Merry Christmas!

First, let me say to all, "Merry Christmas". We didn't get to send the annual "Qualls" family Christmas card this year. It is sort of my fault....could never quite find the right photo, but I promise to do better next year.

I absolutely love this picture! Thomas Kinkade is awesome and is very gifted. We have a few of his paintings in our home that are beautiful. I especially love this one of the church covered with snow in the countryside. Notice the lights burning bright inside the church and the horse carriage out in front.

I am not going to get all theological on you here.....but I pray that our light shines brightly this Christmas and new year. That others will see the difference Jesus makes in our lives...that we will take that light out into the world....that we will step out of comfort zones...that we will prioritize our marriages...that we will be better moms and dads...that we will be better spenders of money.....etc....

Enjoy this time with your family.....Here is wishing for that "White Christmas"! Merry Christmas and God bless!

"Crazy Love", Part II

Continuing with the thoughts about "lukewarm" people, here are the next 4 descriptions:

1. Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for "extreme" Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call "radical" what Jesus expected of all His followers.

2. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.

3. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren't are as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.

4. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives.


Wow! Again, very strong and in my face. Don't dismiss these so quickly! Is it possible that one or some these are you? It is hard to look in the mirror, isn't it?

Psalm 139:23-24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." God sees what is truly in the mirror!

The Melting Pot review

Whoa- Now , those of you who know me, know that I love food and know good places to find it. There are a few occasions a year that Kim and I will drop a little money on some "fine dining" establishments. This Christmas we went out with some friends to a new place called, "The Melting Pot" in Charlotte. I had heard of it before, but had never placed it on the priority list. Especially when I heard you pay like $100 and have to cook your own food. Come on now - not this guy!

I won't go into great detail of how it works....but it is really neat how you cook right on your table fondue style. We dipped into some melted cheese and cooked all kinds of meats including my favorite, "lobster", and then the best was saved for last...the CHOCOLATE fondue. Oh my goodness~! I really believe they will serve this in heaven!!! Awesome!!!!

It was a great meal - I look forward to maybe celebrating my next birthday there soon...Guys - this is the real deal restaurant to take your wife too!

Merry Christmas and don't forget to enjoy the special moments each day!

Thoughts from book, "Crazy Love" part I

I am in the process of reading a new book by Francis Chan called "Crazy Love". Very interesting read - Here are a few quotes of interest - Chan is describing two different kinds of people - those that are totally in love with Jesus Christ and those that are "lukewarm". Here are a few descriptions of a lukewarm person -

Lukewarm people:

(1) attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go.

(2) give money to charity and to the church --- as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?

(3) tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.

(4) don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from their sin. They don't genuinely hate sin and aren't truly sorry for it; they are merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don't really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one.

Wow! Those are strong, especially the last one. Do any of those descriptions hit home? Revelation 3 gives a clear description of what Jesus thinks about the lukewarm person or church. May we fight the urge to be lukewarm and completely live a life that is controlled by Jesus.

Please share some comments or thoughts on the above....I will post a few more "lukewarm" descriptions in a few days.

Mission Accomplished!

Thanksgiving day started early at the Qualls' household! My brother-in-law, Rodney (see pic on front page) and I signed up to run the turkey trot as South Park in Charlotte. 6,000 people participated in this race and it was a blast. By the way an 8k is 5 miles, something I have never run before. I put my i-pod on some classic 80's songs and ran in my own world. Matter of fact, Kim and her sister Grace were on the side of the road cheering and I never saw them. Call that focus! :)

Rodney and I ran the last half-mile together which was pretty amazing considering how many people were running with us. My official time was 51:02, which I am very proud of. Next up is a 10-k and then who knows where I go from there. I really can't see my self running a half-marathon or a full marathon, but you never know. I never thought I would eat sushi or running in races in the first place. It is cool to surprise yourself by trying new things. Thanksgiving was a blast.....I have so much to be thankful for!!! The list would go on and on....but let's start and end today with a intimate relationship with the God of the universe who loves me beyond measure.......Amazing! I am a blessed man!

Turkey Trot

I did it! I am now officially signed up for the Charlotte turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day. It will be an 8k run which is right at 5 miles. Not sure I have a goal, but it would be nice to finish under 1 hour. I haven't exactly been training for this event, other than walking regularly and the occasional jog. My brother-in-law Rodney will be running with me. For the record he is 22 years old, I am slightly older than that. :)

The good news is no matter how long it takes me to finish, I will burn enough calories to eat whatever I want for Thanksgiving lunch. Wish me luck and I will post some pics and my finish time on the blog. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Land of the Giants

Isn't amazing how tall some people are? We literally ran into a "giant" this past weekend in Chapel Hill for the UNC basketball game. We had seats about 15 rows behind the tarheel bench. They were awesome seats and we saw many of the former players including Eric Montross. Eric was a star center for the 93' championship team and is approximately 7'0' ft tall.

He was sitting about 6 rows in front of us and my kids were fascinated with him. Stephen wanted to go get his autograph and during one of the time-outs he went down and Eric gladly signed his ticket. It was a big thrill for him and a great night for our family.

Seeing Eric, had me thinking about how big Goliath must have been in the Bible. David was a brave young man to stand up to him and took him down with a few rocks and a slingshot. May we have the courage to face our giants with courage and faith in God to lead us.

P.S. For those interested, Stephen's baseball team will playing for the his league's baseball championship on Friday night. Keep you posted!

Fall Baseball

As most of you know, I am huge yankees fan! This has been a great fall as the yankees just wrapped up their 27th world series championship. I also happened to win in my fantasy baseball league this year. I know to some of you that does not mean much, but fantasy leagues are pretty huge, especially in football. And then comes my two boys who love baseball enough to play another season this year of fall ball.

I decided to be an assistant coach on there two teams, which has been really interesting, challenging, and fun. Matter of fact on Stephen's team it has been a lot of pressure. You see, I am the third base coach which determines whether a players runs or stays at second or third on certain plays. Last night, I had the dreaded honor of getting my first player thrown out at home. I felt bad for the kid, and hoped we would not lose by one run.

As fate would have it, we were behind one run in our last bat to win. Did I mention - this was the playoffs? Anyway, I was redeemed as the first player up hit an inside-the park home-run to tie it and we won the game with a walk-off double. I think I was excited more than the kids were!! :)

So, with only a few games to go, Stephen is one win away from playing for the championship. Ben is still playing in the losers bracket with two wins to go to make it to the championship. Will keep you posted if we can pull the "Qualls hat trick" with a third championship this fall. Have a great weekend everybody and I still can't believe we are playing baseball in November.

If you live in the Pageland area, come on out to our Fall Festival at South Pointe Fellowship on Saturday. It starts at 4:00 and will include a trunk or treat, inflatables, all kinds of food, dunking booth, funnel cakes, and even a silent auction. The trunk or treat is for all kids 5th grade and under. It should be a great time for all families in the community for a safe alternative to halloween. For more info, visit our website at www.southpointefellowship.org

What will others think?

How many times have you asked that question? Often being in the "pastor bubble", I am tempted to make decisions based on what others will say or think of me. I used to give in to this line of thinking. I think it is natural for all of us to measure decisions we make based on that question. However, I believe it is the wrong question to ask and often leads us down a road that is unhealthy for us.

The question we need to ask ourselves is this: What does God think? You see, this answer should lead us in all of our decisions. You see, when you will allow the pressure of others to influence your decisions, you become a controlled person. You allow what others think of you to be your reason for doing or not doing things. Believe me when I say this - because I have firsthand experience! Now, I rationalized these things to make them ok in my mind and even fooled myself by justifying that they were good things I was doing. However, as I look back I was only hurting myself and those closet to me.

Today - my filter for decisions is based on God first. I fight the urge to succumb to what others think I should do and do what I believe God has called me to do. By prioritizing this; I believe I am a better husband, a better dad, a better friend, and even a better pastor in the eyes of God. It is not an easy road to get to this place, nor is it easy to stay in this place, but I encourage all of you to go for it. Quit trying to live up to someone else's expectations and live up to God's. This will take courage and not be easy, but it is worth it in the end.

Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters

I just started a new book this week by Dr. Meg Meeker entitled, "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters". Having a daughter who just turned 11, this has been a very eye-opening read. As a husband, I realize the huge differences between men and women, but viewing that through a little girl's eyes is different.

Fathers play a huge role in the home today. Matter of fact, the lack of a father's presence is playing a major role in the rebellion of young people in our world today. Kudos to all the single mom's today who hold it together. Father's are a little girls first view of men in her life. I am my daughter's first love and our relationship (good or bad) will determine how she views boys in the future once she starts to date, etc.

I wrote Emma a note today and put it in her room. The note was very simple, but conveyed how much I love her and complimented her on how much her smile brightens my day and how I could not wait to see what God had planned for her life. I also shared with her that no boy or man would ever love her more than I do for the rest of her life.

I love all my children equally, but having one girl and two boys; it is important that I remember that their needs are different and how I communicate with them is different. I can not wait to finish this book and put more of these thoughts into practice.

Thoughts from Catalyst Part II

Chuck Swindoll had an awesome message at the recent Catalyst conference in Atlanta that I thought you would like to read. His ministry has touched so many lives. It was neat to see the person I had heard on the radio for so long. Here are the 10 ten things he learned during almost 50 years of leadership:

1. It is lonely to lead.
2. It is hardest at home.
3. It is dangerous to succeed.
4. It is essential to be real.
5. It is painful to obey.
6. Brokenness and failure are necessary.
7. My attitude is more important than my actions.
8. Integrity eclipses image.
9. God's way is better than my way.
10. Christ-likeness begins and ends with humility.

By the way - Christmas is coming early this week at South Pointe. Don't miss the 10:45 service as Santa "Qualls" is coming to town. See ya Sunday!

Catalyst Conference 2009

I just got back from Atlanta, GA attending the Catalyst Conference that is put on by Andy Stanley. It was as unbelievable event! It is mostly geared to 40 and under church leaders, but touched all who were there. The speakers were all across the spectrum of Christian circles including Dave Ramsey, Rob Bell (Nooma dvd guy), Chuck Swindoll (more on him in a later blog), Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Matt Chandler, Tony Dungy (Colts football coach) and many more.

If you know anything about the guys I just mentioned, there are a lot of differences within their belief systems, denominations, etc, but the common thread was and is belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I really was challenged by the guys that I don't necessarily agree with, but I find this helpful and it makes me think a little deeper. It is easy to read books and listen to pastors that we like and agree with 99.5% of the time. As a Christ-follower of more than 30 years, I want to see what others are thinking.

My next few blog posts will be thoughts from this conference, but I would like to start with a quote from Rob Bell - "Our children pick up what really matters to us without us ever saying a word."

Chew on that one for a little bit - more coming soon.

MLB playoffs to begin

As most of you know, I am a huge Yankees fan! I am excited about the chance to win a 27th world championship. Last year was the first time since I have been married that I was not watching the yankees play in October and I am glad it was just a year break.

My dad is to blame for my love of the yankees. He was a big Mickey Mantle fan growing up and passed that tradition down to me. So - to all you braves fans - eat your heart out!

Let's go Yankees! Let's go Yankees!

To Drink or not to Drink

This is a big topic of discussion for many people in the 21st century, especially among religious circles. We take an in-depth look at what the Bible says about the subject this weekend at South Pointe Fellowship as we continue the "Q and A" series.

Everybody has an opinion don't they! I have to say, that I don't ever remember trying or drinking beer. The smell is terrible to me, nevertheless this is an issue within the church. There are arguments on both sides of the fence, but like everything else it comes down to what God says from His Word.

This is an issue that I have had plenty of conversations about over the years. One of the things I hear most from Christ-followers is that this is a "gray area". I highly disagree with that assessment. The Bible lays things out in black and white and we have the Holy Spirit inside of us to discern how we should live our lives.

Join us Sunday as we continue the discussion with a fresh look at what God would have us do as it comes to alcohol. For more info about this series, visit our website at www.southpointefellowship.org

Josh and Tasha Via

Quick shout out to Josh Via! Josh and Tasha led worship for us on September 20th and did a great job. They will be back with us on October 4th at South Pointe. Here is the link to his latest blog and what he shared about South Pointe. Click this link: http://www.joshvia.com/2009/09/9-20-09.html

Our new "Q and A" series started today at South Pointe. If you missed, be sure to check it out online. The first message dealt with the question: "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

Coming this week: "What does the Bible say about alcohol?"

The Joy of Baptism

Yesterday was a cool day! I had the privilege of baptizing my youngest child, Ben at South Pointe's first ever baptism on a Sunday a.m. I have baptized several 100 people over the last 13 years of ministry, but none more special than my 3 children.

Jesus displayed for us obedience by being baptized Himself in the Jordan River 2,000 years ago. Baptism has no saving power in and of itself, but is simply an act of obedience and serves as a symbol of what Jesus did for us as He died and was resurrected 3 days later.

Baptism is one of those things never gets old for this 38 year-old pastor and is something that should be celebrated by all who witness it. It was a special day for Ben, myself, our family, and the fellowship at South Pointe - one we will never forget and will continue to celebrate long after the 20th of September.

Cell Phone Hysteria!

Cellphone's seem to be one of those necessary "evils" in today's world. I admit I am fully in that group that depends way to much on this technology. I realized that for sure after dropping my phone in water over the weekend. I instantly lost all access to the internet (college football scores), e-mail, and the ability to talk to anybody. On Sunday, I was relegated to my wife's old regular phone. Not fun!

On Monday, I was down at the cellphone store getting a new phone. What bothered me the most was not having my contact list. Who remembers people's numbers anymore? I still have not gotten that resolved which is driving me crazy.

I think the issue in today's world is connectivity. The younger culture has this need to be "connected" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, wherever they are on planet earth. I am 38 and I feel this way to a certain extent and did not even grow up in the middle of this technology boom. If I feel that way, how do you think our teenagers or college students feel about it. Scary?

I hope this little absence of busyness and information will help me to slow down a little and not put my dependence in a little piece of hardware, but push me to more dependence on God.

Maybe dropping that phone in the water was a "good" thing! We shall see!

Graduation Day

I absolutely love this picture! This is my son at his kindergarten graduation with his beautiful mom. It is a gentle reminder to cherish these "precious moments" with my children, because they grow so fast. Stephen is now in 3rd grade and on the fast track to his 12th grade graduation. It flies by doesn't it? Hard to believe I will be celebrating my 20 year high school reunion in a month. Wow!

May we all live this day to the fullest, enjoying every minute the Lord gives us. James is so right when he says our lives are like a vapor - here one minute, gone the next. May each of us live a life of No regrets!!!

Single Mom's Oil Change Blessing

Operation Blessing rolls on! We changed the oil for about 16 single mom's in the area this past Saturday a.m. It was great! It was neat to meet these ladies and to encourage them through this act of service.

One of the mom's blessed me more than I blessed her: I left my phone in her car while bringing it around from the garage...30 minutes later she brought it back. What a blessing to me!!

Next up - Guys nite out - this thursday at "The Pointe". I hear little "carolina" is playing...we'll see!

FOR SALE: 2007 White Jeep Wrangler

I am not real big into cars. Matter of fact, my first car was a 1972 olds with a 455 engine. We nicknamed it "The Bomb". It was a classic! From there I upgraded my senior year of high school to a 1985 Nissan Pulsar 2-dr with a sunroof. It had a stick shift and was my baby. By the time we had our first real baby 9 years later, it had about 225,000 miles and was no longer very practical with a baby seat. Being the family man and all, I then drove a 1998 white ford taurus. Nothing flashy at all, but it got the job done. Then finally, I moved up to a toyota 4-runner. Great vehicle and has been a blessing even now just crossing the 100,000 mile threshold.

That leads to Sunday night.... I was at the student center and there drove up a 4-door jeep wrangler with a for sale sign on it. Boy, it was nice and it even had a stick shift. I fell in love right then and there. My friend Dan Wooten saw my admiration and took a quick snap-shot. I already could see myself driving around with the top down, music playing in my new jeep.

Then of course, Dave Ramsey pops up in my head. "Live like no else, so later you can live no one else." So true - my toyota 4-runner was just fine and best of all, it is paid for. You know, they say when you get close to age 40, you start making some weird decisions, especially with cars. Maybe that's it? It was nice for a minute and I appreciate Matt from Keffer Dodge in Charlotte allowing me to indulge for a time. Who knows maybe one day, I can own one. If and when I do, I stick to paying cash for it. No loans - being debt free is worth it!!

By the way, through our Operation Blessing series, if you find yourself in a pinch and need a little financial counseling, give us a call at the church office at 843-672-2761. We are giving away free, "Total Money Makeover" books by Dave Ramsey to each person or family that attends a session. Just a thought....

BTW, the jeep shown above was a 2007 with 33,000 miles and was being priced at $23,000.00. Jeep is pretty proud of their product, huh! :)

"The Team"

In ministry, the value of a strong team can not be under-estimated! It has been a privilege to work with this team of folks at South Pointe. Each is uniquely gifted and has made a significant impact upon the kingdom of God in the Pageland community.

Thanks to Joni for her second straight summer pouring herself and Jesus into our kids! Her love for children is obvious and she will be missed as she goes back to North Greenville University to begin her junior year. Pray for her that God will continue to direct her path and be a shining light for Him on the college scene.

Gary and I had the privilege of working together for 18 months in the ministry. If you know Gary - you learn quickly that his passion is music and leading people to worship God. I have admired and respected how he has stretched himself in the area of student ministry. Having no prior experience in this area, he learned quickly that a strong student ministry is built on relationships. If kids know you care, they will come back. I don't even think Gary realizes the impact he has had on our students during this time. Gary will be missed greatly, especially by me. I appreciate his friendship, prayers, and support! I thank him also for teaching this "old pastor" a thing or two about worship. It has been a blessing my brother - and I wish you the best at East Taylorsville!

Dan Wooten - You survived your first year as principal/administrator of the school ministry! Dan is just a great all around guy and is one of the most level-headed, even-keeled persons I know. It takes a lot to rattle Dan and I appreciate his passion for Christian education. His desire is to see kids come to know Christ and for our school ministry to make a difference in families lives. Thanks Dan for all you do brother for the kingdom! Your friendship and constant feedback of encouragement to me is a blessing!

Well - you have all heard the statement there is no "I" in team". The South Pointe team is now down to "2". It's you me and Dan!!! What we are experiencing is what happens in ministry and is a constant reminder to all of us that the ministry is bigger than us. We are simply servants to the King of kings and trust Him to guide and lead us everyday. I can't wait to see who God adds to our picture soon. Stay tuned!

Will the real church step forward please?

When you think of church, what do you think of? Most of us tend to think of a building, a sanctuary, etc. You see - if you study the Bible - more specifically the New Testament book of Acts - this is not the case. Thus the $1,000,000.00 question; how much are we like the 1st century church today in 2009?

I struggle with this...having grown up a pastor's kid, basically "going to church" all of my life, and having served on staff at 4 churches; have we missed something in our endeavor to have a deeper relationship with God?

This pastor says yes! You see the Bible teaches that as believers in Christ, we are the church!! If you lived in the 1st century after Pentecost, you wouldn't have ever said, "I am going to church today." It would not have made sense. The 1st century church was not made of bricks and mortar, but of flesh and bone. We are the church!

Matter of fact, as a father of three, I have tried to be very intentional in the words I use with my children as it relates to church. For example, I do not want them to only associate "church" as a place, so I choose not to say the words, "We are going to church." Instead, I might say, "today, we are driving to Pageland to worship the Lord together."

You may say that it really does not matter. I beg to differ. Our view of "church" touches every aspect of our lives and our view of God himself. This is especially true in the volatile ever-changing church movements today. Among the many church movements and the latest fads, a lot of churches try to copy what another church is doing. Several years ago, everyone was trying to duplicate Saddleback Church by doing the "40 days of Purpose". Is it wrong to do some of these campaigns that reach people? Absolutely not! However, we must be careful to understand that what works in California does not always work in the same community in South Carolina. Each community is different and more importantly is the role of the Holy Spirit in blessing our outreach efforts.

Having said that, this 38 year old pastor is making a renewed commitment to not try to mimic the latest church movement, but to be the unique body of Christ we are and to model ourselves after the 1st century church. Go back and read Acts; some awesome things were happening amidst tremendous persecution. I want to be a part of something bigger than myself just like Paul, Silas, Peter, and those guys were. Do you?

May we step forward and be the church Jesus intended us to be!

Sushi Run anybody?

You ever not liked something even though you've never tried it? I have the reputation of being a somewhat picky-eater. I like steak, chicken, hamburgers, seafood, french fries, and most other things that are not healthy for you. However, a few of my buddies kept talking about sushi....I was like no way!!!

Several months ago, I thought, "you know I am getting to close to 40, why not try something new?" My first sushi experience was at Rusan's in Charlotte and it was a positive one. It was a buffet and had no signs up to know what I was eating. I later found out what some of it was and am thankful there were no signs up!

Fast forward to today - I can't get enough of it! Matter of fact I stopped by a sushi place in Spartanburg today to eat lunch and got some more sushi. Most people who know me pretty well are shocked I would eat it, especially my mother who knows what a picky-eater I was growing up. Perhaps you are like me, one that says -"No Way" without trying it. I tell you it is a whole new world to me now and it is actually a lot healthier than the hamburger and fries that many of us eat.

Drinking diet coke and eating sushi - what is this world coming too?

"Operation Blessing" begins

Have you ever been to Disneyworld? I have been a couple of times and it is a "magical" place. Disney offers an experience that is hard to match. Last year was the "Year of A million dreams" in Disney. It was a year-long campaign where random gifts were given out. Gifts included gift cards, dream fast-passes, one night in Cinderella's Castle, and much more. The dream team were the ones who gave these prizes out at designated times. We happened to be at Hollywood Studios one day and we saw the dream team and were so excited. We received dream fast passes for all of the major rides at the park that day which would allow us to be the first in line for those rides. It was a great feeling! We were in the right place at the right time!

Last night, about 10 of us had the opportunity to go to the local Bi-Lo and help two random families out with their grocery bill. The local newspaper was there taking pictures and doing interviews that will be in print on August 11th in the Pageland area. I have to say it was very humbling to be a part of this type of blessing.

Basically, we spread out all in the store, "spying" on different folks deciding on who to bless. That was very difficult, because there are many in need today. We ended up buying $50 of groceries for two families. One was Donnie and Lori, who had lived in Pageland all of their lives. They seemed shocked and amazed that they were to receive this blessing.

The purpose of this series is not to bring more people to come to South Pointe Fellowship, but to bring hope in people's lives and to know that someone out there cares. Like the Disney dream team, as we bless others it is my hope that "Operation Blessing" will begin a movement in the community where small blessings occur every day. Are you ready to be a blessing?

"The wedding dance"

Kim and I have now been married for 15 years and we had a wonderful wedding. It was a hot day in Charlotte, N.C. and the church was packed. My grandad, Max White was my best man and my dad led the ceremony. We have great pictures and a old video that probably needs to be converted to dvd, but the most memorable event of the day, was seeing my beautiful bride come down the aisle with her dad by her side. Priceless! It was a great day!

I don't remember us dancing at our reception, but there is a wedding video out on youtube that has gone viral in cyberspace. I believe it has like 15 million hits in the last week alone. You have to see this video. Copy this link and turn the speakers up....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8DCt3Lmi28 . Not the most religious song, but you can't say they were not having fun. The couples name are Kevin and Jill and the wedding was in Minnesota. They were on the Today Show a few days ago talking about this with Matt Lauer.

Confessions of a Facebook Hold-out

I know I am not among the 250 million of you who use facebook. Believe me - I feel the pressure everyday. Why not facebook? More on that in a minute. I actually did sign up for an account some months ago. I was on for about 10 minutes and then cancelled the account. Let me first say - that if you are on facebook; I am not mad at you nor I do I think you are wrong for having it. We all have our own personal convictions and we should live by those.

I have seen other people's facebook pages and they seem really cool! Whoever came up with the idea has to be a genius and I am sure is now well compensated for that too. Like most things, there are positive and negative aspects to consider. For me, I had too many people telling me, "Can you believe what they wrote on their facebook page?". I have very little tolerance for gossip, hear-say, and plain out talking about people especially in a public forum that has the potential to be hurtful to others. I realize that some of this I heard was from teenagers, but it sealed the deal when adults act like children in the things they write. I do not have the time nor energy to follow the unending drama! Also, to be honest, there are some relationships in high school, college and other places I have lived that I don't want to re-visit. Nothing personal - just where I am! Maybe being a pastor has something to do with that?!

We all have our own little hang-ups! Some people watch to much television...some eat to much....some of us talk on the phone to much :)....and some of us spend way to much time on facebook! That would be me if I was on it! So I choose to not join the 250 million of you who are on.....

The Bible says in James that we are to watch what we say..(3:6 - the tongue is unruly evil, full of deadly poison)...may we apply that to our fingers on a keyboard as well. By the way, don't be deceived by how many friends you have on facebook. One of my buddies has over 1,000 now! A true friend cares and loves you unconditionally through the good and bad times no matter what. In this high tech world- may we not miss out on true relationships by hiding behind a keyboard and if you choose to use these technologies, be a blessing to others representing Christ in all that we say and do!

Amen?

Waiting on the Mail

I love the latest technologies....I really do! I remember when AOL first came out, and those famous words popped out of the computer - "You've Got Mail!". That was so cool - 90's cool if you know what I mean! Today - our inboxes are loaded up with spam, forward's, etc...almost to the point where it is not fun to check e-mail anymore.

Now, the U.S. Postal service has been around along time. These days most younger folks refer to it is as "snail-mail". Of course, like most things stamps continue to go up in cost, but the post office lines still seem to be longer than ever even in this modern world we live in.

Even greater than e-mail, there is this mystique about what comes in my mailbox on the street each day. I actually look forward to seeing that old ragged white four-door Buick century come down my street and I wonder what might come today. Most of the time it is bills or credit card solicitations, but once in a while it is a nice card, surprise check or a cool magazine or a card from my grandmother. The crazy thing is that I can be away from home for a night and when I call home, one of the questions out of mouth will always be, "Did we get any good mail?"

Here is to all the mail guys and ladies out there....thanks for bringing a little mystique to my day even in this communication frenzied world!

The Cost of Convenience

On our recent trip to Grand Cayman, I quickly became aware of the higher prices of things. Our hotel room had a fridge with some snack items in there that looked pretty good. I was thirsty so I pulled out a diet coke to drink and then noticed the price sheet laying on the counter. The cost for that one can (12 oz.) was $4.00!! So I had a decision to make - drink that can and pay $4.00 or I could walk a mile (I did not rent the car yet) to the local grocery store and buy a 12-pack of diet cokes for $8.00. Convenience does cost a lot! I decided that it was worth the effort to walk a mile and save a little money and have a few diet cokes the rest of the week instead of that one moment.

As I made that mile walk, I realized that many of us treat Christianity the same way. Like the popular "Staples" commercials, we hit the "easy" button. Who doesn't like easy? We all do, but it when comes to being a Christian, the Bible gives no reference to it being easy. If you need proof, start in Acts 4 and keep reading.

The mentality of "Convenient Christianity" is alive in most churches today. This thought process misleads people into believing that we worship and serve God on our terms and when it is convenient to us. Jesus clearly said in Luke 9:57-62 that it costs something to follow Him. It certainly cost Jesus something as He hung on that cross for humanity. May we quit taking shortcuts in our relationship with God and really live our lives as a daily sacrifice to Him. Instead of just saving money may we begin to be a small part of partnering with God in saving souls.

3 hours from paradise!

Sorry for the delay in posts last week. Kim and I were in Grand Cayman celebrating our wedding anniversary and it was very expensive to get on the internet, so I let it go. I have to say that I am blessed with the best wife in the world and it was truly a honor to take her away for a week. We have been blessed to travel quite a bit over the last 15 years, but we really found our own slice of paradise in the Cayman Islands. Who needs a 10 hour flight to Hawaii when you can have your toes in the water at Seven Mile Beach in three hours from Charlotte?

There were many highlights to the trip including driving on the left side of the road, seeing some blowholes, jet skiing off 7 Mile Beach, swimming with and feeding stingrays, but most of all spending 24/7 just with Kim. No need to get gushy.......but I encourage all of you who are married to just get away together. You don't even have to get on a plane, but quality time is needed and keeps you going.

I will try to post a few more pics on this site if you are interested. We hope to see Grand Cayman again soon, but I have this feeling that I might have 3 kids that will want to be with us next time. We shall see.......

Carlos!!!!

This past Friday night, I had the opportunity to take the family to the Charlotte Knights AAA baseball game. We met some of the kids from our church for a "boys nite" out. I had looked at the roster for the Knights before we left and noticed Carlos Quentin was re-habbing with them right now. Carlos is an all-star outfielder for the Chicago White Sox which are the parent club for the Knights. He is one of the white sox best young talents (his salary this year is $550,000.00) and will probably be back playing with them by next week.

With the recent baseball cards packs the boys and I have opened lately, it was not a problem to find one of his cards. So I had the idea that we would go down near the dugout before the game to try and get his autograph. So with gloves, cards, and a sharpie in hand we found the perfect spot. After about 5 minutes, we spotted #20 Carlos Quentin. He walked right by us (20 feet) and didn't even look as we yelled his name (of course, very politely). He went on the field and stretched and took a few swings and came back by us toward the dugout. Of course, we called his name again; he did not even turn his head as he entered the dugout. We were a little disappointed that we missed on getting a major league all-stars auto, but I am very thankful to #17 and #39 who made my boys night by signing their ticket.

We left a little early to get the kiddos in bed, but not before we hit the concessions stand. 6 hot dogs, 2 drinks, 6 ice cream cones, one thing of nachos, and two autographs later, we loaded up. We came, we saw, we conquered! By the way, the knights beat the braves 7-6. Take care Carlos and I hope the yankees take it to you and the white sox the rest of the year!

$5 lunch deal at The Smokehouse

Today, I had the opportunity to eat at the famous, "Smokehouse" restaurant in Jefferson, S.C. for lunch. Get this - $5.00 for an all you can eat buffet including tax and drink. Yes- $5.00! Let's just say this - I gorged myself with fried shrimp, pork tenderloin, fried chicken, barbecue, fries, and hush puppies - not to mention some soft-serve ice cream to top it off. I wasn't the only one in town who had heard about this deal. It was packed, even at 1:00 p.m.

It seems in this tough economy, there are a lot of "deals" to be found. Last night, the Brewster's Ice Cream shop near my house was offering free ice cream for two hours. I heard the line was unbelievable. How did I hear about these amazing deals going around? Well- to be honest someone heard about it and they shared it with me. Interesting concept, huh? As they shared about the Smokehouse deal and the Brewster's deal, they were pretty excited and convincing that I needed to try it. Of course, I have hit Smokehouse three times since.

I thought to myself , "How come we don't tell others about the real deal - Jesus Christ?" We tend to be more excited to tell others about how they can save money then sharing with them about true salvation. This idea really challenges me personally! Matthew 28:19-20 really lays it out for us clearly - Go and Tell! May we go and tell people about Jesus with the same zeal and enthusiasm as we would about free ice cream or the $5 lunch deal. Will that result in our churches being packed out? Not sure about that, but it will result in us being obedient to what God has called us to do! See you soon at the Smokehouse!

"Predictions"

I love this time of the summer! It is the time when the annual college football magazines are published and "experts" make their picks. College football is awesome even if your team is terrible. The fall weather, tail-gating, band playing, and the opportunity to win a big game is rivaled by no other sport. Can you smell the stadium food too? Of course, I am a big UNC tarheel fan and I know we have struggled for the most part, especially when compared to our #1 basketball tradition, but it is fun nonetheless.

There are big expectations on the "Hill" this year. Most magazines have us predicted to be in the top 25 and to compete for the coastal division title. Away games at Va. Tech and Ga. Tech will be major challenges, but are winnable. I have a few tickets this year and am looking forward to the drive up to "Blue Heaven" otherwise known as Chapel Hill on those fall Saturdays.

I hope we have a great season, but all the predictions in the world don't matter when the whistle blows and the ball is kicked. It is up to the players on the field. That is so true of our lives. There are people in our lives that may discourage us and say we are not going to amount to much,,etc.....but the reality is that we make the choices that determine our successes or failures. There are very few teams that go undefeated throughout a whole season today! All great teams face a time when something doesn't go their way and may or may not possibly let one slip away. What makes the difference between a mediocre team and a championship caliber team is how they respond to adversity. Coaches often have a saying - "leave it all out on the field". May we do the same with our lives and give God our very best no matter what others may say.

Go Tarheels!!!

"The Quiet Time"

In religious circles, the term "quiet time" has spiritual understanding of time alone spent with God with little distractions. Ironically, for most who carve out this time with God, it's not really quiet. We either tend to talk the whole time to God or have a little music playing in the background or the TV barely up enough to catch a few words.

In a household that includes my wife and three children under the age of 10, there is not much that is considered quiet time. Yes- even after the kids are in bed, we tend to have a couple of televisions on or music playing in the background. We even have a couple of fans that run all night on low for some background noise to sleep. Fast forward to this week - my whole family is at summer camp in Virginia. Wow- very different around the Qualls' house. Just Chewy and me and he doesn't even bark!!!

Sometimes "quiet times" make us uncomfortable. A few weeks ago as I was speaking at South Pointe Fellowship (where I am pastor); I stopped speaking on purpose for 10 seconds. It seemed like an eternity and you could tell some were uncomfortable with it. In our fast-paced society, I think we have allowed this "noisy" world to desensitize us to the point where we expect to be stimulated 24/7. The result of this is that many of us are uncomfortable with times of silence and miss out on time spent with God alone allowing Him to speak with us.

I can't wait for my family to return this week and all the noise that accompanies them. However, I do think my "quiet week" has taught this 38 year old pastor a few things about cutting out the distractions in my life and having a true "quiet time" with Him. May we all come to a place of not just hearing God, but really tuning in and listening to His still, small voice."

Dealing with our "pet sins"

This week, I had the unfortunate problem of my internet connection going out. In this high-tech world, not being connected even for one hour irritates the fire out of me. It shouldn't but it does. Anyway, I called the cable company who sent someone to my house to fix it. Before they did, they tried to troubleshoot it with me and so forth. Nothing worked! He said he would have to send someone out to check it out in a few hours. That was great and as I was about to hang up, he said, "Mr. Qualls, we are running a special right now on the movie packages. You get Showtime, Cinemax, and the Movie Channel for only $5 a month. That's 18 channels for $5.00 forever."

I have to be honest, having these channels in my house is not a good idea. I have dealt with this "pet sin" in my life over the years. Given - I never have paid for these channels, but have always gotten them for free or had them for a free preview weekend. Not to say that is ok, but it is how I rationalized it. Having these channels was a problem for me, because I ended watching movies I had no business watching - hearing language I did not need to hear, watching violence and other crude stuff that I did not need to be in my mind. Not only would I watch these movies, but I would scroll ahead in the week and plan what I thought might be worth watching. Now you understand my issue with this and how tempting this was for me for a half a second.

In that brief moment as the cable operator waited for my response, many things went through my head of why I should or should not do it. For many of us, those split second decisions are the difference in following God or disobeying Him. We choose to go our way with allot of rationalizing or do what God would have us do. In those moments of temptation, may we choose to quit rationalizing, follow God and kick that pet sin outside to the doghouse.

By the way, I told the cable guy very politely, "no thank you". The picture above is of our boston terrier, "Chewbacca Butch Qualls", otherwise known as "Chewy".

Where did the gum go?

The 80's were some of the greatest times as a kid. One of my favorite hobbies was collecting baseball cards. Of course, back then it was just three companies - Topps (the King), Donruss, and Fleer. Packs cost about .30 cents and all of them had a piece of gum in them. Gone are those days and packs are expensive with so many different brands of cards you can not keep up. However, I still have my Cal Ripken Jr. and Don Mattingly rookie cards that are prize possessions and have been stored up for awhile now.

Fast forward to the last two months where both of my boys have fallen in love with baseball and now want to buy baseball cards. I love baseball and it is so awesome to see my boys enjoying the sport as well. However, we went to our first baseball card shop sometime back and I realized how much things had changed in the baseball card world as far as price. We bought out first box (2009 Topps Finest). Get this - 6 packs for $55.00, but you are guaranteed an autograph. Check out the pic (it is a Will Venable game-worn jersey autograph). The thrill of opening the packs with the boys was awesome, but there was no gum to share.

No doubt in this world we live in, things are constantly changing. May we embrace the change with confidence that our God is still in control. May we live each day to it's fullest embracing those priceless moments with our full attention. May we remember the past, but live in the present and look to the future. And if you can find some of those old wax packs, save the gum for me. I bet it still tastes good after all those years!