Saturday, April 26, 2008

A Beautiful Day


Today was the typical "lazy Saturday" for me. Really, that's a mild way to put it. I stayed up until after 5 AM last night watching "The Green Mile" with my quadmates, and then I didn't set my alarm to get up at any particular time today-- so I ended up not waking up until after 4 in the afternoon. In other words, I basically wasted most of my weekend. So after going through my "morning" routine, I went for a walk (to check my mailbox), and I realized just what a beautiful day it was outside. And then I thought about how often I takes days like these for granted. Seriously, I wait and wait all winter for summer to roll along, and then when it gets here I love the weather, but I sit in my room all day, or sleep, or whatever.
Every single day is a gift from God. I don't mean that as the cliche as in "every day we're alive is a good day;" when I was out for that walk I realized that every part of the day is a literal gift. The breeze, the feeling of heat on my back, the green grass and the beautiful blue sky, the birds chirping... it's all a gift from a good and gracious God. And usually, I don't do anything about it. I'd rather sit in my air conditioned room at my computer most of the day than go out and enjoy what God has placed for our enjoyment! Instead of going on a hike, or playing sports outside, or going for a bike ride, I just chill out, and then I stay up too late every night so I end up wasting half of the next day that God has given for my enjoyment by sleeping.
So what I'm saying is let's go outside, and let's enjoy everything that God has given us; let's think about how He made the earth the way it is so that we can enjoy it and take pleasure in the day. And most importantly, let's thank God for every little blessing we find in our lives- whether the sun is shining during a thunderstorm (my favorite weather- when it's sunny and raining at the same time), the birds are chirping and the leaves are blowing in the wind, or whether the waves beat on the rocks and the sea mist cools our face. It's all from God, and it's all for God. Thank Him, and enjoy Him.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Penguins vs. Rangers


The Pittsburgh Penguins open up their 2nd round vs. the New York Rangers tonight. Should be a fun one to watch. Sean Avery, the poster-pest of the NHL, got under the skin of Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur in the first round, enough to keep him from playing to his ability. The Penguins are trying to play their own mind games tonight though. Jarkko Ruutu (the Penguins pest) was told about Sean Avery's internship with the magazine Vanity Fair this summer. His take?

"Those things are for girls."


Go Pens!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Welcome!


Welcome to "Strong to the End." The blog title is based on 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, which says that "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." As Christians we are called to be "strong to the end," but not by our own strength or power. It is only by God's power that we are kept strong to the end, and he is faithful to keep us. Continue to rely solely on God, His power, Word, and Spirit, and Christ's work on the cross and resurrection. If you remain focused on the cross, if you keep from averting your attention and your worship to things of this world, God will keep you-- strong to the end.


I hope you enjoy this blog and I pray that it would encourage and challenge your faith daily!


Greg Hartnett, Jr.