Sermon Player

Read more...

Wisdom Thoughts

One of the more fascinating areas of Scripture that I thoroughly enjoyed was looking at the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. Typically, this involves Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. I think I enjoyed this unit so much because I didn't expect to enjoy it. I have always been one of those people who love the stories in Scripture and the character movement that takes place. Typically, I found the Psalms and Proverbs rather boring and would only ever really read the first chapters and last chapters of Job. That all changed and here is why...

I realized the path of learning practical wisdom in the Old Testament is a completely valid approach that helps to determine appropriate decisions. Add in the Holy Spirit, and the wisdom is heightened that much more (See 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 for more on the additional of the Holy Spirit to the process of Wisdom). The wisdom movement of the Old Testament is very simple and very practical, but I see very few people really dive into it. A wise person would do four things to come to a conclusion on any issue:
1. They would ponder the "good life" or as a Believe I ponder the "abundant life"
2. They would observe their own personal experiences
3. They would observe the experiences of others and the ages
4. They would make a conclusion

Understand that Proverbs is observational in nature. Many of the sayings are not absolute (although some are), but are observations using these four steps. Many Christians struggle with making decisions and determining the right thing to do when it isn't obvious in Scripture. Thus, this wisdom method is extremely helpful and when you throw the Holy Spirit on to that it makes it even better. To further elaborate I present to you this Scripture from Proverbs 26:

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

To the some this, would appear as a complete contradiction of advice. However, if we use our experience, the experience of others and make a conclusion we see that this advice is solid. In some instances, it would have been foolish of me to answer a fool because I would have looked like a fool. In other instances, I needed to step up a put down the foolish words spoken. My thought is that, this passage of Scripture is perfect because it encourages us to use the power of observation to determine what should be done in the situation.
If we all spent a bit more time observing and seeking to make wise decisions, then I think we would find the benefit of doing so rather quickly. True wisdom is having the foresight not to rely on hindsight.

Read more...

Kingdom Conversation #1

I am beginning an episodic series called "Kingdom Conversation" in which different topics will be discussed and hopefully, new light will be shed on certain things. Pastor Jaman and myself have done this first one and will probably do more in the future, however, I would love to have any of you who would like to be a part of this to let me know. If there is something on your heart or something you would like to share, let me know and we can set a time to do that. I look forward to hearing your comments about this. Hope you are all having a great week and God bless!!

-PD

Read more...

To Every Season

It is the middle of June and it is rather warm and humid outside. For some people, this is an awful time of year regarding the weather. The bugs are out, everything feels sticky, you sweat all the time, and sunburns are all around. Even though, I know all those things take place, I still love summer. I love the smell of BBQs in the distance, the sun popping up early in the morning and not leaving until later in the evening, swimming pools, working outside, youth camps, and cruising in a vehicle with the windows down and the radio blasting. Ah yes, it is a good time to be alive! Summer is truly my favorite season. But some of you are really into autumn and I appreciate that. I love the smell of tailgating, watching football, hay rides, the color of the leaves. It's all good, not quit my favorite, but a good second spot for me. Probably the reason for its downgrade from summer is that autumn reminds me that winter is fast approaching.
Winter is the season I despise the most. It's cold all the time, when its not cold its cold and snowy. I don't like snow. The sun comes up late in the morning and goes to bed in the late afternoon. You are inside constantly unless you enjoy freezing. Slick roads and constant shoveling make people weary. As soon as winter comes I am already ready for spring.
And so now we have Spring, I enjoy spring. Things get warmer, the bugs aren't out yet, and it smells nice outside. For me though, I have allergies for approximately 2 months every Spring, and it rains a bit more than I would like. Additionally, you can go from a day in the 60s to a day in the 30s with the snap of the fingers.
Ah yes, I love summer best... and yet...
God gave us four seasons with blessings in each season. We must cherish the blessings and deal with the work that goes with the season. Fall means raking, Winter means shoveling, Spring means planting, and Summer means mowing. There are favorites that I am sure we all have, but we must learn to be content in whatever season we are currently in. Winter gives me such an appreciation of summer. Don't curse the season that you are in, rather embrace the good elements of that season.

Read more...

Overwhelmed

It is very interesting how God places things on our hearts, but doesn't necessarily remove the fear and/or stress involved. In fact, maybe if God has really laid something on our heart, it doesn't necessarily flow with the gift that is given. I'll use some aspects of my own life as an example...

1. Our church's mission is "willing to love; living to serve". I believe in it wholeheartedly and feel we need to reach out the the community regularly. However, these events stress me out more than anything. I think about them, worry about them, and always have a moment where I almost "break" because I can't stand the pressure anymore. But... I know we are called to do it, so I do it.

2. As a pastor it is my responsibility to build relationships with people. I do pretty good at this once I get to know somebody, but strangers absolutely terrify me. I always worry about what to say, how to say it, and feel that I am terrible at first impressions. I stressed out when I see someone in public that I kinda know, cause I don't know what to do. And yet, I know that I need to open up and be welcoming to those around me. It's what I am called to do.

3. I am terrified of memorization. I would dread having to recite memory verses or needing to memorize lines in a drama. Anything that requires me to memorize causes my gut to go into turmoil. I love preaching! And honestly, I memorize everything I say, but if I don't have the notes there then I become very nervous. I never did plays in high school or anything like that because the prospect of memorizing pages of lines sounded like a level of hell. And yet, for ministry's sake I have done quite a bit of memorizing, it's what I am called to do.

You know what areas of ministry don't make me nervous? Those areas that require little to no risk. Those areas that keep me from looking like a fool or making others feel like a fool. And yet... This is where I am called. It bothers me how many people I see never take risks because being comfortable is primary. If I rested in what was comfortable all the time, then I wouldn't be here in the first place. Consider this day if their is a risk worth taking because you feel called.

Read more...

Jaman's Rant

Let me warn you that I don't necessarily know if this is of God, but I think it might be and I want to talk about it more, so I am using this blog to work out my thoughts. I am going to list a bunch of different statements that float around in my mind and we will see if they come together somehow.

1. Jesus rebuked the the religious leaders way more than the worldly people.
2. If people aren't going to be led by the Holy Spirit, then at least use your brain and logically come to conclusions.
3. I cannot stand the hypocrisy of the two party system in the United States. Wrong is wrong and I wish believers would stand up and reject that which has the hint of being underhand or manipulative. Understand the correct side to be on is that which reflects Jesus Christ completely, not partly.
4. Believers should seek to unite with each other instead of tearing each other down.
5. Stop making generalizations based on your personal experiences, because you cannot stereotype entire groups to satisfy your need to be superior. You are biased because of your personal experiences and don't forget that.
6. Love people accurately, not to gain some selfish advantage.
7. Avoid foolish controversies or silly agendas that do nothing to express the Kingdom of God.

Think about some of those things, and let me know what you think or disagree with or even add to. thanks!

Read more...

Good Friday

As we celebrate the passion week, I find it difficult to really speak about much of anything. It's almost as if this week is set aside just to remember, not to add personally commentary, but to simply remember. So, as the sun shines down on us this Good Friday, let us simply remember that awful day that was also one of the best days.

Read more...

Appreciation

Appreciation is one of those very simple things that we desire. Appreciation lets us know that we are doing something that matters enough for others to notice us. If you ask the majority of people if they truly feel appreciated, the answer is usually "no". Spouses feel unappreciated by their partners. Children can feel unappreciated by their parents. Parents can feel unappreciated by their children. Workers can feel unappreciated by co-workers and bosses. Pastors can feel unappreciated by people in the congregation. Members of the congregation can feel unappreciated by the pastor. So here is my advice to you if you don't feel appreciated...

Appreciate others. If you are waiting for some magical thing to happen where you suddenly are adequately appreciated, you are going to be in for a loss. Have you ever seen most people when the are appropriately appreciated? This flood of emotions comes out of them because the reality is they didn't feel appreciated for an amazing amount of time. I nearly broke down an cried when someone genuinely called me "an awesome pastor". I realized something, instead of waiting for others to appreciate me, how about I just spend lots of time appreciating others! We sit back and feel sorry for ourselves instead of stepping up and genuinely appreciating what others are doing. You might make their year!

Oh, and don't forget to accurately appreciate your Lord and Savior the way he deserves!

Read more...

The Pain of Love

Love is one of the most misunderstood things in the world. God is one of the other most misunderstood things in the world. God is love; so this really isn't all that shocking. People associate love with a variety of emotions. Pain happens to be one of the emotions mentioned when referring to love. This makes perfect sense when I see the pain endured by Christ because of his great love for us.
I often wonder if the physical pain of the nails, the beatings, and the crown of thorns paled in comparison to the spiritual pain Jesus felt. In that one moment, Jesus bore the spiritual weight of the entire universe. And was it ever heavy with all the evil things in there. A choice was made by him to love us so much that he was willing to die to continue that love. He did not want to be separated from us. What amazes me is that he loved those who would choose to be separate from Him for all of eternity. Yet he agonizingly loved them anyways! He mentioned in one of his sermons that it is easy to love those who love you back; but there is something special to love your enemies. He said it and he did it!
This has been a week of pain for me. I have loved as accurately as I know how. I knew the pain would be great and quite honestly the only way for me to deal with that pain appropriately is to marvel at the love Christ showed me. Praise him for his painful love and thank you that I can painfully love others.

Read more...

Frustrating Times

Imagine that you had a disease that was ruining your life and eventually would end it. Imagine the pain, frustration, and sadness that would constantly take place. You've been to a few doctors here and there, but not many of them gave you any hope. Finally, a doctor steps in and informs you that he has cure to this disease. No pills would need to be taken and no major surgery would have to take place. Rather, one must choose to exercise and eat healthy each day. If that was done, then the person would no longer suffer from this disease. I would hope that you would choose to take the doctors advice. However, only 1 out of 10 people ever make a lifestyle change to prolong their life when faced with a life threatening illness. They would rather continue in the bad habits, then sacrifice to make better choices. It boggles the mind.
Unfortunately, I have found this same statistic in many Christian circles. Most people want God to do amazing things and radically transform their lives, but... not if they have to give up that "one" thing. I am so stinkin' tired of dealing with people not willing to give up the "one" thing! Seriously! Quit it! Just stop! I spend my life speaking the same life-breathing words that touched me in Scripture and yet that person will not let go of some of those sins. It boggles the mind.
*sigh* I want to get mad, but it just leads to being sad. When will people give up the darkness and embrace the light?

Read more...

Joy

Why are so many people miserable?

I get those who do not yet have a relationship with Christ or even believes He exists. I imagine I would be miserable too. In fact, many nonbelievers I meet at least act perfectly happy. But, I have found the vast majority are miserable and like I said, I get that.
I get those believers who are living out a sinful life. If I were giving God the middle finger each day, then I would be pretty miserable too. I get it, I definitely get it.
I get those believers who are suffering terrible tragedies in their lives. Sometimes you just weep and mourn because so much is going on around us. I get those people too.
So, to recap... I understand why nonbelievers, sinful believers, and suffering believers appear to be miserable. But what about the rest of em?

Ask yourself this day if you have a legitimate reason to be miserable. If not, perhaps more effort needs to be made to fix it. Pray to God, Surround Yourself with People Who Express Joy, and take comfort in God's sovereignty!

Read more...

Fast: Day 6

Hunger pains no longer hit me. It's more the craving of something warm in my mouth and the function of chewing. Oh how I miss it! However, the positive is that as my body feels cleaner so does my spiritual life. Much of the clutter that was there before has been removed and there is a desire to keep it removed. What clutter is in your life? Should you take a break from the clutter or remove it permananently? Think about it.

Read more...

Fast: Day 4

Continuing on. The hunger pains don't really hit me much anymore. In fact, when I do drink my juice, sometimes I have difficulty finishing it. Time spent with the Lord has been good in between normal work day things. I must profess that I don't feel as though the Lord is really speaking to me about anything today. And that brings me to my point of topic...

Sometimes we need to spend time with God understanding that we may not get a "word" or some special "revelation". Rather, we should enjoy just the spending time. I must admit that in my own life it is difficult for me to just "spend time" with others. I always feel that there has to be some kind of purpose, even if I don't know what the purpose is going into the time spending. What I need to learn is that time spent with God is very good even if something new hasn't come to me. Rather, I can take joy in the silence and enjoy that I'm improving my relationship with him. Today, I would encourage you to not seek answers so much as to just spend time in worship before Him.

Read more...

Week of Fasting

From January 1-7th the Bethel Community has been fasting and praying. We are doing this to grow closer to our Lord and also put us in an excellent position to hear from him regarding major decisions. Today, is January 3rd. Three whole days and we have already had so many blessings take place because of this. Mostly, God's message to all of us has focused on love and obedience. We obey when we follow the two great commands to love God with everything we and to love others. Jesus adds to love just as He has loved us. Sort of takes the sting out of obedience, doesn't it? We are commanded to love so that we understand what it means to be loved. What a beautiful circle produced by God that we gain understanding from. I will have more updates later in the week. Today's service was excellent and flowed quite nicely with all who had things to say. May we continue on!

Read more...

Belle Kathleen

My daughter arrived on Monday! Seriously, probably the greatest moment of my life. I have had some awesome encounters with God, spent some amazing moments with my wife, and can tell lots of memorable stories about my friends, but the moment she was born its like God blessed me in a way that is truly unexplainable. I wasn't thinking about how I was going to pay for her college education or what sport she is going to play if she chooses to play sports. I have been guilty on many occasions of thinking too far into the future. Not this time though, the focus was in the moment. I wasn't thinking about the 2 1/2 years it took for my wife to get pregnant or the difficulties of a 9 month pregnancy. I have been guilty on many occasions of reminising and missing what is right in front of me. Not this time though, the focus was in the moment.
For 21 hours, my wonderful wife was in pain and desperately wanted to deliver this child. The failure of progression led to an emergency c-section. To be honest my focus that whole day was not on the baby it was on my wife. She was in so much pain. I was so proud of her and I was also begging God to lessen the pain on her. I was even more worried about the c-section when the time came. As I sat behind a curtain peaking as the surgeons work on Amanda, I was fearful for my daughter and wife because of the great difficulty they had getting her out. Very quickly this small alien-like body emerged from huddle of surgeons. She was quickly transported to a nearby table and I stared waiting to know what to feel. Then it happened, a beautiful cry! The tears began to flow from my eyes as in that moment I felt God holding my hand and saying: "I love you like you love her." No more definitions were needed or instructions. Instead my wife and I shed tears and then I had the awesome priveledge to hold her. I did not yet think of her as my daughter, but more like the greatest gift ever given. I whispered some secrets between me and her, then we both sat and waited for mama to get done.
I will cherish that moment forever, but even better is that every time I see her I am again in the present and happily enjoying the kiss of God.

Read more...

Anticipation

I am smack dab in the middle of waiting for my daughter to be born. My wife is at full term, she has some contractions here and there, and she is rather uncomfortable. The due date is a mere 12 days away, but the doctor has said we can go at any moment. So, here we are waiting. Kind of in limbo; Kind of not sure what to do. And so we wait... And we wait some more.
Doctors still don't know what really causes a mother to go into labor. There assessment is that nature will chose when the baby comes. My assessment is that God has a divine moment set aside for the birth of His creation. We dare not mess with God's sovereignty, so we wait and wait some more. I wonder how many of us get way to impatient waiting on God to unfold things the way He wants. Good things happen to those who remain patient.
My advice to you today is wait patiently on the Lord. Don't rush it, otherwise you'll mess it up. Rather, understand that God's timing is perfect! We have a tendency not to be perfect, so how about we just stay out of the way?

Read more...

Speak...

"If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around to hear it, does it even make a noise?"
The answer is: Yes, God heard it. He is aware of everything in His creation and nothing ever escapes his gaze.
Two things I desire to talk about...
First, sometimes we become discouraged because it seems like nobody is really listening to us. We pour our heart out to someone and the person ends up changing the subject or not showing a real interest. We give "hints" to someone about something we need, but they don't hear the hint. We begin to feel isolated, alone, discouraged, and not valued. I wish that I could tell you that another human being will come to your rescue and help you in that moment of need. Sometimes it happens, but in many cases that help never comes from another. This is why divorce, estrangement, loneliness, and suicide are prominent in our society. If you are looking to another human being as being the one thing you need, you are sorely mistaken.
Second, the person you need to be looking for is Jesus Christ. He is the only one that knows every thought you have, heard everything you say, loves you regardless, and VALUES who you are. If you are out there and you feel like you have nobody, you definitely have Jesus Christ! He will never leave you nor forsake you. You might have gotten hurt by so many others, but He will not hurt you.
Sometimes I wonder if anybody ever hears me at all, I don't think most do, but I have a wonderful Savior and Father who does.

Read more...

Words to live by...

Wisdom is having the foresight to not need hindsight. Please comment below...

Read more...

Good stuff

And now for something completely different...

Read more...

What to do with "Blah" days

People are going to have their good days and their bad days. There will be some days when everything is going right, much has been accomplished, and hope for the future is evident. Then, there are those days where it seems bad is permeating through us and around us. Perhaps we fell into sin or see sin around us, or a disturbing situation took place. Most people can probably talk about the good days and the bad days. But, the majority of life is made in what I like to call the "blah" days. These are the days when neither much good nor much bad happened. These are the dangerous days where we find out who we truly are. These are the days when not much happened in the office, not much is going on this evening, and a little was accomplished but not much. The things you remember most happen on the most horrific of days or the best of days. Everyone knows what they were doing when the 9/11 tragedy took place, just like many older people know what was happening when Pearl Harbor was bombed or John F. Kennedy was shot. Many remember what took place when news came that a loved one had died or when a spouse asks for a divorce. At the same time, many remember when their child was born, or when they first invited Christ into their heart, or when that game winning point took place, or the wedding day, or the day they got the big promotion. You get a few of those years a day. Sometimes you may slip into the "bad" time for a few weeks and sometimes you skip about in the "good" time period. However, its those in between moments that truly develop our character and what we are all about. Those moments when we decide to do the dishes so our spouse doesn't have to do them. Or when we give somebody a ride to the airport. Or when we step out and help somebody out.
God looks very closely at how we are in the happy days and rejoices in us. I think God really loves seeing his children happy. God mourns those days when all is going wrong and we are frustrated and upset. It's a painful process, but he knows that this will help to define us and make us the complete person we need to be. What is God thinking on those days when we are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life? I think he looks for those moments where we do good, when we talk with him, and when we choose to do what is right even if there appears to be no motivating factor for doing right.
Rejoice in the "blah" days, for these are the days that truly define you as a person and show whether you are progressing or degressing.

Read more...