The Friday Wrap-Up...

Great reading going on in the blogworld this week. There are several that caught my attention, but there were a couple that really deserve your's. Here it is, the week that was, in no particular order...

Jeff's blog gets a new face-lift...and a good one at that...and he asks us a point blank question, "What do you want from Jesus?"

T.J. says goodbye to a friend.

Mark give us a great post on 'fear' and an even better follow-up on 'no fear'. Great job Mark.

Jason looks at the 'why?' generation.

I wrap up my series on David with 'The Butler' ..... and 'The Beast Within'. Also, check out this prayer that was prayed in the Kansas Senate.

Pretty neat little firestorm over at ML concerning the name or naming of the Rough and Ready Festival. Should be interesting to follow.

Props to the heavy hitting Cotton Blossoms.

Have a great week...keep writing...

Are You Domesticated...

"Perhaps the tragedy of our time is that such an overwhelming number of us who declare Jesus as Lord have become domesticated-or, if you will, civilized. We have lost the simplicity of our early faith. Beyond that, we have lost the passion and power of that raw, untamed, and primal faith. Maybe John was alluding to that in the Apocalypse when he told the church of Ephesus that they had lost their first love (Revelation 2:1-4)."

Erwin Raphael McManus
'The Barbarian Way'

Singles Dart Tournament @ Dad's Place...

This Saturday, April 28, we will have a Singles Dart Tournament, beginning at approximately 12Noon immediately following the IDL Matches. Cost will be $5 per person with all of the entry fees being paid back out. It will be a BLIND DRAW tournament, which means you will DRAW for seeding placement. It will be a DOUBLE ELIMINATION tourney. And it will also be played SCRATCH...absolutely NO POINTS! Best 2 out of 3 wins. Everyone is invited to participate. Help spread the word!!!

Senate Prayer In Kansas...

I received this in an email this morning and thought it was worth sharing with you. Hope you enjoy...



Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!"

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India , Africa and Korea
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "one nation under God."

The Friday Wrap-Up...

In a week that will forevermore be etched in history...I would like to encourage each of us in the blogworld to pause and remember the blessings that God has poured out on us, and to pray for the families and students at Virginia Tech. May God cover you with His love.

I've found a couple of great posts over the past two weeks, but then I read what could possibly be, one of the most profound writings I've ever seen. It's so intense...yet so true. Keep up the great writing, but this week, please, grab a cup of coffee...drop by Dean's..and enjoy The Violinist's Song.

Have a great week...Go Hoakies ...

Reflections...

It saddens me so as I devour everything on the news channels to digest this horrific act of violence on the Virginia Tech campus. It seems as only yesterday that my family and I were caught in the middle of the school shooting that took place in Jonesboro. There are scenes of that tragedy that still play out in my mind, so I really can't grasp what many of these students and faculty are facing today at VT.

What's so ironic is my last post was a call to arms for todays Christians in the battle of good vs evil. And I wrote it only 24 hours prior to the first shots being fired. Here is another great post about Living in Enemy Territory. And a definite MUST READ is this Call To Prayer , concerning this dramatic situation from David James, Team Leader of the ABSC Collegiate Ministry.

Part #4...The Beast Within...

One of the most treacherous pieces of roadway in America is a stretch of interstate from Flagstaff to Phoenix, Arizona. Flagstaff itself, is located just off the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, which means the elevation is tremendous. This interstate, termed the ‘Black Canyon Freeway’, takes one from the highest elevations of the ominous canyon, down and around the mountains at grades almost unbelievable and, if you haven’t driven it yourself, it’s absolutely indescribable, into the majestic sands of the desert below...down into the valley of the sun. I’ve navigated this piece of highway on numerous occasions, and, even in the best of conditions, looms as a worthy adversary. Arrayed in the beauty of the mountains with it’s snow-covered peaks, towering pines and plush valleys, one has to look deep within the landscape…past the outer covering, to realize that something greater…more powerful, lies within.

So it was with this boy named David.

Beyond the simplicity…beyond the passion to serve, was a waiting warrior destined for greatness. A warrior whose spirit…whose courage was forged with an invincible armor. A warrior who knew no fear simply because the God he served was his protector…and he knew it. If only we could grasp this shroud of invincibility that covers a Christian’s very soul, then lives would be altered and kingdoms would be changed for eternity. We would soon realize that we are not POW’s of this world but instead champions for Christ that are willed to crash the very gates of hell whose sole purpose is to kill and to destroy. We are in a battle of biblical proportion. There is a massive call to arms that’s being screamed from our Commander-in-Chief, and it’s past time for us to lace up our boots, reach down deep into the depths of our soul and release this beast…release this warrior into the battleground that surrounds us.

Time and time again, we encounter giants of every shape, form and fashion that’s determined to bring about death and destruction into every nook and crevice around us. When we least expect it, we’re faced with such insurmountable odds that we cower with fear and tremble in the shadows that encase us. Yet, all the while, the warrior waits…

Who really knew what the real David looked like. Who knew that this young man who spent more time in his father’s fields than he did at his father’s table was a champion in the making. Who knew that inside this ruddy, teenage boy was a beast waiting to be unleashed. Who knew…David knew…God knew. David had the hand of God upon him…that, he also knew. He was invincible…he knew the God he served, the God of Israel, was unconquerable. What about us…what about me…

As the dawn breaks anew each day on the Black Canyon, all of nature’s best awakens to reveal it’s magnificent splendor. All is calm, it seems… As we wake each morning to face our day, and the person in the mirror stares back, the warrior inside waits…and all of hell trembles at the thought of it being unleashed…

Part #3...The Butler...

“Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.” ~ Marian Wright Edelman

Some people are born to serve…the gift of hospitality is the very essence of their being. They salivate at the very thought of being able to do something for someone…somewhere. No matter how big or small, they will always accept the task before them. Many times, I feel the people with this gift are so often taken for granted…and I’ve seen so many take advantage of those with this gift. All the while, there are others who simply serve…and then, there are those who desire to be served. I fall somewhere in the latter of the two categories…with the balance of the scales leaning closer to the last.

Young David’s life was a portrait of service. With each stroke of the brush, the canvas came alive with opportunities for service that brought brilliant color to an otherwise colorless existence. With each of these acts of kindness, the portrait became more three dimensional…the colors, more spectacular…the profile, lifelike.

I Samuel Chapter 17 is a classic Bible story that has spanned the ages. For centuries, children have been told of the little boy who killed the giant with a sling and a rock. And we as adults, have allowed this one dimensional view of this passage of Scripture to define the battle of good vs evil in a climatic scene where evil appears destined win, only to have the obvious underdog stand victorious in the end. But I honestly feel that we fail to see a major characteristic that screams loudly in this character tour. David’s gift of service speaks volumes about the fabric that lines his very soul.

Picture this typical young boy, hurrying down the road to take bread, grain and cheese to the battle front where his two oldest brothers fight in the king’s army. And with haste…haste, David runs to follow his father’s direction. Haste! Where is this zeal in today’s society? We’ve fast become a ‘Me, Me, Me’ centered culture, instead of David’s classic ‘You, You, You’ civilization.

If only we would obey our Heavenly Father with as much haste as David did his earthly father…

...to be continued.

The Friday Wrap-Up...

Easter week has always brought about lots of activities. This is a huge opportunity for each of us to spend some extra quality time with our families. There were some really good reads in the blogs this week, I hope you enjoy each of these!

Pointless Debates are going on over at Dean's.

Head Scratching in the Lion's Den.

WMCJD.

The Mayor gets a report card. An incredible article...a definite must read.

Carolyn voted for Sanjaya.

And I've started a new series here at DP. You can read Part 1 and Part 2.

Check out Dinner & A Movie. An incredible way for a family outing to celebrate Easter.

Have an incredible week and remember, He IS Risen!

Part #2…Simplicity…

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” ~ Confucius


David accepted the role of shepherd without question. To him, it was routine. I’m not sure I blame him for wanting to get away from the constant scrimmage that was taking place in his house. It seemed safer…it was certainly simpler.

These everyday adventures of this young man were honing his skills that he would someday need…some, sooner than later. I realize this is supposed to happen to all of us as we mature and gather our life skills, but in David, this young man accepted his responsibilities beyond a shadow of a doubt. He didn’t question or complain to his father for someone else to watch the sheep, or any other duty as far as that goes…he did it…HE did it. Even in the face of eminent death as he protected his father’s flock, David performed his daily duties and gathered immaculate skills of survival against worthy adversaries. Unlike David, we, have become a nation of whiners…we have made what God intended to be simple, complicated.

Can you imagine being out at night with David, the sheep beginning to settle in for the evening, the stars shining like fire in the sky, the night is calm except for the chill in the air brought on by a light breeze And in the distance, you hear Him whisper your name…calling out to you…waiting to spend time with you. One day, I want to ask David just how great his quiet times really were…

David’s childhood life was simple…whatever his Dad needed him to do, he did it. For a barely-teenage boy, that had to be a difficult task. In today’s society, many teenagers tell their parents what to do, not the other way around. Even though it was simplistic in nature, it was David’s early years that gave him the solid foundation needed for the missions that lay ahead…

…to be continued.

Less Is More...Part #1...

He was the youngest of eight brothers…he was the runt. But don’t be deceived by his stature…

I can’t imagine having siblings. I’m an ‘only child’ and proud of it. My Dad was the oldest of two, my Mom was the youngest of ‘a bunch’. I honestly can’t remember how many brothers and sisters she had, I can only remember that when her family got together, I had cousins, second cousins, third cousins, fourth cousins, (and well, you get the picture), AND their families would literally come ‘out of the wood-work!’ It seemed like an anthill going full tilt. It was those occasions that reinforced my belief that ‘less is more’.

I remember many times as a young boy that I would go to school with new clothes and the hoard of cousins that I went to school with, would always want to show me their ‘new clothes’…new to them…hand-me-downs from older siblings. Where I had my own bedroom, most of my relatives had to share bedroom space with at least two others. And sitting down at a meal with this multitude, words can’t describe the carnage.

I can picture this same scenario playing out at Jesse’s house. ‘Amen’ from table grace was the green light for scores of siblings to wreck and ravage the evening meal. And while all this pillage was taking place, young David methodically calculated every move to insure survival. Not-so-much the fact of getting a meal, but from ‘becoming’ the meal. David learned survival at a young age…

Being the youngest, David also received more than his fair share of family chores. Just as in today’s families, the smelliest of jobs seem to flow downhill. How critical it was, yet David didn’t seem to mind. He found himself being the shepherd for his father’s sheep, the loneliest job of the family. Surrounded by only the bleating cry of sheep, a boy became a man…how fitting for the boy who would be king!

…to be continued.