True Life
by Paul Carr FCC Connections Guy in

Looking forward to the weekend. I still have that childish smirk in my heart when I think about the possibility of snow coming. Just the high possibility of it puts me in a light mood. Especially going into the weekend. I got the tunes as high as I can right now in the office, at any minute the guy next door will peak in with some sort of look....depends what song is playing. I just got back from a great 5 mile run and just sent a text to my wife to see if I can go get hurt skiing tomorrow....still havn't heard back. In the meantime, I'll finish up some final things before starting the weekend. I wish the highlights of our week would never end. It seems these days, more than ever, those highlights are growing more uncommon for many of my friends. I hate that. I have to believe that somewhere beneath the veneer of predictable schedules and difficult relationships, there is our "true life". True Life is the life that we are reminded of when we have those light hearted highlight moments of our week. True Life is who you really are when that veneer is stripped away. While the world offers many temporary options to get high on life, the one high that will last is the one that comes from a genuine relationship with Christ. Depending on the day, the mood, the failures, the struggles, or the 'thorn of our flesh' there is a promise from God that can always find its way past our false front and hardening veneers to remind us of who we are. Take time to think about what True Life looks like for you today. What is in the way of living that out in every area of your life. Quit wasting time investing in the cover story of your life and begin living the life that you know God is calling you to.

just say'n
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2010
by Paul Carr FCC Connections Guy in

I'm truly looking forward to 2010. I have gotten off to a good start both personally and spiritually. My boys are 15 and 16. We just got back from a trip out of town for a few days and I enjoyed our time away in a whole new way. Andrew is more compliant than ever and Zack is becoming a very strong young man. Jeannie still has her hands full with her 3 boys, but I think she finds what was stressful, now humorous. I'm hoping to get back into shape. Lost a few steps and gained some lbs during the end of '09. I'm amazed how much healthy eating habits and tons of exercise can make such an immediate and significant difference in such a short amount of time. Not to mention, I want to be healthier....longer! I ran with Zack for the first time this weekend and he kept up. I'm still digesting that. I hope to read more this year. Since finishing my masters degree, I have been a sloth. The amount of reading, memorizing, and writing during a masters program can ruin you for some time. I'm ready however to hit the books again and am playing with the idea of finishing a doctorate. I have several credits already toward it and hope to eventually find time to finish and write a book. There probably isn't anything more boring than another person saying they are going to write a book, so I won't bring it up again until I'm 75% done. Lot of ideas, thoughts, and dreams for 2010. I asked Jeannie this weekend to not stop dreaming. Keep looking, keep thinking, keep dreaming....keep on keeping on doing something. Don't GIVE up! That is what I plan on doing and I hope that you do the same.

What is your biggest attainable dream you have right now?
What is the biggest obstacle of attaining that dream?
What is your plan to eliminate or work toward dream despite the obstacle?
What are you willing to do that will be more difficult that what you are willing NOT to do? No matter what your dreams are, there are some things that you have to stop doing to make room for the things that you must start doing.

just say'n
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Reminder Part II
by Paul Carr FCC Connections Guy in

Take this weekend, as you get ready for Sunday worship services, to think about the most important thing in your life. To me, it is the complete and perfect trust in the Person who said that HE was God. Every single hope and grace must rest in His unchanging character. The promises of God cannot be taken lightly. They have been given to us to hold us up when everything else may try to take you down. There is nothing more exciting and motivating than knowing your completely secure in the One who paid for that sealing.

I John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

The CDC just came out with this years totals on the H1N1 scare. The article can be found here. That can be in stark contrast to the typical annual flu deaths of around 35,000, found here.

Imagine the impact we could have on the world if we shared the perfect cure for eternal separation from God. Imagine how different our lives could/might/wished could be if we took the time to be just as educated and proactive about this much more important disaster.

just say'n
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Reminder
by Paul Carr FCC Connections Guy in

Are you tired and don't know why? Mentally worn and can't seem to pin point "it"? Think about this.
In the last 24 hours I have had to REMIND myself over and over that I cannot be driven to a particular
behavior out of fear.

1. There is a security company that continues to market themselves heavily. They will protect you. They
will protect your home. They will call you to see if everything is alright. They will divert potential intruders.
They will give you the comfort you need to protect your child when you are home alone.

2. There is a news show hosted by a well meaning commentator who, before every show, will ask you "to follow" him.
The tone is again, one of fear and wonder. While sometimes humorous, it is a subtle way of reminding you that
"it" is out of control, so YOU better be aware. For one hour you can be, if you let it, be indoctrinated in the ways
of fatalism. The hope, as presented through the show, is found in the past. The way America used to be. That our
Bill of Rights, Constitution, and Declaration of Independence all hold the promises and hope for true happiness.
That somehow "different" people should be making decisions and "if the right people" were in charge you would
no longer have to fear the future.

3. Cell phone commercials are relentless in their pursuit for your 2 year contract. We are, (I'm the worst) still convinced
that a "free" phone is such a good deal. Anyways.....the issue being that if you don't have "their" phone, you could be
left stranded....in the rain....oh yea, the tire blew...and the phone you might happen to have is the wrong one because you
can't get service. FEAR drives the market. Whether it is trying to "fit in" or "need it for business" or "helps us communicate better"..we all use different excuses (or reasons) to "buy in" to the ploy. The idea that you cannot live without a cell phone has been clearly cultured. That is somewhat ok...my point is that fear = reliance. Reliance = bondage. Bondage = behavior

4. H1N1 Enough said. Ok, maybe not. The amount of money being made during this false front would blow you away. The more fear that can be created over this flu strain, the more money that gets pumped into the pockets of those who are creating the hype. Half way through the year, there had been 0 confirmed swine flu deaths in the U.S, according to a the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. However, there have been about 25,000 deaths as a result of the regular flu....and there always has been each year. Most doctors will simply NOT give their kids the 'vaccine'. Why? they are more worried about what usually occurs through regular influenza. This is sad. It plays to the depraved human emotions. It takes advantage of weakened mothers who are so worn down as it is from the 'regular stressful stuff', that they drink the kool-aid because it takes away their fear and guilt, not the swine flu. Do you realize over 4000 teenagers a year commit suicide? Over 130,000 known attempts. About 5,000 teenagers a year die from alcohol related drinking and driving. Together, that is around 52 teenagers a minute die. When is the last time you heard anything about that 'epidemic'?

5. Health Insurance. Since when is it someone else's responsibility to shoulder your health care needs? While there may be an energetic debate over who should take care of who, the bottom line is that we are not dependent on any organization. That thinking is simply wrong. BUT, if an organization can influence that thinking to believe that you should be taken care of, then you are potentially going to be held under the thumb of that organization. Freedom comes with a price, not a barter. Backing away from this hot issue, the fact of the matter that just about everyone can agree on is that we live in a system that is broken and cannot be fixed. It cannot be fixed because it is financed and managed by heavily depraved people and corrupt organizations. Are there medical procedures that cost millions of dollars that can keep people alive?....YES! Does that mean we should spend millions of dollars on procedures to keep all those people alive longer?......

I'm not going to answer that, but you can see the NEED. The NEED is and should be blatantly obvious. The NEED is that we cannot co-exist with a person, a system, an organization, or a philosophy that sells itself as the hope or answer to meet that NEED. It will fail you. There is no government on the planet that can offer the peace, comfort, and certainty that Jesus Christ can bring. There is only one answer....one hope....one healer....one provider....one care-giver.......one sacrifice that can guarantee you the freedom that we all desire to have.

Do you know HIM? What or who are you listening to? No wonder why you feel worn down like some stripped gears. We get bombarded by every known institution of our lives...financial, economic, religious, homes, car, parenting...etc.

Words to favorite hymm from the 1800's wriiten by Edward Mote
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

just say'n
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WKND updt
by Paul Carr FCC Connections Guy in

What a great weekend! I scored some sweet tickets for the Bristol Nascar race, from some of our very good friends. The royal treatment was given to us on Friday night. We spent half the race in Kevin Harvick's pit and the rest of the race in his track suite. It was a great opportunity to just take something completely in from the normal affairs of life. I stayed the night Friday and attended 4 of the local ministries race chapels. It was both boring and embarrassing as a Christian, for the most part. I walked away feeling defeated as a believer. The one thing I stake my life in was being represented in ways I thought were of the past. I believe that the folks running those chapels believe they are doing what is right, but in the same way the scary guy in Manhattan who carries a cross and screams things about Jesus on a corner. It was a wake up call to realizing not only how the world views those efforts, but also why they feel the way they do. Ok, nuff'said, the rest of the day I spent with Zack hanging at the track. We ended up sitting about 5 rows up from turn 2. Incredible seats that I just couldn't believe. We got in early Sunday morning at 4:30am. Got some shut eye and then off to FCC. The morning was everything that we hoped it would be. Most people are getting back from summer breaks and have just gotten their kids in school. If last Sunday were a CAT 4 on the Saffir.....then this Sunday will be a 5. Can't wait. Our lead pastor Greg Oraham is bringing the heat in kool way. I love hearing peoples stories of how the messages are changing their lives. We spent yesterday in creative team gearing up for the baptism service in a few weeks. I can only say .... WOW! If your in the Seneca area, stop by and say hello. We would love to have you.

just say'n
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Tired of It.....
by Paul Carr FCC Connections Guy in


Tired of:
-Brett Favre coming out of retirement
-People thinking that their hope rest in a government
-The media saying how "perfectly executed" the murder, of two parents of 13 disabled children, went
-False hope and hype over the H1N1 vaccine
-An elected public official who is spending tax dollars to sue over the fact that hurricanes don't have black people names.
-commercials that use fear tactics
-games people play in relationships
-eating chicken
-hot & humid summer days
-not being as content as I should be
-Big Brother reality show
-pre-season football
-the BCS system
-road construction during the day
-lip service
-and lastly.....people who use twitter as their primary source of communication to get something done.

just say'n
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Hydro-Fun...not!
by Paul Carr FCC Connections Guy in

Good morning everybody. It's great to be alive. Seriously! Friday morning the family loaded and journeyed down to the Live Oak, Fl. LOOOOOONG drive, but a great time with the family and opportunity to sort of just reset. My wives Grandma died and she had asked me to lead the funeral. It was a great opportunity to visit with some family and relax a bit. I do not like leading funerals. There is something incredibly unnatural about death and gathering to celebrate it. I think it is unnatural because God never intended for death to be a natural part of our existence. However, it is a necessary part of our story. On the way home we hit a severe rainstorm coming up I-75. We were keeping up with a cramped crowed of cars going about 50 MPH. At one point the car to our left had drifted close to our lane, throwing up an immediate blinding blanket of water on our windshield. My Chevy Avalanche immediately went into a spin, sliding sideways down the highway and picking up speed. I could see cars flanking both sides of the truck and everyone had braced for imminent impact. I stayed off the brakes and accelerator, hoping that cars behind would see what was going on and hold back. I overcorrected the steering wheel, hoping that the tires would some how pick up traction and begin to straighten out. What seemed like forever, I know was only an instant, but I remember thinking, "so this is how it happens". Just before completing a full spin, the truck caught and whipped back the other direction. I semi-corrected the wheel the second time and eventually found myself straightened back up heading North. I am no longer a fan of exploring the 'edge' of life and death. The moral of this blog is fairly simple and cliche. Life is short and dangerous and unfair and fair and certain and uncertain. We are not near as in control as we would like to think we are. Embrace your life and those you love.

just say'n
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