Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

Webster’s Definition
Phrases:

class act a person or thing displaying impressive and stylish excellence.
in a class of (or on) its (or one’s) own unequaled, esp. in excellence or performance : the delicacy of English roses puts them in a class of their own.

When Donovan McNabb got treated poorly by his coach at the Washington Redskins, he said,
“this is football, things happen, you can’t let it get you down, coaches have the right to make whatever decision they feel is best for the team, I’ll be fine.” That’s being a Class Act.

When the Denver Bronco’s Brandon Lloyd was named to the Pro Bowl yesterday after a season with over 1,300 yards in catches, having been cut by the Redskins and the 49ers in previous seasons, he was asked if he had a word for them? “Blank you!” was his response, that’s not class.
Brandon Lloyd is a great athlete, but he is an immature young man, who needs to learn a few things. A better response would have been, “My receivers coach has really helped me with my game, or my quarterback delivered the ball on target so many times.” How about, “I thank God for the opportunities I’ve had here in Denver.” None of that would be hard to say, if it were true. That isn’t what was on his mind though, it was getting even, in your face time. That won’t take him very far. Will he continue to be a great football player?, maybe, but there is a lot more to life than that. Someday football will come to an end for him, what will he be then?

In both of these men’s eyes they felt they had been treated unfairly, one took the high road, knowing there is more to a career than one instance, the other acted like a child allowing his anger
and resentment to rule his response. It might be noted that Brandon lloyd didn’t perform anywhere nearly as well with the other two teams. I bet if he had, he would still be a 49er or a Redskin.

When asked why he had a MVP season, Tom Brady said, “the team did their job, I did mine, we accomplished it all together, that’s about it.” Class Act………

O.K. over the coming weeks and months you will get an opportunity, or two, to respond with class. What will you do? The time to decide is now.

You might want to consider, what would Jesus do?

the pilgrim

*Photo note: D3s and the 200-400 AFS VR II lens. Processed with Topaz Psychedelic filter.

Note: I’m traveling tomorrow to Florida to visit family for the New Years Weekend, I will post
Thursday, and Friday, maybe even over the weekend, but they may be late in the day posts.

Have a Blessed New Year……….

I was driving down the road today when a car passed and I caught a glimpse of this bumper sticker. O.K. it may be cute but to me it borders on being sacrilegious. I’ve also seen the Ichthus symbol, you know, the fish, that has grown legs and says Darwin inside, another, at least I think,
swipe at Christians. The world would explode if you had a bumper sticker on your car that took a
shot at Muslims, or Buddhists, but Christians are fair game. This organization is a part of the

Humane Society and it promotes kindness to animals and animal adoption, both very worthy causes, but do you have to border on this kind of stuff to sell your mission????? Hey guys,
I love dogs, and have had a lot of them, and consider them family, but is this right?

Maybe I’m being overly sensitive, but after a Holy season with lawsuits to prevent Nativity scenes
on public property and stores being sued for having signs up that say Merry Christmas, is it no wonder………..

the pilgrim

“Come on Man” chime in on this…………..

Oh, and this one………

Our youth pastor, Drew, stood in for our Senior Pastor yesterday and preached a wonderful sermon. In that sermon he used that phrase, “cracking the code”. It lead to a lot of thought and
this is what God has revealed to me. If you come here often you know that this blog is about one thing and one thing only, encouraging the reader to get to know Christ. (O.K. we have a little fun along the way and talk some photography, but those are definitely side board issues.)

I believe that people, after a lot of consideration, or facing difficult circumstances come to a decision about a relationship with Jesus. They either decide that they can’t go on without Him, or they aren’t willing to submit to Him, or anyone.

It is the quintessential American attitude to pull ones self up by your boot straps. There is only one problem with that approach to life, no matter how much you accomplish and gain, at some point you will come to a brick wall, and realize your efforts, alone, cannot over come it. You can own everything you ever wanted and still feel empty. You can do all kinds of “good” deeds and still
not feel, fully fulfilled. You can feel loved and still not have the peace and joy you thought that would bring.

The Code is that there is a God shaped hole in all of us, and no matter how hard we try to fill it with other people, accomplishment, and things, it won’t fill the emptiness. You were designed to need God, and God is Love, and He wants and needs you.

A man once told me that he was terrified of what God might do with Him if he submitted to Him.
I can understand the fear of the unknown, but this is not unknown territory. I’m sure you know someone who is fully committed to their relationship with God. Seek them out and ask them if they have any regrets about trusting in Him? I bet you can’t find anyone who will say that giving their heart to God was a mistake.

The people that fight God insist on empirical evidence. Fine, go and ask those that know, and find your own evidence. No matter how many times I encourage that pivotal step in your life, it will not happen until you feel the need to “Crack the Code” for yourself.

the pilgrim

We Are The Reason
   ——Avalon

As little children we’d dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we’d find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We are the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more of our gifts
The giving of ourselves and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day a man hung crying in the rain
Because of love
Because of love

*Chorus

I finally found the reason for living
It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him (every part to Him)
And all that I do every word that I say (you know I’ll be saying)
I will give all my life just for Him, just for Him (every thing for Him)

We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give (all that he could give all)
To show us the reason to live

#He is the reason to live
(don’t you know do you know the reason
that he came, oh he came to save us
when he gave his life for us) he suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave everything (everything that He had He gave)
To show us the reason to live

We awoke this morning to a White Christmas, something I wish for every year, but seldom happens. I pray that you will feel the greatest joy that comes from the celebration of Christ’s birth and all He has done for us.

the pilgrim