songs from heaven

Tis the season for singing. And, my daughter does plenty of that! We prophetically named her Jenna when she was born. The name means "little bird" and she hasn't stopped chirping since. In the bathroom, at the table, in the car, during movies, when she's alone, when she's in a group of people. Sometimes, when I'm with her, I feel like a 90 year old man trying to merge my 62 Impala from the entrance ramp onto the highway. It's impossible to get a word in edgewise.

But, of course, I love her! And, I love her spirit. Whatever is in Jenna has to come out. It doesn't trickle. It bubbles up and gushes out. It overflows the banks of her little heart and floods the whole room. No matter how hard you try (and we have) you cannot corral her. You might as well try to fence the wind.

The day Jesus was born, I'm told that a whole choir of angels exploded: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." This wasn't just an announcement, like a newsboy in Times Square selling papers. It was cosmic news that couldn't be contained. God arrived on earth with grace and peace. A Savior was born. People could be saved.

This Christmas, don't hold back. Sing often, Sing loud. Sing strong. Follow the lead of the psalmist who wrote:

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.

[Psalm 40:1-3]

a bueno bride, beach and book

Tiffany and I just returned from a great anniversary vacation in Cancun, Mexico. It's the first away time that she and I have enjoyed without kids in 14 years. It's sad to say. But, the rhythm of ministry during December rarely gave me the time to get away. This year, we just took the plunge. And--wow--what an incredible time away.

We enjoyed our stay at the luxurious JW Marriott on the beach. Our 6th floor suite had two balconies and we slept with the door open to hear the ocean each evening. Our days were delightfully uneventful--searching for sand dollars on the beach, relaxing and reading. I started and finished The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. It was recommended to me by one of our worship team members and it was a fantastic vacation read. I'll reflect on the book's content in another posting.

It was difficult to leave our island paradise. But, we return refreshed. Not just our souls, but as soulmates. I'm already planning next year's trip.

eighteen years and loving it!

I never imagined that marriage could be such a joy. Today, Tiffany and I celebrate 18 years together and we have had the unusual blessing of saying that every year, every turn, every experience has been worth it! My bride carries herself with such unmatched dignity and grace. She is compassionate and elegant. She is spiritual, playful and beautiful. She is simple and spectacular, all at the same time. I can't tell you how many times I look at her across a room or catch her eye at the table of a restaurant and think to myself, "How in the world did I get such a prize?" God has been wildly good to me these 18 years. I can't even begin to imagine that the best is still to come! I love you, Tiffany!

better than I said it

I preached on gratitude yesterday. Today, I learned of perspective by John Piper that says it even better. Check out "Ganging Up On Gratitude". Thanks to Chris Webster for the link.

returning thanks

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

–––Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863

2 timothy 2:2

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

This verse has made my wheels turn for the last 15 years. It's a charge to multiply, to spiritual reproduce. It's a commission given by the Apostle Paul to his young disciple, Timothy. Paul is passing the baton. But, it's more than that. Paul is urging Timothy to pass it on to others as well. I notice 4 generations mentioned in this passage: "And the things you (2nd generation, Timothy) have heard me (1st generation, Paul) say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men (3rd generation) who will also be qualified to teach others (4th generation)." This is what disciplemaking is all about. Spiritually reproducing ourselves in spiritual reproducers.

Recently, I have begun two journeys that have made my heart beat a little faster. On Thursday mornings, I join Keith Smith in discipling 3 young men in our church. We have started exploring what the Bible is and what its story is from 30,000 feet. I'm simply passing on the spiritual lessons that I have learned from my mentors. Last week, I heard that one of these young men repeated our week's lesson to several friends. Count 'em. That's 4 generations!

I started this same kind of discipleship with my oldest son, Grant. For several years, I have been taking one of my kids to breakfast on Fridays. Today, Grant and I began more intentional training. I'm not sure which direction we'll head. But, I just know that I have a responsibility to be strategically spiritual with him...to deposit whatever I have learned into him. That's discipleship. Hopefully, I'm preparing him for a lifetime of disciple-making. And, I'm looking forward to the future generations that may walk with Christ because of the investment that I make now. Soli Deo Gloria!

make a difference to a marine

Hey friends. I'm gonna use this blog to request a favor. My nephew, Adam Wroblski (Ro-bless-kee) is serving in Iraq. He's homesick and, for some reason, isn't getting mail that others are sending. The quickest way for him to get a note of encouragement would be through www.motomail.us. Would you be open to showing love to a soldier that you've never met? Because I cannot post his personal information on this site, please email me and I will send you directions on sending him a quick letter. Thanks!

be a fugleman

How's your vocabulary? Enrich your word power and take a hit out of hunger at the same time: http://freerice.com/.

my story | HIStory

This morning, our staff gathered for our Thursday chapel--a weekly opportunity to be a team and family together. The topic today, led by Keith Smith, was our personal testimonies. One-by-one, about a dozen people told the great story of how God met them. For one, it was in a jail cell. For another, it was through the faithful prayers of a devoted grandmother. For another, it was miraculous healing. Still another managed triple baptisms...just to be sure.

I made two observations from our sharing. First, every story is picture of grace. Years ago, I heard someone remark that the person who is born to Christian parents and comes to know Christ at an early age is as much a recipient of grace as the person rescued from a lifestyle of outward rebellion and overt sin. How blessed God is to protect some people from the involvement and effects of sin.

Second, I was struck by the uniqueness of every story. Young or old, a single moment or a year-long process, in crisis or in joy. Everybody has a story all their own. Or all God's own. Because no matter how diverse, every story comes down to one common denominator: God's grace saving undeserving sinners and granting them unimaginable riches. Now that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Soli Deo Gloria.

bogeymen under the bed

I still remember my home in Columbia, South Carolina, and the little bedroom I shared with my older brother. For some reason, I have a memory of running to bed, bare feet slapping the wood hallway floor from the den, until I arrived at the doorway of our room. I calculated the threshold-to-mattress distance, multiplied it by my sudden heart rate increase and divided it by toy obstacles between me and safety (I should have cleaned my room before bedtime). At five years old, it was me against the bogeymen under the bed.

They're still there...unseen monsters that try to grab my feet and threaten my peace. You probably have a few keeping you awake at night. The monster of failure spooks me into thinking that the whole success of my church and family rests on my feeble shoulders. The monster of rejection leads me to read into what other people say or do as an indication of whether or not I am significant. The monster of comparison taunts me with stories of "better" dads, "better" husbands, "better" pastors, "better" friends. When those gremlins grow weary, there are a few others in the closet on standby.

I eventually overcame my dread of the bedtime bogeyman. Today, I overcome resident fears by remembering who I am and whose I am. God brought 1 John 4:18 to mind today: "But perfect love drives out fear." The Father's perfect love for me provides such security that all fear is chased away. All irrational fears (not legitimate ones like the fear of falling into Niagara Falls if I lean over the railing) are tricks of the enemy to call into question my identity. The treat today is that I am loved. That's not just an action; It's a unchanging reality. God overcame monsters, turned on the light and made my path clear because of His great love for me! It makes me sleep a whole lot better at night.

amazing grace

Today, we explored grace, and how we can show grace to our neighbors. As I think about grace, and especially God's grace to me, I am reminded of a great definition of grace that I learned in college. It is worth repeating and remembering:

Justice is getting what you deserve.
Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
Grace is getting what you don't deserve.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

young and the restless

Recently, I was invited into a group of young men to join a discipleship process. It's where my heart beat for 10 years in Austin: the opportunity to impact the next generation through intentional relationships leading to life-transformation. I'm still passionate about investing in collegians, young singles and 20-something married couples.

Recently, I searched the database at Pantego Bible Church and discovered that we have more than 1000 entries for singles who are 19-29 years old. Yet, this demographic is noticeably absent in our church. Even though young singles make up almost 50% of the DFW population, we are missing this incredible group and missing the opportunity to impact the next generation as a result.

I'm grateful to Paul and Lynn Gibbs and the faithful leaders who have been meeting a small group at their home for the last 18 months. I dream of dozens of similar communities planted all over the Arlington-Ft. Worth and surrounding areas. While PBC has several established groups of older singles, our staff has been discussing specific initiatives to reach the 20-something crowd. I'm excited to be in a place that is committed to making disciples of all people. Please be in prayer with us as we explore our possibilities and potential. Soli Deo Gloria.

Suy Chhun Ey

Meet my newest friend...that I've never met. Suy Chhun Ey is a carpenter in Cambodia. And, tonight, I made my first $25 investment in his business through www.kiva.org, a poverty alleviation organization that helps fund small, international business people in order to give them a helping hand up. Once Mr. Ey is able to turn a profit and better support his family, my investment will be repaid. I am so excited to see what a difference my small investment will make. Perhaps you'd like to read more about Kiva and join me in getting a carpentry shop going in the Kampong Cham Province!

BIO: Mr. Suy Chhun Ey, age 34, works as a carpenter producing beds, tables, cupboards, wardrobes, and other furniture. His wife sells the products her husband makes, earning the family about $4 per day in profit. They have four children, one who works in a garment factory earning $2 per day, one who is a welder making $2 per day, and two who are students. He would like to request a loan of $400 in order to purchase more wood to supply their carpentry business. Purchasing in bulk will save costs, and increasing the stock of wood will allow him to fulfill larger orders for the customers. This will increase both margins and revenue. He plans to use the additional income to reinvest in the growth of their business and support their children’s education. His wife is pictured in the photograph.

light your world

Last Sunday, I began a new sermon series called StreetLights. The title came from Tom Anthony, our Ft. Worth Area Pastor, and reflects our ongoing commitment to let Christ shine in our neighborhood [Matthew 5:14]. The concept is simple. My neighborhood has street lights every 5-6 houses. Each light shines on the home yard where it is located, the homes on either side and several homes across the street. What if I began to see my street as my mission field--Not the whole neighborhood. Just those who live right around me. On the same Sunday, we commissioned Dave and Christy Johnson as Pantego Bible Church missionaries to Ethiopia. We want to see people from every nation, tribe and tongue come to know Jesus Christ personally. But, reaching the whole world begins with reaching our world next door.

To explore this topic further, we will use the acronym L-I-G-H-T-S. Each letter stands for a simple way to connect with our neighbors. Each connection means a greater possibility that people living around me might come to know Jesus Christ and dive into the community I already experience. I can't wait to see what God does through His church as we light our world with the light of Christ within us!

going deeper

Looking for some great tools to assist you in your own study of the Bible? Check out the website of my very dear friend, Dr. Bruce Hurt, in Austin, Texas: www.preceptaustin.org. The site is filled with commentaries, dictionaries, maps and devotionals. If you run into Bruce, tell 'em David sent ya!

cleared for take-off

A 747 taxis down the runway and prepares for flight. But, before journey gets underway, the pilot must get clearance from air traffic control. They must be approved for take-off. In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul urges his disciple Timothy to "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." In other words, when preaching or teaching the Bible, we must check our instruments, buckle up, be ready. This responsibility weighs on me with every message that I present.

Today and tomorrow, I am attending a Morris Proctor Seminar that helps pastors and teachers use a fantastic Bible Study program called Logos. A gracious benefactor equipped me with these tools several years ago and since then, this program has greatly helped me get ready for flight. I'd highly recommend it for anyone who wants to great tools to correctly handle the Word of God.

staff infection

Our staff retreat last week at Sky Ranch was incredible! What a great connection we have with one another. The laughter was contagious and our unity powerful. Now, if I could only get the image of Lupe Salazar in a dress out of my mind...

10.88 seconds

A 16-year-old took the top prize at the Rubik's Cube World Championship last Sunday, solving the puzzle five times in an average of 12.46 seconds. But the fastest single attempt was a cool 10.88 seconds, just off the world record of 9.86 seconds. What are you doing with your spare time?

sprititual treasure

What a book: Haggai. Two chapters, 38 verses, rich with spiritual implications for life. Who would have thought that Old Testament prophecy could yield such abundant resources for our own lives? I have so thoroughly enjoyed preaching the 5 messages in our "Spiritual Treasures" series at Pantego Bible Church. I have especially appreciated the spiritual response of our congregation who has embraced diving headlong into this study. What a journey!

To summarize the series:

Haggai 1:1-11 ["You Are Here"]
We run to whatever we are most passionate about. The wrong treasure can end in a wasted hunt. But, when my highest treasure is God, my greatest pleasure is gained.

Haggai 1:12-15 ["Mapping New Coordinates"]
God supplies all that we need to follow Him: a God-sent message, a God-sized vision and a God-stirred spirit.

Haggai 2:1-9 ["Hidden in Plain Sight"]
When we don't feel that we're making headway in our spiritual journey, we can be confident of the hidden treasures of God with us in our work and us with God in His work.

Haggai 2:10-19 ["Striking it Rich"]
We can get stalled in our spiritual progress because holiness in one area doesn't cover every other area of our life, but past sin does carry forward in consequences and life contamination. The only answer is grace...amazing grace.

Haggai 2:20-24 ["X Marks the Spot"]
We live in the tension between two worlds by looking forward to the treasure of God's Kingdom come and living faithfully as the treasure of God's Kingdom choice.

grace that taught my heart to fear

Since my sermon on grace last week [Haggai 2:10-19], I have been reflecting a bit more on grace. I remember a phrase I first heard in college: "Justice is getting what you deserve, mercy is getting what you don't deserve, and grace is getting what you don't deserve." In spite of His people's disobedience, God said, "From this day on, I will bless you" [v. 19]. That's grace...amazing grace that relieves my fear of God's anger.

The song "Amazing Grace" highlights the flip side of grace. Grace has "taught my heart to fear" and that same grace "my fears relieved." In other words, by grace, I am free from condemnation [read Romans 5:1 and 8:1 together]. But, grace doesn't free me to do anything I want. The grace that liberates from wrath at the same time liberates me to worship. By God's grace, I come to see God as He is and live in awesome, fearful humility before Him.