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.

The Friday Wrap-Up...

Spring Break is nearing a close, and it's obvious in BlogWorld. I can imagine we will have lots to say in our blogs next week... can't wait. Enjoy your weekend! Here it is, the week that was, in no particular order...

Jeff gives us a great read on 'Creating Community'.

Life's a gamble...read about it at Robert's.

Jason's been on a tear...he has 3 great posts...you can read them here ..... here ..... and here.

There's a new blog in town...drop by and say hello to Ryan.

See ya next week...

Truth...

Truth…is a four-letter word…

I am not an educated person. Never have been…never will be…nor will I profess to be. Even though I graduated with top honors at my high school, spent some six years toddling about on a college campus chasing a double major and currently take off-campus seminary classes, I’m constantly reminded, daily, that I am drastically un-educated. However, the life that I’ve accepted…the life I’ve been called to, is a breeding ground for knowledge…and wisdom. One thing I have learned, is, that the absorption of knowledge and wisdom is a choice we each will make. As for me, just call me a sponge.

One thing that I am becoming increasingly concerned about, is truth. Ask a hundred people the question, “What is truth?”, and you could receive up to a hundred different answers. And to each person, their answer is the correct answer.

The concept of truth, is changing. The application of truth is disappearing. As I observe my world around me, it’s becoming distinctively clear that the definition of truth is changing daily. We seem to define truth as it best fits our needs. What once was a world…a society where black and white defined our every move, now has become redecorated with shades of grey…and the boldness of black and white are quickly fading into oblivion.

Politicians, today, are prime examples of this. The political ‘houses’ they are building, are nothing more than a snap-shot of suburbia where all the houses are constructed using the same masterplan with bland shades of grey used for every sheet of wallpaper and trim, down to the lack-luster granite of the counter-tops. But the exteriors are another story….boldly fashioned with vibrant colors, sure to excite our mind’s eyes. What’s on the outside, isn’t always…I’ll let you finish the sentence.

There’s another neighborhood being built however, just across life’s interstate that has the potential of being the homestead of many strangers who are longing to relocate. Home sites have been cleared and foundations poured that appear to be the strongest around. Highway billboards and websites point to the excitement as these new homes are being built at a rapid pace. A Master Carpenter has been selected…the blueprints have been approved…and Phase I is nearing completion. The new subdivision is filled with pulsating colors and children’s voices echo throughout the streets. But secretly meeting in one of the unfinished homes is a group of laborers who are planning a coo against the Master Carpenter. “He doesn’t know what’s best for us,” they say, “We know how to do things better…and cheaper.” And look, the new homes have added a new dimension, they've added steeples.

So for the most part, the Master Carpenter has been asked to leave and a new hierarchy of leadership has taken over. With tears in his eyes, He walks away heart broken, knowing what His plans were for the neighborhood will no longer see reality…unless something changes.

The new leadership starts out strong, trying to maintain the status quo...with one huge exception. Now, the new occupants are allowed to choose the paint scheme for their new homes. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem. But after a great deal of inspection, the new homes have taken on an eerie resemblance of another neighborhood just a few exits away. Now it's become hard to tell one neighborhood from the other.

The Master Carpenter stands in the distance…longing…yearning, while the occupants are busy making painstaking trips back and forth to the paint store where they are overstocked in multiple shades of grey.

Truth is a four letter word...I'll let you fill in the blanks...and it's not found in a paint store.

The Friday Wrap-Up...

The pollen is falling and Spring Break is here. I'm sure that each of us have a great week planned. We're off to Ohio on Saturday morning, returning on Tuesday night. DP will reopen on Wednesday morning @ 7:00am. Enjoy reading, the blogs have been busy all week. Here it is, the week that was, in no particular order...

Amanda's 21 years of wisdom.

Dean thinks he's a car...wait, so does James.

The Germans had nothing to do with it...just ask Jason.

Jeff is still monkeying around with his twitter...too funny! Pic of the Week!

Take a look at Mark's big board.

T.J. has narrowed it down to 5 American Idols.

Can you say "FIRE" or "CATFIGHT"! Check it out, only on ML!

And I'd like to invite you to put a little color back into your life.

Have a great week...

The Friday Wrap-up...

Great week...great week...great week. And only one week left till MHS & DCHS have their Spring Breaks...hang on! Super week in Blogsville, have a fun time reading. Here it is, the week that was, in no particular order...

Kristy and her bunch look like bumps on a log. Cute post!

Check out the quiet at Brandi's.

Jonathan's take on 'a time to leave'. A must read.

T.J.'s take on creation. A close runner-up to Blog of the Week. Cool Avatar, by the way!

DPDL makes MonticelloLive.

Jeff has two posts that are worthy of the wrap-up:
1.) He's a freak...duh!

2.) He's figured out that he has a Twitter...and he likes to play with , er I mean update it.

But to my surprise, this morning I read an incredible post that spoke so very BOLDLY to me. An absolute MUST READ by Amanda...and hands-down winner for Blog of the Week! Just Boil Me Over! Great job Amanda!

That's it for now...have a great week.

The Friday Wrap-Up...

There were 3 great posts this past week that I just couldn't choose from...so here's to my choice...a 3-way tie for Blog of the Week...




T.J.'s incredible post on Salvation by Osmosis.

Jeff's take on when it's time to leave your church.

Mark got a letter from Jesus.

Have a great week...

Storms...

If we could only have the view from above the clouds…

The temperature had fallen more than 20 degrees since the storm had come through. Electricity had been knocked out for several hours and as evening set in, our world had grown very dark…and was growing cold. Little did I know the storms that had passed a few hours before had almost destroyed a neighboring town. Destruction was everywhere…just a few miles away…

As I stood outside, staring into the darkness that had consumed my neighborhood, the silence was deafening. Houses…homes where children play and run about, now had vanished. Even the creatures that prowled through the night were silent. But something…something kept calling me to stay outside in the darkness…stay…

The wind, still blowing from the storms, was finally beginning to remove the clouds overhead. Those clouds, what were once like cotton pillows, now were stained with dirt and debris from the devastation below. Flashes of light was now piercing through the darkness and exposing the wonder of the heavens above. The moon had never seemed so bright in all my life. But it was in those instances where I could actually see above the clouds…where the moon and stars illuminated my deep dark world…that shadows began to emerge…homes that once were lost, now started appearing slowing out of the darkness. It was there that I saw the calmness, the peace that remained intact even though my view was restricted…restricted to the under-side of the storm. Though all the while, from my vantage point, that terror loomed in the skies, peace was always there in front of me…calling out to me…just above the storm.

It wasn’t all that long ago, when a group of men set out on a journey…a journey that took them out to sea. And in the midst of that journey, a mighty storm arose. Panic and fear set in…desperation screamed from their very souls. As the winds howled and the waves crashed, those men knew their vessel wasn’t designed for such a powerful storm. It was only a matter of time…
Far too many times, I find myself a passenger on that same boat. Everywhere I turn, waves are crashing in around me. And far too many times, I feel the strains of life with every fiber of my being…reaching for life preservers only to have them wash out to sea. Just like those men, holding on to dear life, I find myself cowering down in the back of the boat, pleading for help. And in my desperation, He hears me…He heard them. As my Master makes his way toward the bow of the boat, staring face-to-face with eminent destruction, He stands firm…strong…believing… asking me to join Him…to look at things from a different perspective. I try to make my way forward, grasping for His open arms, but I’m struggling. And He knows it.

But in an instant, He beckons the wind and the waves and the storms vanish and peace becomes still. And in that same moment, I hear Him calling out to me…to look beyond my fears…to realize that storms are only temporary…to see that the light has now penetrated the darkness…to see the view from above the clouds…

The Friday Wrap-Up...

Lots of great stuff to read out there in blog world. Seems like everybody has had something to say the past few days! Great reads everywhere...thanks for making my week better. In the meantime, Dad's Place is a drop-off site for toys and baby stuff for our neighbors in Dumas. Get it to us, Journey Church will get it to them.
Here it is, the week that was, in no particular order...

Mark has found his big brother.

Nominations are screaming in for the Angelina Awards! Get your nominations in now!

He said he tried to say 'No'...but the temptation was too great...Jeff gave in and became a prostitute last week! A Must Read! A tie for Blog of the Week.

A great blog that is being read a lot locally is MMI...put it in you bloglines!

Brandy has it relentless.

T.J. Files looks at passion or passiveness.

Dean takes an inside look at a Playboy Bunny.

Brandi is back!

Twenty For The Future head to D.C.

Check out the latest TiVo & Movie reviews at TiVo Junkie.

T.J. Scott is choosing to lose church attenders. Tied for Blog of the Week.

Meet my new buddy, Jason...he's Melancholy in Monticello.

And what ever you do, the firestorm that's currently taking place at ML is still going! Don't Miss It!

Have an incredible week, see ya next Friday!

Drop-Off Site For Small Toys...

Dad's Place is now a DROP-OFF site for children's toys and baby items that will be delivered to the Dumas area. We are looking for items like:
small stuffed animals
coloring books
colors
side-walk chalk
cards
jump ropes
small cars
barbie dolls
colored pencils
paper
balls
baby food
baby wipes
diapers
and anything else along these lines

Any items such as these will be greatly appreciated. And THANKS to Journey Church for taking these items to the children for us.

The Wrap-Up Is Coming...

The Wrap-Up is on it's way, but there are still great posts and comments still 'flying' in! So in the meantime, here are a couple of things I'd love for you to check out:


My buddy, James Martin has started a new blog...'Life Of A TiVo Junkie'. Be sure and stop over and enjoy his reviews of TV Shows and Movies. And don't forget to comment on your thoughts on those same shows! Go ahead and link him up on your blog sites!

Angela has released her Angelina Award Nomination Catagories. Drop by and make your nominations NOW. Great Job Angela!

And what ever you do, don't miss the firestorm that currently taking place at ML...34 comments and counting!