Happy Birthday to the most Beautiful EIGHT year old girl in the world! Daddy's very proud of you!

Jason and Donna Foster, two of our dearest friends, continue to need our/your prayers.

"Please pray that she learns that the bottle is no longer her enemy! I have to praise God for all His faithfulness and all of His blessings. We have been through the fire but Jesus has been that unfailing "fourth Man in the fiery furnace" once again." --Donna Foster

Please visit Rachel's Story for the latest on their journey.

I am sure they would appreciate your encouragement and prayers for Rachel and Samantha (Rachel's big sister) very much.

1. Great Quote from Erwin McManus, from ChristianToday.com, on why churches are declining in America... because they are self-centered.:
   “My primary assessment would be because American Christians tend to be incredibly self-indulgent so they see the church as a place there for them to meet their needs and to express faith in a way that is meaningful for them... there is almost no genuine compassion or urgency about serving and reaching people who don’t know Christ."
2. The Chart on the right is very eye opening. The SBC is losing the younger evangelicals (18-39 years old). More details and graphs here. I will leave it up to you for the reasons... (credit: Ed Stetzer)
3. http://www.dumpyourjunk.net
   What a great idea from Steven Gibbs & Staff @ StoneCreek Church!!!
4. I am really diggin this guy (Michael Lukaszewski) and Oak Leaf Church. I gotta plan a trip down to Cartersville, Georgia. Here's a few reasons why...
• Current series... "Google". How awesome is that... they are addressing fame, sex, politics, and money.
• Last weeks message was titled "Great Sex". Oh no! He talked about SEX in church!!!
• They share their resources at their church blog: http://behindtheleaf.wordpress.com
• And where they get "stuff" to make ministry excellent.
• Involve the youth (Student Ministry @ Oak Leaf Church)
  "the main reason that teenagers leave the church after high school is because they were never part of the church in the first place."
5. It is an awesome site to see how God has taken willing servants of God and grow His Church... Check out this site for a great testimony of what God is capable of doing...

If you are in South Carolina: Don't forget to vote in the Republican Primary this Saturday, January 19th (a special day... for special someone... more on that later). Or, if I must, the 民主党主要 on January 26th. (hint... that is Chinese!)

Here is a great post about mentoring:

Mentoring is a more formalized way that believers can help each other. A mentor is a tutor, somewhere between a friend and a teacher. A mentor offers the wisdom of his or her experience to another, helping them to mature.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance (definition: the look or expression of the face) of his friend.

Thanks Dean!

Saturday, January 12th, 2008, 11:07 AM: Chris & Susanne Reeder FINALLY WAKE UP and GET OUT OF BED!

Can you say... "Thank you GiGi and PawPaw (my mom & dad) for keeping the kids this weekend! This was much needed rest.

So now... off to a busy day! Now where is my coffee!

Wow!

“Don’t just plant a church - transform a city!”

This is exactly what God has called us to do! We pray that we, through Christ, will transform Florence, SC and the entire Pee Dee Area of South Carolina! We don't just want to plant a church... but show the love of Christ so He can transform their lives!

Not sure who said it originally... Thanks J.R. sharing.

It is 1:33 AM, January 11th, 2008. Susanne and I just completed our PLACE assessment for the SC Baptist Convention (the next step in our church planting process).

Yeee Haaaaa!!!!

I will share more later... Off to bed!

Please pray for us... We  both have to get up early in the morning and have full day ahead of us...

I know... it is Thursday night... Close enough... tomorrow will be busy...

Thursday nights are Family Night. Nothing but family on Thursday nights. (Schedule is clear)

I have to share the top 5 items that happened during our family night devotion (They have been about God's Promises all week).

1. When asked, How does this make you feel: "God watches over people who do what's right? (Psalm 1:6)
   Jake responded with a mouth full of garlic bread... "That don't make me feel so good because sometimes I am BAD!"
2. When asked, How does this make you feel: "God will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)
   Jake responded... "That's not always true, because when I am cleaning up my room.. God doesn't even pick up one toy!"
3. When asked, How does this promise make you feel: "You will live with Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:11)
   Jake said, "That makes me feel fantastic... because I'm going to be real surprised when I get up to that Heaven!!"
4. After I prayed... Sam said he wanted to pray too... "Dear Jesus, please help... " and he went down the list... then again... then again... Needless to say... Our family is prayed up!!  Mrs. Russell (his teacher) took home the trophy... he prayed for her EIGHT times!!
5. After our time of devotion was over, and Sam finally finished his marathon of a prayer, Emilee exclaimed..."YES!!! Now we can play the Wii!!".

If you and your family do not have a family night... I encourage you to set aside a single night (more if you want), to spend time to study God's word and pray as a family. If you do not already have a devotion book... Day by Day Devotions: A year of character building devotions for kids by Karyn Henley is a great one!

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!