The Virtual Pew: The Ultimate Busted!

After 2 days of trying to get the ultimate video list to upload, it just is not going to work. The reason is quite simple. The list is so large the memory at the host site and at MySpace just can not handle the size of the video. So far I have uploaded around 200 videos and have another 250 to go. In other words, there are almost 500 videos with a Christmas theme I have downloaded to post. Sometimes, things just don't go the way we plan it and we have to make revisions.

That is the way life is and one of the reminders of the Christmas season. How many people set plans, have ideas, and things happen to where what they were wanting just does not happen? We go shopping, and the item we were going to buy is gone, we plan on a job, only to find out someone else has been hired, we plan to pay certain bills, and realize the car tags or something else unexpected is due. Things do not always happen like we plan.

Life often throws you a curve ball. What is not a given is how we respond to those situations that unexpectedly come our way. I challenge it is not that adversity happens it is how we deal with adversity that matters. How I will deal with the reality that there is no way I can post almost 500 videos at once is a reality for me. I can give up, quit or find a way to adjust my plans. We can say the same about any of the challenges life throws us.

I love my faith. One of the things people do not always realize is that for the Christian, our hope and understanding is not in the here and now, it is in the future. Paul addresses this in some of his writings, while we have hope for the future, there is no guarantee that the future the Bible speaks about is in the here and now. It is the hope in the future, in our after life, in other words, for the Christian; the hope is for Heaven and the eternity in Heaven. When looking at things from that perspective, I have come to the conclusion that Scripture provides long term, permanent hope.

I realize that not everyone reading this has that long term hope, yet, hope and the promises are available. I sincerely believe the hope I have in Christ, and the hope I have in eternal life provides me the motivation I need to overcome the obstacles in life, whether financial, addictions, debt, or whatever. I may have to go through some effort to resolve those difficulties, but I challenge, there is a reason that a follower of Christ can feel joy and a sense of freedom. It is not because they are crazy, but because they understand the real power of Christ.

Now please do not take me wrong, I have always cringed at someone who says things like, "Praise God I just broke my leg," or things of that nature. I believe it is perfectly natural to feel and experience pain in difficult times. Yet, it is also natural that we can find strength, and endure through those times.

This experience can be used as an illustration that sometimes life is tough and we face obstacles. In those situations, endure, but, do not just endure, be careful not to put ourselves in those situations. Truth is, sometimes the reason for difficulty is no ones fault but our own. While God will still be there to help, we need to understand there are natural consequences for natural actions.

Jesus came to give us life and then as a result of receiving the life he offers we can experience eternity. We can live life now in a more abundant way. Not necessarily in a material sense, but certainly in a spiritual sense. That gift God offered through his son Jesus is a free gift, but just as any other gift, we have to accept it, and open it. What you choose to do with that gift is up to you. If leaving it wrapped and not accepting it, it really will not do you, or those around you much good. Good luck on your decision.

Now before we get to the videos today, hopefully everyone will remember to pass the blogs along to your friends. The Christmas Special blogs from TVP can help a lot of people. You can show them what we are doing by Clicking Here at this Link. They can also get in the Christmas Spirit by Clicking Here and reading about The Virtual Pew and our Christmas giving options. Also be on the lookout for my story of The Best Christmas Ever, which will be posted around Christmas Day. It is a heart tugging story, and a true testament to the power of Christmas and God. I am really looking forward to retelling this story that is true, and happened to me and my family. It has been published across the world, and I will redo the story, just for The Virtual Pew.

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are numerous postings, and you will have to go into the archives to see the 100 plus postings over the last months.

Now I also want to remind you that you can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page scroll down to the left hand side of the page where you sill see our store. Your purchases through our Amazon store provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something on the page to buy, you can click on the search engine for the store, (do not put anything in the search box at this time) and you will then be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully as you shop for Christmas you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew and/or at the very least shop our store. The items on the store page are highly recommended.

Now prior to checking out the videos for the day, here is that information, contact and contribution information regarding The Virtual Pew. Again, thanks for visiting, have a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate. Just remember though, from The Virtual Pew, we wish you a Merry Christmas.

Contact and Giving Information

Oh Yea, here is that contact information again.

The Virtual Pew

P.O. Box 17731

Wichita, KS 67217

Or you van give on line via Pay Pal at: http://www.furches.org/donations/index.html

To become a part of The Virtual Pew, visit, http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ To learn more about me visit http://www.furches.org/ I am also active on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/mikefurches I have another blog at http://blog.myspace.com/mikefurches To visit the Hollywood Jesus group at MySpace with membership by numerous Hollywood Jesus reviewers visit: http://groups.myspace.com/hollywoodjesus For a more in depth weekly study and conversation you an visit: http://virtualpewsermon.blogspot.com/ where you can access deeper teaching and ultimately videos for viewing and teaching. You can also subscribe to the newsletter at http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ or see the newsletter on line at http://thevirtualpewnews.blogspot.com/ You can also sign up for the free newsletter from The Virtual Pew by visiting the main page for The Virtual Pew, or you can see the newsletters online by visiting this web site: http://thevirtualpewnews.blogspot.com/ You can contact me via email at mike@furches.org or mike@thevirtualpew.com For those interested in knowing more about my own story, contact me for a free e-copy of my book The Keystone Kid in pre-edit form.

Garfield Christmas 1/2