Unbelievable

I just read what may be one of the most disturbing stories of the holiday news season (click here for the story). A Wal-Mart worker was trampled to death in NY as angry, anxious, and outrageously materialistic shoppers crashed through the door trying to purchase something they probably don't need and don't have the cash for. I don't know that I have the words to express my outrage at the selfishness and absolute inhumanity of these people.
First of all, I am not that eager to spend money on things to spend all night in line in front of Wal-Mart. Second, there is nothing that I can think of that is worth getting into a shoving mob situation in order to get inside of a store.
Have we become this self-focused? Has our society really reached the point that being the first to get a bargain on a TV is more important than human life? Are things so vital to our identity and self-worth that we have thrown out decency and respect? Or is this an isolated incident in a place that is worse than the rest?
Whatever these answers, our country needs prayer and it needs an awakening of God's presence and reality.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We just wanted to wish each of you a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.

Thank you for your friendship.
Thank you for your support.
Thank you for your prayers.
Thank you for your encouragement.
Thank you for being a part of our lives.
and...
Praise God for His blessings.
Praise God for His love.
Praise Him for His salvation.
Praise Him that He is the King of Kings.
Praise Him for the day.
Praise Him for your family.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

With Love,
Shane, Elena, Kiersten, Breanna Hart

Thanksgiving Eve

My daughter's didn't have school today and yet were still up at 6:30 am. All morning they have been drawing Thanksgiving pictures and are making a banner for their grandparents who are coming up later today.

The news was on and one of them heard someone use the term pre-Thanksgiving. My daughter's response was, "It's not pre-Thanksgiving, it's Thanksgiving Eve."

While today is not commonly referred to in that way and it definitely does not get the attention as Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, it is still an important day. It's preparation day.

Like most people, we set out the turkey this morning to get it ready to be roasted tomorrow. Tonight, my wife and mother-in-law will begin preparing dough and potatoes and stuffing and all kinds of other things. The kitchen will be organized and the refrigerator stuffed like the turkey. Time and energy will be expended to put everything in place for tomorrow. Today is one of the busiest shopping days for grocery stores. It is also the busiest travel day of the year. People are getting ready for tomorrow.

Why all the fuss and preparation? Because it is a day we have been anticipating and we don't want to miss out. I believe there is a spiritual principle that can be applied here. We are on the eve of some of the most spectacular spiritual things in history. Just around the corner is a great move of God as He pours out His Spirit in unprecedented ways. Are we truly anticipating what God has in store? Are we making the preparations? Are we positioning ourselves so that we don't miss out?

Just a little food for thought.

Random Musings

I am feeling a bit random today. Maybe it's the cold, maybe it's just me being me, but here are some thoughts bouncing around in my mind.

It's snowing hard right now, but only sticking a bit. Supposed to get more tonight. White Thanksgiving? Just makes the time inside with family more cozy.

If we do get a few inches of snow tonight, the girls want to play outside and sled tomorrow. I'm sure we will.

Been checking out the ski resorts, they are getting some good natural snow. I would love to head up for opening weekend on Friday or Saturday, but it will probably have to wait.

Great offensive explosion last night in the Saints/Packers game. I can't believe the Saints pulled out such a decisive win in that fashion with Reggie Bush on the sidelines and not in uniform.

Can't wait until Thursday. I can almost taste the turkey and gravy now.

Watching the news this morning made me want to scream. Why won't the government take the common sense approach to all of this that Americans have to every day. Spend less than comes in and the crisis will work itself out. Same goes for the automakers and banks. Ridiculous.

My daughter's second grade class had a little Thanksgiving presentation in their class this morning. It was cute. Of course, I think she stole the show. So does she.

I started packing up some books and things in my office yesterday. I will be in Columbus the first of next week and am going to take a load up with me. I'm not a big fan of packing. The good of it is that I go through things and thin out what I don't need or is outdated.

I think I finally figured out what to get my wife for Christmas. She is not the easiest person to shop for.

I can't wait to get over this cold, it is driving me bonkers.

Spoke with a friend who pastors a church outside Cleveland. They had a total God experience at their church on Sunday. Awesome! I love hearing the great things God does!

I'm really getting into this Twitter thing. Even Facebook has become a regular part of my routine throughout the day. I'm connecting with people that we haven't in years. Pretty cool.

I'm going to an Apple Computer store Monday; I'll have to try not to go overboard! :o)

That's it. Gotta go brave the snow to deliver some tables a nursing home is borrowing from us.

Thanskgiving

I love this week! Thanksgiving is such a relaxed holiday. Outside of the grocery stores it isn't very marketed, yet most people get extra time off to spend with family. Even more than Christmas it seems that people slow down, at least for a hours, to relax and have fun and enjoy each other. The food is great, the football is great, I love it. Although, I will miss my big screen TV which died earlier this year. :o(

I believe we have some family coming up to spend a couple of days with us. I know we will have a good time and eat well. My wife, Elena, does an incredible job with the Thanksgiving meal. My part is to carve the bird. Other than that, I stay out of her way.

Hello

Hello Capital City!
It's great to have you join me in this blog. I look forward to hearing from you and getting the chance to meat or re-meet you in the next few weeks.

So tell me, what are your big plans for Thanksgiving?

The Greatest Words Ever Spoken

This book at first glance is intimidating due to it’s shear size. Once you get past that, it is a fantastic resource. When I say resource, I don’t mean just in the vein of a concordance or commentary, though it fits that category as well. I mean resource as in life resource. To have the words of Christ organized in this format and compiled together by topic is wonderful.

This book isn’t just a compilation of copied scripture, it is an organizing of the words that form the very foundation of who we are as Christ followers. The Bible can be a bit disjointed when studying one subject due to the fact that it is a group of letters and writings of different authors. Steven Scott joins together each topic into a fantastic cohesion that shows the context of what Christ said about each subject. At the beginning of each section Mr. Scott gives a short explanation of that section and some insights he has gained in his vast studies. These are well thought out and well executed in form on the page.

This is one book that I will go to time and time again in my studies as a follower of Christ and as a pastor in sermon preparation. Most of this book is the Word of God organized in a very usable form with some commentary and added thoughts along the way similar to many study Bibles, yet much more focused.

In the introduction on page 4, Mr. Scott writes a statement that I believe deserves to be repeated, “Many Christians have built their beliefs and values on the words of Bible teachers, authors, and television and radio preachers rather than on the words of Christ. As wonderful as the words of preachers and writers may be, they can’t begin to compare in wonder and power to the pure, undiluted words of Jesus Christ.” Well put. Mr. Scott does not dilute or hide or in any way hinder the words of Christ.

In the introduction, Gary Smalley makes a statement about giving a copy of this book to each of his family members and associates as Christmas gifts. That seems like a very good idea to me and one that I will take to heart and will be giving this book out as well.

The summary of this book from the publisher is as follows:



The Greatest Words Ever Spoken by Steven K. Scott


Genre: Christian Living – Released 9/16/08 – ISBN 978-1-4000-7462-4

• Every Word of Jesus Right at Your Fingertips

  Haven’t you wished you could ask Jesus any question and get his immediate help with the biggest problems you face? Now you can.

• For the first time ever, all of the statements Jesus made in the New Testament have been brought together and organized under more than 200 topics. When you want to know his will in a specific area of life, or you’re seeking the answer to a perplexing question, or you are desperate for his encouragement, comfort, or wisdom–you can easily find the help you need.

• The moment you turn to the appropriate topic heading, you will have access to the breadth of Jesus’ teaching on that subject. You can also use this book as a guide for studying Jesus’ wisdom on any topic of interest, such as prayer, forgiveness, eternity, anger, temptation, relationships, grace, or knowing God.

• As you immerse yourself in Jesus’ words, your life and relationships will be transformed, and your faith and spiritual passion will be renewed. Let the greatest words ever spoken bring new vision, power, and joy into your life–one statement at a time.

Purchase this book at:

Amazon. com

A quick about me kind of bio

Adopted at birth, Shane had to deal early in life with the issues of rejection and anger toward a biological father who abandoned him and a biological mother who gave him away.

Raised in church by a loving couple who adopted him, he found the love and acceptance of Christ and encountered that full reality as a teenager.

Shane was called into the ministry at a youth rally at the age of fifteen and has never turned back. After High School, he moved to Arizona to attend Master’s Commission at Phoenix First Assembly of God. From there, Shane continued his ministerial studies through Global University School of the Bible.

He served as youth pastor in the Bronx, NY; Alton, IL; and Youngstown, OH as well as working in inner-city ministry in Louisville, KY.

He met his wife, Elena at a youth workers’ conference in Kentucky. They married in September of 1995 and have been partners in ministry ever since.

Elena, also adopted, was raised in church as well. She surrendered to the reality of God at 18 and immediately got involved as a worship leader in her church youth ministry. Elena plays keyboard and recently taught herself to play the bass guitar. She currently leads the women’s ministry and the young adult ministry at Word of Life. She graduated nursing school in 1995 and works in a doctor’s office.

Shane and Elena have two wonderful daughters who are constant reminders of the love and grace of God.