The pictures above, were taken at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, while Calah and I were in Paris in 2009.  

 

The initial phase of construction for Notre Dame lasted from 1163 to around 1240.  Nearly 80 years of solid work to build such a master piece.  People worked their entire careers on this one cathedral.  People died building this cathedral.  Nearly 80 years of blood, sweat, and I am sure a few tears.  

Today Notre Dame is one of the most popular tourist attraction's in the world.  Since visiting Notre Dame I have had the same questions resounding in my head.  However, the question that continues to confuse me is: at what point in time did a place designed for some form of relationship with God and worship turn into a tourist attraction?  When and what was the turning point for a place built for reverence and prayer to be transformed into a place of marveling at architecture and snapping photos?  

Are some of our churches becoming a miniature Notre Dame?  I am not referring to our physical buildings, but rather the spiritual realm of how we operate.  Is my generation changing the purpose of things others spent their life building?  While I am talking about people a generation or two ahead of mine, I am also referring to the Apostles who were willing to die for what Jesus had told them to labor for.  Let's be very real for a second.  There are some things my generation doesn't quite understand, but are trying to figure out.  

In my spiritual life I pray that I can keep sacred the things that Jesus intended to be, and the things He instructed His disciples to do.  I pray that there isn't a change of purpose, dedication, or mission in my life.  Notre Dame, while still a beautiful work of architecture, has undergone a change of purpose.  I pray that my life, my church, and my generation doesn't slowly morph into something, while looking acceptable and pleasing unto God, far off of what it's original intention.      

This week I have discovered the power of the internet in a totally new fashion...YouTube.  Check out what some of the most watched YouTuber's have to say (start the video @ 14 minutes).

A new decade, a new year, a new month, a new week, a new day, a new hour, a new minute, a new second.

For some this is a time of resolution, goal setting, renewal, and anything else we can imagine.  This time of year has been all of those to me.  This year I have chosen to take a little different path.  Some may argue that what I have chosen is just merely another goal, resolution, or far fetched idea.  However, I beg to differ.  For this year, I have chosen to give more then I have ever given, and to love more then I have ever loved before.

You see, some view giving and loving as a mere act of kindness, but I have come to the conclusion that to give and to love is a mandate- not a calling, a suggestion, or subtle hint.  I choose to give because Christ gave.  I choose to love because Christ loved.

Jesus, robed himself in flesh, walked this earth, and did nothing more then gave and loved.  He gave His all so that I may live in freedom-not so I can live life carelessly, shamefully, or irresponsibly.  I choose to give and to love because I don't know when I will be called home to be with Jesus, and when I get to see Jesus I don't want to arrive with a life thats all together, but rather spent for His cause.  

A life spent giving to the poor, a life spent giving more then tithes to my church, a life spent loving more then my friends and family, a life spent loving my enemies until they love me, a life spent loving Jesus, a life spent giving love to those who have no love, a life...  By now you get the picture, and hopefully by now I have inspired you to give and to love.      

give. love.

This Sunday, in both the morning and evening services, Conroe United Pentecostal Church will be presenting, "The Sound of Christmas."  This is going to be a time of worship, motivation, and Christmas cheer for all in attendance.  Come join us as we celebrate the birth of our Savior!  

 

 

For the past couple weeks, the heater in our house has not been working properly.  Actually, at times it hasn't worked at all.  Last night was one of those nights.  We walked in the door to be met by a brisk 64 degree house awaiting our return.  Chilly doesn't describe the feeling I felt.  It's more like FLAT OUT COLD!  Somehow, in the midst of my shivering, I was able to dive in the bed.  I thought this was going to warm me up....WRONG!!!!!  My sheets were colder then an iceberg in the Arctic Circle.  Penguins would have been comfortable in my bed.

Somehow, I managed to warm up a small space, and I refused to move an inch.  Finally, my teeth quit chattering (they sounded more like a sold out stadium giving a round of applause), and I heard a weird moaning noise.  At first, I thought it was the wind and rain.  Finally, Calah said, "Trent, thats Penny and Tyson crying."  I small part of me felt bad for them, but I was mainly trying to stay still so I wouldn't move and get freezer burnt from my sheets.  Calah, now becoming emotionally involved with Penny and Tyson's tears, was not allowing me to lay there, and let the dogs crying, lullaby me to sleep.  

Calah, in her act of compassion, made me get up and bring the dogs in the garage.  I thought this would be a simple fix....WRONG!!!!  As I walked out into the garage, I was met by some of our old furniture that we have yet to move.  I was smart enough to know, that if I brought my dogs in the garage, and they messed up Calah's furniture, Penny and Tyson wouldn't be the only one's in the garage.  After taking a few minutes of re-arranging the garage I was able to get Penny and Tyson inside.

While this is a humorous story, it drives the point home, that things could always be worse.  There I was whining about cold sheets, and I forgot how blessed I am to even have a gigantic king size bed to lay in.  I am positive that my dogs aren't the only ones who where outside in the rain last night.  There was a man lying under a bridge somewhere.  Chances are a woman found herself huddled up clenching her jacket with everything she had thinking, "if I could just find some shelter I would be ok."  

We all find ourselves in these situation-focusing on the bad while neglecting to realize how blessed we truly are!  You might have more week then you have money, or you might have the pressure of a bad situation staring you in the face.  Regardless, stop and think about how blessed you are!  Stop griping about your job.  You could be unemployed.  Don't gossip about your friends.  You could be alone.  Quit griping about your church.  You could be a sinner on your way to hell.  Remember, your situation could always be worse.

Thanks Penny and Tyson for a great lesson.