Thoughts from a broken man

Team World Vision:

2011-08-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Horn of Africa crisis: 13 strategies to make an impact

2011-08-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Horn of Africa crisis: 13 strategies to make an impact: Why help? Why raise awareness? What could I possibly do to make an impact for the 12.4 million affected by drought and famine in the Horn of Africa? [From the photo above] When the maize crop failed yet again this year, Hadija Hassan Abdi, 28, took her children and hitched rides for 8 days and ...

Funny Talking Animals - Best Of!

2011-02-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

Where are we now?

2010-03-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a day yesterday! President Obama pushed through a healthcare bill that was very unpopular by only a few votes. This is a socialized healthcare program that will give healthcare to all Americans, working or not. You no longer get to choose whether or not you want insurance anymore, because now you will be fined if you don't have it. This is crazy! I never thought I would live to see my country that I love become a socialist nation. I am upset by it, but I am more upset by the money that will be spent with this plan, because it will bankrupt our nation. My children will know a different America than I knew. Of course my incredible comfort in this is that God is in control! He always has been and always will be! He is God and there is no one like Him! Amen! It is now time for the true believers of Him to join together and spread His good news like never before! He is the answer! No matter what happens to America, my children will be in the mighty hands of the one who created this world. Wow!

WOW

2009-06-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Who is this God we serve? I admit so many times I come to Him flippantly and treat Him with disrespect. Our God is the the Mighty King of Kings! He is the healer, protector, and life giver of all humans. He is the great Warrior and yet the gentle shepherd. He is Holy and I am so far from holy. He is Love and I want to be. He is Grace and Mercy. He is JUST! He is magnificent! He is Forgiveness! He is Heaven! He is my everything! My breath comes from Him, so when I open my mouth I must worship Him. I have to because He is Worthy!
Bow with me today and worship our God. Kneel before our Lord and Maker. Be still and Know that He is God! Bring your sacrifice of praise to Him! Our Father, Hallowed be your name! You are Holy and Righteous! Thank you for loving me!

My heart

2009-04-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

Oh God my God! How I love you! I cling to you, for you are my hope and my strength. I know you have chosen me long before the earth was even formed, but I want to say that I choose you. You are my God and I would have it no other way. I cannot understand how anyone would want to go through this life without you. I ask that you would bless those that I love in a special way today. Be with Charity and hold her heart in your hand and heal her. Be with Lukas as he continues on this path of chemo, and be with Juanita as she recovers from a heart attack and her legs cut off. At times I sense so much pain in this world, but I know a day is coming when all pain and tears will be wiped a way. I look forward to that day, but until then help me to be completely yours and faithful to my call. I love you!

Innocent human beings

2009-02-05T15:18:00.000-08:00

"There is no god who condones taking the life of an innocent human being," he said, and all religions teach people to love and care for one another. That is the common ground underlying the faith-based office, he said." - President Obama said in the national prayer breakfast today. I am really confused because his stance on abortion is strongly in favor of taking the life of innocent babies. He supports abortion from conception to birth. How can a man stand before anyone and be so hypocritical. I have tried to give him the benefit of doubt but today he went over the edge. But I will continue to pray for this man to come face to face with the love of Jesus. Not religion but Jesus.

Amazing

2009-01-30T10:11:00.000-08:00

I have been struck recently by how much God really loves me. In the book of Psalms He tells us how He loves all of our inmost being. That hit me, because I know what I am like on the inside. Most of the time I feel like a little kid not sure what to do. We are supposed to act like we know what is going on all the time, but the reality is that we are dependent of God for our very breath. I am humbled by a God who knows me so intimately and still chooses to love me. What an Amazing Love He gives!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2008-12-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

It was a cold night so many years ago, when our Lord chose to make His entrance. What an amazing way for the King of Kings to be born. In a cave where only animals lived, and where they also went potty. A stinking, dirty, cold, unkingly place to enter into our hurts. I imagine what must have been going on in the minds of Mary and Joseph. I often feel under qualified to father my children, but Joseph must have felt the immense pressure of fathering the Son of God.
On that Holy night, as Jesus entered our world, He didn't proclaim His birth to the Kings and Queens or anyone of power, but He went to the lowly shepherds to proclaim the Son of God. How awesome is that, that there is no one too low or too high to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus. I am once again in awe of my Savior's wisdom and love. May you all take time in the next few days to lay still and listen for the sounds of our Savior's love for you.
Silent night, Holy night!

What A Savior!

2008-12-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Hey all in blog land! Sorry I have been away for so long. My schedule has been less than pleasing.
At our house it sure seems like we are in the Christmas mode, as every day we count down the days until the big day arrives. How much fun it is to have children who love the Christmas story as well. We discuss many times about Mary and Joseph, but the star of the show is baby Jesus. We have 2 manger scenes around the house and 1 outside in the front yard. I love listening to my children talk about Jesus! There really is no greater joy than listening to them talk about our Savior.
Tonight after awana our church will decorate a trailer to be pulled in the parade on Saturday. We will have a manger scene on one side and the cross on the other end. What an awesome opportunity for us to share the GOOD NEWS. I am heading this fun event so I hope and pray all will go well, but not to well, because I have learned that we really learn when things don't go exactly the way we planned. Praise God for His faithfulness. Have a great weekend all!

Dave

Rest

2008-11-19T10:35:00.000-08:00

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Written because I love you,
Jesus
(Matthew 11:28-30 The Message)

Drugs

2008-11-14T10:54:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to a county drug information in Ione and was challenged in many ways.
The Police department put it on so we could be informed as a community and as parents. The amount of drugs that are available is astronomical and hard to comprehend. I walked away with a sadness as too the utter despair these teenagers are in today. I don't remember that kind of pressure when I was a teen.
Anyway I was talking with many city leaders and police after the meeting and they sure have big hearts for the teens. That is cool cause sometimes you don't see that. I talked to Pastor Tony this morning about the problem and we decided that beyond the fact that God has been pushed out of our lives as a society, parents are so busy trying to make it in our expensive society that they have lost touch with their kids. So as the church what is our response to this. We can't make things better financially, but we can become more involved as surrogate parents by having after school activities. One of my dreams would be to open an after school coffee bar and hang out center. It would include a coffee bar, computer corner, video game and board game area, lots of couches, a stage for bands, and so on. The only problem is that this takes $. We will put this to prayer and see what God wants to do.
My overall impression is this, this is my Fathers world and He loves the kids more than I could ever, so I am just grateful to be a part of His plan. What an amazing concept that the God of the universe wants me to be a part of His plan. WOW! Praise God!! Forever and ever!

Thank You!

2008-11-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day

2008-11-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

In youth group last night I was moved by watching the attack on Pearl Harbor the day before, that I decided to show the attack. We watched about 20 minutes of it and then broke up into groups to discuss what are our distractions in life to take us away from the real war that wages for the souls of men. It was not hard for students to list the many distractions in their lives. I read from Ephesians where Paul talks about the real war that goes on.
I don't know about you, but it is very easy for me to get distracted by just about anything. Satan would love it if we were always so focused on others things that we did not give Jesus Christ our time. How easy it is is in this land of the free and home of the brave to act in relaxed mode.
I believe however that in the years to come America will become more worldly than ever before and it will be necessary for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ to be in constant ready mode, unlike those who were in Pearl Harbor many years ago. May God bless His church and may we be ready to fight along side Him.

Freedom

2008-11-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

As I read over my sermon from Luke 4:14-21 I was amaze once again by the incredible grace of Jesus! He says that He has come to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. When I relate this to releasing us from the bondage of sin I am blown away by this man's immeasurable love for us. He knows the choices I have made in my life and yet He came to free me from the chains of sin. I AM FREE!!!!! I know this and have studied it before but today I felt a new passion arise in my heart to make sure I proclaim the same freedom to everyone. I cannot nor will I be quiet! No matter where we are as a nation in the next few years, no one will be able to shut me up. I know the cure for the disease of sin and I dare not hold to to myself. May we all feel that burning passion as Jesus did!

My Sacramento Kings

2008-11-06T09:39:00.000-08:00

So I got to go to the Sacramento Kings home opener last night. My dad bought me a ticket to go with him for my birthday. We got to go 2 hours ahead of the start and sit down in the 2nd row and watch the players practice. At one point we stood just behind the first row and we were about 10 feet from most of the players. We even high fived a few players and my dad gave some encouragement to Mikki Moore. He then went on to play very well, I'm sure because of the encouragement. We then went to our seats and were able to watch the Kings win their first game.
I have been a Kings fan since the mid 80's when they moved to Sacramento and this was very special for me to be able to see the players up close. I enjoyed sharing this joy with my dad as well. We have always been close, but I really treasure the times when we just hang out and talk Kings.
Thanks dad! I got home about 11pm. and then had a 6am meeting the next morning and now I must go to work on my sermon.

Vote!

2008-11-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

As I just caste my ballot I cannot help but feel very grateful for the men and women who have fought for my freedom to vote. What a high honor I have as an American citizen, to allow my voice to be heard. Even if my candidate does not win I am comforted by the words of Paul in Romans 13:1"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for their is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."
How awesome is that! I have no worries, because God is in control.

"His praise will continually be on my lips"