I love breakfast.
I love morning coffee.
I love sleep.
On Sunday mornings I rarely have an abundance of any of these things as I madly dash around Church working behind the scenes and occasionally up front to create a worship experience for our Church family at Calvary.
And you know what?
I would gladly give up sleep, coffee and breakfast to see what I saw yesterday at Calvary.
People hearing from God's word, responding in worship to who God is and signing up in droves for two of our July community outreach projects (food ministry and fair ministry) which are aimed at showing our neighbors the love of Jesus.
I love being a Pastor!
Hold on to your purses and wallets!
I was at a family wedding on Saturday Night and we were joking because one of the German relatives took her purse with her to the buffet line at the reception. We were laughing saying, German Grandmothers take their purses everywhere!
Maybe she was onto to something.
A lady in New York had her purse stolen yesterday during communion at Church!
Check out the newspaper article.
(found from Drudge Report)
Maybe she was onto to something.
A lady in New York had her purse stolen yesterday during communion at Church!
Check out the newspaper article.
(found from Drudge Report)
Sand Art Connected to our Genesis Series at Calvary
Our creative team at Calvary hit a home run last Sunday with an incredible visual to complement the reading of Genesis 2.
Props to Anna Gold (Sand Artist), Ron Snow (Narrator), Ron Rogalksi and Helen Weed (Background Music), Trevor Behrns (Creative Director), Tammy Harris (Camera/Vimeo Designer) and Ryan Rhoel (Sand Box Creator and Lighting Genius).
Great work!
Props to Anna Gold (Sand Artist), Ron Snow (Narrator), Ron Rogalksi and Helen Weed (Background Music), Trevor Behrns (Creative Director), Tammy Harris (Camera/Vimeo Designer) and Ryan Rhoel (Sand Box Creator and Lighting Genius).
Great work!
Athletes and the Prosperity Gospel = Sad
The "Prosperity Gospel" is a type of theology/style/garbage
that teaches that God wants his followers to be rich and successful and accomplish
their dreams. It is "me" focused and resembles very little of what we see in reading about the early Church in the New Testamant book of Acts.
I love what Matt Chandler, a pastor in Dallas, TX had to say recently:
"If your people are worshiping Christ because of what they can get out of it, you have lost orthodox Christianity."
Phil Cooke's blog recently pointed out an ESPN's "Outside the Lines" show which randomly did a piece on a Prosperity Gospel weirdo down in Florida and his interactions with Pro Athletes this past Spring, watch it here or below or read this article.
that teaches that God wants his followers to be rich and successful and accomplish
their dreams. It is "me" focused and resembles very little of what we see in reading about the early Church in the New Testamant book of Acts.
I love what Matt Chandler, a pastor in Dallas, TX had to say recently:
"If your people are worshiping Christ because of what they can get out of it, you have lost orthodox Christianity."
Phil Cooke's blog recently pointed out an ESPN's "Outside the Lines" show which randomly did a piece on a Prosperity Gospel weirdo down in Florida and his interactions with Pro Athletes this past Spring, watch it here or below or read this article.
Piper's Thoughts on Movies, TV and being a "Jerk"
I believe I have said it here before, but John Piper is one of my heroes.
He is a man that I pray I can model after as a Husband, Father, Friend and Pastor.
He recently wrote an apology on his blog for being a jerk to someone during the Q and A session at a conference and followed this up by further explaining in the post his answer to the particular question that was posed at the time of his jerkiness.
You must read this..so good!!!!
He is a man that I pray I can model after as a Husband, Father, Friend and Pastor.
He recently wrote an apology on his blog for being a jerk to someone during the Q and A session at a conference and followed this up by further explaining in the post his answer to the particular question that was posed at the time of his jerkiness.
You must read this..so good!!!!
Culture Watch: Michael Jackson
I must admit, growing up I loved Michael Jackson.
I remember going to a elementary school birthday party and hearing 'Thriller" for the first time. It was cool/weird/amazing all at the same time.
In high school me and Josh Bridston would blast "Man in the Mirror" and "Black and White" through the stock stereo system of his Honda CRX as we cruised through the lower parking lot of Harbor High School. It was 1991 okay?
Q1: Where were you when you heard "The King of Pop" had died?
Q2: Do you think Michael Jackson was a hero or a villian?
I remember going to a elementary school birthday party and hearing 'Thriller" for the first time. It was cool/weird/amazing all at the same time.
In high school me and Josh Bridston would blast "Man in the Mirror" and "Black and White" through the stock stereo system of his Honda CRX as we cruised through the lower parking lot of Harbor High School. It was 1991 okay?
Q1: Where were you when you heard "The King of Pop" had died?
Q2: Do you think Michael Jackson was a hero or a villian?
Yosemite Photo Journal
Samuel and Lily had so much fun together
Doan Family, June 2009
Drinking some Mountain Water
The trees of Yosemite are incredible
Merced River
Left to Right: Paul Davis (nephew), Paul (brother-in-law), Sarah (sister-in-law), Marie (My Wife!), Me, Lily (daughter), Mark (Brother-in-Law), Samuel (son), Joanne (Mother-in-law), Paul Sr. (Father-in-law) taking the photo!
Yosemite Falls (one of my favorite spots in the world)
Half Dome
Serious Bike Riders
Yosemite Valley
Spending Some Days in Yomesite
The Family and I are off to Yomesite for a few days of rest, bike riding and hiking. 
Home of half-dome, this is one of the most incredible, beautiful places in the World.
Ansel Adams, the famous early 20th century photographer took some of his most famous photographs here.
The first time I visited Yosemite a few years ago, the scenery as we drove down into the valley floor literally stopped me in my tracks. I had to stop and just thank God for his awesomeness.
I have been enjoying some great spiritual discussions/friendly debates over the last couple of months with the founder of an agnostic/atheist group that meets here in Orange County.
One of the things he told me in one of recent Starbucks discussions was this:
"Matt, if God would provide more evidence that He is real, then I would believe. There is just not enough evidence for me to conclude there is a God."
Seeing places like Yomesite, make me question how he or anyone could logically justify the "lack of evidence" position. To me, places like Yosemite simply scream out, "There is a God!"
Romans 1 tells us creation will reveal who God is:
"18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."
Proverbs Series Launch
We begin a new Summer series Tuesday Night at our Young Adult Gathering
at Calvary on the Old Testament book of Proverbs.
This book is all about wisdom and God, the author/creator of wisdom.
In the summer people in our group come and go from week to week on vacations, summer school, etc.
So I wanted a Bible Study for this group that didn't necessarily build from week to week
like a study through one of the narrative Gospels or Letters from Paul would. Last summer we walked through the book of Psalms and it was a great study. Proverbs seemed like the next natural summer study.
So...
Pray for me and our group as we begin this study.
I really am praying that this 3 month journey through the book of Proverbs wrecks each of us in good ways this summer causing us never to return to lives filled with unwise choices.
at Calvary on the Old Testament book of Proverbs.
This book is all about wisdom and God, the author/creator of wisdom.
In the summer people in our group come and go from week to week on vacations, summer school, etc.
So I wanted a Bible Study for this group that didn't necessarily build from week to week
like a study through one of the narrative Gospels or Letters from Paul would. Last summer we walked through the book of Psalms and it was a great study. Proverbs seemed like the next natural summer study.
So...
Pray for me and our group as we begin this study.
I really am praying that this 3 month journey through the book of Proverbs wrecks each of us in good ways this summer causing us never to return to lives filled with unwise choices.
Facebook Milestone
Yesterday I reached 1,000 friends on Facebook.
I sat down today to interview myself about this milestone:
Me: Now that you reached the 1,000 friend mark, do you feel any better about yourself?
Me: No, not really.
Me: Do you feel empowered to change the world with your Facebook Army?
Me: Um, not exactly.
Me: Is there anyone in particular you want to thank?
Me: Every single person who has sent me a quiz such as "What superhero are you?" or "What is your Gangster name? These quizzes have changed my life.
On a serious note, I am still intrigued by the potential of Facebook for ministry, life and friendships. When I first joined Facebook a year and a half ago, I felt like the old man of Facebook, mainly keeping up with former and current students in our Youth Group at Calvary. Now, it seems like Facebook is as common as an e-mail address for any age group, company or product. It has been interesting to see this develop over the last 18 months or so.
Here are 3 things I consider Facebook valuable for:
#1 - Able to contact people under the age of 30 and receive quicker responses than e-mail contact normally achieves with this age group.
#2 - Able to reconnect with old friends from previous stages of life (high school, college, my time in Prison camp etc.)
#3 - Able to send info to my created facebook groups quickly and cost effectively (I haven't sent a mailer/flyer out to our Young Adult ministry in 2 years, saving thousands of dollars).
What do you like or dislike about Facebook?
An Open Letter to My Black Suit
Dear Black Suit,
You are my one and only.
We have had some good times since I picked you up at Nordstrom's
some 4 years ago.
Thank you for being so forgiving when my waist size moved a couple sizes north.
Thank you for disregarding your 5 day stay crumpled up in the back of my car in the fall of 2007.
Thank you for being so quick to support me at a moment's notice despite the fact I pass by you day after day in favor of Mr. Sweatshirt and sweater vest.
But here is the deal Suit:
You are on your 3rd assignment this week and I need you to get tougher.
Step up your attemps to avoid toothpaste, coffee drips, that fluffy lint stuff that hangs around the landry room and the mother of all suit enemies, the wrinkle for 2 more days...Just until wedding #2 of this week is complete.
The I will send you on an all expenses paid vacation to steam cleaning land at Crescent Cleaners.
Sound good?
You are my one and only.
We have had some good times since I picked you up at Nordstrom's
some 4 years ago.
Thank you for being so forgiving when my waist size moved a couple sizes north.
Thank you for disregarding your 5 day stay crumpled up in the back of my car in the fall of 2007.
Thank you for being so quick to support me at a moment's notice despite the fact I pass by you day after day in favor of Mr. Sweatshirt and sweater vest.
But here is the deal Suit:
You are on your 3rd assignment this week and I need you to get tougher.
Step up your attemps to avoid toothpaste, coffee drips, that fluffy lint stuff that hangs around the landry room and the mother of all suit enemies, the wrinkle for 2 more days...Just until wedding #2 of this week is complete.
The I will send you on an all expenses paid vacation to steam cleaning land at Crescent Cleaners.
Sound good?
Commencent Speaker
I have the honor of speaking this week at our Church School's 8th Grade Graduation.
Hey, it's no Notre Dame or Harvard, but I am excited for the opportunity!
I am really wrestling with exactly what to say in my message to the students.
There are 4 unique audiences for this talk:
1. The Students
2. Teachers and Staff
3. Parents, Families and Friends who are Christians
4. Parents, Families and Friends who are not Christians
I am really interested in getting through to the 4th group, while maintaining focus
on the first group with a mindful eye toward the second and third groups.
I believe the best scripture I can use to reach all 4 groups is this:
Hey, it's no Notre Dame or Harvard, but I am excited for the opportunity!
I am really wrestling with exactly what to say in my message to the students.
There are 4 unique audiences for this talk:
1. The Students
2. Teachers and Staff
3. Parents, Families and Friends who are Christians
4. Parents, Families and Friends who are not Christians
I am really interested in getting through to the 4th group, while maintaining focus
on the first group with a mindful eye toward the second and third groups.
I believe the best scripture I can use to reach all 4 groups is this:
3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— 5the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. 7You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:3-14
Orange County Lightning Show
Adam Royer of Costa Mesa took this photo Wednesday morning at 2:11am and submitted it to the Science Dude at the Orange County Register.Crazy huh?! The entire nightime sky at 2am completely lit up!
Whenever I hear thunder and lightning I am reminded of this from Psalm 77:
13 Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen."
14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen."
Lily is 4
Our daughter turns 4 today.
What an amazing 4 years it has been.
Marie and I just love being parents to her.
Here are some of the things I love about Lily:
I love that she is all-girl, from liking her nails painted to changing her outfits every 15 minutes
I love that she is so loving to her little brother.
I love that she calls Marie her "best friend."
I love that she thinks/pretends/believes she is 32 weeks pregnant with twins
I love that she loves watching Mr. Rodgers and eating Peanut Butter Sandwiches
I love that she plays baseball with me
I love that she learned to swim this year
I love that she wakes up happy most of the time
I love that she runs to the door to greet me everytime I come home
I love that she thinks "stinky cheese" is the funniest saying ever
I love that she loves her grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins
I love that she can turn a DVD player on with her feet
I love that she has the best memory I have ever seen
I love that when we play hide and seek, she hides in the same place everytime
I love that she can ride a scooter
I love that she likes ice cream
I just love Lily!!!!
One of the coolest things about this past year is to see her developing heart for God.
She prays the sweetest prayers and genuinly trusts in Jesus Christ.
Here is the prayer I pray over her almost every night:
What an amazing 4 years it has been.
Marie and I just love being parents to her.
Here are some of the things I love about Lily:
I love that she is all-girl, from liking her nails painted to changing her outfits every 15 minutes
I love that she is so loving to her little brother.
I love that she calls Marie her "best friend."
I love that she thinks/pretends/believes she is 32 weeks pregnant with twins
I love that she loves watching Mr. Rodgers and eating Peanut Butter Sandwiches
I love that she plays baseball with me
I love that she learned to swim this year
I love that she wakes up happy most of the time
I love that she runs to the door to greet me everytime I come home
I love that she thinks "stinky cheese" is the funniest saying ever
I love that she loves her grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins
I love that she can turn a DVD player on with her feet
I love that she has the best memory I have ever seen
I love that when we play hide and seek, she hides in the same place everytime
I love that she can ride a scooter
I love that she likes ice cream
I just love Lily!!!!
One of the coolest things about this past year is to see her developing heart for God.
She prays the sweetest prayers and genuinly trusts in Jesus Christ.
Here is the prayer I pray over her almost every night:
'Lord, make Lily an impact player for your kingdom
and protect her in amazing ways.
Make her a person of courage, compassion and conviction.
Amen."
MuteMath is at it Again
MuteMath is such a fun band.
The guys in the band profess to be Christians.
They seem to do everything with excellence.
I have no idea what they say in any of their songs,
and I had no concept that bands still make music videos
but this song and accompaning video is wonderful.
Thanks to Jeff Block for pointing this out to me.
The guys in the band profess to be Christians.
They seem to do everything with excellence.
I have no idea what they say in any of their songs,
and I had no concept that bands still make music videos
but this song and accompaning video is wonderful.
Thanks to Jeff Block for pointing this out to me.
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