Monthly Archive for July, 2005

Today I realized something, and I think it’s part of a calling God has placed on my life. I didn’t find this out because some preacher told me, I didn’t find it out because my parents told me it’s what they think God has in store for me. A couple phonecalls from friends today helped me realize something huge.

I’ve always been more or less a spiritually strong person. For about four years now, my relationship with Jesus Christ has become stronger and stronger, and people know where I stand and what I believe. I think God is going to use that spiritual strength that I have to minister one-on-one to friends who are hurting and need help. I absolutely hate seeing any of my friends have bad things happen to them, and I feel like–scratch that, I know I’ve got to reach out and do something to help them, even if it isn’t anything spiritual in the first place. Who said ministry always involved directly talking to someone about Jesus all the time? Actions speak louder than words, and if I can simply be there for my friends, that is showing the love of Jesus. Jesus would take the time to comfort someone who is going through a rough time for whatever reason.

All this also means I need to stop being so self-centered. I feel I’ve made definite improvements lately in that department…I really want to look out for my friends, but I don’t want to do so with any ulterior motives. I just want them to be happy in Christ and go to heaven so we can all have root beer keggers up there someday. Seriously, heaven’s gonna be fun and I don’t want anyone to miss out on it. I was telling a friend of mine I have known since I was a kid tonight that it tears me up when I see friends I have been close to for years, or am getting close to now, turn away from God because of circumstances going on in their lives. I have many friends who have turned away from the Lord…I hold nothing against them. Instead I pray for them, that I can somehow show them God’s love in a way they need to see it.

Steven Curtis Chapman once sang a song called “For Who He Really Is.” My dad loves SCC and used to listen to him all the time, and this was one of his favorite songs. I can remember when we would drive an hour to church and an hour back when we lived in Oregon, and he would play this song and sing the lyrics. Today I read those same lyrics and I see how it applies to so many of my friends, and in a much broader scope, most of the world.

Here are the lyrics:

“Too many hypocrites,” I heard her say,
“I even saw it in the headlines today;
How can I follow God when His own people turn away.”
She said, “Nobody’s perfect but I just want to see

Somebody living what they say they believe;
If they’ve got all this world needs like they say,
I wonder why won’t they give some away.”

[Chorus:]
Can she see God for who He really is,
In what she sees in you and me?
Can she see God for who He really is?
For who He really is is all she really needs to see.

He slips into church and he puts up his guard;
They look so happy but his life’s been so hard.
He keeps his distance so they won’t see the scars;
It’s just a religion that’s all dressed up in white,
And God is love as long as you’re living right.
But does he know that Jesus also has scars,
And His love can reach Him no matter how far.

[Chorus]
Can he see God….

The skeptics are watching to see who will fall,
While those disillusioned search for the Truth in it all;
Maybe today we’ll cross their paths unaware,
And they’ll stop and look at us. What will be there?

What a powerful song. I listened to it tonight and realized more than ever, that people are watching whatever example I put forth as a Christian, all the time. So many people are put off by religion, rules, and accepted ways of doing things, that they really don’t know what to think when someone comes to them and is truly genuine with them and shows that they care and Jesus truly does love them. That’s where we as Christians have to get in touch with God and ask Him to show the way, because as the Word says, no one will come to Christ unless the Holy Spirit draws them.

And tonight I pray for a greater move of that same Spirit in my life.

Today’s Bible study was a great read from the book of Acts, chapters 9 and 10. But I want to focus on a key part of Acts 9 that deals with Saul’s conversion to Christianity. Saul had been the most notorious murderer of Christians in his area, and God changed his life 100%. Saul ended up becoming the man who would write over half the New Testament. Here’s his story, taken from The Message translation:

Act 9:1 All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest
Act 9:2 and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.
Act 9:3 He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light.
Act 9:4 As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?”
Act 9:5 He said, “Who are you, Master?” “I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down.
Act 9:6 I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you’ll be told what to do next.”
Act 9:7 His companions stood there dumbstruck–they could hear the sound, but couldn’t see anyone–
Act 9:8 while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus.
Act 9:9 He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.
Act 9:10 There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. The Master spoke to him in a vision: “Ananias.” “Yes, Master?” he answered.
Act 9:11 “Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He’s there praying.
Act 9:12 He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again.”
Act 9:13 Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem!
Act 9:14 And now he’s shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us.”
Act 9:15 But the Master said, “Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to Gentiles and kings and Jews.
Act 9:16 And now I’m about to show him what he’s in for–the hard suffering that goes with this job.”
Act 9:17 So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Act 9:18 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes–he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized,
Act 9:19 and sat down with them to a hearty meal. Saul spent a few days getting acquainted with the Damascus disciples,
Act 9:20 but then went right to work, wasting no time, preaching in the meeting places that this Jesus was the Son of God.
Act 9:21 They were caught off guard by this and, not at all sure they could trust him, they kept saying, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem among the believers? And didn’t he come here to do the same thing–arrest us and drag us off to jail in Jerusalem for sentencing by the high priests?”
Act 9:22 But their suspicions didn’t slow Saul down for even a minute. His momentum was up now and he plowed straight into the opposition, disarming the Damascus Jews and trying to show them that this Jesus was the Messiah.
Act 9:23 After this had gone on quite a long time, some Jews conspired to kill him,
Act 9:24 but Saul got wind of it. They were watching the city gates around the clock so they could kill him.
Act 9:25 Then one night the disciples engineered his escape by lowering him over the wall in a basket.
Act 9:26 Back in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t trust him one bit.
Act 9:27 Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus’ name.
Act 9:28 After that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master’s name.

Amazing. To me that is the biggest proof the Bible has of God taking someone who is set completely against him, changing them and using them for His glory. I find it amazing how Paul ended up becoming the most influential man in the entire New Testament next to Jesus….here he had murdered Christians for years, and still God called his name and said pretty much, “Why don’t you join my crew? I’ve got great things in store for you.”

God boggles my mind like that.

DUDE.

DUDE, SERIOUSLY.

HOLY CRAP.

I turned 21 today and I easily had the biggest show up support, celebration, etc. or whatever you want to call it, ever for my birthday. It was great. At work the folks there got me a cake from the commissary and we wolfed that thing down like no one’s business. Then they gave me a card that basically said “happy birthday, now go get drunk,” but it was actually pretty funny.

I was able to get off an hour early from work and take a much-needed nap. Then I headed to church around 6:45 or so, and still made it in the door at 6:59.

So at church, they all sang happy birthday to me, and we went into worship.

The following is a boring story, but it means something later. I got a phone call and had to go outside to take it, and on my way I passed the kitchen. I heard someone screwing around in there, and I glanced in but I didn’t really see who it was because they were kinda off in the corner. All I saw was this girl with a pan of some sort in her hand. I didn’t put two and two together just yet. I walked outside and saw Melissa’s car, and I started to put two and two together but it still wasn’t clicking. What was she doing in the kitchen?

So I finished the phone call, went inside and still totally oblivious to everything going on around me, I forgot all about that until we finished worship and a good lesson by Barbara and Nancy. Then everyone got ready to leave, and Melissa announced, “I made three cakes for Chris and they’re in the kitchen” or something similar. My jaw dropped open, and even as I type this I am still grateful, surprised and touched (for lack of a more descriptive term) all in one because I hadn’t received anything on my birthday, but here are THREE CAKES made by the same person. Melissa if you ever read this, the cake is awesome, and thank you so much for making them, thinking of me, etc on my birthday. I know it’s cake but it means a lot to me, and thanks so much.

Then we all went to Sonic and hung out, and literally chilled for a while. Fun times. That was great too…playing with tasers out where everyone can see it. Good stuff.

Then I took a few people home and got pulled over. Some cop saw me run a stop sign in Hampton and he followed me half a block before I realized “hey, there’s a pig behind me” and pulled over. I miraculously found my proof of insurance in the glove box (it’s the most cluttered glove box ever) and handed that and my license over to him. He asked if I was in the military, I said yes, and he let me off the hook. That’s basically it.

What a great night. Thanks to the Lakeside guys for hanging out, thanks to the folks at work for the cake and card, and thanks to Melissa for the cake trifecta that I’m still completely in awe of.

Web Link: Pictures from the night at church and Sonic

This is posted as a courtesy to Lakeside Church and its members. This post will be updated if I receive more news throughout the day.

A car wreck just past the Fort Eustis exit on Interstate 64 has killed Eugene Guion, a Lakeside attendee, and three other people as well. The news article is posted below, courtesy WTKR Channel 3 in Norfolk.

The accident happened near mile marker 249, just before the Ft. Eustis exit in Newport News. Police say that around 3 o’clock Monday morning, an Oldsmobile carrying five young men, spun out of control and slammed into a tree in the median on the highway. After hitting the tree, the car burst into flames.

Witnesses to the accident pulled one person from the front seat of the car. That person is 15 year old Edward Guion. He is the only survivor of the crash and is currently at Riverside Regional Medical Center with life threatening injuries.

The driver of the car was 22 year old Eugene Guion, Edwards older brother, from Lucas Creek in Newport News. The young men in the backseat of the car, a 19 year old from Pennsylvania and two others, not yet identified, were also killed in the accident.

Traffic on I-64 in this area is still backed up and very slow moving. Police say they hope to have things cleared up by 8:00 a.m. This is all the information we have at this time.

Please be praying for the Guion family and Lakeside Church during this difficult time.

What I’m Currently Listening To:

Artist: Dave Matthews Band
Track: American Baby
Album: Stand Up [2005]
Rating (out of 10 stars):
Web Link: Click the Play button below to watch “American Baby”

And now a monthly update on my life with women.

That was the Chris Brewer’s Life With Women Update, brought to you by Ameriquest.  Now on to the real blog post. 

So I decided to start a new underground abstinence program (abstinence as in, not having sex until you’re married). Yeah that’s right, it’s not all too much of a new idea. People have been doing it (get it?) for years, you just haven’t known about it because somehow society has twisted what is right and pure and made it a terrible thing to not have sex by the time you turn 12. But there are those of us that buck the trend, stay pure, and decide to save something that God intended for marriage, for that occasion. That’s why I am starting a program called “I Gave My Word to Stop At Third.”

There are many of us who have had one, two, three or multiple opportunities to hit an inside-the-park home run. Personally, I choose to play station-to-station…just kidding.

But anyway, yeah, get my point? Sex before marriage trivializes what God made pure and yeah, to a great extent sacred. It also makes it overrated when you do get married, it’s like “been there, done that.” I could also list about 539 other things it does but I will save that for another time.

I gave MY word to stop at third. How about you?