Mostly because I am idiot, I decided to go shopping the day after Christmas. The tree had yielded a couple gift cards for me, so I figured I should spend them before all the stores shut down (have you received that forwarded e-mail yet?). One of the stores was located in our local shopping mall and I must say that it was crowded…very crowded. Before even entering the mall, I had to vigorously fight the cars in the parking lot for a space. I cut a few people off and scored a spot. So much for post-Christmas cheer! Upon walking through the doors I discovered shoppers everywhere looking to land a bargain so I quickened my pace to the men’s section where shirts were less than five dollars…and no, I was not in Goodwill. After swiping up a few items I rushed to the checkout and began waiting in a line with about four people in front of me. In my best estimation, the wait was about ten minutes. When it was my turn to check out, the cashier started talking to another employee about taking a lunch. It seems she was long overdue because of the constant lines. She started closing out her register and I assumed that meant I would need to get in another line. Usually I can keep my mouth shut in this type of situation, but something inside told me to speak up. Without thinking I said, “Does this mean I have to get in another line?” I felt like I was trying to say it nice, but the words were more harsh than I intended. As the words were leaving my mouth, I saw another cashier stepping up to the register to take this woman’s place. Man, I wish I could have taken those words back!

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Last night I took my son to see a movie and my brother was in town so he went along with us. Usually when I go to the movies, I go to an earlier showing to try to save a few bucks; in fact, most of the time I await the release of the movie in the dollar theater to save several bucks! I’m cheap like that. However, this particular movie looked relatively funny so we decided to see it in our local cinema on the day of its release. We were not disappointed because the comedy turned out to be very entertaining.

At the conclusion of the film, we left the theater and walked into the parking lot when I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach…I couldn’t remember where I had parked my car. What’s up with this? How can a mildly intelligent (I use this term lightly) person be away from his car 90 minutes but then forget where he left it? You’ve been there before, I’m sure. There were a sea of cars and mine seemed to have been swallowed by a whale…call it Jonah. Although the brain is a pretty unique piece of God’s creation, mine seems to forget things easily.

Luke writes a story in his gospel about some men who also had a memory lapse. Jesus enters a certain village and is approached by ten lepers begging Him to bring healing to their diseased bodies (Luke 17:12-19). Jesus commands them to go show themselves to the priests, who could declare them clean, and upon leaving the presence of Christ their leprosy was cleansed. Out of the ten men who were made whole, Luke documents that only one leper returns to give thanks to Jesus for being healed. In response to the thankfulness of this man, Jesus asks a peering question, “Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?” Nine lepers were simply concerned with their physical healing while one was convinced of his need to worship Christ.

We have just celebrated the advent of Jesus Christ whose miraculous birth and eventual death on the cross brought salvation from the penalty of sin for those who will believe (Matthew 1:21; Romans 10:9-13). Let’s not forget that Christmas is meant to be celebrated at all times, not just during the month of December. Of course I am not advocating year round Christmas trees in our homes along with Clark Griswold lights on the exterior of our house; however, I am challenging us to constantly remember that the little baby born in Bethlehem desires to also be worshipped and obeyed every day.

Last month I had my kids get involved in helping me with a blog entry for Thanksgiving, so I decided to have them also assist me with one for Christmas. If you did not get to see their interview for Thanksgiving, you can check it out here. I usually allow these things to be unedited, unless they say something terrible about me. So, here it goes.

Why do we celebrate Christmas?
Ty: Because of the birth of Jesus
Lexi: Same as Ty

What do you want, more than anything, for Christmas?
Ty: Legos
Lexi: A bunny (Santa will not be bringing this)

What is you favorite Christmas song?
Ty: Away in a Manger and Silent Night
Lexi: Silent Night and Up on the Housetop (her second song is not the title…I don’t think)

What did you get mommy and daddy for Christmas?
Ty: For daddy, panties (we got this for Ty as a joke one year and now he says he is going to get me that every year). For mommy, nothing (he made her some stuff).
Lexi: A card for both.

What is the worst possible gift someone could get for Christmas?
Ty: A lump of coal
Lexi: Underwear

What is your favorite Christmas ornament?
Ty: Ninja Turtles with Leonardo
Lexi: Strawberry Shortcake

Is Santa Claus real?
Ty: Yes
Lexi: Yes

I guess my interview is done. They are begging to open one present right now and will drive Leah and I crazy until they get to do it!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Over the past ten years I have been proud to be a part of a church that supports spreading the gospel not only in its own community, but all over the world (we call this international missions). My family has had the fortunate opportunity of getting to meet over half of the 170+ missionaries (individuals who live in a country full-time to spread the gospel) our church prayerfully and financially supports. During this time of year, I tend to think about those who are away from their extended family and friends during the Christmas season so I wanted to highlight a few of my friends (some whom I've only met once) who are preaching Christ in far away places. Although some of these families are not yet in their particular country, many will be there this time next year.

Steve and Natalie Burkholder – Tanzania
Jim and Shelley Dinsmore – Guatemala
Kevin and Crystal Elworth – Mexico
Brad and Tricia Henderson - Tanzania
Bob and Marilyn Hutton – Ireland
Brad and Amber Jones – Vanuatu
Brad and Sheri Jones – Mexico
Jon and Becky Liles – Italy
Cory and Jessie Lyons – Philippines
Jon and Jessica Reed – Brazil
Nate and Heather Wolf – Tanzania
Kevin and Brittany Worley – Netherlands

I realize many who read this blog do not know these people, but I want to challenge you to say a prayer for them and maybe someone else you know who is far away from the ones they love during the Christmas season.

Upon my birth, I inherited the last name of my father – Hogsed. Yes, the first three letters spell out a disgusting animal associated with the swine family. Whenever I meet someone new and say my last name, they most likely will ask me to spell it. Over the years I have learned to acknowledge, up front, that my last name is weird. I do this to lessen the shock factor and also give them permission to laugh as soon as the phonetic sound of “hog” leaves my lips. My wife says that we should have taken her last name (Sharpe) so that our kids would not be made fun of at school. I think she is kidding?! After all, I have endured thirty-four years of jokes about my last name and I’m pretty certain my children will be able to do the same. Although there are many negative things about having a unique (politically correct term) last name, there is one major benefit – the phone book. If I ever need to look up someone with the last name Brown, Jones, Rogers, Smith, or Williams I may spend the better part of the day searching through the endless list of possibilities. However, with a last name like Hogsed, no time is wasted. There is a 50/50 chance of picking the right one.

I determined to study some background on my last name. The first thing I discovered was that it is an uncomplimentary nickname meaning “hog’s head.” Surprise, surprise! I’ve been called that hundreds of times. The second thing I uncovered was that the name is no longer used in Britain and Ireland. Quitters. For the sake of my own self-esteem, I abandoned my research at this point.

I began thinking about names and what the Bible actually says about them. The wisdom writer says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). Solomon also adds, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). “Name” is not referring to your birth-given name but rather your reputation or the way you are perceived by others. Many in our world and even Christians want to be known for what they have (or have accomplished) instead of being known for who they are. There is a vast difference. Pursuing possessions and popularity will only leave a pit. Pursuing character and godliness will leave a path.

Over the weekend I caught a news story about an Italian man named Alex Bellini whose goal was to row across the Pacific to Australia. After traveling ten months and 9,500 nautical miles (approximately 11,000 miles if my calculations are correct), he stopped just 65 nautical miles (about 74 miles) short of his final destination. In February 2008 the adventurer had set out from the country of Peru in a 25 foot boat, but rough weather and extreme fatigue prohibited him from reaching his goal. He had to be rescued by Australian authorities.

I was interested in knowing the motivation behind this adventure, so upon reading a little further into the article my question was answered. He said he was not doing it to set a record, but rather to “cross the Pacific…but the other reason of my trip was to make a trip inward. So it was discovering something of myself.” Basically, this guy was seeing how far he could push himself.

Personally, I have nothing but respect for Alex because even though he did not accomplish the goal on his own, he had enough wisdom to know when it was time to call for assistance. In my mind, Alex did make it to Australia but just needed a little help to do so. Ultimately, I believe God has promised to be “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1), but I also believe we must recognize our limitations. When you are arriving at a place of exhaustion, don’t be scared to ask someone to come alongside to carry your load. Paul commands those who are followers of Christ to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). “Bearing one another’s burdens” pictures one who helps carry a load which is too heavy for someone to carry on his own.

You are 74 miles off shore and need to reach your goal. Who will be your lifeline?

Today I received a box of chocolates as an early Christmas gift from the church for which I work. This collection of confectionary goodies was not the kind you buy at the local drugstore as a last minute gift for someone who is not worth a real gift, but rather a local brand here in Canton, Ohio called Heggy's. I must confess that chocolate is not really my favorite thing in the whole world, although I never refuse it if it’s given to me. I usually take it home because my wife and two kids love chocolate; in fact, Ty and Lexi will eat it until they throw up…and then eat some more. My wife is a little more disciplined than the kids.

The particular box I received today was an assortment of wrapped candies. This type of box is wonderful especially if you enjoy a little variety. Although the outside of every piece is smothered in chocolate, the inside is a mystery. Again, if you are not picky, an assorted box is right for you; however, my biggest fear is that one of those chocolates will be filled with coconut which, speaking of throwing up…. My kids also have a bad habit of biting into a piece and then realizing that they don’t like it so the second half goes uneaten, untouched, and unfinished.

Starting something without finishing is not a character trait which a person wants to establish in their life. Many individuals have projects hanging over their head at work, broken relationships which have not been restored, commitments yet to be fulfilled, un-reached goals, debts to be repaid, an education to be completed, or faith yet to be decided. Oftentimes we put things off until “tomorrow” knowing that there is really no passion to progress. We must be reminded of Solomon’s words to those who put off until tomorrow what should be done today: “Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

As I pulled my jeans out of the closet this morning I noticed a slight hole in the seat pocket area. It wasn’t a huge tear, but just enough to send a little concern through my somewhat sensitive conscience. My greatest fear would be that one my co-workers would see the rip and know the color of my underwear. My wife was nearby so I asked her advice about wearing the jeans. She immediately calmed my fears reminding me that my un-tucked shirt would completely cover the hole. I slipped the pants on still a bit apprehensive about the whole thing. Leah promised she would repair the jeans at a later time. Sure she would…after she sent me to work to be laughed to scorn. She can be evil like that!

Upon my arrival at work, I found myself very self-conscious all day about the hole. I kept thinking, “Why didn’t I just wear another pair of jeans?” That’s right…my wife sent me to work like this. Every time I left my office I had to make certain my shirt was pulled over the rip. Throughout my conversations and appointments with people, I kept thinking about whether they knew but weren’t saying anything so they could snap a quick picture with their camera phone to post online. That’s right…my so-called friends at work are more evil than Leah. You know who you are.

Even though no one knew about the hole (that I know of), I found it hard to concentrate on the tasks I needed to accomplish. Isn’t it amazing how a guilty conscience can affect every area of our lives? Proverbs 28:1 reminds us that “the wicked run away when no one is chasing them….” Evil people flee, even when no one is pursuing, because guilt causes the fear of being caught and held accountable for wrongdoing. However, the wise writer also says that “the godly are as bold as lions.” This Scripture clearly teaches that those who live according to God’s ways can live in freedom because they do not have to worry about unresolved issues in their life.

Got a hole in your pants?

People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy – Proverbs 28:13

I’ve been in the same office for several years. It is relatively small but I have grown to like it. Recently I did some rearranging and decided to accent it with a new chair. You are probably thinking that I went out to purchase a brand new chair, but I actually chose to “steal” a very used one from our high school ministry room. It all started a couple years ago when someone donated old furniture to our high school ministry which most interior designers would consider “nasty looking stuff.” Our students didn’t care…they just thought it was cool that our space was being spruced up with something other than tables and chairs. Of all the furniture which was given to us, there was one piece which caught my attention – an ugly, green recliner/chair possibly used in a 1970’s disco club or John Travolta’s living room.

I have been surprised at the reaction of most people when they discover this chair in my office... they enter my office, look inquisitively at the chair, and request to sit in it. Almost always, they respond by saying “this chair is REALLY comfortable” as if they are shocked. After this scenario has been repeated over and over, I have come to realize that most people (including me) determine value by outward appearances. I admit – the chair is ugly; however, I didn’t choose the chair based on its looks, but on its worth to me.

I believe James wrote about this issue of judging value simply based on outward appearance: “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others? For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor" – well, doesn't this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?” (James 2:1-4)

People deserve more than a judgmental eye - they can get that anywhere.

By the way, what do you think of my chair?

I’ve been in the same office for several years. It is relatively small but I have grown to like it. Recently I did some rearranging and decided to accent it with a new chair. You are probably thinking that I went out to purchase a brand new chair, but I actually chose to “steal” a very used one from our high school ministry room. It all started a couple years ago when someone donated old furniture to our high school ministry which most interior designers would consider “nasty looking stuff.” Our students didn’t care…they just thought it was cool that our space was being spruced up with something other than tables and chairs. Of all the furniture which was given to us, there was one piece which caught my attention – an ugly, green recliner/chair possibly used in a 1970’s disco club or John Travolta’s living room.

I have been surprised at the reaction of most people when they discover this chair in my office... they enter my office, look inquisitively at the chair, and request to sit in it. Almost always, they respond by saying “this chair is REALLY comfortable” as if they are shocked. After this scenario has been repeated over and over, I have come to realize that most people (including me) determine value by outward appearances. I admit – the chair is ugly; however, I didn’t choose the chair based on its looks, but on its worth to me.

I believe James wrote about this issue of judging value simply based on outward appearance: “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others? For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor" – well, doesn't this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?” (James 2:1-4)

People deserve more than a judgmental eye - they can get that anywhere.

By the way, what do you think of my chair?

My basement floor was soaking wet. As I walked across the rug, my shoes squished on the rug which was spread across the bare concrete floor. I knew what had happened, at least the source of the problem, because the same thing happened last year. Without going into too many of the boring details, my sump pump was not functioning properly and we ended up replacing it. I thought all the problems had been resolved by purchasing a new one, but I was wrong. Don’t worry if you don’t know what a sump pump is because I didn’t either until last year when ours quit functioning. A sump pump basically pumps water, in our case used water from the washing machine, to ground level. Somehow one of the pipes had become disconnected and water was pouring from the hole where the pump is located and soaking the basement floor. When I discovered this problem I basically unplugged the pump and decided to ignore the problem. In the back of my mind I knew I would eventually have to deal with it especially if we ever wanted to do laundry again, but for now I would push it aside. Attempting to disregard the issue proved frustrating because I lay awake last night thinking about it. When I woke up this morning I determined to go to the basement and revisit the monster.

When I pried open the cover I found a mess. Water had filled the hole so that the pump was mostly submerged making it relatively impossible to find the dilemma…at least that’s what I thought. My next move was a bold one because it involved electricity. I carefully plugged the pump in causing it to roar to life but also causing water to go everywhere. I quickly peered into the hole to see water shooting out of a pipe. Bingo! The pipe had just become disconnected. Thanks be to the sump pump gods! I ran to the hardware store and purchased the proper piece to fix it. When I arrived home, I called my wife down so she could see me actually repair something in the house. This is a rare occurrence. Although she made fun of me the whole time, I knew she secretly thought I was sexy.

After mending the pump and restoring order to our basement, I was angry with myself for being fearful. The predicament could have easily been resolved earlier if I would have been willing to take the time to face it head on. Fear is nothing more than being intimidated by what might be. When a circumstance enters our life, we immediately judge our potential to succeed. If we think we can do it, we proceed. If there may be a chance to fail, we are hesitant. I believe a follower of Christ must not be held back by fear. Of course our confidence is not in ourselves, but in God’s power to accomplish His plans through us. This confidence caused Abram to leave his country (Genesis 12). This confidence allowed David to defeat a giant (1 Samuel 17). This confidence resulted in Jesus going all the way to the cross (the Gospels). This confidence changed Saul from a persecutor of Christians to a preacher of the gospel (Acts). This confidence will allow you to….

As you hopefully know, Christmas is this month and the television is crammed with shows and movies which only come on during this time of year. I have several Christmas movies which make my list of "must watch" every year. Over time, certain phrases in these movies or shows make their way to our lips such as "you'll shoot your eye out." What are your favorite quotes from Christmas programs?

I was in a very deep sleep last night…a very deep one, but something stirred me from my warm bed. I swear I heard a voice. For a moment I just laid there straining my ears to hear if the voice echoed out again. Sure enough, the voice could be heard again calling out for help. I jumped to my feet and ran down the hallway to our son’s room where his light was burning brightly. He was sitting on the edge of his bed with a panicked look on his face and tears in his eyes. When he saw me he said, “The alarm is beeping and I don’t know how to turn it off.” Ty was referring to the alarm clock in his room. The power in our home had gone out yesterday and something must have caused it to accidentally set itself. The repeated beeping noise had scared him out of his sleep and when he failed to shut it off on his own he called out to someone who could help him.

Ty’s cry for help was not lengthy or colored with flowery language, but in a moment of desperation he cried out for help and I ran to help him. Sometimes followers of Christ have this idea that the more words they pray, the more likely God is to listen. Although I am certainly not against consistent and structured prayer, I believe God rushes to help the desperate cries of those who are His. I am reminded of 1 Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Are you in a desperate situation today? Cry out to God and He will be there to help!


Psalm 121:1 I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth! 3 He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps. 5 The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. 7 The LORD keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. 8 The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

This week ask.com released its top searches of 2008 for several categories and I was curious if my name made it to the top of any of those lists this year. It seems that the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus beat me out again. Darn! I guess you have to be young, hot, or a rock star and I am none of those, although my wife thinks I’m hot…at least that’s what she says to my face. While I was glancing to see what interested people most, my attention was peaked when I saw the “Top Question Searches of 2008.” Gracing the top of that list was “How do I get pregnant?” I’ll leave that one alone. The second most asked question was “How do I lose weight?” I’ll also leave that one alone. Skipping down to #6, people wanted to know “How do I change my name?” My wife must use this search engine a lot because she wants to change our last name. What’s wrong with Hogsed? Smith, Jones, and Williams are overrated!

However, the question resting at #7 got me thinking - “What is the meaning of life?” The pastor in me immediately formed all the right biblical answers but I had to think a little deeper into this. Are people asking this question due to curiosity or out of dissatisfaction? Curiosity generally stems from a desire for more information, which is not inherently bad. But dissatisfaction stems from a desire to change. In my opinion, finding the meaning of life may begin with curiosity, but at some point must result in dissatisfaction and eventually change.

Any thoughts as to why people are still asking this question?

Ever had one of those annoying tags in the back of your shirt that causes extreme irritation on your neck? I have…and I had that problem this morning. When I arrived at work, my neck felt like it was being rubbed raw by this stupid tag. Since we had staff devotions first thing this morning, I had to wait thirty minutes before I could take care of this major irritant. As soon as that half-hour was up, I ran to my office. This “run” was more like a brisk walk such as when you have to use the bathroom really bad, but fear that going too fast might cause someone to stop you to ask, “where are you going so fast?” Upon arrival in my office, I scoured my desk drawer for the scissors. When I finally found them, I walked at a hurried pace (again, to avoid conversation) to the bathroom where I ripped my shirt off (unbuttoning it first, of course). In the back of my mind I was hoping that no one would walk into the bathroom to find me there with my shirt off. How would I explain that one? “I was a little hot and needed a little breather”…or, “Pastor has implemented a new dress code…didn’t you get the memo?” Anyhow, I found the stupid culprit and cut it right out of my shirt. I quickly slipped my shirt back on whispering a prayer of thanks for not being discovered shirtless in the bathroom and I headed back to my office. It felt so good to continue my day without something irritating me!

Oh, how I wish that all irritating circumstances were that easy to solve; however, usually there are one or two or even several things (or people) which irritate us. It may be a nagging temptation. It may be your boss, family member, or friend. It may be a weakness or health issue. It may be dissatisfaction with an area of your life. Whatever it is, it causes irritation in everyday life without much relief. The apostle Paul had one of these irritating circumstances and he called it his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Some speculate it was bad eyesight, but Scripture seems to indicate that it was a person whom he called a “messenger of Satan.” Those are pretty strong words. After pleading with God to remove this annoying person from him, Paul realized that God had allowed this trial to come into his life to keep him humble (2 Corinthians 12:8). Trials and temptations have a unique way of keeping us dependent on God. Although God never promises to remove all hardship, He does promise the strength to cope (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Have an irritating tag in the back of your shirt?

During my senior year of high school our class took an “end of the year” field trip to a place called Cane Creek Park. This park is located in Charlotte, North Carolina but the name of it is very deceptive; in reality, this “creek” is more like a large lake. When our bus arrived at the park, we all piled out and a few safety rules were given in order to prevent us from getting in trouble. For my group of friends these rules equaled a challenge to disobey. Don’t get me wrong…I was not really a rebellious teenager but I enjoyed being around a group of people who liked to live on the edge and since I have never been an extremely daring person I would oftentimes find myself in awkward situations where I was forced to go along. This field trip was one of those scenarios.

Rule #1: Do not go to the other side of the lake. Rule #2: blah, blah, blah. As soon as the lecture was completed, my friends headed for the other side of the lake. I decided to tag along for fear of being called a wimp or other degrading names! Even though the distance across the lake was not too significant, the walk around seemed like it took forever. I cannot say for sure, but I it took about 30 minutes. Upon our arrival, we just hung out and laughed at the rest of our group who was still stuck on the other side of the lake…that is until they began eating lunch. At this point, the long walk back around the lake did not seem too exciting so one of my idiot friends came up with the idea of swimming across. For me, this was an easy answer – NO! I am scared of water and especially hate unfamiliar bodies of water. The rest of my friends were of the adventurous type so they thought it was a brilliant idea. They began discussing the options and finally came up with a plan. Steal a nearby canoe and row across. This may have worked if there were only 2 or 3 of us, but if my memory is correct there were 6 or 7 of us. Leaving out most of the details surrounding this ignorant arrangement, I found myself in a canoe with four people and a couple others swimming in front of us. Somehow we made it across, but not before our chaperones spotted us as well as the park ranger. Needless to say, we were in trouble.

You would have never found me making this type of decision on my own, especially considering my fear of water; however, a little influence from others goes a long way. In fact, influence is a major part of our life and many of the choices we make are based on some type of influence. A person we respect, a book we read, or something we hear in the media can altar our perspective in an instant. Proverbs 4:23 warns to “above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” Be careful about who or what you allow to speak into your life.