The Day Before

I thought it would be a good idea to keep everyone up to date on what's happening with our mission trip. Right now, I am sitting in my Eufaula office printing off confirmation forms and trying to get all my i's dotted and t's crossed. We head out on Saturday morning (tomorrow) at 4:00 A.M. from the church parking lot.

I am excited about this trip and looking forward to going back to the Dominican Republic.

I am hoping to update this blog a few times each day to keep everyone up to speed on our progress.

More later...

Awesome God!

I have thought a lot about Rich Mullins lately. I enjoy his music, but I have not really read up on his theology and life. I walked to church yesterday and listened to NPR's weekly podcast on Religion and they referenced Barack Obama's 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention when he said,

"The pundits, the pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue States: red states for Republicans, blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the blue states."

Obama was referencing a popular refrain from an evangelical worship song. I grew up singing Awesome God in my youth group. I knew Rich Mullins sang it, but I didn't know much about the singer. I am getting ready for the Sunday worship service and I am preaching on John 14:1-14 I couldn't help but think of another Mullin's song called, "That Where I Am You May Also Be." It's a beautiful song that was the singer never finished recording before his death in 1997. I went online to listen to some of his work on YouTube and I came across some video of one of his last concerts. I was so moved by this section of the concert that I wanted to share it with everyone.



In Hope and Confidence,

Pastor Dave

Why Don’t You Just Give Up?

“Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.” – Vince Lombardi

I do not know of anyone who likes to be known as a quitter. When I played sports growing up, that was just about the worst thing anyone could call you. However, as I reflect on the race of life that we are running, I am reminded of the need to prepare our hearts for Easter and be strong as we journey with Jesus towards the cross. The best way to do this is to quit our selfishness and to start serving others.

Christians all over the world began a special journey this past Wednesday. This is a 40 day trek that will take them through Lent and into Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. This is a season of prayer, penitence and self -reflection. All followers of Christ, regardless of their denomination are called to get their hearts right with the Lord. Some think this requires believers to give up something they love in order to grow closer to God. While there are certainly Godly benefits to personal sacrifice, it is not an end in itself. There is more to it than that. Sacrifice without service is ultimately a very hollow experience. The Lord wants our entire lives to glorify God.

This time before Holy Week is there for all of us to take a personal inventory of our lives and confess our shortcomings to our loving Lord. The Scriptures remind us that everyone sins and fall short of God’s divine plan. The problem is compounded when we act as if we have made no mistakes and attack those we deem “sinners”. The Bible tells many stories of God forgiving those who are truly sorry for their actions and desire a new life. One good example comes to us in Matthew 9:10-13. “And as Jesus sat at dinner^* in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting^* with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

I encourage all of you to be quitters in the coming months. Stop thinking about yourself and start looking out for your neighbors. You may find that your burden becomes much lighter when you help someone else carry their load. Quit gossiping and bickering amongst yourselves. A kind word at a difficult time can make a world of difference in a neighbor’s life. Stop trying to sacrifice for the Lord and start serving God’s kingdom and one another. Quitting is a wonderful thing when we put aside unhealthy habits and honor God with merciful hearts.

The 19^th Century Preacher Henry Ward Beecher puts it best when he writes, “In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up that makes us rich.”

I pray that God will richly bless you in the coming 40 days as you grow closer to God and one another.

In Hope and Confidence,

Pastor Dave