simply grateful

Her baby blue eyes turned up and met mine as she whispered, “It’s pretty much everybody daddy.”  Scanning the congregation she quickly realized the overwhelming number of people standing with their gaze fixed upon her.  Moments earlier I asked them to stand if they had at any point in her life contributed in some spiritual way that led to the climax of this moment.   She was drenched from the shoulders down and I, having given up on fishermen waders from bad experiences in the past, stood waist deep in the baptismal pool in shorts and a t-shirt.  Looking out she was overwhelmed with the number of those who stood.  Her mom and grandparents, church staff and white haired ladies (and men!) who had rocked her in the nursery as a newborn.  Sunday school teachers.  Prayer warriors. Sunday night small group leaders and members.  Vacation Bible School teachers, recreation and craft leaders.  I saw several who didn’t stand who could have....

I’m running a little behind in both my blog posts and my reading list for this year so I thought I would address one by using the other.   I just finished the book Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in which he gives practical advice on what life together looks like in families and groups of Christians.  I would highly recommend reading the book if you are interested in some deep thinking of what true community for the believer should look like.   Perhaps the following quotes will spurn you on to reading the book, or perhaps just might give you a little something to think about.   The following quotes were from some of the highlights I made in the books as I read it.  They were insightful and challenging to me and I hope that at least one of them will speak to you!  Blessings on the journey!  -dp Regarding the blessing of living in community he says: It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a fight of grace, ...

Can I be honest and let you in on a personal secret?  Promise not to judge?  OK, here it is, prayer lists are challenging for me.  I know, how unspiritual is that?  Line after line of the teen who is going to be taking his driving test next Tuesday, the parent who wants her precious, sensitive daughter to land the lead role in the school play or the hip surgery for Grandma Jane.  (Grandma, Grammy, Grandmother or whatever you call her is probably ready to come and kick my shins for vocalizing it… and she probably will once she gets full use of her legs again.)  There are also those prayer requests with a more “spiritual” side like praying for the missionaries who are living in pray-for-them-again-astan.  Am I the only one that struggles with prayer lists?   Can I be honest and let you in on a personal secret?  Promise not to judge?  (yes, I started two paragraphs in a row with the same two sentences)  OK, here it is, I als...

I have decided to read 52 books in 2017.  I'm still lacking 8 books to complete the year, but as I read I invariably find other books referenced that I add to my list.  So, there is a little flexibility built in for that.  Feel free to suggest other books in the comment section below.  So, without further ado, here is my list for 2017: (√ beside book once completed) Extreme Ownership- Jocko Willink, Leif Babin √ Life together- Dietrich Bonhoeffer √ Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible- Dietrich Bonhoeffer √ Praying the Bible- Donald S. Whitney √ Culture of Honor- Danny Silk Loving our Kids on Purpose- Danny Silk Shantarum- Gregory David Roberts It Happened on the Way to War- Rye Barcott Those Who Save Us- Jenna Blum What's so Amazing about Grace- Yancy √ Operation Thunderbolt- Saul David Unbroken- Lauren Hillenbrand  √ Under Our Skin- Benjamin Watson  √ Long way Gone- Charles Martin √ Preaching That Connects- Mark Galli, Haddon W....

Jury Nel once said, “No plan ever failed due to adequate planning.”   I'm a planner and sometimes those plans succeed and sometimes they fail.  But if they fail, it isn't because I failed to plan! Actually, planing can be a blessing... and at times, a curse.  It certainly is a blessing however in relation to my devotional times.   Each November I start praying about the direction my quiet times will take me in the coming year.   Last year I spent in the Psalms and reading a dozen books (see post by clicking HERE ) about drawing close to the Father.   I had relationship, I needed intimacy.   It was a year of deepening, of worship, and of expression.   I needed last year.   So as 2017 approached I began to pray about where God would lead me in the coming year.  Heather mentioned that she was going to focus on worship this year.  I nearly jumped on the bandwagon but decided I still wasn’t quite satisfied with my study of the Ps...

I stepped quickly out of my flip flops and added them beside the pile of other shoes outside the door to the simple brick house.  I had already greeted the elderly lady outside, which is the Zambian custom, but I was anxious to get inside to see my friend, Beatrice.  I prayed quickly, once more that the Lord would give me strength to not cry and to give me words to encourage.  I followed a younger woman inside. We had received word that one of the woman leaders in the local church in our town was very sick.  She had fought sickness off and on for years, but it seemed this time was different from what people were saying.  I needed to go visit her before it was too late. My heartbeat quickened as I walked barefoot down the unlit hallway to Beatrice's bedroom as I followed the woman.  My heart actually sunk a little because this meant she was too weak to come see me in the living room.  As her grown daughter pulled the curtain to the side, I felt ...