Activate

Heres the plan I think I've got it made
Life is easy when you're sitting in the shade
Not too hot not too cold I think thats what I'll be
Now I'm nervous and I've come undone
My head is spinning like the earth around the sun
I feel you drawing me away from my complacency

I think I'm ready to go, don't stop 'til everybody knows

This is the purpose of my life, this is the reason I'm alive
Don't have time to wait, Activate, Activate
There is a world out there in need
Now is the time for you and me
Before it gets too late, Activate, Activate

Make a move cause talk is really cheap
You'll never start a revolution in your sleep
Showing love to everyone is what it's all about


That is a song that I dig from a band called Stellar Kart. It is going to be a song that one day I think we will open a service with at some point, start the service off with a little rocking number. But it is pretty self explanatory with thinking that we are just fine where we are but God has different plans. And this is our purpose as christians to spread the word of God to everyone, there is a world out there in need now is the time for you and me....All we have to do is activate what God has planned for us.

Struggles

Something I have been struggling with lately is talk. Where I work there is alot of different types of talk and or speech. Now this is a factory setting for the most part and alot of the talk is putting someone down, cursing, and alot of times the talk normally turns sexual somehow in nature. This morning I kept thinking of Ephesians 4:29 which is from the New Belivers Bible "Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." If you have ever heard of the band Building 429 this is where they got their name from. I struggle with this sometimes where when someone puts someone or something down I'll chime in. I need to stop and make sure that the words I speak are encouraging and not cutting someone or something down. I have stopped the foul language years ago and don't ever want to go back to that kind of talk, I always call it the limited vocabulary talk. I seek and desire to speak truth everytime I talk and I hope that what I say can be encouraging to someone in someway. I will still joke around with people but I hope they and I can tell the difference.

Isn't it cool to watch God move

I noticed this weekend how great it is to watch God move. Saturday I was at the interviews for James and Tonya Pinkerton, who I personnally think are going to fit right in here at FFC, and just watching and listening to them with their testimonies and their love for God and how everything has been leading to this point. Good people and I told Tammy I can see some road trips with James to ball games and golf and whatnot. Ran into them and PK at Arbys yesterday and had a good conversation with all 3. Sunday was cool as well starting with the "Marggy Music", fun stuff. One Way seems to get people going, the worship set was off the hook. I Want To Know You and Breathe were both cool but as I call it Sing (version 2) was just way cool and the salvation call afterwards which before hand was totally unplanned but God had other ideas.

Spent Friday night hanging out with Bly and the boys in Apologetix in New Castle. They put on a good show that was save for a few songs totally different from the one they did here. It was good to talk to them again and I think in the future we will be working together again sometime. If you missed them at FFC be sure and check them out when they are in the area again.

3 day weekend....................yes!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited about the upcoming 3 day weekend, whoever invented the 3 day weekend I would like to shake his/her hand. Start it off tonight going to New Castle with Bly to see my buds Apologetix again, then enjoy 3 days of whatever it might bring. Saturday I'll take part in the interviewing process for the youth pastor position, these interviews are kinda cool but I feel sorry sometimes for the person we are interviewing because last time there were 15 of us in there and that has to be a little intimidating. I am excited about the possibility of James and his wife Tonya joining our church as youth pastor and childrens pastor. I know that God will lead us to the right candidates for the positions. While we are on that subject I just want to give a shout out to Connie Akers and Bryan Vickery on the fine job they have both done with our children and youth. I think they have taken a critical age in which people make decisions about life and God and have done an excellent job at showing these kids the truth that is in Jesus Christ.

This is also going to be the hardest weekend of my retirement from the racing scene as the series I worked for hit 2 of my favorite tracks in Grand Rapids, MI and Toledo, OH. I always enjoyed both tracks and taking Tammy and the kids with me for little vacations. Toledo has one of the coolest zoo's for those of you with children and the COSI science center is cool too. Last time in Toledo we finally got to see a Toledo Mudhens baseball game and that is one cool little stadium. One word of advice though, if in Toledo go to Tony Packo's and just check the place out, I wouldn't recomend eating there but the atmosphere is totally cool. I think a trip to northern Ohio is in order in the near future to hit Toledo and go out to Port Clinton and Marblehead.

Tough day

Today will be a tough day for Tyson, last night his leopard gecko Leo died. He got her last year after our vacation and grew pretty attached to it. He got another gecko around Christmas but Leo decided to take care of it for dinner one night. Tyson still has his 2 rats to keep him company and entertain us when they get "all jacked up" at night. The next few days will be tough for the little guy but I know he will get through it fine. We will have a little burial tonight in the backyard for Leo. I can see him in a few years working at a zoo somewhere with his love of animals. At the Chalfant household we don't have your normal animals with 4 rats, someday we will have normal animals.

People watching

One of my favorite pastimes is people watching. I like in the summer to sit out on the front porch with Tammy and just watch traffic and people as they go by. Most of them are oblivious to the fact that we are even there, it is good cheap entertainment as you have those who are rocking out as they drive by, those who are talking on the cell phone and those who look like they are asleep as they go. People do strange and funny things as they are driving and what is funny is that like I said most of them don't even have a clue that we are watching them. We have started a new thing at the house with a would you drive that vehicle thing and it seems right now SUV's are winning out with the most votes.

Always wonder as we are sitting there watching the traffic go by is where are these people going, and that is a two-fold question, what is the destination they are heading to or from? Did they just come from the ballpark? Are they heading to the pantry? Muncie? Parker? Then I think alot of times do these people know Christ? Do they attend church regularly? Where do they stand with God? Are they lost? Then that always brings the question of the day What am I doing to help them find their way? Am I reflecting Christ in my life towards them? When they look at me is Christ what they see? I strive to be as much like Jesus as I can possibly be and that people see Him in all I do. I will end this with Romans 10:14-15 which reads
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when the say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."

Tuesdays are cool

Tuesdays are cool because this is the day that new releases come out and by that I mean cd's. Today is good because the new Hillsong United cd comes out "All Of The Above." I will be heading over at lunch to the Family Christian Store and pick up my copy today. Tammy always makes fun of me for getting excited about these things and doesn't seem to see the excitement of a new release. She thinks its odd to have to get these things on the first day they come out. I'm just dorky that way. Check out the little banner to see for yourself.

May 20th observations

I am really liking this "Parenthood" series. So far these have been 2 great messages, yesterday was one of those where you go from laughing so hard that you almost pee on yourself to oh I do that and I shouldn't. Great stuff, I'll have to download it and listen to it again. PK comes up with some great messages and his delivery of them is top notch, he has truly taken the gift that God has given him and ran with it. Musically yesterday was all right. My playing sucked after the first two songs. During Here Is Our King I kept playing the opening riff during the first verse and was thinking something doesn't sound right, hello McFly its you. So I appologize for my lack of talent during that song. Mighty to Save is an awesome song and I can't wait to do it again, Give Us Clean Hands is starting to become a personel favorite and Rescue is awesome. I liked the way the "set" ended only wish the congregation would have went with it a little longer. From a music standpoint it was lacking but from a worship standpoint I could really feel it this week as well as last week. The worship time is really hitting with people.

Cool looking guitar

People are always coming up to me after service saying that my guitar is cool looking which I agree even if Tammy don't think so. She's the one that bought it for me. It was a christmas present a few years ago. I remember that day because she didn't sleep at all that night with the excitement of that gift. I woke up and came out and saw a big box in front of our chair and pretty much knew what was inside. I was all excited as I opened it up. Inside was a old green guitar bag with a guitar inside. I opened up the bag and found an old beat up guitar that was missing a few strings. I thought this is a start, I can fix it up and learn on it. As I was checking it out and she was asking "Is it allright, do you like it, will it work, etc..." Then she said why don't you throw your trash away in the trash can under the computer table.

As I went over to throw it away I noticed a Marshall practice amp and something else, my George Lynch Kamikaze guitar that I so proudly play still today. She used to think it was the ugliest thing but I think she's getting used to it. As I'm drooling over it she says turn it over, I turned it over and on the back she had it autographed by George. He was in Muncie a few months earlier doing a guitar clinic that I went to and had it there behind the counter for him to sign for me. It was probably back there when I was at the counter meeting him and I didn't even know it. She got me good with that one and we still laugh about it every once in a while.

George Lynch was and is a big influence on me playing wise allthough I haven't heard anything he has done in the past few years. For you who were around in the 80's George was the guitar player for my favorite band at that time Dokken. Other influences are John Petrucci from Dream Theater, Randy Rhoades who used to play with Ozzy before his death, Vinnie Moore, Eric Johnson and Tony Palacios from Guardian. All of those with the exception of Tony P. are "secular artists" and I really haven't listened to them much lately. For me playing on Sundays I would rather see people in total worship with God and really connecting than to play the coolest and best sounding solo ever. For me its all about God and not about me, I am just up there to help lead people in worship not "lead guitar." He has blessed me far beyond my imagination.

Practice

I always look forward to Wednesday nights and worship team practice, it is always fun to get together and play and talk and just hang out. Last night we learned a new song that we will debut for the offering, a little Hillsong ditty called Mighty To Save. This is one of those songs that I think will really connect with people and I can see and hear the congregation singing and praising, it's gonna be cool. Doing a couple of songs we haven't done in a while Everyday and Rescue as well as a few others should be a good service. I am anxious for Sunday to get here and join others in worship, you know that worship where nothing else matters its just you and God connecting, thats what I'm talking about.

Only bad part of last night is my cool looking guitar is acting up not wanting to stay in tune, Tammy I need a new one like the one in the picture. It needs some repair that we will get fixed and ready to go. I let a few people in on my plans when we go wireless and as Eric Brown said it was just a few degrees off of being totally cool, we'll work on that.

Whasssssup

I sit here and look at this blank screen and think what am I going to put in here today. Well I think I will put a little thing about Monday. I come to work on Monday, which Mondays still ruin a perfectly good weekend, and my boss comes up to me and tells me he saw a billboard in Indy that confused him and he wanted my opinion on the subject. The billboard said something about "Even Jesus supports gay lifestyles" or something like that then it had Matthew 19:10-12 underneath it. Now looking up that verse I don't see the same thing that this church sees in those passages. Yes this billboard was put up by a church. I think sometimes and all to often people take what the bible says and put a spin on it to make it say what they want it to say. Not good. This is one of the things that those who are lost are looking for to go against christianity. It reminds me of the DC Talk song "What If I Stumble" the begining where the guy talking says something to the effect of the leading cause in athieism is christians who procliam Jesus with thier lips than walk out the door and deny Him with thier lifestyle, it is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. Our words and actions should be one in the same.

Now a good thing about this conversation is the fact that he is interested in it and we looked that up and allthough he is confused by the different versions he is at least looking. I have invited him and others here in my office to church, no takers yet to FFC, but one of them went to church this past weekend and two of them had children who went. Everyday I pray for these individuals and am starting to see some rewards of it. Now they all still say things like "the bible just contradicts itself over and over, they have not been able to show me examples yet, and how can Jesus be the only way, don't all religions basiclly do the same and so on and so on. I just try to keep planting seeds with what I say and my actions so it you will say a prayer for these fellows that they seek out God and that he continues to use not only me but all of us in ways that we can't even imagine.

Exciting times coming

Every morning I get online and catch up on the blog readings, reading PK's, Bryan's, Jeff's, Marggy's, The Preacher's Wife, Abby's, and checking my brothers as well, no particular order just like seeing what is going on with all of these peoples. Then I normally start in on this one hoping to come up with something clever, funny, or thought provoking. After reading PK's today I am excited about what is going on at FFC. It is great to be a part of something big, something new, and most importantly something from God. I believe that God has big plans for us here at FFC and I kind of think that our dreams aren't big enough. Let's go BIG. "Its a big big house, with lots and lots of rooms, a big big table with lots and lots of food, a big big yard where we can play football, a big big house, its my Fathers house." A little Audio A for you. I don't think we can out dream God. Its gonna be fun watching God at work here and in our little neck of the woods.

Another blog I read daily is Perry Noble, thanks PK. I see alot of similarities in him and PK and I tell you if you don't like someone who lays it right on line with no punches and tells it like it is than its not the blog for you. But if you do like that kind of stuff check it out. Let's book a trip to Anderson SC next March for Unleashed. Any takers?

Friends

I'd like to take a minute or two and talk about friends, not Chandler, Joey, Ross, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe from NBC but my friends. It is always good to be able to hang out with friends having fun and enjoying time together. We had that chance this weekend hanging out with friends around a bonfire with hot dogs and smores just having fun. It is always to good to be with friends during good times but it is also good to be with friends when things aren't going as good. I have a couple of friends right now who are going through those times now and to take a lyric again from a song..."Someone loves you even when you don't think so, don't you know, you got me and Jesus." I believe in being with friends in the good times and bad times and being there for them and they are there for me when my life is going crazy. God puts people in our lives for a reason.

This Sunday was my Sunday off and it is always different not to up there playing but still enjoyable this weekend, I really like the new twist on "Sing" where they added lyrics to it. The team sounded good and I can't wait til Wednesday to get to work on this coming weekends songs. It was good to have PK back and as always good message. I dig the lessons from the bag thind each time it is done although I think next time someone other than Ryan should select the item. Let someone else select it and him do the message. I stopped in Sight and Sound Saturday and found a few guitars I'd like to have at some point, then I can give the borrowed gutiar back and have a couple of my own. Once again Tammy doesn't see this as a priority. Maybe I'll just settle for a talk box, that would be cool on a few songs. For now though enjoy the day and be a light for someone today.

Happy Mothers Day

Just wanted to say Happy Mothers Day to all of the mothers out there and a special one to my mother, Tammy's mother, and Tammy. You women are too cool and I hope that each one of you have a great day. All I could get out of Tammy is that she wanted the day off so I'll grant her that wish.

Mothers alot of times I believe are taken for granted with all that they do. Fathers are normally known as the providers for the family but everything else seems to fall on moms. All the little things they do that go unoticed it seems and I am here to say thanks. Hope all of the mothers in blog land have a wonderful and enjoyable day.

Sin

Just a short post about sin. Sin is sin, no matter how you slice it is still sin. Big sin little sin hidden sin it is still sin, some try to give it an extreme makeover and make it look all pretty but it is still sin. We think sometimes we can handle sin but when you let it creep in it doesn't just come in and sit in the corner of your heart and life and just hang out no it comes in to corrupt, kill, steal, destroy everything, you get the picture. This next thought is straight from God and hits it right on the head and everytime we sin or think about sinning we should think of this: THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH. Now I don't know about you but I think dying from sin is sooooooooooo not cool, now "to live is Christ, to die is gain" now that's cool.

People try to hide sin but God sees it all. We all know there is sin all around us in this big ole world with where we work, schools, activities for the kids, and yes even churches have sin. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Some even go as far as to justify their sin by blaming God. Now the God I serve wants nothing more than to TAKE your sins from you to bring you to Him not MAKE you sin. If that is the case than why did Jesus come to die for our sins if God is just going to make you sin. Sin seperates us from God and God doesn't want us seperated from Him. We all have our lapses in judgement but God is there waiting for us. My prayer today is for conviction. I want people to be so convicted that they are led to their knees face down humbly confessing their sins to God and meaning it. God knows when we are flippant about forgiveness, I'm talking total forgiveness laying it all down with nothing to hide just you(me) and God and getting back on track.

Sin is sin no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Games and distractions

After some recent conversations I have come to a conclusion that sometimes I think our focus on what we are called to do and focus of leading others straight to Christ is sometimes hindered by games and distractions. Maybe I'm going to harsh on this and am off the mark but it has been eating at me so I have to let it out. This is MY own opinion and will stand behind what is said. I may be off base and might be looking too deep or actually not seeing the whole picture but this is what is on my heart right now. For reference anytime you see "" around a sentence it is probably a song lyric.

Our focus should be and always be leading people to Jesus Christ, no games no distractions just pure and honest truth. I am glad that when I came to Christ I didn't have to cut my hair or look a certian way, he accepts us for who we are. "My Jesus would never be accepted in my church, the blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet". "I think He'd prefer Beale Street to the stained glass crowd." These are a couple of harsh statements but I think they are legit of some churches today, they are more concerened with how the building looks, how the people look, how they look than what our main focus should be. Some churches are trying to be more of a country club than a house of worship, picking and choosing who comes in, I don't think Christ would care if someone came in wearing a strip club t-shirt to church. He would probably be the one sitting next to them glad that they are there.

My biggest gripe is when someone says I couldn't get into the worship because......the music is too loud, they aren't playing songs I know, Jim-Bob isn't singing so I'm not going to sing etc. etc. etc. My question to them would be where is your heart during this time, are you looking for an excuse not to worship, does it have to be structured? Worship should be anytime, anywhere. "I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about YOU" and I think we all know who the YOU is.

Right now I am having a hard time focusing with everything going on in my mind and its not coming out the way it should but to get to the meat and potatoes of this subject it is simple We need to have our focus on Christ and what he is calling us to do as churches and individuals not are the windows clean are the chairs all straight.....not to say that these things are not important but Christ should be the most important part. I am sure there will be some flack and I'm cool with that and I am sure sometime I will get my head cleared and actually revisit this and maybe it will all make more sense then.

Weekend observations

If you missed the ApologetiX show Friday you missed a pretty good one. You wouldn't have recognized the church, with all the sound equipment and lights and smoke it was pretty cool. They put on a good show and the crowd really seemed to enjoy the show. Those guys are easy to work with and it was cool to be able to put something like this on at FFC. Thanks to the band and all those who came and helped in one way or another, Pastor Jeff, Scott Parkison, Brian Cline, Dennis Patty, Joe Frazier, Pastor Bryan, the guy in the Micheal Waltrip hat, JD and Connie Akers, Bryant and Jenny Lee, the Cross family, my lovely wife Tammy and the other ticket taking people, I didn't see all of them or know all of them, Dan Lipps and Bruce Matthews from Joy Fm and of course all of you who came out to the show. Hopefully this is the start of something here and in the community.

I thought it was rather interesting on Sunday with PK gone that the fellow from the IYM spoke on baptism. I wonder if that was planned or just a random act. I still think that baptism by water is still the way to go, old man goes under new man comes up, but we all have our own opinions. Good weekend all in all now go full steam into this week.

Likes and dislikes

Here are a few things that I like and dislike in no particular order.

I like hanging out with the wife and kids, we don't have to be doing anything its just fun to be with them.

I like a loud screaming guitar, wild sounds included.

I like being at church any night or day of the week and soaking in all I can.

I like a big old strawberry pie, next one coming my way next month for my birthday.

I don't like those who don't know how to drive or those who think the whole road is all for them.

I like being with family but I don't like having to wait 14 hours to get there or them get here.

I not a big fan of long road trips, flying is the way to go.

I don't like the feeling you get when you have to say something negative to someone.

I don't like people who constantly put others down.

I like when God uses something so small or simple to get your attention.

I like the fact that we have ApologetiX coming tomorrow night but I don't like the fact that we haven't sold as many tickets as I had hoped for. But, as long as one person walks out of that show changed than it was all worth it.

I am sure there are others but my mind has went blank for the time being.

Random Thought

Last night while over at Tammy's mom and dad's for May birthdays, we have a birthday in the family all but 1 day in the first week of May, I was sitting out in the garage with her dad as a storm was coming in. I was just sitting there in amazment at how powerful God is while I was waiting for this storm to come in. Listening to the thunder and seeing the lightning every once in awhile that is one thing in nature that just makes me stand in awe of God's power. I know different people have different things that make them stand in awe but storms for some reason is one of mine. I think it would be really cool to be up there in heaven sitting with God as a storm is going on down here with him saying to the lightning you go there, thunder I can't hear you...etc. I know I'm a little off center but hey that's me.

Found out something

The last few weeks have been busy and hectic around the Chalfant household with practices, meetings ,work,etc. I have found out something during this time and it has to stop. I have been doing a daily bible reading on the Deliberate People plan and have been on track until a few weeks ago, I'd miss a day and have to make it up the next and thought that won't happen again. Well it has all too often now like once or twice a week. I don't like it. When I was getting up early and spending time in God's word the day just seemed to go smoother, now the enemy is trying to make it hard for me to do my daily readings. I keep getting up later and later in the morning rushing to make it to work on time, then get home and with practices, meetings and whatnot stay busy til we get the kids in bed then I'm beat and end up going to bed without reading. It's time I get my time and priorities back on track and dig in deep to God's word. Like the verse says "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you" That is what I want and need.