Don't Quit

I have spent some time watching the 2008 Olympics and have been quite impressed with the elite athletes from around the world. These men and women have worked long and hard perfecting their sport specialty. They have made some high sacrifices along the way. They have committed themselves to hours a week for years to achieve the level of excellence they have obtained. All of that is impressive, but perhaps for me what is most impressive is that these men and women refuse to quit. Instead they choose to persevere through the pain of training and the disappointment of occasional failure. They stay with it instead of quitting and turning away.

I think that impresses me so much because we live amidst an epidemic of quitting. It seems like “Let’s just quit” are household words. A marriage gets shaky and almost without much thought those words come to mind, “let’s just quit.” Our dreams get broken and often it is easier to quit than stay the course. Things don’t go as planned at work or at our church and the majority say “let’s just quit.” So many people seem to be into this unfaltering trend of quitting.

What has happened to the days when our motto was “if the going gets tough the tough get going”? Where have all those people gone that stayed the course no matter what? Are there still a few folks that can agree with the apostle Paul who wrote, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Heb 12:1 NIV?

Personally I admire the perseverance of those Olympic athletes. I also admire the quality of perseverance in people who display it. Because when that quality is displayed in one’s life it tells you a lot about the character of that individual.

So if you are facing some troubling times, a struggling marriage, rebellious children or a host of other things that are causing you to consider quitting. Let me encourage you, don’t quit. Instead persevere until the end you will be forever changed for the good if you do.

Oklahoma Summer

We have been experiencing a true Oklahoma Summer these past few days. Temperatures in the 100 degree range have made the days just plain hot. I have been thinking though during this heat how it doesn't even compare to the place of torment that awaits those who have disregarded God all of their lives. Those people who refuse to commit their lives into His care and under His direction are going to experience an eternity that is far worse than the 100 degree days we have had here. After experiencing these few days I am certain that I want no part of an eternity of something worse. How about you is it time to commit or recommit your life to Christ and His care and Direction? Your eternal future depends upon that one decision.


Blessings

Pastor Dave

From my Pastor's Heart

It is hard for me to believe that I haven't posted here for almost a month. But as I think about it I really can understand why that has been. July has been one crazy month for this Pastor. I haven't really figured it but I would guess I have logged more hours of ministry in this one month than I do across two months at other times of the year. A trip to San Antonio for IYC a week of preparation for VBS and this week is VBS. This does not include all the administration, sermon and lesson prep and hospital visits and errands and the list just keeps going. Over the past couple of days I have stepped back, mostly at 1 AM, and asked why am I doing this? The answer is simple as I understand it. I am doing this because people need Jesus and I want to everything within my power to make this a reality for as many as I can. If that means endless hours o working at so be it. I confess sometime I feel very alone in this process. I often wish I had some help. But when the help doesn't come I will still be doing what I do because People need Jesus and Christ has given us Christians that responsibility.

Sleepless In Sand Springs

There are a few things that keep me up at night. Severe headaches, tornado sirens are just a couple of examples. One of the most difficult items that keep me awake is the lack of funding for ministry. I have been around the Church and church people long enough to know that rarely is the problem that God has not made provision. The problem most often is that we are not very good at releasing His provision to the church so that world changing ministry can be done. Just last week I sat in a meeting where a grim report of how bad the national agency is doing was given. Today I have spent time figuring just how short we are in our own budget. Now I know that financial times are tough, but are they so tough that we willing rob God from his small portion of the blessing He has given to us? This is an area that greatly frustrates me because it always illustrates man selfishness and lack of regard for what God desires from those of us who claim to love Him and claim to be totally His. We go real good being His until the offering plates are passed and the chance to really step up is given. I still firmly believe that one day their will be a judgement where each of us will answer for the lack of respect we showed God when it came to our giving.

Pastor Dave

Power of Excitement

I just came from two events that in some way speak a great deal about excitement. The first was a luncheon meeting where we are planning a community event. There is a sense of excitement as we work through the plans for thier fall time. The excitement has attracted several new faces to the meeting times. There is also a sense of enthusiasm that is apparent in people as we share ideas.

The second event is a hospital visit. A woman who has endured almost 3 months of doctors and nurses and hospital beds and all else that her stay has entailed. She too had a sense of excitement. Her excitement was over the possibility of having one last surgery before she can think about returning home. her hope seems to be that when all of this is done she can be back where she is most comfortable, home.

In both these cases excitement has stirred the atmosphere. Both are places where it is a delight to visit and spend a little time. Excitement has attracted people to itself and to the hope that awaits.

I was thinking about this on the way back to the office and wondered what might happen if Christians were as excited about their next gathering or the hope they have in Jesus? What might happen if we came across to others as the most excited group of people in the world because we have the most exciting news in the world and a hope that is out of this world. I do not believe we could contain the out pouring of people if we were like that.

That is the power of excitement

So if you know Jesus be excited.


Pastor Dave

Committment

I preached a couple of days ago a sermon on marriage. This has my mind thinking on the subject of commitments. The past several months I have been working with some youth from our church. I have noticed that they do not seem to understand the importance of making a commitment and keeping it. The more I have given thought to this I have a hard time blaming these youth. Most of them have not had a good example of what it means to be a person who is committed to something besides one self. The world we live in is this way and many have adopted the world's way into their life. I really believe though that Jesus intends for us as children of God to be people of commitment. Our commitment starts with Him. We need to be sure that our lives are always totally committed to Him and His desires. After that commitment in our other relationship is some how made easier because of our commitment to Him.

Blessings

Pastor Dave

Persistence Pays Off

I was thinking a bit this morning about my college friend Thom. I haven't seen or heard from him in a while, but from time to time he crosses my mind. When I think about Thom I am reminded of the value of persistence. You see Thom was a Bodybuilder. he spent hours and hours at the gym lifting weights and doing all the exercises that allowed him to have those hugh muscles. I remember one tie I was at the gym with Thom and found out just how hard he did work at this. I could not keep pace with him for even a few minutes. Thom was persistent as he work out day after day, week after week and month after month. I have actually seen Thom since those college days on TV commericals for exercise equipment. His persistence must have paid off.

We need that kind of persistence in our spiritual lives as well. The difficulties we endure are necessary so we can grow stronger in our faith. We need to keep the spiritual workouts going too. Bible reading, prayer and a sound devotional life are all import is we intend on staying spiritual fit. Journaling helps us chart the course we have been on too. I wonder what the body of Christ (His Church) might look like if we all maintained a regimate of these daily disciplines. I bet no dude would mess with us.

Blessings

Pastor Dave