2009 Into 2010

2009 has been a year of change for me and my family.

After working for the same company in different divisions for nearly 13 years, my work group was shut down and I was one of the ones to find myself looking for work. As a single income (by choice) household, there were many sleepless nights. Thankfully, God provided me with an open door and I have been blessed to be working for my new employer since the middle of May. Our future looks bright. Through it all, God helped me learn that I have NEVER been the provider for my family - He has been and is the provider.

God also provided Michelle and I with the opportunity to be involved with the launch of a new Middle School ministry at our church. GROW (God Rocks Our World) has been amazing from the start. We are working with amazing kids who truly have a heart for serving others. It is so exciting to be involved with them.

In the second half of the year, my dad approached me with the opportunity to go with him to Romania in June 2010. As the Director of Missions for the Florence Baptist Association in Florence, SC, he has been leading mission trips to Romania for nearly 10 years - starting not long after Romania broke free from Communism.

To go to Romania, I have to come up with a significant amount of funding that, understandably, is not in our budget. God has already provided a very unexpected blessing which has covered 1/3 of that cost. But, I am now working on other methods to cover the remainder of the cost. Michelle and I are working to become debt-free, so I will not be funding any of this trip on credit.
(Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for an opportunity to help with this mission trip.)

One of the ideas I have come up with is below. It started out as simply a t-shirt idea, but has grown into much more. Click on the t-shirt and read the front and back.
The front of the shirt states Beta version. The back has the following verse from the New Century Version:

I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his.
Philippians 3:12 (NCV)

If you're familiar with technology at all, you've heard of things referred to as being in "beta version". This means that a product is still in development but is ready for the people to see. The product isn't in its final form and is still being improved over time. Once we become believers in Jesus, that is EXACTLY what we are - we're in Beta version. We aren't complete.

With the launch of these shirts, I will also be launching the following site in early 2010 (with the help of friends).

www.thebetaversion.org

The Beta Version will be a place where I can provide updates on my Romania trip, other missions projects and opportunities. My goal will be to have at least two posts a week. These will range from missions updates to observations that go along with the Beta Version concept. The Winning on Wednesday posts will be revived and moved to the site. I hope you'll join the dialog there as we work together toward the goal of being like Christ.

*** Proceeds from the shirt will go toward my Romania trip. Any proceeds that come in beyond the cost of the trip will go toward other missions efforts in 2010.

If you're interested in a shirt, they are $15 plus shipping (if necessary). Contact me via email GsimmonsSC (at) gmail (dot) com or my Google Voice badge in the right column. ***

Merry Christmas

Listen as you read along:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:1-20 (ESV)

Children's Heart Project - Episode 1 Chapter 4

Children's Heart Project - Episode 1 Chapter 3

Children's Heart Project - Episode 1 Chapter 2

Children's Heart Project - Episode 1 Chapter 1

(There seems to be a playback glitch in this Chapter. I've forwarded that to CHP)

During this Christmas season, I'm glad Samaritan's Purse made us aware of this project. What a reminder of what it means to give.

Be sure to watch Chapter 2, Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 as well.

December to Remember? White Christmas?

Joe Bastardi with Accuweather goes through why this will be a "December to remember"....AND talks about who might get to see a white Christmas!

Of course, we won't know till it happens.

Children's Heart Project - Samaritan's Purse

You have got to watch this trailer and then follow-up by watching the series - Children's Heart Project - by Samaritan's Purse. What a prime example of what we are called to. We are called to "GO and BE" the church. Not wait for people to come to us.

Over the next several days, I will post embeds of the Episodes themselves.

Joe Bastardi "It's Ice not Fire You're Going to Be Worried about Down the Road"

Joe Bastardi interviewed by Don Imus regarding Global Warming, "Climategate", etc.

If you've read my blog long enough, you'll know that I'm skeptical of some of the premises behind Global Warming/Climate Change.

One of the meteorologists that I admire makes some very valid historical points about how the Earth's climate is constantly shifting.

Try to ignore the political banter, but pay close attention to Joe Bastardi's historical cycle comparisons.

Is Your Christmas Worthless?

Wow. December 4th already. That is hard to believe.

As we head into the "home stretch" toward Christmas, I worry that the chaos (why is there chaos at Christmas?) of the season causes us to miss the point. We all get caught up in school Christmas programs, church Christmas programs, shopping, visits with family, parties, and who knows what else. But, what if you're a follower of Christ (the term Christian has become marginalized by it's loose application...IMO)? What are you missing?

Watch this illustration from The Veracity Project hosted by Worship House Media and then I'll finish up.
Christmas without Christ is just that...Worthless.

According to the Princeton online dictionary, worthless is defined as "lacking in usefulness or value". Maybe that's why Christmas begins to feel so empty when Christ is removed. We try to replace the gift of God Himself with gifts or family or parties and wonder why it's so empty.

Many of us are familiar with the Christmas story as written in Luke 2. But I want to point you to another verse.

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11 (ESV)

Did you catch that? "God GAVE us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (emphasis added) There is nothing we can do to get this. We can't buy it, make it, bargain for it, shop for it, stand in line for it, show up at church to get it.....nothing.

All we can do is accept it. God gave us this gift starting at Christmas. We cannot be forced to accept a gift, we have to accept it.

The question is....

"Have you accepted God's gift, or is your Christmas still worthless?"

Silent Monks Sing Hallelujah

This should help you shake the bah-humbugs and get you into the holiday spirit.

Very creative and well done! Maybe some church choirs would rather perform their programs this way at this time of year.

Twitter...The Movie

I love reading the comics in the newspaper. Thanks to Mother Goose & Grimm for this:



Yes...you'll only get it if you use (are addicted to) Twitter. Enjoy!