Picking up the Towel

The Love Revolution is going awesome and I'm amazed at the incredible people I have the privilege to serve and pastor...Triumph folks are the best!  

This past Sunday, we talked about the immensity of God's love and the way Jesus showed it to the fullest - by serving.  We were challenged to "pick up the towel" and serve those around us. The presence of the Lord was powerful and hundreds responded to the call to serve others, in fact, we had 77 brand new people sign up to serve in specific ministries within the church.  Praise God!

Here are the sermon-based questions for this week to use in your personal devotional time and discuss in your small group this Wednesday...

1.   How do the words of Paul “..the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled with the love of God” stir your affections for Christ? (i.e. racial boundaries, gender boundaries, stereotypical judgment, etc.)

2.   How does fatherhood change our perceptions of God as a Father? Are there areas in your lives that create personal strongholds in relation to Christ?

3.   Are there other cultural/personal things that shape our acceptance of a loving God? (i.e. media, fast-paced life, western culture, sexuality)

4.   Do you struggle with “doing the right things” because its expected? Are your good deeds a direct result of the love of God or are they religious, ritualistic morality?

5.   Since we agree that the love of God prompts action in the lives of believers, how can we better serve our brothers and sisters inside the church? Is this an area that is often neglected? Why or why not?

6.   How can we better serve those outside of the church? Is this an area that is often neglected? Why or why not?

See you this week!

WHAT?

Something I stumbled upon...a little Friday introspection :)

Who you'll be in five years depends on:

• what friends you surround yourself with


• what you read


• what you eat


• what you watch


• what you hear


• what you change

• what you let go


• what you plan for


• what new thing you try


• what new places you go


• what you believe about God


• what you believe about yourself


• what you believe about others


• what you invest your time in


• what you volunteer for


• what skill you're learning


• what courage you have to make mistakes


• what mistakes you'll make


• what you'll learn from your mistakes

So WHAT are you doing today?

SORTING THROUGH THE JUNK

Yesterday was a great day...first full day (or almost) off & totally disconnected...with my wife. We spent most of the day...sorting through junk!  Yep, my honey-do list had multiplied and there was no more putting it off!  Spring cleaning, going through STUFF that has accumulated in every corner, drawer, GARAGE (let's not talk @ that)...it is amazing how STUFF HAPPENS, multiplies, and CROWDS/OVERWHELMS...

While thinking through the message from Sunday...and trying to LIVE IT OUT on Monday...I got a GREAT visual!  All of the things we attempt to do--for our families, job, relationships, God, etc.--can become so consuming...multiply...crowd...overwhelm...so that we're EXTREMELY BUSY, but not happy...or making a difference...or enjoying (in-joy) life!  Resisting, no fighting against, complexity and embracing, no guarding, simplicity is a never-ending fight!  What REALLY MATTERS?  

What really matters is loving others, as Christ loves us.  Doing everything out of His INFINITE love--not our own FINITE ability.  It was Jesus' unique and only command that He personally OWNED (Jn. 13:34-35) and THE DISTINGUISHING MARK of a follower of Christ.

So, how's your LOVE meter? Are you doing, going, speaking, acting, working, out of God's limitless reservoir of love?  Or, are you existing, relating, functioning out of duty, personal strength, and have-to?  Don't underestimate the obvious...people can tell...my wife can tell...my kids can tell...my friends, co-workers, family...all can tell.

Today, let's forget EVERYTHING and FOCUS on ONE THING:  To love, genuinely, each person we encounter...to respond, act, speak, initiate...ALL OF IT...from Jesus' vantage point....out of His view of--and love for--those around us.   Talk about a revolution?

LOVE REVOLUTION

starting the blog up again...a little rusty...

over the next several weeks, i'll be attempting to chronicle my own journey and provide deeper info and application for all who are ready to dive into the depths of God's love

and desire to spend your life learning to love others "as He loves"

Easter was incredible this year...772 people; 28 salvations/rededications...IN THE POURING RAIN!!

in the words of the moravians... "to win for the Lamb, the reward of His suffering"

although, it is slightly concerning...the number of CEOs (Christmas and Easter Only) church-goers...as a church...as people who name the Name of Christ...we must better disciple others...

we must be better disciples...

consider this question...really think of it today...seriously, be honest before God...

here it is...

"Would your life look different if you suddenly stopped believing in God?"

the answer, helps us gauge the impact and influence Christ is allowed in our lives

has our "belief" merely become something added to our well-oiled machine of a life like salt on food...(makes it a little tastier, but far from necessary)?  

would our job, marriage, relationships, pursuits, hobbies, schedule, finances, etc. only be mildly adjusted?

who is at the CENTER of my life around which all other things revolve?

ME? or HIM?

to what degree?

Prayer for our new President

Father, according to Timothy 2, Paul exhorted that "supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior". In obedience to Your Word, we join together this day, January 20 2009, with our church family all across the United States of America and join in one heart and one mind in prayer and intercession for our new incoming President Barack Obama. Father we ask this day that as Barack Obama is inaugurated here in Washington DC, that You would look down from Heaven and in Your great mercies upon America look down this day upon President Barack Obama and grant him exceeding wisdom in these crucial days ahead facing him and the new administration. Oh mighty Father we pray as a united body to You, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that You may grant to Barack Obama the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of Yourself this day. That the eyes of President Obama's understanding be enlightened that he may know what is the hope of his calling and the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power to us-ward who believe and to himself, according to the working of Your mighty power which you wrought in Christ, when You raised Him from the dead.

Father we pray that the overshadowing fear of the Lord would start to rest upon this new administration. We pray for Your sovereign hand to guide the President and those in his cabinet. We release YOUR purposes, we release YOUR plan, we release YOUR strategies and YOUR wisdom, we release YOUR governance. We pray for visitation in the President's night hours and revelation in his waking hours, that as he enters the pressures and the challenges of office in 2009 that he would be driven to trust in You as his mighty fortress, that he would find refuge and wisdom under Your wings, that he would seek Your face before he seeks man's wisdom and Father, that You would pour out word after word in season upon him from on high.

Father, we thank you that even as Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson ruled in generations before Barack Obama, that You have placed upon President Barack Obama's shoulders a mantle to root out and tear up wickedness, thank you Father, that by Your sovereign mighty hand, You would imbue him with zealousness and righteousness to rout out evil men and sinister schemes. Grant President Barack Obama the courage to rule with justice and the wisdom to rule under God. And Father, as the body of Christ that we commit to You to lift him up faithfully and fervently. That we may consistently petition Heaven on Barack Obama's behalf and petition President Barack Obama on YOUR behalf. Father, we also ask that You minister to him in the night hours regarding the issue of abortion that he may know Your heart and Your mind on these issues so important to Heaven. And finally we ask divine protection and blessing over his family and upon his physical life. Preserve his life from being cut off prematurely, Father preserve him from sinister schemes and the schemes of wicked men. Thank you that as President of the United States he will run the course that is laid out for him in this time and this season. Thank you for joining with us and the Body of Christ all across America to pray for President Barack Obama today and in the months and years ahead. God Bless America!

Let's bless and declare a turning in our nation, expansion of the Kingdom, and a revival of righteousness!

Pastor D

Taken from GODTV

New Post of an Old Post

No special insight or wit...too late for that...just an update on the Top 5 prayer needs for the week...

Thanks for all who prayed...keep up the good work...PLEASE!

#3. is being answered and all is getting well

#4. HUGE SUCCESS...we had the best 10yr Anniversary possible :)  and Kris has a rock and roses to prove it :)

#5. getting better...some improvement

#Bonus - still working on it...daily process...trying to stay pliable ... 

#2. haven't yet had the solitude and focus to move far...keep on the list

#1.  need prayer for tomorrow...MUST FINISH TOMORROW!

NEW ONE...Pray for the family of Lacey Danielle Johnson, 19, of Nederland, who died Saturday, December 13, 2008 in Nederland. Funeral service is scheduled for 2:00 pm Thursday, December 18, 2008 in the chapel of Broussard’s in Nederland.  Lacey went to Triumph in her childhood and early teen years...I'll be doing the funeral.  

In the yard with the kids on a snowy day...in SETX!!

Strangest thing...just settling to sleep after the last tweet of the evening...bzzzz...my lovely wife's iPhone (the greatest phone on the planet) vibrates with a text from a friend that it's snowing...IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...go figure...first time in the 10 years we've been living here...

We woke up the kids at 12:46a and played in the snow for a couple of hours...here's the proof for your viewing pleasure...