Driven by Eternity at the Age of 30

My Dear Friends:

Recently I was listening to 30, and album by Harry Connick, Jr. I was struck by the fact that here was a successful young man who, at the same age as I am now (for those who do not know, I just turned 30 last week) was in the midst of a blossoming career in music and film. In doing so I began to contemplate my own success and what our society considers a successful person this day in age. If I was measured up to their expecations I would hardly be considered successful.

So, what is the definition of successful in our world's eyes? Is it how much money or property that one has? How about how many friends they have? How about how they have impacted the world with their generous giving of time and money? However, after spending some time away from the Lord I have come to the conclusion that none of this matter in the eternal scheme of things. As we look towards our eternal future we will be considered successful in how we used the gifts that the Lord, our Father has bestowed upon us and our reaction to the Lord's Ultimate Gift of Grace in His Son, Jesus Christ. With that said I consider myself more successful than any rock star or movie star or CEO. It means more to me to be considered a success in my Creator's eyes than the eyes of the world. So, let me close this thought with the "10 Things God Won't Ask You."

Blessings Upon You as You Find Favor in the Eyes of the Lord,

Chas

1. God won't ask you what kind of car you drove. He will ask you ow many people you drove who did not have transportation.
2. God won't ask you the square footage of your house. He will ask you how many people you welcomed into your home.
3. God won't ask you about the clothes you had in your closet. He will ask you how many you helped clothe.
4. God won't ask you your highest salary was. He will ask compromised your character to obtain it.
5. God won't ask you what your job title was. He will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
6. God won't ask how many friends you had. He will ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
7. God won't ask you what kind of neighborhood you lived in. He will ask you how well you treated your neighbors.
8. God won't ask you the color of your skin. He will ask about the content of your character.
9. God won't ask why it took so long to seek salvation. He will just lovenly take you to your Mansion in Heaven.
10. God won't ask how many people you share this with. He already knows your decision.

Reaching Out to Those Who Are Reaching Out for Us

It has come to my attention that the sailors listed below have recieved little to no mail since arriving on their tour of duty. Especially at this time of year where we reach out to those who are in need, the morale of our troops is very important. If you could find time to send a care package or note to one of them it would surely be greatly appreciated.

In His Undying Service,

Chas

The address is:
Name (listed below)
NPDB
APO, AE 09375

1. ADAN ALLEN, CALEB
2. SK1 ALMY, FREDERICK
3. SN ALVARADO, JORGE
4. OS3 ALOMAR, JOSEPH
5. SN BAHAM, MICHAEL
6. EM1 BAILEY, MICHAEL
7. EN2 BASKETT, SEWELL
8. OS2 BAUMGARTNER, WILLIAM
9. AN BELL, MORRIS
10. IT2 BOLA, ORDELL
11. HM2 CARR, TERESA
12. RP2 CARRERA, GERSOM
13. SK3 CHAN, MANYIN
14. SK2 CONTE, CHARLES
15. FC2 EDWARDS, LAMONT
16. AM3 FONSECA, VLADIMIR
17. SW1 GRAHAM, WILLIAM
18. IT2 HANLEY, MICHELLE
19. ET3 HERRERA, DANNY
20. PSSN HICKS, ROBERT
21. ET2 HODGES, ROBERT
22. YN3 HUTCHISON, CARI
23. BMSN JACKSON, VANDES
24. AMAN KEMPF, PAUL
25. STG1 LILLEY, ORLANDO
26. AO3 LISTER, SHAMAR
27. CTT2 MATHEWS, NOEL
28. CS3 MCCRACKEN, CHRISTOPHER
29. AM3 MCDUELL, JERRY
30. YN2 MEDINA,
31. ABF3 MILAM, JOSEPH
32. MA3 OWENS, GREGORY
33. BM3 PEARSON, STANLEY
34. ATAN PHAY, TONY
35. PSSN ROSS, ANTONIO
36. ABEAN SEGOVIA, DANIEL
37. CS1 SEVIER, BILLY
38. AN SINGLETON, JAMIE
39. ABHAN SOCHA, DAVID
40. ABHAN SPEIGHT, DONAVAN
41. STG2 TACKETT, TRAVIS
42. IT2 TEEMS, GLENDEN
43. HM2 TRAN, NATURE
44. AT2 VINCENT, RILEY
45. FC1 WOODS, CURTIS
46. AD3 VERAS, PABLO
47. ABHAN YOUNG, DEREK
48. CTT2 ZEMORE, PETER

Christmas Letter to the World 2006

Christmas 2006

Dear Friends and Family:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The time of year is here once again where we celebrate all that is good and great…and the Lord has sure been both in my life this past year. I would like to begin by thanking each and everyone of your for your steadfast prayers during this time in my life. I arrived here in Colorado on Saturday, August 19th and have been loving it ever since. I have made some wonderful friends, re-established some friendships and overall have been blessed by so much out here.

I started this journey west over a year ago when I recommitted my life to the Lord after seven years of not actively being in Communion with Him. He has surely carried me through this time of repentance and forgiveness with unfathomable love and kindness. In July of 2005 I moved back home with the folks for a time to gather my thoughts and life and get finances back in order. This time spent close to loved ones was a blessed time of renewal and rest in my life, especially spiritually. I started attending Brandywine Valley Baptist Church with my sister, Jen, and made some lasting friendships that I look forward to seeing grow, even with such a great distance between us. In August 2005 I made the decision to re-enter my field of Outdoor Education and began quickly pursuing the notion of graduate school. I visited the University of Utah in January of this year and had a wonderful time reminiscing with friends and skiing the great snow of Utah. Unfortunately, graduate school did not work out and so I started looking for work in Utah and Colorado. After a thrilling 5 day road trip across country and a jam packed Saturn, I arrived in Gunnison, CO, ready to face the world.

I have been with San Juan Youth Works as a Wilderness Instructor since August 21st. SJYW is a 90 wilderness therapy program for at risk young men between the ages of 13 and 17 in the state of Colorado. It is a challenging, rewarding, tiring, stressful, awesome job where I am able to touch the lives of some lost young men in this world. The schedule is great, with 8 days on and 6 days off and a two month sabbatical from the kids during the winter months. This gives me time to rest, visit with friends, enjoy the Colorado winter, and catch up on things in my personal life. You never know when I will call and say I am going to be in town during this time, so be prepared for a guest.

As I mentioned before, this is the time of year to remember all the Goodness and Greatness that our Lord is in our lives. He has taught me so much over the past 18 months about who He is and who I am in an everlasting relationship with Him. I have found a great little church here in Gunnison and have made some great friends there. We are currently reading a book called Driven By Eternity by John Bevere. The one thing that I have learned from this book so far (and the most important lesson in my life so far, which is why I want to share it with you) is that we all have an eternal destiny. What is yours? What is mine? How is the life that you are living today and for the rest of your life going to affect your life eternal? Our Heavenly Father wants to be in lasting communion with us. My life for seven years is a picture of the eternal life that one can have without this communion with the Lord, Our God. It can be either eternally lonely and heartbreaking separate from Our Creator or eternally joyful and awesome with the Giver of Life. Ultimately it comes down to Grace – the undeserved gift that our Father has given us on the Cross over 2000 years ago. Do I accept this gift, forsake my self, pick up my own Cross, carry it and live my life accordingly or do I deny the One who Redeemed me and live my life according to that decision? He is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life. No one can enter the Father’s Kingdom except through Him.

The Lord has been so good to me during this time in my life and I look forward to hearing what Fruit your own life has been producing. In the meantime, would you please pray for the following areas in my life:

1. May the Lord continue to bless me by surrounding me with those that will carry towards the Lord and not away from him.
2. May the Lord continue to have His hand in the relationships that I have far away.
3. May the Lord continue to watch over those loved ones back in Delaware that I have left behind, especially my Grandmother.
4. May the Lord continue to have His hand in my personal life, financially, emotionally, and spiritually.
5. May the Lord continue to heal me as I continue to forsake my past and battle with the temptations of this World.
6. May the Lord continue to use me for His Glory and not my own.
7. May the Lord continue to direct my Life for His Will and not my own.
8. May the Lord continue to keep me focused on His Grace and the Gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.
9. May the Lord continue to assist me as I declare my Dependence on Him.
10. May the Lord continue to use me as a vessel to declare His Message to the World by living my Life according to His plan.

Thank you again for all your prayers and support and I look forward to hearing from you soon. If you ever find yourself in my lil’ corner of the world, please let me know. I would love to share this with you.

Lovingly His Faithful Servant,


Chas