In case you did not already know. One of my Goals for 2008 is to get in God's Word DAILY!

I am not committing to read the entire Bible in 2008, only to read God's Word DAILY!

As you may already know from Jay, Perry, and Tadd; YouVersion.com has a One Year Bible available online. There is one problem with it (sorry Craig); there's not a good way to print it nicely for non-online reading.

Even being the techy person I am... I would prefer to read from a book rather than a web site (I look at a computer screen all day at work). So, I have taken the YouVersion Bible Reading Plan and created a document that I can print for reading offline. It is ONE page, front & back. It will fold and fit nicely in front of my journal notebook.

Here are the links to the download: (Craig, I hope this was ok... If not, I will remove it.)

Microsoft Word:

http://chrisreeder.com/ReadTheBibleInAYearYouVersion.doc

Adobe PDF File:

http://chrisreeder.com/ReadTheBibleInAYearYouVersion.pdf

If you wish to follow along with my plan, I am reading the right most option each day (Example: Jan 10th is "Genesis 15,16 Psalms 18 Matt 10"... So, my reading today is Matthew 10).

My Pastor, Howard Allen, is now blogging on a consistent basis... I have been working on him

He is one of the most loving and caring men I have ever met and I am proud that he is a mentor of mine. If you are a member of South Florence Baptist Church and are not already reading his blog... you should be. Here are the three easy ways to stay up with his blog.

1. For you non-tech/computer people... It is real easy. Simply visit his web site http://www.JustForJesus.net, then on the right side near the bottom of the page, click on the link "Subscribe to Just For Jesus by Email". Once at the subscribe site, enter your email address and the text you see in the box and click complete subscription request. Then a confirmation email will be sent to you. Then you will then need to click the confirmation link in that email. Then anytime he writes anything on his site, an email will come in your inbox, and you can stay informed about Howard and SFBC.
   
   (NOTE: Most blogs have this feature, just look for the "Subscribe by Email" link")
   
2. My favorite way to keep up with blogs (Howard's, too), it to us an RSS Reader . This allows quick reading for blogs. To learn more about the POWER of RSS and a little about blogging (if you decide to start a blog, please email me and let me know, I would love to see what you are doing) check out the following links:
1. Great Explanation of RSS
2. Strategic Blogging - Week 2
3. Strategic Blogging - Week 3
4. Great tool to help in Blogging: Windows Live Writer
3. The third and not easiest way to follow Howard's blog; is to visit http://www.JustForJesus.net every day. The bad thing with that... he  is not writing new stuff/content every day. So there is disappointment and wasted time

Anyway, I wanted to share a little about my Pastor's new blog. Check it out! And please keep his wife, Mrs. Nancy, in your prayers. She is having a tough time with her recovery from her surgery.

If you are not subscribed to Susanne's (my "bringing sexy back" wife) blog. Check it out at http://TrulyCaptivating.com

1. Can you say Jacob "Snaggletooth" Reeder? Yesterday when I got home... Jake had something to show me he has never shown me before. His momma pulled his first tooth. I tried my best to get him to let me put it under my pillow, but he would not give in. He even threatened to "bust me up" (hurt me) if I tried to take it.
2. I am officially 32 years old now. My family and I had a wonderful day last Saturday celebrating me turning into an old man! Several co-workers took me out to get ice-cream to celebrate, too... (Yum!) While on that trip, one found out I was "ONLY 32". What I want to know is... Does the gray hair really make me look THAT old?
3. Yet another addiction: I am going to have to sign up for addictions anonymous. (for all you "serious" people out there... I am not really addicted!) But I do enjoy it. Facebook!  Finally, a social network site that is actually pretty well done. Check out the new Facebook addition to my website and view  my profile here. Feel free to add me as a friend!
4. TONIGHT IS A DATE NIGHT!!! Susanne and I are going on a triple date tonight to The Railway Restaurant in the huge metropolis of Lake City, SC. I'm really looking forward to hanging out with everyone!
5. As I am finishing this post... Jake comes  in here to show me what the tooth fairy left under his pillow. FIVE BUCKS!!! Man, I should have snuck in his room and took that TOOTH!

My co-worker, Darlene Winborne, said something profound the other day and it has stuck with me...

"You cannot change what you tolerate."

Man... what a statement!

"You cannot change what you tolerate."

So many times in life, we see/experience things that get on our last nerve...

• Leaky faucets...
• Dirty house (for my wife)...
• Showing up late for church...
• Showing up late anywhere...
• Showing up late everywhere... (we're not that bad)
• Not being able to see the scale when weighing in...
• Having to write a check to pay a credit card bill...
• I think you get it now...

Today is January 1st, 2008; The day everyone is making new years resolutions. When you make your list... add this quote to the top of the page.

As long as we tolerate this stuff... we will not change. Our new year's resolutions will be nothing more than a well written list of words.

So I challenge you all and myself this year; make a set of goals for 2008 that you have made up your mind you will no longer tolerate not doing anymore and actually do something about it!

Here are my goals for 2008:

• Take my wife out on more dates
• Pray more with my entire family (thanks grandpa)
• Read God's Word Daily
• Meet regularly with my Accountability Partner
• Read more books on leadership, pastoring, and church planting
• Continue paying off debt
• Drop a few pounds (okay...maybe several)

Inspired by Clayton King's latest post....

It's been a while sense my last Random Thoughts from Blogs... So here goes!

• Paul Peterson: He highlights some church systems (Leadership Structure, Financial, Facility Management, marketing, etc...) that need to be in place before his church launches. Great stuff! The list will help in our adventure. Thanks Paul!
• Devin Hudson: Had a great series of posts on their church's three core values...
  • Explore
  • Respond
  • Engage (love the quote from The Princess Bride)
• Vince Antonucci: Talk about a timely post. Vince is in the process of sharing ideas for building launch teams. Great stuff. Come on Vince... I can hardly wait for the remaining three posts in the five part series (here are parts one & two). BTW: I really like the picnic idea!
• Ben Arment: Great post on Gift Bias. As a church planter, it is important to see all spiritual gifts as important. The gift of evangelism and encouragement are not more valuable than teaching and service. They are all valuable. All parts of the body are important. That pinky toe sure does hurt when stubbed!!!
• Jonathan Everette: Has a great quote about the church. (He finished reading a book on my waiting to read list, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters)
  "We've been unchristian and we're sorry"
• Greg Oraham: Still laughing at Mr. Bean from this Christmas time post...(had to have a little humor!)

• Santa Rocks! Christmas was such a blessing. I can say our family is closer now than ever...
• My Wife Rocks MORE! She is so supportive and such an encourager for me. It is so awesome to have a wife that believes in you. It does help that she is cooking up a storm with her new 5-Quart Smart-Pot Crock-Pot. Yum Yum!!! Set it and forget it, Baby!!!
• Finished reading Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger. I want to share a few quotes from it...
• Complexity is often synonymous with mediocrity.
• Perhaps we (the church) are not losing ground despite our overabundance of activity, but because of it.
• Great organizations are focused.
• Focus requires saying "yes" to the best, and "no" to everything else.
• You are a builder, and focus is mandatory. While clarity, movement, and alignment are essential, they are meaningless without focus.
• Hell will not be able to hold back the church.  Jesus says (Matt. 16:18) he is going to unleash a movement that will be so powerful and intense hat it will be unstoppable.  This movement is the church. (AMEN!!)
• The Simple Church revolution has begun (indeed it has!)
• 2008 is going to be a new beginning. The number eight symbolizes resurrection and a new beginning in the Bible. Here are some explanations of the Number 8 in Scripture (from BibleStudy.org)
• As a participle it means "one who abounds in strength," etc. (God, give us that strength we need to do your work!)
• As a noun it is "superabundant fertility" (God, increase our wisdom!)
• It is 7 plus 1. Hence it is the number specially associated with Resurrection and Regeneration, and the beginning of a new era or order. (God, help us to show Florence Jesus in 2008!)
• Starting January 2008... I will be sharing the vision God has given me for our church plant. I will be sharing my testimony, calling, and vision... Stay tuned!!!

I am not typically a sap. Mushy and emotional is not normally me.

During this Christmas season, I was not myself. I will share a few highlights of my Christmas...

• After seeing the kids open Christmas from Santa, I cried on Susanne's shoulders. She just held me... and held me.. and held me... She is truly my #2 --behind only Christ!
• Later, I found myself holding Sam, snotty nose and all; we rocked in my chair and just loved on one another. While praying for him, I was dripping tears on him and he let me.
• A little later, Emilee let me snuggle with her. Rocking in that same chair, praying over her and her future spouse... I found myself crying yet again.
• While Susanne was getting ready for us to go to Columbia (her parents'); Jacob came to sit with me in that same rocking chair. Yup... you guessed it... while I was praying for him... I cried crocodile tears. After Jake finished filling my tank he went on to play with some toys.
• Then I started thinking about my Grand Pa Allen. The night before, at our Allen Family Christmas Eve gathering, he blessed my heart. He told the entire family that he had not been the best Priest for his family. He told us how he should have been praying on his knees with his children and challenged us to do that. Then he even sang a song about his/our Savour! And yes... I cried then too!
• Then I thought about how Grandpa and Grandma Reeder use to come over every Christmas Day to see what Santa had brought me and my sister. They are both with the Lord now. I started thinking about how much they would have loved to come see their three great grand kids on Christmas day! I knew that Grandma Reeder was smiling from heaven watching me hold them in her recliner. Yep... you guessed it... more tears.
• Susanne walked by and noticed me just siting by myself... CRYING! She told me "Please don't look at me like that... I just put my makeup on!"
• As I sat there, Savior King came up on the CD player, and I cried again to these words:

Let now your church shine as the bride
That you soar in your heart as you offered up your life
Let now the lost be welcomed home
By the saved and redeemed those adopted as your own

I give my life to honor this
The love of Christ, the Savior King

2008 will be such an awesome year. I can hardly wait to see what God is going to do with His church plant. Susanne and I have given it all over to Him. We are trusting that God will use us in an powerful way to impact Florence, SC!

You see, crying is not always bad nor sad.

Christmas Day 2007: For the first time... I really realized how truly blessed I am!

Rusty & Betsy came over for the day to let the kids play...

Well, we played too... Guitar Hero! That game is addictive!

Then we noticed something... Sam was awfully quiet...

In fact... we decided it would be wise to see what he was up to.

The picture speaks for it's self!

He lathered up...

Got my razor (has protective plastic case on it)...

He was shaving that Peach Fuzz!!!

You would not believe what I am looking at right this minute...

No... KISS is not rocking a show...

But Susanne is!!!

She is ROCKIN out on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on the Xbox 360.

I tried to snap a picture but I was threatened with death.

(Special thanks to Chris Craft for letting us borrow the game)

Brace yourself... Here is the second installment of Friday Five.

AND NO... The list does not contain or discuss BOOBIES!!!

1. Mark Batterson has inspired a new year resolution with his Chili Bowl post. No... not to eat more food in 2008. He has FSMs (Father/ Son Meetings). I have taken my daughter on dates in the past... but what about my two boys. Thanks Mark!
2. If you enjoy photography, you will enjoy this site(http://interfacelift.com).  You can find some awesome pictures to use for you computer's wallpaper... You can also subscribe to the latest wallpapers here.
3. Tadd Grandstaff and several others had a great idea (I think Gary Lamb put it together). They formed a group of church planters/ pastors to share ideas, concerns, and struggles. It will be a great time for the younger pastors to glen information. Any Mid-State to Eastern South Carolina Church Planters out there that would like to get together to form a group?
4. Brad Martin shared his Live Development Plan (see below). I think this may very well become my new year goals!
   • Spend Daily Time With God by reading & studying His Word
   • Surround myself with GODLY leaders
   • Meet regularly with my Mentors, Accountability Partners & Lead Team
   • Take my wife out on more dates  (Susanne... can I get an AMEN!)
   • Spend quality time with my kids
   • Spend more time with friends
   • Read more books on leadership & pastoring
   • Continue paying off debt
   • Go to at least two conferences every year
   • Take risks as a leader and pastor
   • Start working out (MAN... HE HAD TO SAY THAT ONE DIDN'T HE!)
5. I am almost finished with Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples. I encourage any current or future pastor to read this book. It focuses on a real problem that most churches have; the need for the church to function as one unit and not each group/ committee/ class to be doing their own thing. Keep things SIMPLE! Can't wait to get started reading Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality.

That's right. I have moved. You are now reading this from my new location: http://ChrisReeder.com

If you did not know about the old address...

So, now that I have the new address... I thought I would share a few other things about this site.

• Did you know that you can subscribe to this blog using a RSS Reader by clicking on this () icon.
• Did you know that you can subscribe to this blog by email if you wish... click here and enter email address. Then a confirmation email will be sent to you. Then you must click the link in the email to confirm you subscription. (some may possibly need to check their junk mail)
• You can subscribe to my comments here () .
• You can email me by clicking the "Email Me" link beside my pretty face in the top right of my web site.
• Did you know that I now have a profile on Facebook. If you do also, please feel free to add me a friend.
• Did you know I have a list of books currently on my reading list on the right side of my web site.
• Did you know I have a list of books I finished reading below that.
• Did you know I have a list of great blogs "Favorites" and "South Florence". Favorites are my... duh... my favorites; and South Florence is a list of bloggers at my current church.
• Did you know that you can leave comments by clicking "Comments" on any post (entry).
• Last but not least... Did you know that a "Truly Captivating" woman in my life keeps my grammar in line. I get her to proof most posts before I submit them. She gladly accepts that responsibility. She knows I am a hick from Lancaster, SC.

Hum... What else about ChrisReeder.com? hum...

Oh yeah... tell all your friends about it!

Ok... I now have the motivation to start a "Friday Five" list inspired by Jay Hardwick and Susanne.

So, to kick this party off, I wanted to be a little light hearted and not too serious...

Go ahead and forgive me fuddie-dud people! Smile a little!

1. My youngest son (Sam, 3 years old) said "Look Mama!! Ders, rwed (red) boobies,"
2. Sam also said "and dween (green) boobies"
3. Sam also said "and purpuh (purple) boobies"
4. Sam also said "and bweu (blue) boobies"
5. Sam also said "and ders YOUR boobies!!!"

Ya see... That's what you get when you take a three year old to Victoria Secret! Read the entire story here.

December is such a wonderful time of the year. After all, it is the time when we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ! It is also a time when we can give gifts to those we love... and some we don't (just kidding). It is also a time to spend with family members and those we only see once or twice a year. Oh... what a great time!

December is is also a very stressful time of the year. After all, it is a time we give gifts, spend time with family and friends. (didn't I just say that above?)

These events during Christmas time can be very stressful. Money already tight, now gifts? Already busy, now Christmas parties. Budgeting for next year. Planning for new committees. Oh yeah... plans for starting a new church?

Have you ever heard...

"God won't give you more than you can bear"

Seems like I am to that point ever so often. The Bible does not state that but actually states: (thanks to Steven Furtick)

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."  --1 Corinthians 10:13

So, I say that to say this... Though our lives are busy and it seems as if we never have enough time... We  need to fight like the lizard in the picture... when it looks gloomy and crazy... Remember these words...

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.  --Philippians 3:12-15

I leave you with the words from a song by Reliant K; from their song Pressing On

I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.

I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
There's only one thing left to do.
Drop all I have and go with you.

[Chorus:]
Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We're going and I'm never knowing (never knowing) where we're going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I'm pressing on.
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing on, pressing on)
And I won't sit back, and take this anymore.
'Cause I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I'm pressing on.

I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Adversity, we get around it.
Searched for joy, in you I found it.

You look down on me, but you don't look down on me at all.
You smile and laugh, and I feel the love you have for me.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here, and we're gonna make it after all.

Focus on the JOY of Christmas! After all, you are gonna make it... Laugh and smile and feel the love that Jesus has for you!

When Dustin Willis started his video series yesterday, I got excited. Why you ask... Dustin has a very similar calling for their church in Columbia, as the one God has placed on our hearts here in Florence, SC.

To see how God is moving in those young people really just jacks me up!!!

Thanks Dustin for sharing with a future church planter!

Last night, I was woken up to someone crying outside our bedroom door. 2:15 AM!!!

I was a little upset, I was sleeping good!!! Sam was on his knees just crying...

I picked him up and stood there in the hallway trying to calm him... Finally... He was calm... maybe even back asleep.

When I put him back in the bed (all you parents know what happened next)... That's right, he started crying again...

Man, am I ever going to get back to sleep???

I ended up laying on the couch with him on my belly and chest. Under the blanket on the couch and in my arms... He became calm again. A minute or two went by and he was snoring lightly with his arms wrapped around me. As I held him, I knew he was crying more for my purpose than for his.

You see, God ordained that time last night for me. I just held, kissed, and prayed over him.

So many times, we I look at those times in life as burdens, but they are not. They are times we can be there for our children; a time to hold them, love them, and protect them.

Don't get angry when...

• You are awakened during the middle of the night and you have the alarm set for 6:00 AM...
• You are trying to get food on the table and your kids keep interrupting progress...
• You trying to hurry and cut the grass but your kid wants to ride with you on the lawnmower which slows you down...
• Your kids want to go to Chuck E. Cheese (even if that place is of the devil! just kidding)...
• Your kids have craft "stuff" everywhere in your house and want you to participate in the chaos...
• You are trying to get some work done on the computer but your 3 year old wishes to work on the computer too...
• You just cleaned the house and the kids want to get out the play dough or Legos...
• Did I miss any???

Cherish those times... They are a "God Send" in Disguise! If only we could see them that way...