love winners. People get excited about someone who is out of the norm who can, for a moment, release them from the drudgery of everyday life, if only for a moment. Regardless of the sport, people love the momentary escape from their seemingly boring life.

 

Here's the deal- sport is what it is. But what it reveals is this- people want more in their life than the daily grind. They want to be energized and they want to be elevated and will do whatever it takes to experience it.

 

Here's the nugget for the day- while sports may be exciting and uplifting, the reality is that the feelings that you get from them, like many diversions, are temporary at best. That emptiness and longing for elevation can only be satisfied through the one who created you with that longing.

 

I like sports. I watch them. But I never forget that they are temporary and not my savior. I don't need them, they need me. The mound that I am entranced with is the mound at Calvary.

 

When you know the Savior, you know what true elevation is. You realize that depths that He pulls you out of.

 

Good job Stephen. No disrespect. Throw that ball. I'll cheer you on, but I'll keep my relationship with the Lord at the top of my list.

 

blessings,

matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Big Issues? Try This Small Thing

I've been reading this book "The Power of Small". Its a pretty good book. I got it on audio at the library, so actually, I think I'm listening to it, not reading it.

 

In the book, they talk about usually people want big things to happen, so they focus on the big things, instead of focusing on the small. Their contention is that when we do small things, it makes a big impact.

 

Its quite revolutionary to a guy like me who always thinks big.  They gave some great examples of how people have lost weight, grew their companies, achieved success, and generally achieved what they set out to do, simply because of something small.

 

Let me give you an example- I've been married for 12 years. Every year since I've been married, I've wanted a hot tub, and as of yet, I do not have one. An OK hot tub with installation is probably around five thousand dollars. I'm not sure where you are at financially, but 5K doesn't roll across my desk that often. I'm usually excited about a 20 dollar bill.

 

I want a hot tub- and I'm doing absolutely nothing to work towards that goal. I just keep hoping that a hot tub is going to somehow magically drop from the sky, which as of yet, has not happened.  Here's the kicker- if I had been thinking small over the last 12 years, I could have a hot tub by now. I did the math, and 5K spread over 12 years is about 8.6 dollars a week. A little more than a dollar a day.

 

A dollar a day doesn't sound like much does it? But if I had been thinking small, I'd be on my way to hot tub by now.

 

So what have I been doing? Saving up my change and loose bills for a hot tub. I know its not a huge deal, and Its going to take a while, but I'm sure that with time, I can save up five grand. It may take me 12 more years but at least I'm on my way!

 

What the nugget for today? What's something big you want that you can do something small to get there? Want to start a prayer life? get up 5 mins earlier everyday for a week. Next month, get up 10 mins earlier. In a few months time, you'll be up a half hour earlier and be getting your prayer time.

 

Here's the deal- we all have things in our life that we want to change. The question is always "how are we going to get there"?. Think small, act small, and over time, it can add up to big changes.

 

Be blessed.

matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Today Is National Doughnut Day 2010!

Well praise the Lord, today is the day in which we recognize the impact that the doughnut has had on our wonderful country.

 

You can read about the donut here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doughnut its got a great bunch of information.

 

People sometimes ask me why I love donuts so much. I'm not sure why.

 

Maybe its because they are soft and comforting. Perhaps its the icing sugary covering. Maybe its the consistency. Wait, I think I may have it- The donut, or actually, donut shops, are one of the only places you can go, and have a variety of something, not having to be forced into one thing.

 

Typically, when you go to a restaurant, you have to choose an entree, or choose a dessert. When it comes to a donut shop though, you can choose 12 different ones! How awesome is that? Those who enjoy the donut, are able to experience many different tastes and flavors.

 

Lets be honest, how can you choose between a maple bar, a twist, and french cruller? You don't have to when you're at a donut shop! You can have all three! Praise the Lord!

 

I understand this blog is pointless today. I get it. I guess its just because as I'm sitting here writing this I cant help but be overcome with thoughts of the raised pastry of glory. I should be thinking of some spiritual significance, but I am overcome with the thoughts of a hot donut.

 

Here's something for you- the Bible calls Jesus the bread of heaven. If that bread was to have a taste, I'm sure it would taste something like a donut. Think of that next time you have a piece of manna.

 

Go get a donut today. Its your civic duty.

Be blessed

matt

 

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Some Of God's Greatest Gifts, Are Unanswered Prayers

As I'm sitting here writing this blog, my wife is sitting over my shoulder drinking coffee reading what I write. She looks at the title of the blog and says, "Hey, that's a song".

 

Yeah. I know. That's why I put it in the title to the blog. I'm trying to make a point here. That's what this blog is about- making a point.

 

There is a song titled "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks that describes a man going to a High School football game with his wife. While they are there, they run into his old girlfriend, and he realizes that He is thankful for unanswered prayers. In the song, he had prayed to marry his high school sweetheart, but now, years later, he realizes that God blessed him by not answering that prayer. Its a cool song. If you haven't heard it, google or bing it and listen to it. 

 

I was thinking about that song yesterday when I was talking to the building inspector for the city of Auburn. I was talking to him about some zoning and occupancy requirements for churches and he shared with me that there was a church in the city who was having some trouble with their building. He didn't outright say it, but I gathered that there was a church in the city who was in a building that was not up to code. The church needed to have a sprinkler system, and it didn't. The church is more than likely going to have to move out of their location because of it.

 

Its sad for that church. I'm sure they're not happy that they may have to vacate their facility after working so hard to get into it. I know what its like to pray and believe for a building.

 

Here's the kicker- I'm pretty sure that the building they are getting kicked out of is the one that we wanted to buy last year. Remember this blog? http://krachunis.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-might-be-craziest-thing-ive-done.html 

 

Are you connecting the dots?

 

Today, I'm thanking God for unanswered prayers. I understand that this is another church that is in this debacle, and I'm not saying that God blesses our church and not theirs. But it is possible that you can be a person or an organization that can step out on your own choices instead of stepping out into God's will. Its a difficult thing to discern whether its you, or God when stepping out in faith. I'm not going to pass judgement and say they weren't in God's will, or they approached it wrong. But I am thankful today that God didn't answer that prayer for us to get that building. If He had, we could be getting kicked out of our meeting place and be a church without a building. Yikes.

 

Here's the deal- if you pray, you realize that God doesn't answer every prayer. But here's the other side of it- when you pray, always ask God to make it His will, for His way to supersede your wants and needs. We all have things that we would want, or things that we would like to see happen, but if they are not within His will, they may not work out.

 

We can do things our way, or His way. I want things to be done His way. I can step out on my own, or I can step out with Him.

 

Look at your own life today. Maybe there is an unanswered prayer that you can thank God for.

 

Be blessed

matt

 

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Get Punched In The Gut- Keep a Smile On Your Face

I can imagine that being the President isn't an easy thing. No matter what you do, there is always going to be a group of people who don't like what you do and have something to say about how you do your job.

 

In school, we got report cards twice a week. The President gets approval ratings every single day. If he ever wants to know what people think or how he is doing, all he has to do is bring up his approval ratings.

 

I think that would get old. Living under a National microscope with everyone watching everything he does.

 

It got me thinking- how does that guy not give into the whims of people, or lash out at those who are his detractors? Lets be honest, he's got a national stage that he could basically say or do whatever he wanted and get away with it.

 

It would be hilarious to see him pull out some obscure email from someone and start ripping them up on national TV.

 

"So before I end, tonight I'd like to personally address Bob Johnson from Topeka Kansas who had some harsh words to say about my policy changes this week. Bob, go ahead and look outside your window. There are 6 IRS agents sitting outside that would like to have a word with you." He would continue "Furthermore Bob, we've done an extensive background on everything you've ever done in your life and have posted it on the white house web page for the world to view. If you got anything else to say to me, come on down to 1600 and we'll talk about it face to face by the rose garden".

 

That would be hilarious.

 

It will never happen though. Why? Because the President understands that regardless of who says what, he has to be who he is. He knows a truth that a lot of people don't- that you can't be changed by what people think about you. You can't spend your days worrying about what other people think. He knows that if you spend all day worrying about everyone else, it will consume you.

 

I'm sure he has bad days. He just doesn't let people get to him.

 

Here's the deal- do you let people get to you? Do you let them rent space in your head? Have you ever spent a sleepless night worrying about someone Else's view of you? Here's some good Biblical advice- stop it. Quit letting people get to you. You are who you are and if you spend your days worrying about what some detractor says about you, it can consume you.

 

Now, I'm not saying that we don't all have stuff we need to change. If your breath stinks, fix it.Don't use this blog as an excuse to hurt people, I'm not saying that.  I'm saying that if you spend all day thinking about people who say stuff about you that doesn't matter, it will consume you. You can't let one or two people decide what you should do with your life. Its your life, not theirs. Live your life. Realize that you answer to God and God alone. You can't please everyone.

 

Be blessed.

matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog