Never Sit on the Sidelines!

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?

Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

2 Timothy 2:2

If there is a game going on, I cannot stand to be sitting on the sidelines. Call me competitive or whatever you like, but I detest sitting still when everyone else is running around. I suffered a major ankle injury while in high school that kept me off the basketball floor for several weeks. Sitting at practices and games watching my teammates was more excruciating than the injury itself.

I realize that there is a time to be still, but so many individuals choose the wrong times to be still or they choose to be still way too long. God did not save us so that we could just sit on the sidelines. I have often said that if God saved us just to go to Heaven He would have taken out of this world at the moment of our conversion. God saved us so that we could serve. Jesus even told His followers to pray that His Father would send out workers into the fields. Some people have a false idea even of Heaven. They believe that we are all going to lounge around on clouds while playing our harps and singing to one another. We are going to be ruling and reigning with Christ. When God created Adam, He gave him a job to do (tending to the Garden). I would like to challenge all of us to get in the race and run it with a desire to win!

Hearing Voices

The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,

commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:2

We are often challenged to learn, but we must be sure of the source of our learning. I often have the opportunity to get my hands on good books that have been either given to me or recommended to me. In these books I am able to glean from others what they have learned about life and especially about the times of life in their spiritual walk. Biographies are my favorite, because it is a glimpse into the life of an individual that we do not often get to see. We live in an age where resources are readily available. I listened this week while on the internet to two great Christians that served our Lord and literally gave their lives for Him: Corrie Ten Boom and Jim Elliott. It was incredible to hear their voices and at the same time to hear their hearts. The real challenge however comes at the end of hearing their sermons, the last page of the book, or the final words of the biography. What will I now do with what I have heard and learned? It is not enough to hear the lesson. There must be an acknowledgment of what is learned so that we can pass it on to someone else. Timothy was benefiting from what Paul had learned, but Paul challenged him to pass it on. May our voices be heard by the next generation!

Search the Scriptures

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Acts 17:11

If ever there was a model for what the modern day church ought to be doing, it was the church at Berea. These individuals felt that it was absolutely important to make sure that what they were being taught had its basis in the Scriptures. I often find that there are many people within the church that do not know why they believe what they believe. They have simply taken someone else’s word for it. If you were to ask them to back up their beliefs, they would not know where to start. This is an absolute shame when there is so much Scripture to confirm the beliefs of the church. Why is it this way? I believe that it could be for a couple of reason. 1) The church has not always done a very good job teaching people. We have expected people to sit and listen and never question what is being taught. How awesome it would be if every church member started questioning their beliefs and comparing them with Scripture. 2) I also believe that some questions have just become too lazy. They do not want to have to dig through the Scriptures. They believe that is the pastor’s job. The church must begin taking ownership of their faith and get to the place where they could defend it without shame.

What a year!

It is so hard to believe that this year has come and gone. I know we probably all say that every year, but this year has been filled with so many unique and memorable moments for me personally.

Susan and I had the opportunity to travel to England together this year. I had always wanted her to be able to experience England so that she would be able to know a bit about where I spent some time as a teenager. We really had a tremendous time! That is also where I decided that I was going to lose some weight. Thankfully, as of right now, I have lost 20 pounds this past year.

In April, Patrick Carmichael and I had the chance to go to North Carolina to speak at a singles and youth conference for Jay Boyce in Asheville. I was very humbled by the opportunity to be used of God in such a fashion. I never feel worthy to stand and proclaim God's precious Word.

As summer approached God showed me once again how powerful He really is. Roland Lavoie came to trust Christ as His Savior. Of all the things that God accomplished this year in my ministry, I would have to say that this was the highlight. I never thought for once that Roland would be interested at all in coming to Jesus, but God has a way of getting us all to the point that the Holy Spirit can have His free course to draw us to Himself. To now see Roland, Angie, and Ben in church every time the doors are open and to watch them grow in the knowledge of Christ is truly the joy of my ministry.

God personally worked in my life during the month of June and on June 14 God performed a miracle in my soul. It is so deep and personal, but I am thankful for the change that He has brought in my heart.

Then came Africa. Michael, Tony, Travis, and I went to Togo to be with a missionary for close to three weeks. We saw poverty and despair on a scale that I will never forget. I have witnessed poverty in Haiti, but Togo seemed to be much more about hopelessness. Thankfully, God is using missionaries to reach men like the chief I met in a remote village. Small churches are being built to minister and reach these people. My contracting malaria taught me how to pray for the hurting and the suffering. It taught me complete dependence on God. It also made me focus on the love that I have for my wife and children. How desperately I needed them!

No sooner had I returned from Africa that school began. It has been a very difficult year with changes that have taken place. I have resolved however to let God use me as He sees fit, but I will not tie myself to another ministry. To do this would be to neglect the ministry that God has given me.

Susan and I were able to spend a week together on a cruise to the Bahamas. I am truly grateful for the gift of a wife that God has given me. Never has a woman fulfilled the text of Proverbs 31 like my wife. She and I also decided that the next cruise we take will be with the whole family. The kids would definitely have a blast.

This year also brought heartache in the loss of Susan's precious grandmother Kathy Rose. This dear lady served God faithfully next to her husband Gerald in South America for almost 50 years. Only Heaven knows how precious a treasure this world has lost. I am grateful however for the promise of our reunion with her and our precious Savior, Jesus Christ.

My children have grown this year, and I often find myself wanting to hide them from this world. I know that I must prepare them for the days ahead, but selfishly I want them to never leave. My prayer is that I might be an example of love to them. I hope that they know how wonderful Susan and I really believe they are. They were excited this year, because Susan and I gave in and got them a dog. We are now the happy owners of a long-haired dachshund named Dolly. The kids are in love with her, and I think she is pretty happy about them as well.

So, what does next year hold? I have no idea, but I know that God has already gone before us to prepare they way.

My Haitian Friends

My heart is heavy as I think of the situation in Haiti. Pastor and Sister Turner in Saut D'eau have kept us up to date of the difficult situation that is going on after three hurricanes hit them in less than two weeks. The last, Hurricane Ike, did so much damage that bridges were washed out and crops were completely destroyed. Having been there before and knowing how desperate conditions are normally, I cannot even fathom what it must be like for them. Now, on top of flooding and food shortages, the standing water is becoming a haven for disease such as malaria. At one time I did not understand what people meant when they said that there was an outbreak of malaria. Now, since my trip to Africa this summer where I contracted malaria, I have a completely different outlook on the situation. I know the pain and the sickness that are associated with this disease, and it truly breaks my heart to know that adults and little children who are already so weak are having to deal with this problem. As you read this, please pray for God to supply the need of food and medicine to this isolated region. It is critical that they get help this week. There has been a great revival in this area as of late, and please pray that God will use this to bring even more away from the emptiness of voodoo to peace and hope in Jesus Christ.

Praying for Our Enemies

Last night at our cottage prayer meeting I gave a thought on this subject from Psalm 56:1-7. Often when we talk about praying for our enemies, we simply use the scriptures of loving our enemies and turning the other cheek. While there is a definite need for us to do both at times, I also believe that there is a time that we pray for God's hand of judgment to be made known in their lives. The real point then is our motivation for this prayer. If I truly love that person, I am asking God to do what He deems best to get their attention. Often we have tried many things, but we realize that they are only going to respond to the mighty hand of God. The Apostle Paul even instructed the church at Corinth to turn one of their own over to the devil so that he might be brought back to the faith. This type of prayer is not done lightly, but it is scriptural. We approach God in this way with humility wanting what He sees as best.

Learning through Teaching

This weekend I tried to teach one of my children how to ride a bike. Two of my children were fairly easy to teach, so I expected the same of the third. It went far different than I imagined. After almost two hours both of us were exhausted and frustrated, and in true "Dave" like fashion I became angry and irritated. You would have thought that I asked a Marine drill instructor to teach my child how to ride a bike. Then, God got a hold on my heart.

We took a break, and I challenged my child to realize that they can do all things through Christ. I challenged them to realize that they were capable if they would apply themselves. I began to use positive reinforcement instead of degrading criticism. After the 15 minute break we tried again with these new methods of encouragement. Within five minutes my child was riding away with ease.

As I contemplated this last night, I though that Christ must be the same way with us. Something that is so simple that it should be easy we make complicated. Yet God differs in that He does not quit on us or give up. As His creation He knows that we are capable to do all things through His power. Maybe we should stop trying to teach so much and start learning.