Preacher’s Pen|…just some thoughts…

The past two days have been flooded with memories, fables, tales and great times. The family and I have our enjoying a few days in the beautiful hills of West Virginia. As we make our trip we are spending a few days visiting family and friends in southern West Virginia. Our time has been spent with family and friends filling each minute with stories of the past, some true and some exaggerated, but all of them good!

My mind grows each time I am here. I realize my heritage runs deep in these West Virginia hills, but the love of friends and family extends far and wide. My family and I are blessed with people in our lives how make us better. Even thought we do not get to see all of them as much as we would like, we are extremely thankful for the times we have together.

More pictures will be coming, but here are a couple pictures to share:

Thanks for Reading!

I actually found some time this week to partake of more writing time in the wonderful world of blogging. I am not sure where my thoughts fell or if they even landed somewhere, but I tried. SO many times the random nature of my mind gets in the way of serious thought.

As for next week, I will blog again, but I am not sure where to begin….any suggestions?

As you start your car Sunday morning, take a moment and run through your Sunday morning checklist.

10. Do I have my Bible?

9. Do I have my family in the car with me? (this may not apply to everyone)

8. Am I dressed? (this does apply to everyone)

7. Does my family have their Bibles with them?

6. Have we prayed before leaving the house?

5. Have I considered the lesson and Bible class from last week?

4. Who did I not talk to last week who I will this week?

3. Have I prepared my soul for worship this morning?

2. Are my children ready to sing on the way to the building?

1. Will my attitude while driving to services reflect the love of Christ we will talk about in service?

Just a thought,

Chris

Since February I have taken our Sunday night group on a journey through the pages of the Bible, religion and history as we seek to find out what we should do today to please the Creator. This journey has taken us from the subject of “Identifying Churches” to the Temple to the Mikvahs to Baptism and now we are diving deep into the realm of worship. I wanted to take a few moments and share with you some thoughts which will be presented this coming Sunday night:

“Man’s worship is a response of the current thoughts and gratitude he has for a certain person or object. In his own mind, man seeks to acknowledge something or someone greater than himself. The elevation of this thing/person is brought to the forefront of life as an object/person to be admired.”

“As the object/person is admired, man does everything he can to take care of or honor the object/person. This is not limited to physical items, but emotional, mental and emphasis given on the spiritual. The object’s interests become the “interest goal” of the one doing the honoring. The object/person not only becomes the one in the high pedestal, but the object/person man seeks to please continually.”

“This attitude of seeking to please thrusts man into the realm of continual action. By showing honor, worthiness and priority, the place of honor is raised through the heights of emotions only to be met with actions of worship pleasing to the object/person being elevated.”

“No right-minded worshipper seeks to honor someone of priority through their own interests; because this would bring dishonor to the one of honor. The actions of gratitude (worship) would not be as pleasing to the one being worshipped as they would be to the worshipper.”

“The emotions of the worshipper cannot supercede the emotions of why the worshipper is worshipping. The worshipper must not allow their interests (emotions, feelings, likes, dislikes, etc.) to come before the object of honor. Instead the emotions of a willing, humble, servant-worshipper must exist to bring them into check with the nature of the object/person of worship.”

“With emotions in check, the worshipper must move to the actions of honor. As with the emotions, the actions of honor must rain honor on the object/person of worship and not the worshipper. Just as the emotions must be kept in check, so must the actions of the worshipper.”

“The guidelines of worship must be in line with the character (nature) of the one being worshipped. To provide something contrary to the character of the object/person of worship is to bring dishonor to the place of honor causing a break in the “worship line.” Breaks in the “worship line” occur as a result of bringing something apart from the character of the object/person of worship in to the same realm as the object/person of worship. These “worship breaks” cause the line of communication to be broken because the object/person of worship is no longer honored in accordance with its/their character.”

This is just a piece of where out Sunday night discussion series is going. During this journey we are challenging ourselves to think outside the box and bring about the necessary steps to become the people that God truly wants us to be.

As I have time, I will post more thoughts.

Just a thought for today…

Chris

This year will be a hard year, but a rewarding year for the South Carolina Gallaghers. Our journey over the years has taken us to many places to meet many of our worldwide spiritual family. The time we have spent at West Virginia Christian Youth Camp (WVCYC) has been well spent. The relationships made are only trumped by the new relationships made during the week because of the choice of some to be baptized into Christ.

We rejoice as our hearts have been extended to brothers and sisters throughout the country because of one small camp in West Virginia. However, our hearts are saddened this year because we will end our journey at WVCYC. For me my journey started in 1986 when I first traveled up the gravel road to the Richie County 4-H camp we were using. From the 4-H camp to their own acreage of land down a paved road, the camp has come a long way physically, but the spiritual reach of this small camp extends beyond anyone’s imagination.

The influence of WVCYC has extended beyond the small paved road leading to its gate and reached lives throughout the world. I can personally say, “Without WVCYC, I would not be where I am today.” The teachings of the gospel of Christ consistently over the many years has helped young men and young women to reach for their potential in Christ. The teachings are not only deep in thought, but practical as well.

The greatest part of camp for many is a simple one hour space of time sitting on a hard wooden bench next to people you just met and raising our voices to God in song. It is a little place we call campfire. Normally, each Friday night many tears are shed around this spot because the week is coming to an end. Over the past two years ai shed tears every night while listening and singing to the Father but being able to hear my two daughters lift their small, high voices beyond the trees and have them enter the throne room of Heaven. I will miss that, but I rejoice I have heard them.

I will miss camp, but I am glad I have had the continually opportunity to be there.

To my friends of forever I will not see this year, each of you are in our prayers. Your smiles, laughter and pictures flood our minds with hope to meet together again one day. We look forward to sitting in heaven singing those songs which brought smiles and joy, but singing them in the eternal place of joy one day.

Thanks for being a part of our lives, but more so, thanks for being a part of my children’s lives. They are touched and changed because of each on of you. In deepest appreciation, thanks!