Friday, November 14, 2008
God where are you?
Have you ever asked this question? Have you ever asked God to “just be with me.” There were two believers in the Bible (Luke 24:13-34) who thought this same kind of thing. After Jesus rose from being dead, the two men were walking down the road when Jesus himself came to walk with them. However, these two men didn’t know it was Jesus because God kept them from recognizing him. The men were complaining about their leader, Jesus, not being around anymore to help them with their problems, share good stories with them that might have something to do with life if you think about it in the right way, and to attract big crowds of people to preach to. These men were so discouraged they even began to question if Jesus was the Messiah.
I know that many believers have wondered where God was at certain points in their life. They have asked the question “God where are you?” The funny thing about this question, even ironic, is that if someone really thought the God had left them, they wouldn’t call out for him at all. If your wife goes shopping, do you start talking to her like she is standing right their? Do you talk to your husband, like he’s in the room, about his day after he has already left for work? While your kids are at school do you talk to them about their homework? Most likely not. Why? Because they are gone and you know it. What’s the purpose in calling out for someone who is not there?
We believe that God is still here but we are sometimes just too focused on what’s going on around us, our own problems, and our own disappointments to notice Him in our lives. What is keeping you from recognizing God working in your life?
Remember when you feel like you are completely alone, God is closer than you realize. After the men realized who was with them and Jesus left, they talked about the burning (Esh’) that they were feeling as Jesus talked to them. Ask the Holy Spirit today to burn away clouds that cover up the presence of God in your life.
I know that many believers have wondered where God was at certain points in their life. They have asked the question “God where are you?” The funny thing about this question, even ironic, is that if someone really thought the God had left them, they wouldn’t call out for him at all. If your wife goes shopping, do you start talking to her like she is standing right their? Do you talk to your husband, like he’s in the room, about his day after he has already left for work? While your kids are at school do you talk to them about their homework? Most likely not. Why? Because they are gone and you know it. What’s the purpose in calling out for someone who is not there?
We believe that God is still here but we are sometimes just too focused on what’s going on around us, our own problems, and our own disappointments to notice Him in our lives. What is keeping you from recognizing God working in your life?
Remember when you feel like you are completely alone, God is closer than you realize. After the men realized who was with them and Jesus left, they talked about the burning (Esh’) that they were feeling as Jesus talked to them. Ask the Holy Spirit today to burn away clouds that cover up the presence of God in your life.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
I am "pumped"...
about pumping gas at the Gas Buy Down was awesome today. We were completely slammed from 10 until 12. We pumped gas, washed windows and meet a lot of cool people. The feeling you get from serving others without expecting anything in return is truly priceless. That’s what Agape love for others looks like. I can’t even imagine how God feels after he shows Agape love to everyone in the world. Wow, God is good. Thank you to everyone who served their community today and showed the love of Jesus to others. That is how we want our church to be defined, by how we help others in need.
Check out the photos by clicking here
Check out the photos by clicking here
The craziest thing I've ever seen
This week I saw one of the craziest things ever. Dana and the kids went out of town for the day. I talked to her on her way home and when after she got home. She called me after the kids went to bed and asked me to pick up some medicine on my way home. As I pulled onto the driveway, at about 10:00pm, I notice the passenger side rear tire looked funny. I thought, “What could Dana have run over that stuck to the tire?” It was dark so I just rub my had across the weird looking spot, being careful because I thought it was something nasty, and it had a sound like a dry leaf. So I tried to grab it and pull it off. When I did that is when I realized something was really wrong. My finger got stuck and began bleeding. Leaves can’t do that. I just happened to have my flashlight in my pocket, as good Boy Scouts always do, and shined a light on the tire. That’s when I saw there was a huge chuck of the tire missing. The rubber was gone all the way down to the wire cords that keep the tire together and some of them were busted. Immediately I was thankful that Dana and the kids were safe at home. I began thanking God right then as I was rushing inside. Dana was lying on the couch and I gave here a big hug and told her I was so thankful that she and the kids were alive. She was confused and asked why I would just say that. I told her what I saw on the tire. She sat up and said “I knew something happened to the tire on the way home tonight. I stopped to look at what could have happened. I didn’t see any thing and I even kicked the tire and it had air. So I drove home.” Dana drove home on the interstate at 70 mph on this tire:
Grace and Peace to you,
Doug
Isn't that crazy. I believe that with all my heart the God kept that tire together. Dana and I have committed our lives to serving Christ but we are not perfect and sometime fail in this commitment. In Proverbs 2 verse 8 God makes this promise:
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
He always comes through on his promises and he proved that to us once again this week. Our God is a great God who loves us even when we don’t show love to him. I prayed that evening with Dana and thanked God for his protection for my family. Even though I don’t always show love to God, he always shows love to me. I give all praise and glory to God for my life and my family.
Grace and Peace to you,
Doug
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Gas Buy Down
This is going to be a blast. You don't want to miss it. The reaction we will get from people is priceless. See you Saturday.
An Awesome Weekend
Last weekend was one of the most awesome weekends of my life. I got home on Friday night at about 11:15pm or so and I wasn’t even the least bit tired. I was so pumped up because of what had happened that night and was going to be happening throughout the weekend I couldn’t go to sleep. Just ask Dana who was trying to go to sleep but I couldn’t stop talking.
Let me explain for those of you who don’t know. On Friday, Halloween, the Salisbury campus had the Hallelujah Festival (the safe alternative to Halloween). We had Trunk or Treat, tons of games for kids, free hot dogs and pop corn, costume contest, and much more. The coolest part is the Bible Woods Hay Ride. For this we have my students, at different spots, in the woods, not to scare people, but to teach them about a person from the Bible like Moses, David, Mary, etc. As the hay ride goes around it stops at each character and the student explains a little about that person's life. The last stop of the ride is “Peter” and at this stop the gospel is presented and the plan of salvation is offered, for everyone, but mostly the kids. This year I was Peter and I prayed with 10 kids who offered their live to Christ. WOW. I was so excited. I had prayed for all the hay rides that just one person would be ready to accept Christ and dang-it if 10 didn’t pray with me. As the night went on I just kept getting more and more excited. I just couldn’t believe it. A really great part of this is I don’t think 10 kids would have accepted Christ if it wasn’t for the work that the students had done before the hay ride got to me. Their parts were crucial and very good. They practiced for at least 3 weeks on their parts and it paid off. GREAT JOB IGNITE AND 180.
So when I got home I started processing what had happened and I couldn’t stop thanking God for all that had happened that night. Then I started thinking about what was going to happen over the rest of the weekend and I just got more excited. I just kept praying and thanking God. So much so that I only got about 2 hours sleep. Here are some of the other things that happened over the weekend:
Salisbury Gas Buy Down – we pumped over 1300 gallons of fuel into 111 cars. We washed their windows and best of all we showed them the love of Christ when they weren’t expecting it.
Heating Vouchers giveaway in Kannapolis – Brian gave away $50 vouchers to our people to give to someone they know who needs help paying their heating bill.
Brian Preaching – It is great to finally have Brian in Kannapolis full time. I think everyone was excited to have him their also. I think he did a great job.
OCTOPLY - Brian made a new word. I am not sure if that has to do with math or toilet paper but I am sure going to have a great time joking him about it. LOL
The Church being the Church – I believe that the efforts we are making during our “Whatever It Takes” campaign is what the church is supposed to be “doing.” I feel like we are giving folks the tools they need to minister to those who have needs. There is a different feeling in the air right now at each campus. It’s like people sense we are not just going to sit back and be happy where we are. We are going to use what God has gave us for his glory and to reach those who don’t know Him.
We’re not stopping – This in not going to stop. As a church we are committed to continue reaching outside the wall of the church building to those who are not here. Everybody needs Jesus and it is each believers responsibility to GO and DO for others to show his love.
I love our church.
Let me explain for those of you who don’t know. On Friday, Halloween, the Salisbury campus had the Hallelujah Festival (the safe alternative to Halloween). We had Trunk or Treat, tons of games for kids, free hot dogs and pop corn, costume contest, and much more. The coolest part is the Bible Woods Hay Ride. For this we have my students, at different spots, in the woods, not to scare people, but to teach them about a person from the Bible like Moses, David, Mary, etc. As the hay ride goes around it stops at each character and the student explains a little about that person's life. The last stop of the ride is “Peter” and at this stop the gospel is presented and the plan of salvation is offered, for everyone, but mostly the kids. This year I was Peter and I prayed with 10 kids who offered their live to Christ. WOW. I was so excited. I had prayed for all the hay rides that just one person would be ready to accept Christ and dang-it if 10 didn’t pray with me. As the night went on I just kept getting more and more excited. I just couldn’t believe it. A really great part of this is I don’t think 10 kids would have accepted Christ if it wasn’t for the work that the students had done before the hay ride got to me. Their parts were crucial and very good. They practiced for at least 3 weeks on their parts and it paid off. GREAT JOB IGNITE AND 180.
So when I got home I started processing what had happened and I couldn’t stop thanking God for all that had happened that night. Then I started thinking about what was going to happen over the rest of the weekend and I just got more excited. I just kept praying and thanking God. So much so that I only got about 2 hours sleep. Here are some of the other things that happened over the weekend:
Salisbury Gas Buy Down – we pumped over 1300 gallons of fuel into 111 cars. We washed their windows and best of all we showed them the love of Christ when they weren’t expecting it.
Heating Vouchers giveaway in Kannapolis – Brian gave away $50 vouchers to our people to give to someone they know who needs help paying their heating bill.
Brian Preaching – It is great to finally have Brian in Kannapolis full time. I think everyone was excited to have him their also. I think he did a great job.
OCTOPLY - Brian made a new word. I am not sure if that has to do with math or toilet paper but I am sure going to have a great time joking him about it. LOL
The Church being the Church – I believe that the efforts we are making during our “Whatever It Takes” campaign is what the church is supposed to be “doing.” I feel like we are giving folks the tools they need to minister to those who have needs. There is a different feeling in the air right now at each campus. It’s like people sense we are not just going to sit back and be happy where we are. We are going to use what God has gave us for his glory and to reach those who don’t know Him.
We’re not stopping – This in not going to stop. As a church we are committed to continue reaching outside the wall of the church building to those who are not here. Everybody needs Jesus and it is each believers responsibility to GO and DO for others to show his love.
I love our church.
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