I love me wife! She continually inspires, challenges and cares for me. She is my greatest ministry, my best friend, my most important responsibility. Happy Birthday Marie Doan!
Happy Birthday Week to Marie Doan
I love me wife! She continually inspires, challenges and cares for me. She is my greatest ministry, my best friend, my most important responsibility. Happy Birthday Marie Doan!
Great Questions to Ask or Be Asked
Each of us is tempted to make something or someone a "functional savior" in our lives, displacing the one and only who can serve as our Savior, which is Jesus Christ.
The following questions, from David Powlison's book, "Seeing With New Eyes" serve as a great litmus test to run through on a consistent basis to guard our hearts and minds as Christians.1. What do I worry about most?
2. What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not even want to live?
3. What do I use to comfort myself when things go bad or get difficult?
4. What do I do to cope? What are my release valves? What do I do to feel better?
5. What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about?
6. What makes me feel the most self-worth? Of what am I the proudest? For what do I want to be known?
7. What do I lead with in conversations?
8. Early on what do I want to make sure that people know about me?
9. What prayer, unanswered, would make me seriously think about turning away from God?
10. What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy?
11. What is my hope for the future?
Los Promesas de Dios
My friend Dennis translated my "digging deeper" notes from my Sermon today in Spanish!
Here is his website.
These are some of the "Promises of God" we can place our Hope in as Believers in Jesus...
Temas - Teísmo - Dios
Written by Matt Doan
Sunday, 27 March 2011 14:05
Las Promesas de Dios
Por su naturaleza, Dios es un Dios de las promesas. Una promesa es la aseguranza que Dios da a su pueblo lo que ellos necesitan para andar por fe mientras esperan a lo que Dios ha prometido.
Dios ha prometido que está siempre con los creyentes. Mateo 28:20; Hebreos 13:5.
Dios ha prometido dar fuerza a los creyentes. Salmo 18:2; Isaías 40:29, 31; 41:10; Filipenses 4:13.
Dios ha prometido dar autoridad a los creyentes a traves de su Palabra. Hebreos 4:12; Isaias 55:10-11; Marcos 13:31.
Dios ha prometido a su pueblo vida eterna. Juan 10:27-28; 11:25.
Dios ha prometido que aquellos que creen en Jesús como Salvador y Señor, serán salvos. Romanos 6:23; 10:8-10; Juan 3:16-17; 1 Juan 5:11-13.
Dios ha prometido que todas las cosas les ayudan a bien a los que aman a Dios y son llamados de acuerdo a su finalidad. Romanos 8:28.
Dios ha prometido que sus hijos no serán superadas por la tentación. 1 Corintios 10:13.
Dios ha prometido a los creyentes en Cristo que tendrán la victoria sobre la muerte. 1 Corintios 15:3-4, 57.
Dios ha prometido que su gracia es suficiente para los creyentes. 2 Corintios 12:9.
Dios ha prometido suplir todas las necesidades del creyente. Filipenses 4:19.
Dios ha prometido ser fiel. 1 Tesalonicenses 5:24; 1 Corintios 1:9.
Dios ha prometido volver para los suyos, a los creyentes. Lucas 21:25-28; Mateo 24:27, 29-31; Juan 14:1-4; Hechos 1:11; 1 Tesalonicenses 4:13-18; Apocalipsis 22:20.
Here is his website.
These are some of the "Promises of God" we can place our Hope in as Believers in Jesus...
Temas - Teísmo - Dios
Written by Matt Doan
Sunday, 27 March 2011 14:05
Las Promesas de Dios
Por su naturaleza, Dios es un Dios de las promesas. Una promesa es la aseguranza que Dios da a su pueblo lo que ellos necesitan para andar por fe mientras esperan a lo que Dios ha prometido.
Dios ha prometido que está siempre con los creyentes. Mateo 28:20; Hebreos 13:5.
Dios ha prometido dar fuerza a los creyentes. Salmo 18:2; Isaías 40:29, 31; 41:10; Filipenses 4:13.
Dios ha prometido dar autoridad a los creyentes a traves de su Palabra. Hebreos 4:12; Isaias 55:10-11; Marcos 13:31.
Dios ha prometido a su pueblo vida eterna. Juan 10:27-28; 11:25.
Dios ha prometido que aquellos que creen en Jesús como Salvador y Señor, serán salvos. Romanos 6:23; 10:8-10; Juan 3:16-17; 1 Juan 5:11-13.
Dios ha prometido que todas las cosas les ayudan a bien a los que aman a Dios y son llamados de acuerdo a su finalidad. Romanos 8:28.
Dios ha prometido que sus hijos no serán superadas por la tentación. 1 Corintios 10:13.
Dios ha prometido a los creyentes en Cristo que tendrán la victoria sobre la muerte. 1 Corintios 15:3-4, 57.
Dios ha prometido que su gracia es suficiente para los creyentes. 2 Corintios 12:9.
Dios ha prometido suplir todas las necesidades del creyente. Filipenses 4:19.
Dios ha prometido ser fiel. 1 Tesalonicenses 5:24; 1 Corintios 1:9.
Dios ha prometido volver para los suyos, a los creyentes. Lucas 21:25-28; Mateo 24:27, 29-31; Juan 14:1-4; Hechos 1:11; 1 Tesalonicenses 4:13-18; Apocalipsis 22:20.
Cowboy Church Pastor Needed
I came across this Pastor search and had to pass it along.
I wonder if I would qualify if one of my favorite movies is "Shane?"
(By the way, if you have never seen this epic fight scene from "Shane" you must watch this trailer)
Rope, Catch & Ride for Christ of Mabank TX Cowboy Church
570 VZ CR
Mabank, TX
Job Description for Cowboy Church Pastor
The pastor shall be the spiritual leader of the congregation. In that capacity, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, he shall preach and teach the word of God, lead the church in regular worship services, administer the ordinances of the church, serve as moderator at church conferences, provide leadership to the ministerial staff, serve as over all administrator of the church, work to implement the model of church structure and function laid out in this constitution and generally fulfill all his pastoral duties as set forth in Scripture.
The pastor shall hold these values:
Simplicity- The church will strive to keep all things it does as simple as possible.
Non-judgmental approach- The church will foster a non judgmental atmosphere in all it does, accepting people just as they are, just as Christ himself does.
Cultural relevance/Western Heritage- The church will make sure that all it does, including all of its programming and ministries will be geared toward reaching people in the western culture and those who love it.
Practice of Biblical Christianity- The church will practice biblical Christianity. This will be practiced by the leadership and the congregation.
Elimination of barriers to the cowboy culture- The church will do all that it can to lower or eliminate the barriers preventing the Gospel of Jesus Christ from reaching the western culture.
Empowerment with Accountability- The church will strive to empower as many people as it can to serve Christ through the church and bring out the giftedness in them while holding them accountable for their actions and commitments.
Power of the Gospel- The church believes in the power of the gospel for salvation of souls and healing of body, mind and spirit.
Job Category: Senior Pastor
Pay to relocate: Yes
Job Status: Full-time
Education required: High school
Experience required (years):
Denomination: Baptist -- Other
Church Size: 101-250
Worship Style:
CONTACT:
RC2 Pastor Search Team
rc2pastorsearch@gmail.com
Tel:903-603-8051
I wonder if I would qualify if one of my favorite movies is "Shane?"
(By the way, if you have never seen this epic fight scene from "Shane" you must watch this trailer)
Rope, Catch & Ride for Christ of Mabank TX Cowboy Church
570 VZ CR
Mabank, TX
Job Description for Cowboy Church Pastor
The pastor shall be the spiritual leader of the congregation. In that capacity, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, he shall preach and teach the word of God, lead the church in regular worship services, administer the ordinances of the church, serve as moderator at church conferences, provide leadership to the ministerial staff, serve as over all administrator of the church, work to implement the model of church structure and function laid out in this constitution and generally fulfill all his pastoral duties as set forth in Scripture.
The pastor shall hold these values:
Simplicity- The church will strive to keep all things it does as simple as possible.
Non-judgmental approach- The church will foster a non judgmental atmosphere in all it does, accepting people just as they are, just as Christ himself does.
Cultural relevance/Western Heritage- The church will make sure that all it does, including all of its programming and ministries will be geared toward reaching people in the western culture and those who love it.
Practice of Biblical Christianity- The church will practice biblical Christianity. This will be practiced by the leadership and the congregation.
Elimination of barriers to the cowboy culture- The church will do all that it can to lower or eliminate the barriers preventing the Gospel of Jesus Christ from reaching the western culture.
Empowerment with Accountability- The church will strive to empower as many people as it can to serve Christ through the church and bring out the giftedness in them while holding them accountable for their actions and commitments.
Power of the Gospel- The church believes in the power of the gospel for salvation of souls and healing of body, mind and spirit.
Job Category: Senior Pastor
Pay to relocate: Yes
Job Status: Full-time
Education required: High school
Experience required (years):
Denomination: Baptist -- Other
Church Size: 101-250
Worship Style:
CONTACT:
RC2 Pastor Search Team
rc2pastorsearch@gmail.com
Tel:903-603-8051
What To Do When An Armed Gang Banger is Mad At You
A lifelong dream of mine has been to coach a youth baseball team. After playing the game of baseball for 17 of my first 22 years on earth, I have always wanted to pass on my love and knowledge for the game to kids. But I haven't coached in my adult life, because of so many ministry commitments as a Pastor. The time and right opportunity has just never come together.
That is until last month, when my friends Jeff, Brian, Brent and I began coaching a Inner City Santa Ana team sponsored by Major League Baseball, R.B.I. (Reviving Baseball in the Inner City) and the Los Angeles Angels. It has been such a joy to coach these great kids (ages 11 to 14) in the game of baseball and build into their lives as a Christian role model.
One of my "Welcome to the City" moments came during one of our first practices when the local neighborhood gang who controls the park where we practice, showed up to watch our practice. Over 15 gang guys sat on the bleachers and simply watched.
After practice I mentioned to one of the other coaches who works in the neighborhood, "wow, I have never heard of a neighborhood gang hanging out at a baseball practice before." My friend replied, "you know it's interesting, guys in gangs have the neighborhood's 'respect' but really they are quite lonely and isolated people. Everyone "respects" gangs but no one likes them. No one wants to make eye contact with them or let their kids hang around them. These kids in gangs are actually quite marginalized." Although they are hardly victims, this new perspective gave me a strong sense of compassion for the kids and young men I was witnessing living out the gangster life.
All of this kind of prepared me to respond to what happened today...
After our normal baseball practice with our team, I drove a few of the kids from the field to a tutoring center a few blocks away. As we neared the tutoring center, a gangster looking guy who was obviously drunk was walking in the middle of the street that we were driving down. I slowed my car down and waited for him to either move to one side or the other as we passed. Well, looking back I see this wasn't the best strategy, because as my car came up behind him, he quickly turned around in the middle of the street and began staring at me and the kids in the car. He then walked up to my passenger window and began cussing us out and hitting the car door! Then in what seemed like slow motion, he began gesturing to his belt, like he was letting us know he had a gun. He then just stared at me and yelled at me in Spanish and English. He then punched the car window and began walking to the front of the car and heading to the driver's side door angrily looking at me!
At this point I had (3) options:
#1 - Roll down my window, tell him I was a Pastor, I meant him no harm and ask if he had any prayer requests.
#2 -Lock the doors, keep the windows up and try to reason with him to leave us alone
#3 - Put the pedal to the metal and get out of there as fast as possible!
What choice do you think I made?
Well, I went with option #3. I hit the gas pedal as he approached my door and we were out of there! We drove down a few blocks and then rather than return to the tutoring center, I decided to simply drive the kids to their houses. As I drove them home it gave me some time to process what had just happened with the kids. My heart really breaks for them, that they have to live in this environment, getting caught in the cross hairs of a battle they aren't even remotely involved in. This makes me righteously angry.
On the other hand as follower of Jesus and as a recipient of God's amazing grace and mercy, it gives me such a heart to reach these angry, hurting, lost young men who run to gang life for hope with the love of Jesus. God loves and know by name the guy I came across today. God came into the world to save him, just like He did for you and me...
I am even more confident after today that God is working in this city and loves this city and is calling many to serve in His name in this city. And I am thankful I get to play a small part in it!!
That is until last month, when my friends Jeff, Brian, Brent and I began coaching a Inner City Santa Ana team sponsored by Major League Baseball, R.B.I. (Reviving Baseball in the Inner City) and the Los Angeles Angels. It has been such a joy to coach these great kids (ages 11 to 14) in the game of baseball and build into their lives as a Christian role model.
One of my "Welcome to the City" moments came during one of our first practices when the local neighborhood gang who controls the park where we practice, showed up to watch our practice. Over 15 gang guys sat on the bleachers and simply watched.
After practice I mentioned to one of the other coaches who works in the neighborhood, "wow, I have never heard of a neighborhood gang hanging out at a baseball practice before." My friend replied, "you know it's interesting, guys in gangs have the neighborhood's 'respect' but really they are quite lonely and isolated people. Everyone "respects" gangs but no one likes them. No one wants to make eye contact with them or let their kids hang around them. These kids in gangs are actually quite marginalized." Although they are hardly victims, this new perspective gave me a strong sense of compassion for the kids and young men I was witnessing living out the gangster life.
All of this kind of prepared me to respond to what happened today...
After our normal baseball practice with our team, I drove a few of the kids from the field to a tutoring center a few blocks away. As we neared the tutoring center, a gangster looking guy who was obviously drunk was walking in the middle of the street that we were driving down. I slowed my car down and waited for him to either move to one side or the other as we passed. Well, looking back I see this wasn't the best strategy, because as my car came up behind him, he quickly turned around in the middle of the street and began staring at me and the kids in the car. He then walked up to my passenger window and began cussing us out and hitting the car door! Then in what seemed like slow motion, he began gesturing to his belt, like he was letting us know he had a gun. He then just stared at me and yelled at me in Spanish and English. He then punched the car window and began walking to the front of the car and heading to the driver's side door angrily looking at me!
At this point I had (3) options:
#1 - Roll down my window, tell him I was a Pastor, I meant him no harm and ask if he had any prayer requests.
#2 -Lock the doors, keep the windows up and try to reason with him to leave us alone
#3 - Put the pedal to the metal and get out of there as fast as possible!
What choice do you think I made?
Well, I went with option #3. I hit the gas pedal as he approached my door and we were out of there! We drove down a few blocks and then rather than return to the tutoring center, I decided to simply drive the kids to their houses. As I drove them home it gave me some time to process what had just happened with the kids. My heart really breaks for them, that they have to live in this environment, getting caught in the cross hairs of a battle they aren't even remotely involved in. This makes me righteously angry.
On the other hand as follower of Jesus and as a recipient of God's amazing grace and mercy, it gives me such a heart to reach these angry, hurting, lost young men who run to gang life for hope with the love of Jesus. God loves and know by name the guy I came across today. God came into the world to save him, just like He did for you and me...
I am even more confident after today that God is working in this city and loves this city and is calling many to serve in His name in this city. And I am thankful I get to play a small part in it!!
A Great Word of Encouragement As I Prepare to Preach
I have the honor of preaching at both of our Sunday services at Calvary Church this coming Sunday! As I prepare for preaching this week, I came across this great quote from Sinclair Ferguson who writes in the collaborative book on preaching called, "Feed My Sheep,""We need to return to a true preaching to the heart, rooted in the principle of grace and focused on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then people will not say about our ministry merely, “He was an expository preacher,” or “That was practical,” or even “He cut open our consciences.” Instead, they will say: “He preached Christ to me, and his preaching was directed to my conscience. It was evident that he gave the best of his intellectual skills and the warmth of his compassion to thinking about, living for, and proclaiming his beloved Savior, Jesus Christ.” This is what will reach the heart! And when you have experienced such preaching, or seen its fruit, you will know what true preaching is. And you will agree that its fruit lasts for all eternity."
–Sinclair Ferguson, "Feed My Sheep"
(courtesy Ordinary Pastor)
(courtesy Ordinary Pastor)
The Problem With Protestant Liberalism
Mark Galli of Christianity Today writes in his review of "Love Wins" by Rob Bell,
"Liberals are evangelists at heart; they do want people to follow Jesus. The problem is methods and conclusions. For liberals, the sensibilities of the age trump biblical revelation. Personal opinion outranks the consensus of the church. Fondness for metaphor and parable sabotage the particularity of the gospel."
"Liberals are evangelists at heart; they do want people to follow Jesus. The problem is methods and conclusions. For liberals, the sensibilities of the age trump biblical revelation. Personal opinion outranks the consensus of the church. Fondness for metaphor and parable sabotage the particularity of the gospel."
Isaiah 46
“…I am God, and there is no one like Me,
declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done,
saying, “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure…”
(Isaiah 46:9-10)
declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done,
saying, “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure…”
(Isaiah 46:9-10)
Rob Bell on MSNBC
Wow, Martin Bashir from MSNBC (and Michael Jackson interview fame) really goes after Rob Bell to get some straight answers on Bell's new book, "Love Wins."
The interview was tough, but Bashir (who is reported to attend Tim Keller's Church in New York City) is completely right on in calling out Bell. What do you think?
Watch the interview (courtesy of Justin Taylor)
The interview was tough, but Bashir (who is reported to attend Tim Keller's Church in New York City) is completely right on in calling out Bell. What do you think?
Watch the interview (courtesy of Justin Taylor)
Look What Has Come Into The World
My friend Charles Huyett, who pastor's at Faith Chapel EV Free in Wisconsin recently posted the following on his facebook page. I love this quote/thought!
"The early Christians did not say in dismay: 'Look what the world has come to, ' but in delight, 'Look what has come to the world'" (E. Stanley Jones via Boice 90). Thank You Jesus for coming into the world!
"The early Christians did not say in dismay: 'Look what the world has come to, ' but in delight, 'Look what has come to the world'" (E. Stanley Jones via Boice 90). Thank You Jesus for coming into the world!
Faith Promise Video
At Calvary Church, we ask the people of our Church to make a "Faith Promise" each year. A "Faith Promise" is a individual or family's commitment to contribute to our Global Missions budget which supports over 90 missionary families, global projects, short term missions trips etc.
We ask our Church family to contribute this amount on top or over and beyond their normal giving to the Church. Our budget last year for Global Missions based on the "Faith Promise" commitments was over $1.2 million! I am blown away and so humbled by the generosity of our Church. In this economy, only God can explain how this happens! Anyways, here is a brief video showing how our Faith Promise commitments lead to Gospel centered global ministry.
We ask our Church family to contribute this amount on top or over and beyond their normal giving to the Church. Our budget last year for Global Missions based on the "Faith Promise" commitments was over $1.2 million! I am blown away and so humbled by the generosity of our Church. In this economy, only God can explain how this happens! Anyways, here is a brief video showing how our Faith Promise commitments lead to Gospel centered global ministry.
When You Give - Faith Promise from Calvary Arts & Media on Vimeo.
Church Announcements: Green Screens, Slides or Pulpit?
At Calvary Church, We have a great team, led by my good friend Trevor Behrns that uses several channels to communicate with our Church family. Some of these channels we use include:
#1 - Each Thursday we send out a "Pastor Dave" email that goes to a database of 3,000 letting them know what is being preached on the following Sunday and info about upcoming events and ministry launches. We
#2 - We use Facebook and Twitter to send out info on upcoming events
#3 - We use Lifegroups leaders to connect with their Lifegroups (our version of small groups) about Church needs, info and opportunities
#4 - We update our website on a daily basis to keep content fresh and relevant to what is happening at Calvary this week
#5 - We hand out a bulletin each Sunday morning to each worship participant called the "Calvary Current" filled with ministry opportunities and info.
$6 - We use planes to write out sky messages over populated spots of Santa Ana, Tustin and Orange (kidding, kidding).
#7 - We have announcement slides scrolling 15 min before and after each Sunday morning service to communicate events and ministries to those that arrive early or stay late.
One method of communication we always struggle to find a sweet spot with however is our Sunday morning in-service announcements. We call this time, "Current Highlights at Calvary." It usually last about 3-4 minutes, highlights 4-5 ministry opportunities happening around Calvary and is tucked in between the opening worship set and the sermon.
Some weeks, announcements feel like an interruption into the sacredness of worship, other weeks the announcement time just feels too long, and other times we just have too much info and ministry events to fit in everything we want to .
Despite the struggles we have, we constantly work hard at Calvary to make the announcement time important and impactful and meaningful. One method we have been trying lately is to film the announcement ahead of Sunday in front of a green screen, add graphics and music, edit the long winded announcement givers (mostly me, hahahaha) and allow the digitally crafted announcements to be used beyond just the Sunday morning worship service.
Here is an example of one of these filmed announcement segments from last Sunday at Calvary. Forgive my slow speech and weird gestures (I was low on coffee and kept messing up my takes and I am just awkward in general!)
What are your thoughts about announcements at Church?
What have you seen work well and blend well into a worship service?
Any ideas on how we could improve this part of the worship service at Calvary would be appreciated!
#1 - Each Thursday we send out a "Pastor Dave" email that goes to a database of 3,000 letting them know what is being preached on the following Sunday and info about upcoming events and ministry launches. We
#2 - We use Facebook and Twitter to send out info on upcoming events
#3 - We use Lifegroups leaders to connect with their Lifegroups (our version of small groups) about Church needs, info and opportunities
#4 - We update our website on a daily basis to keep content fresh and relevant to what is happening at Calvary this week
#5 - We hand out a bulletin each Sunday morning to each worship participant called the "Calvary Current" filled with ministry opportunities and info.
$6 - We use planes to write out sky messages over populated spots of Santa Ana, Tustin and Orange (kidding, kidding).
#7 - We have announcement slides scrolling 15 min before and after each Sunday morning service to communicate events and ministries to those that arrive early or stay late.
One method of communication we always struggle to find a sweet spot with however is our Sunday morning in-service announcements. We call this time, "Current Highlights at Calvary." It usually last about 3-4 minutes, highlights 4-5 ministry opportunities happening around Calvary and is tucked in between the opening worship set and the sermon.
Some weeks, announcements feel like an interruption into the sacredness of worship, other weeks the announcement time just feels too long, and other times we just have too much info and ministry events to fit in everything we want to .
Despite the struggles we have, we constantly work hard at Calvary to make the announcement time important and impactful and meaningful. One method we have been trying lately is to film the announcement ahead of Sunday in front of a green screen, add graphics and music, edit the long winded announcement givers (mostly me, hahahaha) and allow the digitally crafted announcements to be used beyond just the Sunday morning worship service.
Here is an example of one of these filmed announcement segments from last Sunday at Calvary. Forgive my slow speech and weird gestures (I was low on coffee and kept messing up my takes and I am just awkward in general!)
Current Highlights - March 6 from Calvary Arts & Media on Vimeo.
What are your thoughts about announcements at Church?
What have you seen work well and blend well into a worship service?
Any ideas on how we could improve this part of the worship service at Calvary would be appreciated!
DA Carson Quote from Catalyst West
Matt Chandler quoted this from DA Carson at Catalyst West Today...
D.A. Carson - “People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.”
D.A. Carson - “People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.”
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