Three Years!

January 19, 2012 1 Comment

Today is an exciting day for me.  Three years ago, January 19 fell on a Monday.  It was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  The next day was the Presidential Inauguration.  As you can see, a lot of historic things were going on around that time.

It was also a day where I decided to start a new venture.  After really enjoying my college years of blogging on the one-time coolest kid in school, MySpace, I found out that starting a “big boy” blog can be tough.  People don’t comment as much.  People don’t see what you wrote as often without steady promotion.  This, along with some serious writer’s block, discouraged me into closing the doors of several blogs.

But I knew I wasn’t finished writing online.  Every time I saw one of my friends had a new blog, it made me miss having my own hunk of space on the Internet.

I began 2009 with a goal in mind to do one thing new every day.  I’m honestly not sure how far along I got on that goal, but some cool things did happen that year–I gave Twitter a second chance; I got interactive with Scripture reading on YouVersion; I got back into the awesome life-changing experience that is small group Bible study; and I also started this blog.

Although there have bee large gaps between postings at times, I have enjoyed being able to come here and write what I’m feeling.  And knowing I’d probably just start another blog if I shut this one down over being in a dry season, I decided to keep it going!

It is truly great to see people some and comment, follow this blog, and have my friends write about and like posts on Facebook, as well as give me some retweet love.  It’s very encouraging.

I’ve been able to do some great things on here, too.  Highlights include my first book giveaway (ever!) with Granger Community Church’s Communications Director and author of Less Clutter. Less Noise: Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales, Kem Meyer!  Not to mention my second book giveaway with pastor/author/my small group leader, Gene Jennings for his book Laughing with Sarah (see outtakes here).

My goal for this blog has remained the same, and that is, in addition for the random stuff that pops out of my head, to bring forth inspiration, thought and further action.  To that extent, it’s been great to share what God has put on my heart, my reflections of what I’ve experienced, and ways people can get involved in changing the world.

Thank you for letting this be a place you’ve visited over the past three years.  I look forward to continue sharing things that I hope serve as motivation.

P.S. If you’re thinking about starting/shutting down a blog of your own, I hope this serves as a nudge to keep at it.  Your thoughts can and will impact somebody.

Filed under Reflections, The Usual Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Life is a Story

September 30, 2011 Leave a Comment

I’m not sure what you expect to read with a title like that, but I truly believe life to be a story.  In the essence of getting all the cliches out of the way, life is ultimately His story (the “His” here being God); seasons of life are chapters or sections; each page we turn leads to a new development; etc.  [I hope I hit all the major paths a post like this could take, but if I didn't, please add your favorite here.]

So, life is a story.  In that case, what is the story we are telling?

Each day, we have this thing called “opportunity.”  We’re more in control of it some times than others.  The thing to remember is we can always make the most of it.

This past week has been one of many opportunities.  It was a busy time for everyone at work as we strive for excellence in ourselves and for listening ears throughout the area.  I was presented with a choice this week which exemplified the values of prayer and seeking wise counsel.  Immediate family, a close friend, and I have all found our way into car shops–some came out better than others.  Decisions have been placed in the lap of someone I love and care for deeply.  That same person recently lost two people she knows.  Not to mention, many obstacles seem to make their way to her.  In other words, for myself and those nearest to me, it’s been a big week.

I believe God wants us all to learn from the story that is our lives.  Really, we are just reading what He already knows.  But are we pausing as we read and spending time seeking Him?

So much good is on the horizon, too.  For the immediate future, it’s the weekend.  This is a time to rejuvenate and prepare for the next week.  It’s a time to worship corporately.  It’s a time to detach ourselves from many of the things that we deserve to rest from.

Further than the weekend, I’m able to look ahead at some cool things that are happening for me.  I’m turning 26 in two weeks, and I can’t wait to spend that time with family and friends.  I’m seeing my favorite band on their final tour in a little over a month, and will likely be sharing that experience with friends who are fellow diehard fans.  Nearly a month after that, I’ll be sitting with my best friend, watchin’ some rasslin’ live in South Carolina’s capital.  And if I look even further, I’m beginning the year in the ATL with a crazy amount of Christ-followers at one amazing conference/movement that will take up half the Georgia Dome!

Even in the day-to-day, I’m loving the current Sunday morning series my church is doing, based on my favorite show, The Office.  In my small group, we are going through a book that is rocking my world about vision and purpose (not that one, this one).  Work each day is a new adventure, but the task-oriented person in me digs the challenges (and the rest of me loves hitting the hay when I get home).  I’m also managing to drop a pound here and there, and even something as simple as Facebook swagging out profiles is enough to get to make my computer geeky-ness light up (yes, I’m that easily amused).

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “never a dull moment,” that seems to describe life for me these days.

Perhaps the coolest part of my story is seeing my passions, skills, abilities, gifts, and experiences come into play in all of these things.  With these things in action, I’m really shining.

Most importantly, I’m only getting the most out of life when I’m spending time with God.  I’m thankful for those quiet drives to work and first few minutes of my day, as well as all the windows to pray from 4am on…

When we are truly in tune with God, He will comfort us and, in His time, show us the way He wants us to go.

Don’t believe me?  Take a few minutes to look over what God is doing in the life of this man, as he begins a 10-year ministry of impacting every country in the world at age 50.  AMAZING!

You’ll always be stunned at where God leads you.  And even though it is cliche, your story is best told when it becomes His story.  Meet with the Author regularly.

Filed under Reflections Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Q&A and Book Giveaway with Gene Jennings

March 19, 2010 1 Comment

It’s the 150th post here at mattamesblogs.com.  I like to do something special when we hit the big numbers around these parts.  You may remember my 100th post featuring an interview and book giveaway with Kem Meyer.  Since that time, I’ve been looking forward to the opportunity of doing the same with another great author and church leader: Gene Jennings.

Gene is the Associate Pastor of TrueNorth Church in North Augusta, SC, and has been doing the clergy gig since 1987.   His latest book, Laughing with Sarah, is one full of practical application for following Christ. With a collection of essays ranging from what the “Thanksgiving killer” is to the main business of your life, you’re going to find something in this book for you. 

Gene, where do you feel the boat can be missed in applying the Bible to everyday life between the mountaintops and valleys, and how does Laughing with Sarah help make that connection?

I think we “miss the boat” by not being familiar with the message of the Bible and its context. It seems that a lot of believers no longer read the Bible as a whole but seek a verse or two to solve their problems. It’s easier than ever to find a meaningful verse with all of the cool technology we have. Our society is ADD and we are guilty of looking for quick answers and succinct Bible verses to help us along the way.

Now, I’m all for Scripture memory and clinging to special verses of the Bible. I do it quite often. I guess my fear is that a lot of Christ-followers are Biblically illiterate when it comes to understanding the Bible as a whole. A lot of Bible teachers use the topical approach rather than an expository approach.

Let me define those two terms. The topical approach asks the question, “What does the Bible say about this subject and how can I apply it to my life?” It uses the Bible as a reference guide with answers that can be found in a concordance. The expository approach to teaching the Bible asks the question, “What does the Bible say in its context and how should I respond to it?” For example, if you wanted to do a study on faith you could look in a concordance or do a word search for verses with the word “faith.” That would be a topical approach. Or you could read the story of Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice and consider Abraham’s faith. That would be an expository approach.

They are both fine approaches to studying the Bible but I think it is lop-sided now. We tend to hear more topical preaching than expository and by doing so it limits our knowledge of the Scriptures. Think of it this way. Would you know more about a book by reading it cover to cover or by just picking sentences from random parts of it?

In life, we have mountaintop experiences and we also go through deep valleys. But most of the time we find ourselves somewhere in between those two extremes. Laughing with Sarah uses both approaches to the Bible to cover everyday life topics that we all deal with between the mountaintops and the valleys. It’s about being obedient to God and deepening one’s walk with Christ. It’s about putting things off, starting things over, being perpetually grateful to God and being constantly motivated to serve him.

 

You can find out more about Laughing with Sarah and get a copy of your own at http://www.LaughingWithSarah.com.

Congratulations to Thea Hedglin for winning an autographed copy of Laughing with Sarah. See the video of the drawing here.

Filed under Blog Tours Tagged with , , , , , ,

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 226 other followers