Downpour

It's late, but I want to post a bit about our first Downpour study at church. We watched the dvd lesson last week, and went over the study this week. I appreciated all of the people who shared.
One person talked about "hasty repentance" and I thought that was so very much how we often repent. It's like we just want to get it out of the way.
Another high point for me was hearing the testimonies of salvation from several differnet people.
Testimonies always get to me.....because it's the grace and mercy of God in action, each and every time. And no matter when, where, or how it happens, it always comes down to realizing our need for Jesus.
Downpour.
It's appropriate.
I'm anticipating not just a downpour, but a flood.
If you're anywhere in the vicinity....come and join us.

Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave

Ok....here we go again!

It's been some time since I have blogged.

If you were to ask me why it has taken so long, I would have to say, I don't really know.

It seems as if the past couple of weeks have been like walking in a spiritual swamp.

Since I have called this blog, "Pastor Dave Lets His Hair Down", please allow me to indulge myself on this post, by sharing some thoughts and feelings I have had over the past couple of weeks.

As a pastor, I wear a lot of hats (teacher, preacher, counselor, administrator, comedian, and a few others). Of all of these, my favorite is when I get to preach. I love to study the Word, pick it apart, dissect it, put it back together, and then share it with the congregation. There is something extra-special when you are preaching the Word of God, and you feel "the connection"! I'm talking about that special moment when you know that you are connecting with the congregation and with the Holy Spirit, and it comes back to you. It is the most awesome of moments, that I cannot even begin to describe to you, and unless you have experienced it yourself, there is no way I can adequately describe it to you.

Having said all that, let me just say that the last couple of weeks in the pulpit I have felt like I was riding a tricycle with one wheel about to come off, or like I was driving a four cylinder car that was only running on three cylinders! I was getting somewhere, but it wasn't working like it was supposed to.

I didn't know what was wrong....but I knew something was wrong.

Now, our church has begun doing the DOWNPOUR study by James MacDonald. As I began to do my daily lesson each day, I began to sense something happening to me. I can only describe it as a "shifting" of sorts spiritually.

Then my wife called me at work, just as I was finishing the last lesson for this week. After talking with her, I went outside in my car and broke down and cried. I can't even tell you why I was crying...I just was. But with the tears there was a cleansing, a washing, a renewing in my heart.

Just as I couldn't tell you what was wrong before, I can't tell you what is "right" now, just that I know it is right, that all is well with my soul.

It's at this point that I'm supposed to tie this all up in a neat little biblical/spiritual package with a couple of handy, dandy verses for future use. Only problem is, I don't have any cute little sayings, or clever, catchy phrases, or any verses to use, either in, or out of context.

So I leave you with this.

It was dark, and it was dry, and it was muddy, and it was mucky.

Then it rained.

And it is now, fresh, and clean, and clear and free.

Please pray for me, as I continue to live this life, one step at a time, following in the footsteps of Jesus.

Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave

Prayer Request Update

Thank you for all your prayers.

The surgery went well, and the doctor believes he got as much of the tumor out as possible.

Henry will still have to go through chemo, and other procedures in order to ensure that the cancer is completely gone, but at this time all parties involved believe that it has been defeated and destroyed.

As I receive further updates throughout the long process of healing I will post them here.

One of the amazing things to see through all of this is the grace that God gave his family as they had to wait for the results of all of this. While we were praying for Henry and his family, his parents lifted our faith when we talked to them by the strength of their faith in God through all of this and by the outpouring of the grace of God that was evident as they shared the details of what was happening as well as the thoughts and emotions they were feeling.

Still praying,
Pastor Dave

PRAYER REQUEST

I have an urgent prayer request. A couple that goes to my church have a son in his 20's who is scheduled to have surgery to remove a tumor from his brain at 9:00 in the morning. They have found that the tumor is cancerous. They say that the removal should be easy, but that he will have to follow up with chemo and other treatments. He is married, but has no children. Please lift him up, his wife and his parents during this trying time. It is times like these when our faith is really put to the test. I know that God is in control of all things, but I also know that these trials can cause confusion in our heads and hearts. They need the prayers of brothers and sisters to pray for strength, peace, grace and healing. I will post an update once I know more. Thank you in advance for your prayers. The young man's name is Henry & his parents are James and Glenda.

Praying for healing,
Pastor Dave

Pray Until It Hurts

A few weeks ago in one of my sermons I talked about little acronyms that we come up with in our christian sub-culture. Things like, FROG (Full Rely On God), or COPS (Christians Obediantly Proclaiming Salvation) and PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens). I then said that we needed to pray poo-ee prayers. Which is spelled PUIH, and stands for Pray Until It Hurts. I didn't actually have "chapter & verse" for this, but felt that we often tossed prayers out without really engaging in intense prayer.

Then last week I was reading in I Samuel and came across this:

1 Samuel 1:15 (New American Standard Bible)

15But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.

Hannah poured out her soul before the Lord. Sounds to me like she was praying until it hurt.

How often do we really pray intense gut wrenching prayers? Too often pray is just a cut little ritualistic thing we do at meals or bedtime.

I cannot help but wonder if we would really pour our heart and soul out in our prayers that maybe we would see revival break out in our churches and in our families. I'm not saying that we can "work" harder to earn the favor of God, but I am asking the question if we approach prayer with a casual and cavalier attitude, we shouldn't be surprised when our prayers seem to lack power and we do not seem to hear an answer from God.

I have thought about this a lot this past week. I have not posted a blog for a week...and with good reason. In many ways my life has been turned upside down and inside out this week. I have felt "roasted, toasted, shaked 'n' baked and put out to dry" this week. The devil has attacked me emotionally, spiritualy and run a spear through the softest part of my heart. While I was doing well in battling outward sin and temptation this week, I have been vulnerable and weak in emotional areas, especially in the area concering one of my children. The devil attacked and I did not pray with power or conviction. Because of that, he won round one, but the battle is not over yet.

Round two is upon me.

It's time to go to the "spiritual gym".

It's time for me to pray until it hurts.

I ask for those who read this blog to pray for me as well. I need the prayers of my brothers and sisters.

Prayerfully yours,
Pastor Dave

Celebrating Unworthiness

Today I was ordained as a minister in the Southern Baptist Denomination.

I had been ordained once before by a different denomination. That ordination was solemn and funeral like.

Today was a celebration.

Friends and family were there. Laughter was overflowing.

Yet....

....I felt so very unworthy.

And then it hit me.

My ordination was a celebration of my unworthiness.

I am unworthy, but HE is worthy!

Everything that was celebrated today was because of what HE has done, is doing and is continuing to do, and will do.

God is great! God is mighty! God is awesome!

So the next time you feel like a loser, don't get down...celebrate, the Bible says "For all are losers and fall short of the glory of God." (that's the New Pastor Dave translation)

Jesus is for losers, and we were all losers.

Praise God that I said yes to Jesus and moved from the losing team to the winning team.

Tomorrow is another day, and I may post a "deeper" blog, but for today, please join me in celebrating my unworthiness!

Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave

The Book Of Acts

I have been watching the first half of the DVD: The Visual Bible -The Book Of Acts.

I have moved to tears and to laughter, as I have watched the start of the early church unfold before my eyes.

I find myself longing to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in my life in a mighty way. I desire to see souls saved and lives changed. My heart aches for revival in my life, the life of my family, the life of my church and my friends.

I also realize that nothing but me stands in the way for most of this to happen. I must give all of me to God, surrender completely and hold nothing back.

Tomorrow I am to be ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister. I feel so unworthy, yet I know the Worthy One. I feel unqualified, but I know the One who qualifies me.

My hearts desire is to be a Spirit filled, on fire, child of God, drawing people to Jesus.

Pray with me and for me, as I begin to feel the flames of revival stirring in my heart.

I leave you with the lyrics from a song by Steve Camp.

The Mark of a Man of God

A godly man is such a rarity today. So many start strong and true and quickly fall away. A godly man will take a stand, he can't be bought or sold. Hand to the plow he won't look back, though other hearts grow cold. He keeps the faith and keeps his conscience clean. He lives this life of Grace through all his years.

The mark of a man of God is what he's faithful to, and what he's fleeing from, and what he's fighting for. The Heart of a man of God is what he daily pursues. His family, friends, the word, the church, and worship of the Lord. A godly man daily takes up the Cross of Christ and faithfully follows him as a living sacrifice...

He's not ashamed of the gospel. His suffiency is Christ. And the Power of integrity of the passion of his life. Instead of reckless faith, he has proven his faith works, and the ulitimate priority is the Master's plan for the church.

He's saved without a doubt, for his 1st love is the Lord. And the Gospel according to Jesus is the truth he would die for...

He lives his life to teach the word in season and in not. For he fears more than any man, the approval of his God. He lovingly and firmly leads those placed under his care, and the power of his ministry is that he is a man of prayer...


The mark of a man of God is what he's faithful to, and what he's fleeing from, and what he's fighting for. The Heart of a man of God is what he daily pursues. His family, friends, the word, the church, and worship of the Lord. A godly man daily takes up the Cross of Christ and faithfully follows him as a living sacrifice..."


Striving to be a man of God,
Pastor Dave