Petty Arguments

Can people not get over themselves and get on with their lives instead of allowing petty, stupid, rediculous arguments ruin their friendships. Its interesting to me to how true scripture is when it comes to gossip and running the mouth. It only takes a little bit of time before a little yeast works its way through the whole dough and before long the whole batch is ruined. That is exactly what happens when the tongue sets a small spark... it literally sets the entire forrest on fire! When we cant shut our mouths and get to a place where we actually love to gossip about people, in my opinion the forest is already burned down and people sit around and stare at the ashes in shame that they actually had something to do with it. 

The statement "If they will gossip to you, they will gossip about you", is absolutely true. Take a piece of advice.... stay away from them! As followers of Christ it seems ironic to me that we use the most amount of our time tearing each other down and dragging each other through the mud instead of sharing with people the most important thing in life: Jesus. But its so fun to gossip... hey it makes you feel good right... to sit around picking people apart about stupid and insignificant things that you probably deal with yourself! Please do yourself a favor, the world and the body of Christ and close your yapper. 

OK so I am done with my ranting and raving. Until we realize that death and life ends and begins with the tongue we will truly never experience the fullness of Christ. Here's an idea... don't stoop to their level and set your priorities in the only one that will never let you down, never gossip about you, never make fun of you, and will always listen: Jesus

Dave

Full Of Life

Good Morning,

Have ever awoken to a dreary day actually excited about going to work. Now I am not writing this to brag but I think I have one of the most gratifying jobs in the world. Being involved in ministry has its challenges and some people think its not a job. Its really not a job... its a calling, its a passion, its the very air I breathe. Its not a job! Its a gift, and its what I do. I remember getting up every day for 10 years going to do a J. O. B. I did everything from framing houses, selling pest control, selling shoes, selling clothing, and other odd and end jobs. 

I absolutely despised going to work for a man... I always new I was called to work for my Savior and it made it that much harder. On the flip side of those 10 years is experience in many things that helped prepare me to do my passion today. I am grateful for all the bumps in the road and the many hours of prayer and discipline my Heavenly Father allowed me to go through. God wants us to be satisfied in him wherever we are, even if we hate our job. God plants us in places for a reason and most of the time just for a little while. Some things never make sense....especially ridiculous bosses that are on a serious power trip! Be encouraged today to make your work for him! Do everything as if you were doing in unto him and you will begin to find joy in whatever your field is!

God is amazing and has you where you are for a reason.... be diligent and faithful and he will guide your days and steps.

In His Grip

Dave

In The Midst of a Down Economy 2

Good Morning,

I wrote a blog a few days ago about God providing for his people in the middle of hard times. Go ahead and read that before you read this blog.

During Fuel (Sunday School) I talked about several things but I made it a point to talk about how God provided for his Prophet during one of the most devastating times Israel had ever faced. God led and provided for Elijah throughout the entire ordeal. Yesterday I got to experience to a certain extent some of God's grace and love from being faithful. I dont always try my hardest to follow faithfully to our great God but I have been working on this more and more and yesterday was a blessing. Most people will probably write this off as just being another occurance or human error but I believe God was involved. As we were leaving Church yesterday I noticed it was 1:00 and the kids were having a really hard time because they were hungry and tired and I looked over at Carrie and said... "I know this is a stretch for us right now but lets get lunch somewhere." I chose Wendy's!

I got in line with the girls and everything was going slow. I mean I could have ran home and walked back with lunch and it would have been faster than they were working. Finally we got to the counter and I ordered our food. The total bill was around $20. I gave the lady my card and she swiped it and stood there looking at the screen and the machine wouldn't work. The manager stepped in and looked at it... asked me if I had cash to pay for the food and I told her truthfully that I didn't. She looked at me and said "that's ok... this one's on me." I could have drove over to Regions and got the money but it wasn't necessary. That lady didn't realize she was apart of a blessing from my God. I looked at Carrie and told her "you'll never guess what happened." We both thanked God and it caused me to stop and realize not only how awesome our God is but that he loves us so much and loves to bless his people.

That wasn't a computer error my friend it was God stepping in and making it happen. I don't deserve it... I don't deserve anything he gives, but thank goodness he wants to interact with us and bless us... some times unexpectedly.

Praise Jehova

Dave

Just gotta write

"Where there is no vision... the people will Perish."

I often forget how important this verse is in leading God's people. I have been given an amazing opportunity to reach a city for Christ. This is somthing I have been praying for since I accepted the call into ministry when I was 14. Even at 14 I felt God calling me to Student Ministry and have pursued it ever since then. One of my biggest challenges has been staying on task in my life. Whether it be friendships, sports, writing a message, playing a game, building somthing or as the verse speaks to my heart... keeping a vision in front of the followers Christ has entrusted me with. The question I ask myself the most is: Where are you going? What is it you are wanting to accomplish exactly?

It has been a life long journey for me to accomplish things and have a task layed out before me to reach. I have been apart of many task oriented experiences in my life and I love setting a vision and goal to attain.

Its hard to compare people to sheep but Jesus did it so why cant I. People need a leader. They need someone to keep a clear pointed directive on where exactly they are going. Its also my experience that people love challenges and they love to do things that others believe cant be done. So what do I want to do that others think cant be done? What do I want to see take place in our ministry at CP? I honestly have a burning passion and desire to see our Student Ministry reach into the plethra of schools that surround us for Jesus Christ. Little by little I am mounting an ambush for Jesus in this area and it fires me up to know that I have the most amazing Dad on my side... God!

Its not my job to grow the church! Its not my job to grow the student ministry! God has called me to be faithful and to be a willing vessel for him! If I am faithful he will give us opportunities to reach more and more teenagers for his kingdom. I am actually overwhelmed with the response we are having here in Madtown to sharing a very straight forward type of speaking and presentation of the Gospel. It has truly been an awesome ride so far and I cant wait to see what God has planned for us in the coming months... So back on target... see I told you I would get lost!

Being a visionary and dreaming has never been a problem for me but finishing the task is another. Would you pray that God will explode our ministry? Would you be willing to committ 10 minutes a day to praying for the students at Discovery Middle School, Liberty Middle School, Sparkman High and Bob Jones High? I believe we can make an impact greater than any other student ministry has ever made in Madison if we will remain faithful to Yahweh!

Passionate for Him

Dave

88.1 Pastor's Golf Tournament

This morning 5o or more Pastors showed up to participate in the Way FM Golf Tournament. Unfortunately for them they went home empty handed because we destroyed the entire field with a -18 totalling 53 as our Final score. This isn't much of a blog.... I know but I just had to share it! Special thanks to Rex Looney, Steve Kearce and Chris Marrazzo for doing an awesome job!

Anybody else excited that its fall break? I know we are! Tonight I am taking Carrie and the girls to eat at Carrabbas on this little gift certificate we won! Hope you have a great weekend! ROLL TIDE!

Dave

In the Midst of a Down Economy

Greetings!

Most of you are aware of the problems that are going on in our economy. It seems that our country has more problems than alot of people realized. I honestly cant say it didn't catch me by surprise because it did. I felt as if we were an untouchable nation that could never go through a financial crisis the way our grandparents and great grandparents went through in the Great Depression. At first my reaction to this was filled with fear. We are literally pay check to pay check and barely making it. I had to seriously remind myself that I am not the one that is in charge of my life. Its not me that provides for our family. Yes I have to get up every day and go to work and I get paid to do it, but ultimately God is the giver of ALL things and provides for my family. So what if we have to go through some suffering. Maybe just maybe God is getting our attention and teaching us a lesson. This will be a tough lesson for our country and I can only hope that we will turn our focus to him.

1 Kings 17:14 says "For thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty. until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.'"

Elijah was living during a severe economic crisis. God had sent a drought and they were faced with severe famine. All of this was because of their sin. There literally was no rain, food, and water was scarce. God provided for his prophet, guiding him to live beside the brook of Cherith and there God sent ravens to bring him meat and bread twice a day. Elijah new that God loves to provide for those who trust and obey him. In fact Elijah went to the house of a widow that was emotionally and financially depressed and told her not to worry about food. For many days they ate from a bowl and a jar that God continued to fill. God was faithful and proved it by providing.

God allows us to go through financial hardships for lots of reasons... some times it's to get our attention. Yet , He provides for His people who listen to Him and do what He says. What a great confidence and trust we can have in our God! Don't forget... he did it then and can still do it now! Place your fear and your trust in God... he is the only one you can count on.

Dave
3rd John 2