Anchor Points

Good Evening Everyone,

I know I usually try to write articles on this blog that are purely religious in nature but tonight I thought I would try something a little different. While there will be a religious spin on this article my hope is to , as my good friend Troy Albers would say, wax philosophical. So that being said sit back and enjoy.

When I was in the 11th grade I was offered a position singing with the chamber choir at my high school. To say I was thrilled would be an understatement! I spent the next two years learning how to sing and making a lot of friendships. I think back on this and at that time of my life it was a turning point. Learning to sing in an ensemble teaches you a lot about what life is all about. You learn all about teamwork, camaraderie, and relying on the people you work with.

While joining the chamber choir was a turning point in my life as a junior in high school it now serves as an anchor point in my life. I believe we all have these anchor points in our lives that help make us the people we are today. These anchor points take different forms for different people. For some people it might be a place, or a sight or even a smell. For me the anchor point of my chamber choir experience is in the form of the song "That Lonesome Road" by James Taylor. This was the first song we learned in our group and the words have always stuck with me. Take a look and see for yourself what they say.

"That Lonesome Road" by James Taylor

Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself
Don't turn your head back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon
Is shining high above the trees

If I had stopped to listen once or twice
If I had closed my mouth and opened my eyes
If I had cooled my head and warmed my heart
I'd not be on this road tonight
Carry on
Never mind feeling sorry for yourself
It doesn't save you from your troubled mind
Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself
Don't turn your head back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon

Is shining high above the trees

Like I said, I love this song, I often times find myself humming or singing this song to myself. The song serves as a reminder of what your life can be like if you don't slow down and think about your actions and that ultimately you may find yourself walking down a lonesome road if you don't.

This song anchors me because I know I don't have to walk down a lonesome road. I have a heavenly father that never leaves my side. I have a family that loves and cares about me and eleven months ago today we added our little Emma to our walk down life's road.

I don't know what your anchor points are in your life but I hope that you're not making decisions that will force you to walk down a lonesome road all by yourself. What are your anchor points? I'd love to hear what helps keep you grounded and what helps to make you the person you are today. I hope you are blessed today.

Be Strong and Courageous,

Paul

p.s. Here is a really cool video of James Taylor singing this song I hope you enjoy it

Godly Friendship

Good Afternoon Everyone,

This is a sermon I preached this past Sunday on the topic of Godly Friendship taken from 1 Samuel 20. I hope you all enjoy this and get something out of it.-Paul

Godly Friendship from Paul Cartwright on Vimeo.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Two posts in one day!!! No one was as surprised as me. Here is a sermon I preached this past Sunday evening I hope you all enjoy-Paul

When I Grow Up I Want To Be from Paul Cartwright on Vimeo.

Have You Told Someone Today?

Good Morning Everyone,

It would have been difficult in the last week to turn on your television, radio or computer and not hear about the death of the singer Amy Winehouse. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that most of the people reading this article were not fans of this singer, in fact, I will go even further and say that a good number of you had probably never even heard of this singer until her passing. While I could never be considered a fan of Amy Winehouse I can say with no reservation that she was extremely talented and gifted with a soulful voice, a voice that will never sing again. The talent of Amy Winehouse was always overshadowed by her antics on and off the stage. She was a known substance abuser and her personal life choices were shameful to say the least, these personal life decisions in many ways defined her much more than her talent did. I look at the life of Amy Winehouse and it seems that she leaves behind more questions than answers. Here is my question regarding the life of Amy Winehouse. Did anyone ever share the gospel with her?

I have researched this singer’s life and the only reference I can find to religion is the fact that she born into a Jewish family. Amy Winehouse is just the latest example of someone who lived a very high profile life and died at a young age without the benefit of knowing the saving grace of Jesus Christ. What’s even more alarming is that Amy Winehouse is far from unique in this regard. We come into contact every day with people who have not had the Gospel shared with them, and because of that fact, these people have no chance at salvation.

We all have our “reasons” for not sharing our faith with people we meet. We are afraid we might offend someone with the Gospel, we claim that we don’t have enough time to do a good job of sharing the Gospel or maybe we even think that these people are living such sinful lives that they are beyond reaching. All of these “reasons” would be more accurately referred to as excuses. The Gospels help us understand what it means to make someone’s needs. Matthew 25:34-40 is a prime example of this.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’- Matthew 25:34-40

I’m not going give Amy Winehouse any space on my Ipod or watch her funeral on Television, but, her untimely death will serve as a reminder to me to not pass up an opportunity to share my faith when it presents itself. How about you? What are you going to do when the next opportunity presents itself to share your faith? I hope this high profile death will serve as a reminder of our responsibility as Christians.

Be Strong and Courageous,
Paul

Sunday Night Sermon Take 2

Hey Everyone,

I have heard that some folks are having trouble hearing with the sermon I posted. Here is the audio file and it is much clearer.

Thanks Paul

Sunday Evening's Sermon

Here is a sermon I preached on Sunday eveing I hope you enjoy

3 Prerequisites For Life from Paul Cartwright on Vimeo.

Sometime being buys accomplishes nothing

Good Evening,

Have you ever had one of those days where you were busy all day long but you accomplished absolutely nothing? I had one of those days today. I went to my office and worked and did things that I thought needed to be done. I came home and put out a few little fires that needed tending to. I even managed to fix supper for the family, and it all felt so empty. While days like this bother me they also help me to see God more clearly...let me explain that one.

Yes I felt like I got very little accomplished in my office today because I was working on tasks that seemed to only be busy work ,and frustrating busy work at that, but in the middle of that I got to read something that made me smile. A sweet sister in Christ sent me a note with a suggestion on how to help my boys in the youth group excel at leading public worship. More than that she ended her note by telling me how much she appreciated the work I do. WOW!!!

After putting out those little fires while at home I felt drained only to have an amazing conversation with an old college roommate of mine who is also in ministry. He had a day today where he felt very busy but felt he accomplished nothing too. WOW!!!

Someone once said you can't appreciate the sunshine without the rain and today I learned a little bit more about how to appreciate the sunshine. Are you busy? Do you feel that your efforts aren't accomplishing anything? Join the club. But also remember that someone is benefiting from whatever it is that you are doing, the trick is to figure out who those people are and hold them close to you. I hope you are all as blessed today as much as all of you bless me.

Be Strong and Courageous,

Paul