Friends,
On our way to Dallas last weekend with some friends, we stopped in Burleson for dinner...us guys did the Chinese buffet and the girls did Taco Bell. I did not find out until today just how interesting was the girls' visit to "the Bell." The food was nothing spectacular, but when they went to dispose of their "remains from dinner" the garbage can "thanked them." Say what??? A talking garbage can? Apparently so...and it had a number of different sayings. Now I've heard it all!! All I can say is that I guess it gives new definition to...talking trash
:-) (ha ha ha).
Don
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
World Cup Semis
Friends,
The U.S. women's soccer team lost in the World Cup Semifinals this morning to Brazil, 4-0. Unfortunately, the loss was clouded by controversy. The starting goal keeper, Hope Solo, who had not given up a goal in over 300 minutes of Cup play was replaced by hero of the past Briana Scurry. Scurry had a 12-0 record against the Brazilians, yet she had little time to get the chemistry together with this team...and it showed. Solo, who was visibly and verbally upset after the loss, blamed the coach's decision. It is hard to blame her, in many respects, as the loss did indeed appear (in large part) to be the result of a decision that now (good old hindsight) looks awful. The U.S will now play Norway in the 3rd place game. We'll see if the turmoil works for them or against them. Go U.S.!
Don
The U.S. women's soccer team lost in the World Cup Semifinals this morning to Brazil, 4-0. Unfortunately, the loss was clouded by controversy. The starting goal keeper, Hope Solo, who had not given up a goal in over 300 minutes of Cup play was replaced by hero of the past Briana Scurry. Scurry had a 12-0 record against the Brazilians, yet she had little time to get the chemistry together with this team...and it showed. Solo, who was visibly and verbally upset after the loss, blamed the coach's decision. It is hard to blame her, in many respects, as the loss did indeed appear (in large part) to be the result of a decision that now (good old hindsight) looks awful. The U.S will now play Norway in the 3rd place game. We'll see if the turmoil works for them or against them. Go U.S.!
Don
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Lectureship
Friends,
After a wonderful experience at the ACU lectureship over the past three days, we returned home last evening. We were able to visit with friends from other parts of Texas, as well as the Northwest. The keynote speakers and classes were exceptional...considering the subject matter was Micah (?) ;-). One of our two favorite messages was presented by Landon Saunders, Monday evening -- it was powerful; Jeff Walling also had a tremendous lesson last evening. I was able to reconnect with an old (as far as long ago...not his age
:-), professor from my days at Columbia Christian College. Tom Sibley founded and leads a Bible institute in Zagreb, Croatia and I was able to sit in on his class on "the glory of God" and what the Lord is doing in Croatia. It was fun to reconnect and remind him that he pulled a young, freshman "counseling" major into his office and said, "Don, you need to be a Bible major." I thanked him for that and said, "25 years later, I am still a Bible major, thanks in part to the Lord working through you. " These spiritually enlightening lectureship experiences are an excellent time for learning and fellowship. If you have opportunity, I would encourage you to come to ACU next year for the lectureship, the third week of September 2008. God bless.
Don
After a wonderful experience at the ACU lectureship over the past three days, we returned home last evening. We were able to visit with friends from other parts of Texas, as well as the Northwest. The keynote speakers and classes were exceptional...considering the subject matter was Micah (?) ;-). One of our two favorite messages was presented by Landon Saunders, Monday evening -- it was powerful; Jeff Walling also had a tremendous lesson last evening. I was able to reconnect with an old (as far as long ago...not his age
:-), professor from my days at Columbia Christian College. Tom Sibley founded and leads a Bible institute in Zagreb, Croatia and I was able to sit in on his class on "the glory of God" and what the Lord is doing in Croatia. It was fun to reconnect and remind him that he pulled a young, freshman "counseling" major into his office and said, "Don, you need to be a Bible major." I thanked him for that and said, "25 years later, I am still a Bible major, thanks in part to the Lord working through you. " These spiritually enlightening lectureship experiences are an excellent time for learning and fellowship. If you have opportunity, I would encourage you to come to ACU next year for the lectureship, the third week of September 2008. God bless.
Don
Monday, September 10, 2007
Filled with the Spirit
Friends,
I would like to offer some encouragement today. One of my favorite messages in the New Testament is Ephesians 5:18-21, but not for the reasons that you might think. It reads: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." (NAS)
This has typically been THE passage among others that we have used to defend our practice of singing acappella in our fellowship -- and this is fine. We have had to pull it out of its context in order to make this argument, but combined with other New Testament passages, I believe that it is valid. Still what does it REALLY say? There are five spiritual attitudes which are to be present in our lives IF we are filled with the Spirit of God! If we are filled with the Spirit, we will not become drunk with wine or any other alcoholic drink; be filled with the Spirit, not "spirits." If we are filled with the Spirit, we will sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord at other times and on other days than "the appointed times;" songs will be continually be flowing out of our hearts. If we are filled with the Spirit, we will sing not just from the mouth, but it will have special meaning -- coming from the heart; God wants our hearts not vain worship. If we are filled with the Spirit, we will always have thankful hearts to the Lord . So much better to be grateful to the Lord than to be a grumbler. Finally, if we are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, we will live by the golden rule "to do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We do not enforce our will upon others, but yield to them with a spirit of submissiveness.
Now, this certainly is not all there is to living a Spirit-filled life, but it certainly is a good start! Have a great day :-).
Don
I would like to offer some encouragement today. One of my favorite messages in the New Testament is Ephesians 5:18-21, but not for the reasons that you might think. It reads: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." (NAS)
This has typically been THE passage among others that we have used to defend our practice of singing acappella in our fellowship -- and this is fine. We have had to pull it out of its context in order to make this argument, but combined with other New Testament passages, I believe that it is valid. Still what does it REALLY say? There are five spiritual attitudes which are to be present in our lives IF we are filled with the Spirit of God! If we are filled with the Spirit, we will not become drunk with wine or any other alcoholic drink; be filled with the Spirit, not "spirits." If we are filled with the Spirit, we will sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord at other times and on other days than "the appointed times;" songs will be continually be flowing out of our hearts. If we are filled with the Spirit, we will sing not just from the mouth, but it will have special meaning -- coming from the heart; God wants our hearts not vain worship. If we are filled with the Spirit, we will always have thankful hearts to the Lord . So much better to be grateful to the Lord than to be a grumbler. Finally, if we are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, we will live by the golden rule "to do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We do not enforce our will upon others, but yield to them with a spirit of submissiveness.
Now, this certainly is not all there is to living a Spirit-filled life, but it certainly is a good start! Have a great day :-).
Don
Friday, September 7, 2007
Marital Bliss
Friends,
This week I have been married to my wonderful wife, Kimberly for 20 years. The actual day was yesterday, the 6th, but we are going to celebrate with friends tomorrow. She has been THE primary blessing from the Lord in my life and I am so thankful that she has been my partner in ministry. Our wonderful children put together a special 20th anniversary picture CD for our enjoyment -- it brought tears of joy to our eyes. Have a blessed day!
Don
This week I have been married to my wonderful wife, Kimberly for 20 years. The actual day was yesterday, the 6th, but we are going to celebrate with friends tomorrow. She has been THE primary blessing from the Lord in my life and I am so thankful that she has been my partner in ministry. Our wonderful children put together a special 20th anniversary picture CD for our enjoyment -- it brought tears of joy to our eyes. Have a blessed day!
Don
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Moving Mountains
Friends,
I posted this message once, but now it has some new meaning for me. I frequently think about Jesus' profound statement concerning faith -- "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains (Matthew 17:20)" It would appear that this does not require very much faith, since a mustard seed is pretty small. Remember that this saying was Jesus' response to His disciples for not being able to cast out a demon -- they had (very) little faith, it would appear. Wow! If all it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains, what does it say about how "big", rather, "small" was their faith? Would it be as big as an atom?I like to say, jokingly, that "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed and a backhoe, you could move a mountain." It really is a bad joke, not just because of the joke -- but isn't this the root of the problem with many of us Christians? We tend to think that we can make everything happen on our own. We like to be self-sufficient -- "I can handle it." This is the American way! Why should I need to live by faith, when I have everything I could ever want or need in these good old United States. Aren't we missing something here? (An eternal perspective, perhaps?) Daily Bible study? I know I need it, but I have too many things going on. Come to the building for Bible Study? You have got to be kidding! Not when I already have the Bible figured out! Not when these people are not like me! Not when I do not even like some of them! Not when we have work, play, school, sports, agriculture, rest, computer, books, more work, etc.This is the most difficult part of this little equation isn't it? The application -- What about us? While we Christians play "king of the mole hill" as it pertains to arguings, maneuverings, gripings, judgings, grudgings, busyness -- there are scores of people in the church and out of the church who need to see Jesus living in us, and it may or may not be happening. We need to be able to move mountains! This can only happen through genuine faith. Are we willing to exercise the humility and the submission to get there? Lord, please help my faith! I want to be able to move mountains, and I know that it can only happen with your help and guidance? Lord, help us all to take ourselves off of the mountain (mole hill) top and elevate you back to your rightful place where you belong! Help us to humble ourselves and get back to studying the Bible (individually and collectively). Help us to pray! Help us to fellowship! Father, help our faith; help us not to be satisfied with "atom-sized faith". Father, help it to be as big as a mustard seed -- and even bigger! We need you and we need each other if we are going to make a difference. Burn the apathy and the indifference out of our spirits and souls. Help us to care! Renew our hearts! Renew our spirits. "Create in me a clean heart, O God... and renew a right spirit within me!" Help us to yearn, to long, to desire -- to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)!Jesus said to her, "woman believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father...but an hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers." (John 4:21, 23). Are you willing to be a true worshipper?
Don
I posted this message once, but now it has some new meaning for me. I frequently think about Jesus' profound statement concerning faith -- "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains (Matthew 17:20)" It would appear that this does not require very much faith, since a mustard seed is pretty small. Remember that this saying was Jesus' response to His disciples for not being able to cast out a demon -- they had (very) little faith, it would appear. Wow! If all it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains, what does it say about how "big", rather, "small" was their faith? Would it be as big as an atom?I like to say, jokingly, that "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed and a backhoe, you could move a mountain." It really is a bad joke, not just because of the joke -- but isn't this the root of the problem with many of us Christians? We tend to think that we can make everything happen on our own. We like to be self-sufficient -- "I can handle it." This is the American way! Why should I need to live by faith, when I have everything I could ever want or need in these good old United States. Aren't we missing something here? (An eternal perspective, perhaps?) Daily Bible study? I know I need it, but I have too many things going on. Come to the building for Bible Study? You have got to be kidding! Not when I already have the Bible figured out! Not when these people are not like me! Not when I do not even like some of them! Not when we have work, play, school, sports, agriculture, rest, computer, books, more work, etc.This is the most difficult part of this little equation isn't it? The application -- What about us? While we Christians play "king of the mole hill" as it pertains to arguings, maneuverings, gripings, judgings, grudgings, busyness -- there are scores of people in the church and out of the church who need to see Jesus living in us, and it may or may not be happening. We need to be able to move mountains! This can only happen through genuine faith. Are we willing to exercise the humility and the submission to get there? Lord, please help my faith! I want to be able to move mountains, and I know that it can only happen with your help and guidance? Lord, help us all to take ourselves off of the mountain (mole hill) top and elevate you back to your rightful place where you belong! Help us to humble ourselves and get back to studying the Bible (individually and collectively). Help us to pray! Help us to fellowship! Father, help our faith; help us not to be satisfied with "atom-sized faith". Father, help it to be as big as a mustard seed -- and even bigger! We need you and we need each other if we are going to make a difference. Burn the apathy and the indifference out of our spirits and souls. Help us to care! Renew our hearts! Renew our spirits. "Create in me a clean heart, O God... and renew a right spirit within me!" Help us to yearn, to long, to desire -- to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)!Jesus said to her, "woman believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father...but an hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers." (John 4:21, 23). Are you willing to be a true worshipper?
Don
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