Giving Thanks

As I woke up this morning with the obvious thoughts about Thanksgiving and gratitude. I really started looking at how we as Christ followers look at the topic.

Here are just a few of my thoughts on thankfulness or giving thanks.............

• Psalms 106 and 107 say "give thanks to the Lord because of His goodness" He has been so good to us. I have noticed that so many of you have posted all over Facebook and Twitter how thankful you are today.... on Thanksgiving. But how about tomorrow, or next week?  Will we still thankful then? It's a choice.
• Giving thanks is an attitude, a choice. One that should be an easy choice for those of us who follow Jesus. Phil 4:6 says that we should "not be anxious, but in everything pray with thankgiving". So pray with an attitude of thanks.
• Col 2:6 says that after we receive Christ that "we should walk in Him, rooted, built up and abounding with thanksgiving".  So as we grow in the Lord, we should be overflowing with thanks and it should totally be obvious to others. Abounding, hmmm?
• Jeremiah 5 says that "people were rebuked for not thanking God for their harvest" So among the people of God, giving thanks was expected and done as a common daily practice for thousands of years.

I have learned that having an attitude of thanks in my prayer life helps me give the glory back to God. He alone is the reason why my life and family are so blessed. When we neglect to give thanks, we fail to recognize God as the source of every good and perfect thing.

So tell Him thanks today.  Tell those people around you thanks, but most importantly remember to be thankful tomorrow and the next day, and the next day, and the next day............................................


blessing,
dave

Favor

So last night I had some time after everyone went to bed to watch some football, quietly alone in my den.  One thing you should know about me is that I am not a "hater". I love the game of football and would watch any team play as long as it is good football.

As I sat there watching the game I saw what looked like a poor and almost laughable performance by a one time collage standout named Tim Tebow. The game was anything but entertaining.  Low scoring and predictable.  But as I got closer to the end of the game I heard the announcer say that as the game gets closer to the end, it would become "Tebow Time". I laid there thinking "really"? He looked horrible.  Then the stage was set, he had to take the team more then 90 yards with under 2 minutes to go. Now, if you are passing quarterback like Brees or Rogers then you can sit in the pocket and light it up. Seen it a thousand times.  But if you only throw a few times a game like Tebow then how are you gonna do it?

Well, he did it. He capped it off with a long run to score the final touchdown himself. Wow!

As I watched his post game interview, stunned and truly baffled at what I had just seen, I starting thinking about God.   Tim has been one, if not the most, vocal Christ follower that I can remember.  He said last night that he was proud of his team and teammates but the most important part of his success is that it gives him the platform to tell people about Jesus.  Yep, he says Jesus on national TV.  Not just last night, but all of the time.  In fact there is even a phenomenon where people are dropping to on knee and looking like they are saying a quick prayer.  And what do they call this? You guessed it, "Tebow-ing"

So all of this points me back to God.  The only possible explanation that I have for what we have all witnessed the past 5 weeks is "favor".  More specifically God's favor.

Proverbs says that we should "diligently seek" it.
It also says that there is "favor among the righteous".
Psalms say that "the Lord will compass the righteous with favor like a shield".
and Job said pray to the Lord that He will be favorable to you

I can not remember witnessing a more overwhelming sense of favor (on TV at least) then what I felt last night watching Tebow speak.  And pray for Tim Tebow.  He is a man who hits his knees everyday like you and I.  If you asked him, I am sure he would appreciate your prayers.  Pray that God is glorified through Tim and that He will continue to be do a work through Tim's life.  Pray for that locker room that the light and hope of Jesus Christ is evident in Tim's walk.

blessings,
dave

Living in the moment

I cannot remember a series of weeks more difficult, challenging or intense then these last 3.  Seems like everything from life to death has happened around me.  I can not remember a time in my life where I have been forced to deal with more emotions, thoughts or fears.  I could easily share the details of a very challenging few weeks but I would rather share some perspective instead.

One of the perspectives that has changed a lot for me is the love of my wife.  As much as I love and appreciate her, I can not fathom how anyone could live a live of heartfelt devotion to others the way she does.  What an amazing, Christ-like example she is.  As much as I may try, I will never be able to match her kindness and selfless giving.  She is such a blessing to this family.  Words just can not express how I feel about her.

Also, I have a greater appreciation for friends.  I am blessed with a few really close ones and I have learned that I have more people in my life who care for me then I thought I did. It means more then they know.

The crazy thing is, when I look back at it, I can see God filling every heartache with some kind of joy, everything impossible with purpose.  His ways are truly higher then ours.

So I realize more then ever that the journey of life is sometimes tainted with misery and loss.  That life itself it meant to be examined, refined and enjoyed like a fine wine.  I have learned not to put off living to next week, next month or next year.  The only time we ever live in is this moment.

Make every moment count!

~ dave

Life and Death

For whatever reason recently, life and death has come up many times.  Even last night at bible study we had a conversation with some amazing, strong ladies who are military wive's.  They have recently suffered the lose of many close friends due to the SEAL team tragedy.  While having coffee the other day I heard that a mutual friend had been dealing with cancer and was not doing well.  I was told that another friend who is losing his battle with cancer is in the hospital planning his own funeral.  All this while a life long friend has been dealing with her mother's cancer battle which had recently turned for the worse.

Then I was surprisingly emotional when I was praying for Stacey's surgery.  Even though her surgery was routine, I could not help but think about where I would be without her.  That same day my 80+ year old step Grandma fell and broke her pelvis.  She is not doing well with the recovery.  So you can understand why every time I pray lately my heart feels so very heavy.

I went to bed knowing that one friend had passed away yesterday, I woke up this morning to find out that another friend had passed last night.  This one is particularly tough for me because I lost my own mom to cancer many years ago.  Praying for my life long friend and her family while she watches her own mother lose her battle to cancel has honesty taken me back to a very dark time.  I feel pain like I have not felt in a long time.

Here are a few of the things that I realize more then ever this week ..........

We are only here for a little while > After all these years I still miss my Mom terribly > Cancer is a horrible, horrible thing > Our Military and their families are real heros > No matter what, I would be lost without my wife > death never gets any easier to deal with > Friends are meant to be cherished > I am better for having quality people in my life

I never understood God more then when I lost my own mother.  More importantly, I now have tons of motivation to keep on the right path so that I can make it home.  I was a complete mess when my mom died.  I was hardly following Jesus at all.  I remember looking into her casket promising her that I would figure this thing out so that one day we could be together again in paradise.  We have that promise, Jesus is always the answer.

Nancy Hanvey, Linda Criswell and David Bishop, look down and smile over us today.  We love you!

Follow God

What does it mean to follow God?  If you are like me you probably follow a ton of people on Facebook or Twitter.  And like me you probably see their updates and maybe even click on their page or pictures from time to time to keep in touch and see what they are up to.  What if God had a Facebook?  Would we treat Him the same way as everyone else we follow.  Would we "like" the pictures of the miracles that He posted or "block" Him if He posted too much annoying scripture?

How do we really follow God?  The crazy thing is, the Bible is very clear about this.  Jesus Himself said many things about what it really means to following Him.  Here are just a few .......


"Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me". Matt 16:24 

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life". John 8:12

He went on to say "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings". John 8:31

"Obey my teachings" He said.  There is a big difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it.  This is a dividing line for me.  So if we "obey" then Jesus himself would categorize us as His disciples, or followers.  I think Francis Chan said it best when he describes how our children obey us.  

What if you told you child, "go clean your room".  Then, what if you child came back a hour or two later and said, "Dad, I heard what you said and I studied room cleaning and I understand it now".  You would probably say, "yeah, but did you clean your room"?  Then you child says to you, "Dad, not only did I study room cleaning, but I even learned it in Greek and last week, several other kids got together and discussed it for an hour and half. At this point you would probably be a little confused if not a little angry at their answer.  Then to top it all off what if they added, "last weekend we heard a teacher cover the subject of room cleaning and a band even sang a few songs about it, it was awesome!  Get where I am going here?

To many times, this is we, as followers of Christ often respond to God.  As His children how do you think He feels when we understand, participate and are excited about His will but we don't actually live it out?  Many people check the box that says "Christian", but so few actually make the effort to learn and obey His holy commands.

He loves us all and he has a plan for us.  It is up to us to figure it out and with His help, abide in it.

blessings,

dave   

Do we assume that as a Christ follower that we are actively, passionately following God?  

Fear God

This past week at .NET we started a study by Francis Chan called “Basic”.  Right out of the gate the study asked an often overlooked question, why should we fear God?

It seems like the common answer, which would have been mine prior to this study, is that to fear God would mean, reverence, respect or honor towards God because of who He is. In other words we should honor His majesty.

So what does Jeremiah 5:22 mean? It says “Should you not fear me?" declares the Lord. "Should you not tremble in my presence?" Tremble??

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew. So it is important to understand the actual words that were used. For example the English word “fear” used in Jonah 1:16 and Psalms 90:11 was the Hebrew word yirah. Words like yare (used in Mal 3:16) and pachad (found in Job 3:25a, Ps 119:120) all meant terror, or dread, normally translated simply as fear.  There are other words in Hebrew text that meant respect, reverence, or honor, such as kabad Exodus 20:12. Understand that the original text used very appropriate words to express what was meant.  In Greek fear or terror is phobo as seen in Matt 28:4 and 1 Pet 2:17. Where reverence or honor is timao like in 1 Peter 2:17.  Even with this distinction in both Hebrew and Greek, some people still try to say that the word “fear” merely means reverence.

With all of the scriptures seeming to agree that we should indeed fear the Lord, why do so many Christ followers not accept it? Why do we try to "explain away" the fear of God? Because we fear so many other things in stead of the one thing that really matters.  God is the only thing in all of existence that we truly should fear.  Don’t get me wrong, most of us would agree that the world can be a scary place to live in and Satan is a pretty scary dude. In fact, Hollywood has made an entire industry out of him. I would go so far as to say that fear is one of his greatest weapons.  Horror movies, anxieties, worries, nightmares, phobias, panic attacks, demons, etc.  Satan wants us to fear him rather than properly fearing God. But the Bible says this “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matt 10:28

So despite what many believe about honor, reverence and the fear of God, I am convinced that scripture is very clear about the actual fear of God.  Fear is fear.  And fear has its place. The Bible also says………..

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and they who live by it grow in understanding...  Psalms 111:10

The first step to wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Proverbs 9:10

So if the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, then the end is love. Love is our hope, our goal, and our ultimate destiny as believers. If we are obedient to Him then we can get close to it in this life. But none of us are without sin or perfect in love.

The Bible says that “Love will come to its perfection in us when we can face the day of Judgment without fear; because even in this world we become as He is. In love there can be no fear, but fear is driven out by perfect love: because to fear is to expect punishment, and anyone who is afraid is still imperfect in love”. 1 John 4:17-18

So be encouraged, love will conquer all.  But in the mean time fear the Lord and love each other.

Blessings, dave

Published on: Sep 16, 2011

Accountability?

This topic literally came up today while I was reading Facebook this morning.  A very dear friend and trusted Christian writer that I know posted a comment about Christian Accountability and how the Holy Spirit is her primary source of accountability, a very true statement.

I simply could not resist the opportunity to jump in and hi jack her thread (a little acebook humor) with some thoughts of my own.  Accountability is absolutely essential for any group, organization or society to function.  And Christian accountability is no different. We are all held accountable in one way or another. After all, accountability is simply being responsible for your own actions.

There are even accountability groups that specialize in helping people overcome issues like addiction, or a destructive behavioral tendency.  There is little doubt that as human beings, we find support, comfort, and motivation from others who are struggling with similar circumstances.

But the need for Christian Accountability is great.  Christ followers need support and comfort and often find this through Christian Accountability. Christ alone is sufficient enough to comfort and support us by the power of His Holy Spirit but too often it sees like we don’t fully rely on Him.  When we say our strength comes from the Lord, do we really mean it? Too many times I would say no.  We want to believe and have the faith to “fully rely on God” but too often we turn to others for help. It is part of the human condition.  And knowing this, God’s word speaks directly to our need for human interaction.

Typically, we all have someone in our lives that we trust. That is the first element of Christian Accountability. Finding someone that you can trust can be difficult.  Developing trust is a slow process and it takes time to develop and grow.  As people meet together to share, they begin to establish a rapport with one another.  Trust is first.

Second is the ability to listen.  Accountability is a two way street.  Active listening is essential to developing trust.  James 1:19 says, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."  Sometimes being there to listen is enough to help your brother or sister through.

Third, we all need to have a non-judgmental attitude toward each other. That is not only essential to Christian Accountability but also to life in general.  Remember, we can be accepting of an individual while being discerning of the situation. Matthew 7:1-2 says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Fourth, caring for each other is essential.  So whether you choose to pick up a phone, sit over a lunch table, take the time to reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ.  1 John 4:21 says, "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

And finally, commit to being available for one another, it is so important.  The Bible says that God holds us accountable. Romans 14:12 says, "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." This is personal accountability.  Christ followers are also accountable to one another.  1 Corinthians chapter 12, Christians are all part of the same body - the body of Christ - and each member needs or belongs to the other.  This Scripture suggests the importance of strong accountability between Believers. It is important for every Believer to have at least one other person in which to confide, pray with, listen to, and encourage.

So let me close with this, I posted this scripture on Facebook today.  Galatians 6:1-2 "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

So Trust, Listen, Don’t Judge and Be Available.

Blessings, dave

Published on: Aug 10, 2011

Back From Mexico

Well, I am back in the office today. The trip was amazing in so many ways.  as good asit was I am ready to get back to my weekly grind.

Let me say thanks!  A heartfelt thanks to everyone who looked at the pics, posted on my posts, commented, encouraged prayed and supported our trip.  Rarely do Stacey and I get to do any kind of trip without the little ones.  So spending time with her and Zac was totally unforgettable!   All three of us agreed that the experience was life changing.  I want to encourage everyone to get involved in a trip like this.  If your church does not have a trip that they sponsor, contact me.  Student Ministries of Virginia (SMOV) has a great relationship with Yugo, the missionary team in Ensenada.  We also sponsor an adult trip in January.  Either way, we can help get you out there. So pray about it!

Now that we are home and settling in again, I plan on being more on purpose with this blog. Help me out by sharing it with your friends, family and church.

be blessed. dave

Published on: Jul 25, 2011

Mexico ~ Thursday

I write this final entry this morning sitting in the common area between room 2 & 3.  Yesterday was our reveal.  It was still a full work day for us.  The family also traditionally prepares lunch for us on Thursday. Even though we could all feel the excitement building in the air, there was a calmness, almost a peace about our whole day.  One of the more touching moments was when Nona explained that she was going to trim and style Eusebia's hair (the mom of our family) before the reveal. Stacey took my camera over and captured the moment.  I went over to learn from Stacey that Eusebia has never had her hair blown dry or curled with a curling iron.  A picture is truly worth a thousand words. Also, Stacey had noticed that Eusebia, like most women here, does not wear a wedding ring. When Stacey asked Nona if she gave her a ring, would she wear it.  Stacey, having a ring that she has worn on her right hand for 8 years or more offered it to Eusebia.  She was overcome with joy. Eusebia said that it looked too expensive for her to wear. I am so proud of Stacey and her love and affection towards this family and Community.

Zac was a pleasant surprise for me on this trip. He is usually very quiet, stubborn about the way he does things and he does not like to be touched.  He was one of the first ones to give piggy back rides and spin around the kids.  At night when we were all asked to share about our day with our group, he would speak out and had no problem finding the words to express how he feels.  Last night, Mike asked us to share anything since we are first timers on this trip.  Stacey was moved and shared how proud she was of Zac, to my surprise, afterwards, he came over and gave his mom a big hug. I have not seen my son embrace anyone that way since he was a little boy.  Seeing the hug and probably noticing my tearful response, Mike Johnson hugged Stacey, then turned around to me and said " I love you man, I'm glad you are here with us.  That meant a lot to me. More then you know!

If you have been reading this blog this week I thank you.  I am not usually consistent blogger but felt like I wanted to record my thoughts as quickly as genuinely as I could.

blessings, dave

Published on: Jul 22, 2011

Mexico ~ Wednesday

Today was the day for me.  I mentioned Tuesday that I felt like I had become somewhat task oriented, and I needed to find a way to soak it all up.  I did that today for sure.  It felt a little odd disconnecting from the work load, but I feel great about the experience today. Nona and I were able to walk around two of the build sites and talk to everyone for awhile. Seeing Nona here, operating fully in her gifting, has been a blessing to me. It was so good to hear the stories of how our kids are falling in love with their families here and especially their bond the ninos.

I want to be able to honestly say that Mexico was more then a trip for me. That some how I am different from being here. I want to be able to feel the tangible hand of God move like I have so many other times in my life. That said, the day went by, pictures were taken and memories were made. We even got to experience a local vendor, Pablanos, coming in to the camp for dinner to prepare a meal for us. After that we attended an evening service at the neighborhood church where each of our families attend.  The church that SMOV (student ministries of VA) partners with in this area. And that is where it all came together for me.

I have freely been able to worship here in our corporate times of worship. I always feel God in worship,  but this church service was so special.  Listening to them lead worship was a great cultural experience. Having the honor of leading worship for them was amazing. But ultimately where God really put it all together for me was during the story of Fernando and his family. Both bands had led some time in worship then Pastor Carlos began to share how God does miracles.  He said that Fernando had recently been kicked out of his parents house where he had been stating. That despite him having a wife and 2 kids and even just recently loosing his job that his family had decided that he had to go and they completely turned there back on him and asked him to leave. He went on to say that they had heard of his story and had to move very quickly to get him on the list for this house. He said that they call his "the miracle house" not only because it had come together in only a matter of weeks, but because it is literally built into the side of a mountain. It is very difficult to get to, let alone build on. As Pastor Carlos told the story, Fernando put his head into his hands and being humbled by the retelling began to openly sob. It was hard for me to hold back my own tears, relating to his story somewhat myself.  It has been less then 2 years ago that I lost my job and as faced with a lot of adversity, doubt and worry over providing for my own family.  But this is where God stepped in. He went on to say that Fernando's prayer of need lined up with our prayers to serve. Add in God's ability to do exceedingly abundant things and you got yourself a miracle. Prayers get and answered!  For Fernando, it was a bus load of gringos driving up his mountain to build him a much needed home for his family. For me it was a chance to lay down my guitar, leave the comfort of my American home and get a little dirty for someone who desperately needs a hand. Two prayers line up perfectly in the will of God to make a miracle happen. Simple formula for God, He has been doing this since creation, hard for us to sometimes grasp. Wow! Isn't God good!!

So for me, the build was what I thought it would be, the area was what I read it to be, the climate was what I was told it would be. But seeing the one true God, moving in the hearts of people the way HE does always completely blows my mind.  The God of Moses, Abraham, Isaac, David and Soloman is the same God who today moves and inspires Fernando Gonzales and is the same God who brought us thousands of miles here to be moved.

I start my Thursday morning ready to finish our build and hand over the keys to a deserving family.  The Gonzales family is not the family that I am building for. Larry King and Sherry Maurice's team have had to endure the mountain. But our family is equally loving and deserving of a new home.  I am eager to see the what wonders the Lord has for us today!

be blessed, soon we head home! dave

Fernando's video ~ http://eocyugohomes.blogspot.com/2011/07/smov-real-life-gonzalez-rodriguez.html

Published on: Jul 21, 2011

Mexico ~ Tuesday

Tuesday was another typical, warm, breezy day in Ensenada. Having this time every morning before folks get up has been great for me.  I have usually end my days with reflection, but it seems like writing this blog has force me to reflect both morning and night.  A lot to take in I guess.  I think I am finally getting used to life in the neighborhoods here.  How different it looks then mine and how the children come and go.  I have seen very few adults this week other then a few moms.  All of the dads and older children seem to be away.  I am told that we are all way ahead on the building schedule.  The actual build is the easy part for me.  I find it hard sometimes to stop and soak in everything else.  I think I am just too task oriented to justify the compulsion to stop working.  The camera helps, it has given me an outlet to want to see more of the things that are going on around me.  I literally try to just walk out around the site sometimes, and find anything to help me try and focus on the magnitude of the whole experience. The kids, the family, where I am. Something to remind me that the build is not my main focus.

I have been reading the word a lot.  Trying to understand balance.  What Jesus did versus what we are called to do.  What I mean is, we all are called to be like Jesus in mind, values and character, however I do not believe that we are all gifted in life the same way He was in life.  He had amazing gifts like compassion and discernment that we should all grow stronger in.  But on the other hand, He had physical talents too, like carpentry and public speaking skills and such. Things that we are not all going to excel in.  So I want to be sure to be the best that I can be with the gifts that I have been given, especially on this trip. I want to be like Him to everyday, not just here in Mexico.  But here, I feel like we have to make a difference.  Mile McPherson said to Doug on Sunday in reference to our team and our trip, "Pastor, you told them that they can't change Mexico right? that Mexico will change them"? What he meant was that he hoped that we were prepared for the impact that this trip could have on our lives.

I want to come home, not ready to sell everything and move to Mexico, but I want to come home with a better understanding of what the world really looks like.  I want to see the beauty of people the way Jesus does. I want to better understand life outside of the bubble of my American understanding.  I want to have my heart broken the way Jesus' heart breaks for His people.  I just want to learn how to love the world more like we should.

So with two work days left, I am reminded of 1Cor 13:1-8

blessings, dave

Published on: Jul 20, 2011

Mexico ~ Monday

One thing that I find interesting already is that I seem to be living in Eastern time zone on the West coast.  Meaning, I can't sleep a moment past 5 a.m. ( 8 a.m. there) and I am dog tired every night  by 8:30 (11:30 there). I also cant seem to ignore the fact that it is very hot but not humid at all and that it seems breezy all of the time.  I understand now why there is not a lot of need for air conditioners in homes in southern California.

My first work day was great.  We were told by our construction boss that we got more done then he has ever done in a single day with a team.  That was a great feeling.  We all arrived to an empty concrete slab with several large stacks of stuff laying all around us. After teams cutting wood all day, painting all day and framing, we ending up with what looked a lot like a small blue house.  The outside walls and roof framing are up. We even ran the electrical inside before we knocked off. So our progress was good.

On a personal side, I was amazed to see what a neighborhood looks like in Ensenada. Nothing level, landscaped or flat. The yards are very small and often unidentifiable. Crude fences sometimes separate property lines and no one has running water. In fact, the first road in the area is going in now. Most of the roads are more like dirt paths. Some of these houses do not have power. So I immediately thought, how do they wash or cook or clean. Can you imagine?  I work very hard to create a clean safe environment for my kids. Grass and nice flat surfaces to run and play safely on. New, often trendy and stylish shoes on their feet. I could not imagine my boys growing up any other way. Manuel is also a hard working up right man.  The only difference between me and him is that I was fortunate enough to be born American. He was born Mexican. a simple fact that changes everything for us.  I am sure we would love the luxuries that we have. The right to earn an honest wage and provide better for his family.

On this first day, the Dad, Manuel and their oldest son were not on the build site. I was told that he works 12 to 14 hours a day and earns about 13 U.S. dollars a day.  One thing that I could not help but notice was there joy.  Mom, Moses and their little 6 year old jumped in and helped us.  The boys seemed a little reserved at first, maybe because of the language barrier. But soon you could look there way and easily catch a smile. They were glad that we were there.  Unmistakable joy. And we were all openly gracious when they would come up to us and jump on our backs or decide to tickle us and playfully run away giggling. All very affectionate ways of connecting and bonding.

So for me day one was very relational, very productive and deeply meaningful.  A great start to a week. I am excited to see what tomorrow brings.

God bless the journey!  dave

Published on: Jul 19, 2011

Mexico ~ Saturday and Sunday

My first day of coarse was travel.  So flying from Va To San Diego and getting into our hotel was the majority of my Saturday.  We did manage to find some time to eat and walk around a great outdoor mall before bedtime.

Sunday, we visited Mile McPherson's "the Rock Church" here in San Diego. It was great! The service was great across the board. Our team even got some kind words from Miles from the pulpit.  He had remembered seeing Doug from years before and asked about us and our trip. He was very warm and genuine.  Read up about him, he was a Charger, and played Safety during the 80's.  His head of security at the church is none other then Hall of Fame wide receiver James Lofton.  Another humble and pleasant man to meet.

After a quick hour and a half trip down the pacific coast. And several tolls and check points later, we arrived safely at our destination. The impoverished but thriving town of Ensenada. Covered in rolling hills with a variety of wild dogs, broken down buildings and people scurrying about.

To our surprise and delight, shortly after checking into Yugo (the christian camp) we were invited to meet our family, the ones we would be building the house for. Despite the obvious language barrier it was clear from the look of enthusiasm mixed with uncertainty that the family was excited about us being here and more excited to know that they will finally have a home of their own.  Our hearts have begun to smile already.  Just seeing them was already been a blessing to us.

So I sit here early pacific time sharing these words with you.  Outside of my personal comfort zone, unaware of what the day truly hold for us, but totally willing to go and do whatever God asks me to do.  So I leave you with this.............1 Cor 15:58

blessings, dave

Published on: Jul 18, 2011

What are the odds?

So last night we began a study called "Why Jesus" by David Nasser.  It really did a good job helping to make Jesus (as man) much more personable and understandable. One of the things that came up in group discussion was the probabilities and purpose of the prophecies about Jesus.  There are said to be hundreds of prophecies that Jesus is said to have fulfilled.  Many of these many are still yet to come.  I wanted to share some of the information that I read years ago about the probability of one man lining up with all of those biblical prophecies.

Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. The estimates were worked out by twelve different classes representing some 600 university students.

The students carefully weighed all the factors, discussed each prophecy at length, and examined the various circumstances which might indicate that men had conspired together to fulfill a particular prophecy. They made their estimates conservative enough so that there was finally unanimous agreement even among the most skeptical students.

However Professor Stoner then took their estimates, and made them even more conservative. He also encouraged other skeptics or scientists to make their own estimates to see if his conclusions were more than fair. Finally, he submitted his figures for review to a committee of the American Scientific Affiliation. Upon examination, they verified that his calculations were dependable and accurate in regard to the scientific material presented (Peter Stoner, Science Speaks, Chicago: Moody Press, 1969, 4).

For example, concerning the passage in Micah 5:2 where it states the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Stoner and his students determined the average population of BETHLEHEM from the time of Micah to the present; then they divided it by the average population of the earth during the same period.

They concluded that the chance of one man being born in Bethlehem was one in 300,000, (or one in 2.8 x 10^5 - rounded),

After examining only eight different prophecies (Idem, 106), they conservatively estimated that the chance of one man fulfilling all eight prophecies was one in 10^17.

To illustrate how large the number 10^17 is (which is 1 to the 10^th power or a figure with 17 zeros), Stoner gave this illustration :

If you mark one of ten tickets, and place all the tickets in a hat, and thoroughly stir them, and then ask a blindfolded man to draw one, his chance of getting the right ticket is one in ten. Suppose that we take 10^17 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They'll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would've had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom (Idem, 106-107).

Another way of saying this is that any person who minimizes or ignores the significance of the biblical identifying signs concerning the Messiah would be foolish.

As Stoner concludes, 'Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact, proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world (Stoner, op. cit., 112).'

well said, dave

Published on: Jul 14, 2011

How to fulfill your calling

Just some words of wisdom that I wanted to share with you from a minister named Tony McCollum on how to fulfill your calling

1. Be Willing ~ But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” Exodus 4:13 (NLT)

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.“ So they did, and they caught so many fish they could not pull the net back into the boat. John 21:3-6 (NCV)

2. Humble yourself ~ The most stupid fool is better off than those who think they are wise when they are not. Proverbs 26:12 (TEV)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5b (NIV)

3. Ignore your Critics ~ And don't worry too much about what the critics will say. 1 Timothy 5:23a (Msg)

We stand true to the Lord whether others honor us or despise us, whether they criticize us or commend us. 2 Corinthians 6:8a (Living)

4. Look Past your Fear ~ Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (TLB)

5. Step Out in Faith ~ And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD... set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap. Joshua 3:13 (NIV)

According to your faith will it be done to you. Matthew 9:29b (NIV)

Be encouraged friends, God always has a purpose and the power the see us through!

blessings, dave

Published on: Jul 12, 2011

20 Things I think we have learned in 20 Years of Marriag

So the great thing about today is that we get to celebrate Jesus together. Don't get me wrong, both of us realize that 20 years of marriage, especially in today's society is an amazing accomplishment and we plan to celebrate it together. 

But we have not done it alone. If not for the love and grace of Jesus we certainly would not be where we are today.

So as we reflect together on 20 plus years together, we want to give all of the glory and praise back to the One that we love. Thank you Jesus!!

That said, here are 20 things I think we have learned in 20 years together.

1. Marry your best friend.
2. Do everything together.
3. Share your dreams and live them out.
4. Talk about everything.
5. Set up safe boundaries concerning the opposite sex.
6. Agree on everything you spend money on.
7. Go to bed together every night.
8. Say “I love you” a lot.
9. Pray about everything!
10. Never leave an argument unresolved.
11. Do things often without the kids, it’s alright!
12. Keep it spicy!
13. Celebrate everything together, even the small stuff.
14. Never stop holding hands or sitting together.
15. Do nice things for each other without being asked or told.
16. Be a good listener, especially when you think you need to talk.
17. Laugh a lot!
18. Don’t’ expect to change them, and never stop working on yourself.
19. Give your spouse the wings they need to soar.
20. Keep Christ absolutely central, He is faithful!

I love you Stace!!

blessings,

dave

Published on: Jun 10, 2011

it's a choice

Today in my quiet time (don't laugh, I actually get some quiet time around here) I was thinking about how much stuff we all actually do.  I mean, we all work, play, laugh, love and whole lot of other things.  We are busy people! So how do we all do it? I mean, how do we all choose what kind of stuff will consume our day?  Lately I have had some interesting conversations about perspective and priorities and the choices we all have to make.

I am one of these people who gets very anxious about what I fill my day with. I mean, I actually spend time thinking and planning out my weeks and days. I try to be on purpose and make good choices with how I spend my day.  The key word here is "try".

There are two relationships that I choose to take priority in life.  My relationship with God and my relationship with my family.  And by family I mean my wife and kids. I have learned that I have no greater influence then on the lives of those who live under my roof.

With that said, I am very mindful of the time that I get to spend with my wife and of the very short time that I get to spend with my kids.  A wise man once told me this, "spend time with your kids while they still want to spend time with you".  I am living this out loud, loving these boys everyday while I can.

So what about God? How much time do we typically make for Him. It's easy to get busy and do all kinds of stuff, but it is not always easy to include God in our day. Someone recently said to me, "It's easy for you, you are a pastor. I am sure you spend a lot of time with God". Every day we make a choice about how we will spend our time. Minister or not, we all struggle sometimes struggle to take time to spend with God.

Our lives are filled with choices.  Choose to spend some time with God today. Pray, meditate or read His word. But above all else, love God.  It's a choice!

blessings,
dave

missions

So if you regularly read my blog you already know a little about me.  Mostly that we serve a great God at a great church.  For years our church has committed to reaching out to Ensenada Mexico and helping to build houses for families in need.

This July, Stacey, Zac and I will get to be a part of this mission.  We plan on spending a week working with other volunteers from Real Life Christian Church to build a house in Mexico. I am asking you to do two things.  Pray! This is out of our comfort zone for sure so you prayers are needed.  Second, if you are able, please help us financially make this happen.  My trip will cost an additional $950. and both Stacey and Zac also need to raise their $950.

I already know that God wants us in Mexico this July, so by faith I believe He will provide the way.  If you feel led to help us financially, please contact me or visit my fundraising page at http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/davehanvey/real-life-christian-church

This is gonna be an amazing trip.  I can not wait to see what God is up to in Mexico!

blessings,

dave

   

community

So every week 30 or 40 of us meet in a small group/teaching environment called .NET (dot net).  It has been a true blessing for me to see this group make real connections. Community. That's what it's all about.  It's about being real and exploring the truth about what, and who we are.  God wired us for relationship.  So often we hide in a corner instead of reaching out and experiencing the joy of meaningful relationships.

It has been a real joy for me to be a part of this group.  Genuine, life changing fellowship is happening @ Real Life folks.

God is good!

a new year, a new season

The wonderful thing about a new year is that sense of newness. That sense that you now have a second chance. Every year end I find that I do some serious reflecting, or soul searching if you will. It is a great time to take stock of the blessings in your life and to look over the things that were (or were not) accomplished.

Although 2010 was great year for us in lots of ways, I can't help but look at the year ahead with great anticipation. I feel a real sense of direction and have a clear determination about the things that God has laid in my path for 2011.

A couple of things that I am committed to and looking forward to this new year..........

Blended ~ a daily Bible reading plan. I read regularly but I am pumped about this plan

365 ~ A new self portrait everyday for the calendar year of 2011

Fitness ~ This is my last year in my "30's" so I wanna go into March 2012 as a healthier, thinner 40 year old.

blessings,

dave