Greg's Fishing Hole

posted by Gregory Fish @ 3:17 PM 0 comments

I'd appreciate your prayers on my wife's behalf. She is having troubles in her pregnancy. She has a history of preterm labor. And we want to avoid that at all costs. So doc said yesterday, after a week of complete bed rest, that it'd be six more of the same. I've been playing Mr. Mom and juggling the tasks of the church. You can read up on her blog at here. Thanks!

posted by Gregory Fish @ 10:50 AM 1 comments

September has come and gone. My in-laws visited us here during the last month; they flew down this time. As they were making their plans they mentioned wanting to fly down on the 11th. That made us cringe a little-- just the thought of flying on 9/11. They eventually changed their plans to the 10th, but mostly out of convenience.

It has now been five years now since that dreadful day where innocent people perished and ordinary people became heroes. It causes us all to reflect on life. Major motion pictures have recently been made to honor those families of the fallen. The question has been, “Is it too early to remember this event in this way.” My answer is that it is too soon to forget. You know where you were when you saw or heard the news that day. But everyday we seem to forget what it takes to secure the freedom we enjoy. I am ever grateful to those heroes that make our way of life possible-- ordinary people who do extraordinary things.

I wonder what did God think of 9/11? What does He think of any disaster? Before 9/11 one other tragedy that stuck out in people’s minds was the Oklahoma City Bombing. I have never been to New York. But I have been to Oklahoma City. In fact, I was there shortly after the bombing took place, and saw the building structure in ruins. What did God think of that? Though no one can really answer that question, we see in God’s revealed word that clearly we live in a fallen world. At Creation we were made in God’s image. However the corruption of the fall has stained the every fabric of our lives. Only through Christ can we restore the Imago Dei (image of God) in us, until the ultimate consummation of all things. Scripture also leads us to see that God does show emotion. Just as we wear our emotions on our sleeve, since we are made after His image, we can conclude that healthy emotion come from Him. What emotions are evoked in us after such atrocities like 9/11? It is the same that Jesus felt in John 11:35 after the sudden death of a dear friend. Jesus wept.
This inspired the sculptor of the memorial of the Oklahoma City Bombing. God was grieved over these events and is grieved over the tragedies in your life. When horrible things happen in our lives as a result of living in a fallen world, Christ is there with us crying with us and consoling our souls. Whether an act of terrorism or the loss of a loved one, or an extended stay in the hospital, it does not matter what the circumstance is, God cares about you. That does not change our situation, but it can change the way we view it. The thought that God is saddened by the things that sadden us changes our desire of blaming Him for what He did not do. Let us simply understand, and better yet, trust that God is our refuge and strength and an ever-present help in time of trouble. When we do grieve, we do not grieve like those who have no hope. (Ps. 46:1; 1 Thess. 4:13)

posted by Gregory Fish @ 5:52 PM 2 comments

I've been making a lot of videos lately. I put two more new ones on the church site homepage: Friend Day Promo and Dia de Amigos. I'm in Dia de Amigos, and John's in Friend Day, but they are the same concept. I like the spanish one better, though because of the doors. You'll see what I mean, check it out- www.ccbrownsville.com.

posted by Gregory Fish @ 6:14 PM 2 comments

WOW! Amazing Phil Keaggy video. Watch it.

posted by Gregory Fish @ 9:27 PM 0 comments

Upset or Embarassment?

OK. Even though I was born overseas I have been known to tear up when I hear "I'm proud to be an American." Yet today I found myself routing for Greece and hoping that the USA basketball squad would lose. I did the same thing during the Olympics, rooted for the other teams. Before you write me off as unAmerican, just hear me out. The original dream team was just that-- a Dream Team. Jordan, Johnson, Bird, etc. That was when all the games were blowouts, and everyone knew the USA would dominate. Now we are being put to shame, and they call it upset. It is an upset, we should still dominate, but to me it's an embarassment. Now I'd root for US of A in soccer if we could catch up the rest of the world in that sport, but face the facts the rest of the world has caught up to us in the game of basketball. They say, we don't have enough time to prepare. These other teams have played together before. The rules are different. Boo hoo!! The other teams play like a team. The other teams play defense. The other teams shoot high percentage shots. The other teams aren't stocked with superstars who want to hog the ball and build up their own stats. That's why we are now losing at these events. One would think that were paying these guys enough money so that they could learn to make some of their free-throws. I mean, if I was getting 90 million a year, I think I could probably shoot 80% from the line. The "dream team" will actually be forced to QUALIFY for the 2008 Olympics in Venezuela. It's sad but true. I don't know what the problem is, but I'm sorry, I'm glad when other teams "upset" them. USA, it's no longer a walk in the part. Millions of dollars and oodles of talent cannot secure a gold medal, or bronze even. USA brace yourself for World Basketball. Suit up ready to play, and represent your country well-- the greatest country in the world, well...except in basketball.

posted by Gregory Fish @ 6:20 PM 0 comments