Christmas Past

Miles and smiles have come and gone in the past few days.
There have been stories and hugs and tears and fears
Expectations - both met and unmet
Car rides and flights, arguments and fist fights
there have been warm embraces and cold stares.
memories, fuzzy and clear
love, happy, joyful and cheer

bows, gifts, presents a plenty
chatter and noise and people everywhere
bells ringing, crying, laughing, clapping, partying
cash and credit
and a for real pet to pet it

Getting past Christmas to Christ
getting in on what God has for us
giving up what we think is best
getting the best, giving ourselves

Christmas Past - Christ Now

Christmas - Best and Worst..

Christmas brings out the best and worst in people and situations (usually the situations have to do with the best - the and worst in people).  Maybe you experience the highs and lows, ups and downs, celebrations and pit-parties too. - Especially at Christmas.

Why is that?  Are we more in tune with our sensitive side?  Is it all the heart-wrenching stories, the peace on earth, the bells ringing, children crying...what is it?

Christmas marks a moment that is significant for eternity.  It is celebrated and communicated as the birth of Christ, God's answer for a lost and dying world.  God knew the world's need for Himself and He gave Himself.  As a child, to experience humanity, to live, to heal, to feel, to know.  Jesus did that.  And He died.  For me and for you.  As a replacement, for our eternal death - if we acknowledge Him, believe Him.

You see it is the best and worst.  Worst because we know the heart that we have had, best because we know that God came down here.

That mentality plays out in everyday life - on one hand you experience joy and victory on the other pain and remorse.  The battle goes on.

This Christmas let's get past all the stuff and fluff, all the turmoil, all the hurt and feelings and let's focus on Christ. If you are like me, you've got to make a conscious choice to get past Christmas, to Christ.

Let Christmas bring out the best in you - Jesus - because He's in you!

DB

cuba bound

so the journey begins -

I'm meeting many of the team for the first time tonite as we share a meal, laughter and stories.  we each tell of other experiences and of what we hope God will do through us as we labor along side brothers and sisters in Cuba for the next 8 days.

I am ready - excited even.

A little axnious I must admit - mostly about what is home...family, events, church, friends, balls being juggled....I could go on.

Tomorrow Miami and then Havana - look out here we come.

Lord God may your Spirit move in mighty ways and may we be useful tools in your hands.

AMEN

ps 115

Psalm 115 ¹ Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, 
   because of your love and faithfulness.² Why do the nations say, 
   “Where is their God?” 
³ Our God is in heaven; 
   he does whatever pleases him. 
⁴ But their idols are silver and gold, 
   made by human hands. 
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak, 
   eyes, but cannot see. 
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear, 
   noses, but cannot smell. 
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel, 
   feet, but cannot walk, 
   nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 
⁸ Those who make them will be like them, 
   and so will all who trust in them.

Lord – to you be all the glory because of who you are.  Because of your love and faithfulness.  Let us live out glory to you lord so that that the world will ask – “who are you God?” And we may tell them of your greatness.  And our love for you and what you have done for us.  Lord let your power be made known and let the weakness of their idols be realized before their eyes – let them crumble to dust.  Lord God touch man’s mouth to speak praise before you, his ears to hear your  joyful songs, his hands to do work  in you name, his voice to shout for you O LORD!  TRUST in Him!

here is a picture of "backstage at baptism" from a few weeks ago.  it was a really great day.

Praying for Friends today/ thankful for how I see God at work

Couple needed jobs
family fighting cancer
woman rehabbing injury
several recovering from illness and surgery
one who accepted Jesus this week!!!
kids serving
dad who has cancer
Gratitude in tough times
improvement in hospice patient
excitement-anticipation for CUBA MISSION TRIP!
very good offerings in the month of September

Opportunities to love give and serve
- Buddy Walk this Sunday - come out at 1:30 to pass out drinks and love on this part of our community.
-Candy Carnival - Oct 28 - candy, fun, people.  There is a place for you to serve and have fun.  get with Deanna Kroskie to find out how.

CityPrayer for 9.29.11

If you are local (Anderson, SC) drop by 708 W Whitner St at Capstone Church for Cityprayer.  We prayer together for the needs of our city.  For God's blessing, guidance and salvation.  


If you can't drop by between 12:15 -12:45 - at least drop what you are doing for a minute or two and pray.

^{Psalms 251} O Lord, I give my life to you.  ² I trust in you, my God!  Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.  ³ No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

⁴ Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  ⁵ Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you.  ⁶ Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.  ⁷ Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.  Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.
⁸ The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.  ⁹ He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.  ¹⁰ The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

Lord God  - I give myself to you again today, trusting you to do better, more with me than I could ever imagine.  You will not fail, you will not fail me!  Give direction to my steps, show me your truth, grow my hope that is placed in you.  Forgive me when I fall, fail and frustrate.  Thank you for your unfailing, unfailing, unfrustrating love.

Lord God you are good and faithful.  I love you!

Thank you Father - AMEN

Give Away Day

This Sunday at Capstone Church we are holding GIVE AWAY DAY.  Our church does this several times a year to bless our community by giving away things like furniture, clothes, toys and food.

You can be apart of GIVE AWAY DAY by

1.  Praying for God's name to be glorified and that people who are far from God come to a saving relationship with Jesus.

2.  You can give stuff away (your stuff)

3.  you can help set up and sort at Capstone this week - call the office 222-2114

4.  you can show up Sunday to set up at 9 am - get with Mike Cummings

5.  you can hang out after church - Give Away begins at 11:45.  you can walk and talk with our neighbors that come looking for something they can use - kind of like a personal shopper.  but most importantly you can get to know someone new.  there will be hotdogs too.

See you Sunday.
DB

Psalms 5

^{Psalms 5:1} O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.
² Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.
³ Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.  Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

⁴ O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. ⁵ Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. ⁶ You will destroy those who tell lies.  The Lord detests murderers and deceivers. ⁷ Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. ⁸ Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me.  Make your way plain for me to follow.

Lord God – Let my prayers fall heart-felt upon your ears.  I know you love me and listen to me.  I desperately need you, need your help.  You are good and kind and each day you desire me to come before you.

God I know you oppose the proud and sin-filled, you detest evil.  I am sinful and yet you love me.  You invite me into your presence.  Allow me to dwell and mediate and search your heart and your word.  Lead me in pathways of truth and righteousness.  Make the roadway obvious for me.

ps 34

^{Psalms 34:1} I will praise the Lord at all times.  I will constantly speak his praises.
² I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.
³ Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. 

⁴ I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.  He freed me from all my fears.⁵ Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. ⁶ In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. ⁷ For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. ⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!  ⁹ Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. ¹⁰ Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Lord God – help me to praise you at all times.  The times that are easy and hard.  The ups and downs.  The joys and pains.  Times of peace and trouble.  Times of doubt and discernment.  Free me from my lack of faith that comes through fear and doubt.  Let your presence be comforting.  God hear my desperation for you, know the place that I am in.  Save me.  Defend me.  Listen to me.

Lord I have tasted your goodness.  I have known your joy and peace.  You have provided for my need.  Even if you do not answer my prayer in the way I think you should answer my prayer – I will still trust in you.  I will not want.  God you are the provider.

Capstone Church family news

Church family –

September is here, school has begun, the pace of life is changing (as always), and there are new opportunities around the corner and old friends to stay in touch with.  Mostly our intentions entering this season are good.  We intend to loose a few pounds, spend better time with husband or wife, listen to our children and make new friends.  We intend to read our bibles more and push back from the buffet, we intend to make that phone call and study harder, we intend to stop and be still with God….to listen, to take direction, to meet a need.

My prayer for you is that you do exactly that.  STOP.  Psalm 46:10 tells us to “be still and know that He is God.”  You might be still and you might know that God is God.  But to do both simultaneously?  Knowing God and taking the time for God to make known to you His desires, preferences, dreams for you, your family, your church, your city.  Now that is different.

Be Still – and know.

Life of the Church:

Sept 3 – Men’s Pancake Breakfast – 8:00 am (that’s this Saturday!!!)

Sept 11 – Communion – We will share the Lord’s Table as a family.

Sept 18 – Give Away Day – Am service will feature several people within Capstone and a few from the community as we share about how God is at work and how you can get involved.

Sept 24 – Baptism – Celebrate as we baptize new Christ-followers.  If you have accepted Christ and want to be baptized, please contact David

October 9 – Buddy Walk At Anderson University – we will walk as a part of Team Kaci Menzel and pass out water to all the participants

October 27 – Team leaves for Cuba – How you can be involved:  1.  please pray for us  2.  we are collecting baseball stuff and travel size lotions, soaps, shampoos  3.  Give – you can give to our Cuba mission efforts by giving monetarily above our regular tithes.

October 28 – Capstone Candy Carnival – lots of opportunity for impacting kids all over Anderson

1. Every week on Thursdays at 12:15 pm – You are invited to pray.  At Capstone the doors are open and a quiet place is available to come and pray with others – This time is called CityPrayer – specifically to come together to pray for our city and the needs.  If you can not come, you can stop for a moment wherever you are and pray.
2. There are many new faces around and some that are missing.  Look around and welcome and get to know the new faces and make a phone call or stop by to tell some of the one that are missing that they are missed and you want to see them back.
3. Home Groups are the life of Capstone Church.  If you are not currently in a group – I want to help you connect to an existing group or be part of a new group starting late September.
4. Pray for Mike D’Avanzo as he leads our Student Ministry.  The Verb meets on Wednesday at 6:30 for Middle and High School Students – we have had a big turn out the past couple of weeks because kids are inviting kids.  There is a gathering for High School at eCity Java at 7pm on Mondays.  Magnify is for college students and it meets on Sunday nights at 7 pm - after only 2 weeks we have seen 30-50 show up to grow as disciples together.
5. We have 2-3 volunteer interns from Anderson University that will be assisting in worship, student ministry, graphic design and possibly our kids areas.
6. Leah Mosqueda is the director or Imagination Station – she needs 3 people to fill vacancies on an every other week rotation with our baby class and 2 yr old room
7. Summer time has been expensive in many ways:  bills are higher, many are in need, we have on going financial responsibilities with church plants, missionary sending groups and local ministry organizations.  It is costing more each week because we have more people.  We have had several weeks of offerings that were low and we need to catch up to maintain the responsibilities we have.

Here is the financial picture from the last month:  8/7 - $5623.55  8/14 – 5637.12   8/21 – 4163.30   8/28 – 2415.50

Our needs have not changed (we need to average $5750.31 weekly to meet our annual budget.  More importantly we need to able as the opportunity arises to step into what God may have planned for us.

I challenge you to give in the coming weeks.  You are needed to step up as a part of the body of Christ that is Capstone Church and give.  If you have gotten behind on your tithes this summer – make it up.  If you only give every once in awhile – be consistent – take God at His word that He will be faithful to you – trust Him.  If you have never given to the church – you always thought that was somebody else’s responsibility…you are somebody else...start now.  Together we can accomplish so much more – we can continue to reach lost people for Jesus, meet needs in the community, provide opportunities for kids and adults to grow as disciples and meet together for fellowship and worship.

I love you church.  Go and love others this week.

David

Hectic havoc, chaotic clamity

you know those days?  the ones that seem to last a month.  you anticipate, plan, get excited, get anxious.  then those days seem to pile up and add on and it is like coming us for air but continually going back under the surface of the water?  you know those times?

last week was like that.  so many moving parts.  great stuff, just lots of it.  school for the kids started and you know what that entails.  it was all hands on deck week with small projects and big initiative at church (they all went great - you guys who jumped in - you rock).

new faces, new places.  same problems, same responsibilities.

the days turn into to, into three and you still have not rested.  the business takes its toll.

Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know that He is God.

not work and move and strive - but rather be still.  rest in His greatness, in His arms of love.  truthfully, I struggle with that.  But need to know it and live and model it - for my family, my friends, my church.

Today - take some time - to be still.

Lord - For the next hour - I will be still.  I will stay in your presence.  Sit at your feet.  Give you thanks and listen to your voice.  Amen

Join us at 12:15 on Thursdays - live @Capstone Church or where ever you are for CityPrayer - praying for Anderson (or your city) you church, friends, needs, nation, circumstances.  Pray - Be still!!!

Proverbs Prayer

^{Proverbs 3:3} Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 
   bind them around your neck, 
   write them on the tablet of your heart. 
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name 
   in the sight of God and man.
 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
   and lean not on your own understanding; 
⁶ in all your ways submit to him, 
   and he will make your paths straight

Lord let love and faithfulness never leave me, establish yourself in my heart.  Allow me favor with you Lord and man, that I may be your witness.

Help me to trust you Lord with all of me, not trusting in myself or anything else.  As I submit to you I know you will direct me in the paths I am to go

GREAT!!!

Psalm 111 ² Great are the works of the LORD; 
   they are pondered by all who delight in them. 
³ Glorious and majestic are his deeds, 
   and his righteousness endures forever. 
⁴ He has caused his wonders to be remembered; 
   the LORD is gracious and compassionate. 
⁵ He provides food for those who fear him; 
   he remembers his covenant forever. 
⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works, 
   giving them the lands of other nations. 
⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just; 
   all his precepts are trustworthy. 
⁸ They are steadfast for ever and ever, 
   done in faithfulness and uprightness. 
⁹ He provided redemption for his people; 
   he ordained his covenant forever— 
   holy and awesome is his name.
 ¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; 
   all who follow his precepts have good understanding. 
   To him belongs eternal praise.


Great are you Lord, worthy to be praised, your wonders amaze me, your compassion and grace overflow, your power is limitless and matchless, you are just, you provide redemption.  Let me live your statues and commands and allow me to praise you forever.
Make me a blessing.  Give us what we do not deserve, give us forgiveness, give us faith.  Make us strong in your name to those who stand against you.  Thank you Father - AMEN

Waiting on Victory

^{Psalm 62: 1} I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. ² He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. 
⁵Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. ⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. ⁷ My victory and honor come from God alone.  He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.  ⁸ O my people, trust in him at all times.  Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.


Lord – I wait for you.  It is hard and I have lots of questions about what you are doing in my life, but I trust you and will wait because of the promise I have in you.
Lord God you are the ROCK and the salvation.  You are my strength and fortress – my ever present help in time of need.  You alone Lord God.
You give the victory and even now when circumstances do not look victorious, you have already won.  You are my protection.  I pray today for a sending in my life that requires protection.  Move me beyond my safety to a place of utter dependence upon you and a place where God-sized dreams can be lived.
Give us what we do not deserve, give us forgiveness, give us faith.  Make us strong in your name to those who stand against you.

Thank you Father - AMEN

What do you think of this Picture?

It kind of cools me off, considering it has been 100 here for the past 3 days.

Verse from CityPrayer Today

Jeremiah 33:² “This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: ³ ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ 




Lord - we call upon your name.  To save and rescue, to heal and mend, to guide and show, to love and care, to judge and grant mercy, to be our advocate and grace giver, to use us to magnify your name and to dwell with us.


God we trust that you will always answer us.  From your infinite wisdom you respond, correct, focus, discern and save.


I acknowledge that I do not know much, but I know your name and I am calling upon it today to heal the land, save the sinners, rescue the dying, love the unlovely, forgive the unforgiven, break the unbroken, befriend the friendless, give gifts to the unworthy and share Christ with all who will hear.


Thank you Father - AMEN

God is limitless - like staring off in the distance across the ocean or dreaming through the clouds of the sky.  Although the ocean and sky have limits...it gives us an illustration of how big, amazing, deep is the well of God's knowledge, grace and love.

Pictures from recent days

Jellyfish Sting - yes it hurt!

50s day at Chickfila!!!

Praying through Psalms

Psalm 80 ¹Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. 
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth ² before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.   Awaken your might; come and save us.
Father God we pray seeking your guidance, you are all powerful, show your power, hear our cries, use your might to come and save us.
 ³ Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
Lord allow us into your presence, make a way for real relationship with you Father.
 ⁴ How long, LORD God Almighty,  will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
God we have sinned and some of us have turned back to you, seeking the salvation you offer from Jesus Christ.  Please turn your anger away, your disapproving eye Father and accept us as your own as you promised.
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful. 
⁶ You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.
 ⁷ Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
Restore us, restore the land, redeem the lost, light up the darkness, open the shut, flood the dry, give hope to the hopeless.  Heal the land, the people

 Thank you Father - AMEN

From CityPrayer 7.21.11

^{Psalm 40:1} I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD 
and put their trust in him.


Lord – I come praying and waiting today, I know you hear my voice, I trust you because you have rescued me and others before, you’ve come through and settled the problem and set me firmly in your care.  You provide the inspiration for the joy, the worship, the praise, the glory my life gives to you.  I know that many will seek you and trust you.


⁴ Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.⁵ Many, LORD my God, 
are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. 
None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, 
they would be too many to declare.


Father you bless those finding you and not themselves or other idols.  God all the wonders…you prepared for us.  You are without equal and un-measureable!  What you do is awesome.  Save the day!

 Thank you Father - AMEN

Capstone Prays - Capstone family please pray for several needs this week, many of these you pray for regularly some may just now get on your prayer radar.

Dusty Carroll, Tommye Clifton & Mike Marcie – recovering from surgery

Jobs for Daniel, Richard & Melissa

Thanks for employment for Mike & Gary

Stephanie Spitz & family

Betty Tate at NHC

Military Families

Churches:  Electric City Fellowship, First Presbyterian Church, Carpenters Church, West Whitner Baptist Church

Our Schools

Staff & Families:  David & Caroline Barfield, Gary & Bekky Davis, Mike & Morgan D’Avanzo. Deanna & Ryan Kroskie, Chanda & Scott Canup, Lead & Craig Mosqueda

New Borns:  Chris & Kristy Yates – Jackston

                        Chris & Erica Birdwell – Jackson (Shirlnan and Tuck Thomason grandchild)

Prayer matters.  If you can, come to Cityprayer on Thursdays at 12:15

Proverbs in July

the month of July has been a time to read through some very wise words...as a church we are reading a proverb a Day - it kind of reminds me of  "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."  not that doctors are bad, but i'd much rather talk to them in passing that have to go to one because there is something wrong.  same is true with the proverbs - this is God's good advice, his statements of truth that will guide you and keep you from trouble.

each day there is something fresh and new while still connecting to a bigger truth.  God loves us, want good for us and is taking the time to tell us what will keep us from heart ache, pain and sin.

i have some friends that have taken this proverbs challenge very seriously, they post verses, make comments, ask questions and are even making realizations about their lives.  God's word is good.  It is good for you.  taste and see

DB

Proverbs for You

July has 31 days.  The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Take the "Learning God's Character" Challenge.  Read a chapter a day in the month of July.  FYI - tomorrow is Friday - July 31.  T.G.I.F.  TO help the mathematically challenged - on July 1 you read Proverbs 1 and so on.

Let's jump on it!!!!

This Sunday is July 3 - there will be no Velocity or Breakout - bring the kiddos to worship with you this week as we continue our teaching series SUMMER VACATION:  the Lessons of Life from Jesus' Parables.

Also - reminder about the "prayer tent."  It is set up in the worship space for you.  when you have a need to pray, you can come to the front, to the altar or to the back in the tent.  take someone with you, do you deal with God.  The Cross is also there for you to write prayer needs, lay down burdens, give to God your hearts desires.

Each of these tools are designed to help you connect with your heavenly Father.  God wants a relationship with you.  If you have never opened the conversation with God - begin today by asking him to simply show up for you today...lay out your need.  He will not let you down.  God will prove himself.  The next step to realize how far you are from Him...it is because you have gone you way, not his - it is called sin.  You have to repent (turn from it) and ask Jesus to reconcile you to God.  Jesus Christ can and will do that when you believe in Him, call on His name and be saved.  Trust Jesus today.  Find a friend to tell them about your decision and ask them to walk the road of discipleship with you.

David

Psalms 139

Psalm 111 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 
² You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 
³ You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
⁵ You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths,^[a] you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;  the night will shine like the day, 
for darkness is as light to you.
¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 


Lord – you know…everything.  All about me, the world, how I feel, where I hide, what I do, who I am.  Lord you know.  I praise you today for who you have made me to be.  Your works are wonderful.




Had a really cool opportunity to hang out with Justin and Sarah Atkins over in Honea Path last night at the ZONE.  They have a cool group of kids from several churches as well as kids who don't do the church thing.   Justin shared with them all how much God loves them - so much in fact that He won't stop loving them.  He also shared the above scripture.  Great job Justin.  God is using you.


CityPrayer at 12:15 today!!!  It is Thursday and you know what happens on Thursday?  CITYPRAYER!!!!

Valley of Vision - a collection of puritan prayers and devotions

this was my reading today from Valley of Vision

O Love beyond compare,
Thou art good when thou givest,
when thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon e,
when the night gathers over me.

thou has loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
thou dost love me still, in spite of me hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
thy goodness has been with me during another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.

they goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
with thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.

I bless thee that thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation, thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see thy face sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.

Pondering the meaning of it all

Recently i have bumped up against some really cool people.  Now i have known them for awhile, but opportunity allowed me to have in depth conversation with them about hopes, dreams, failures, pain. Basically understanding who they were and where they were going.

People are stinking amazing...who knew right?  Men and women with such passion, with great expertise, with volumes of experience...they are out there in the wide world making a difference for Christ in their homes as amazing moms and dads- leading their children to honor God and seek His plans for their lives from an early age.  They are out there as business owners, as teachers, newly weds, as former drug pushers & users, as fast-food employees, as single moms, as people who with their hands, as people seeking a job, as people discipling others, as people loving unlovely people.

People?  Who would have thought there could be so much good in them considering where they have come from?  God could & did.

God redeemed us for living such as this.  When you stop for a moment this week to ponder the meaning of it all, consider this...in the grand scheme of life you have a purpose and generally I can speak truth from the bible as to what that is.  You are to to sow seeds...be a farmer.  investing the life you have into others.  as a writer, an artist, a dad, a boss, a leader, a follower, a care-giver, a prayer warrior, a chemist, a teacher, a wife, an administrator.

Give what you have to God - He does not ponder, He knows the meaning and linking and the connectivity of it all.  you are a piece, a link to His global strategy to share the Good News of Jesus Christ - to bring hope to hopeless people in hopeless places.  You are the hammer to put a dent in the darkness, you are the light to illuminate, you are the spark to ignite, you are the arms to hug and hold and comfort, you are the hands to clap and shake and grasp hold.

Ponder no longer and live your legacy.

Sunday @ Capstone we continue SUMMER VACATION - don't miss it.  Our parable of Jesus study will encompass the story of the sower and the soils from Luke chapter 8.  I hope to see you there.

Pray for me - I am preaching @ Camp McCall the next 2 nights to boys and men from all over the state.  This is the camp I worked at as a college student and attended for 11 summers as a camper.  It is always huge to go back and give back.

DB

River Days

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Sprinting to the Finish/ Chicago

Mid-May up to today has been a full on sprint.  Don't come by the house - like to have mail still in the box, grass up to your waist and clothes everywhere (not really - just a point of exaggeration).  My point is it does not feel like there is time to do maintenance much less anything extra with all the added things that seem to come along each day as the school year ends and summer begins.

It is officially time to breathe.  Family time is planned and about to be executed as we are doing "micro" vacations this summer.  Kids are picking what we do - Although I am excited too.

This Sunday at Capstone we begin our Summer teaching series - Summer Vacation:  Life Lessons from the Road.  If you are in Anderson check it out Sunday.

FYI -

Last week was a needed time of growth for me.  Took a trip to Chicago to Moody Bible Institute.  1800's evangelism DL Moody founded the school and today it still provide excellent bible, preaching and missions education.

Learned a lot - great preachers - Tony Evans, Lon Solomon, Kevin De Young and Jim Cymbala.

Walked a lot, made the elevator ride up the "Sears" tower, rode the "L", walked the halls of University of Chicago and Illinois Tech.  Caught a Cubbies game too - rains delayed and about 35 degrees.

Check out the pics