I'm a paradox...
I'm a night owl and an early bird. Over time these two friends don't make good company, with each one vying for more attention.
Today they met each other at 3:00 am.
I woke up, listened to the silence of the night and the creaks of the house.
I turned over, closed my eyes and laid there wide awake.
I turned over once again with my eyes closed and laid there wide awake.
After rolling over once again I decided to get up.
Here I am...
My iWitness...
As I laid in bed in the wee hours of the morning and night, it hit me once again that we worship a God who neither slumbers nor sleeps.
In the brightness of the brilliant sun,
in the shadows of the starless night,
in the abyss of apparent abandonment,
in the juxtaposition of jump up and down joy,
in the darkened days of depression,
in the gut wrenching pain of grief,
in the methodical motions of the mundane,
in the chaos of confusion,
in the crystal clear of clarity,
in the agony of anxiousness,
in the excitement of exhilaration,
in the hilarity of laughter,
in the fomenting fear of failure,
the God who neither slumbers nor sleeps says,
"Here I am..."
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"I lift my eyes to the mountains -
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalm 121. 1-4)
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Adoption
We had a family meeting yesterday after church.
More than likely if you work in the working world you are a part of a "staff" meeting.
We decided we would start having "family" meetings after church on Sunday.
Yesterday we discussed some things that happened over the weekend and some items that needed to be talked over for the upcoming week.
I am big into Robert's Rules of Order.
We taught Faith and Joshua how to make a motion, how to second it, how to discuss it and then how to vote on it. I taught Julie how to record such motions in the "minutes" of our meetings in which she served as secretary. MSP stands for Motion, Seconded and Passed...
After the "Family" meeting we had a prayer.
We call them "echo" prayers. Whoever is praying out loud says a few words and then the rest of the family repeats those words.
I prayed...
Joshua prayed...
Faith prayed...
Julie prayed...
I was proud of Julie for getting through her prayer after listening to what Faith had just prayed...
Faith's prayer was profound in its simplicity...
"Dear Jesus... Thank you for my family making the decision to adopt me. Amen"
My iWitness...
My iWitness today is just as simple but not as profound since it comes out of the mouth of a 50 year old and not a 7 seven year old...
"Dear Jesus... Thank you for making the decision to adopt me. Amen!"
I love being your son...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1. 3-6)
More than likely if you work in the working world you are a part of a "staff" meeting.
We decided we would start having "family" meetings after church on Sunday.
Yesterday we discussed some things that happened over the weekend and some items that needed to be talked over for the upcoming week.
I am big into Robert's Rules of Order.
We taught Faith and Joshua how to make a motion, how to second it, how to discuss it and then how to vote on it. I taught Julie how to record such motions in the "minutes" of our meetings in which she served as secretary. MSP stands for Motion, Seconded and Passed...
After the "Family" meeting we had a prayer.
We call them "echo" prayers. Whoever is praying out loud says a few words and then the rest of the family repeats those words.
I prayed...
Joshua prayed...
Faith prayed...
Julie prayed...
I was proud of Julie for getting through her prayer after listening to what Faith had just prayed...
Faith's prayer was profound in its simplicity...
"Dear Jesus... Thank you for my family making the decision to adopt me. Amen"
My iWitness...
My iWitness today is just as simple but not as profound since it comes out of the mouth of a 50 year old and not a 7 seven year old...
"Dear Jesus... Thank you for making the decision to adopt me. Amen!"
I love being your son...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1. 3-6)
Sunday, May 5, 2013
For the Love of the Game
His name is Ricardo.
He is 46 years old.
He loves life.
He loves his two daughters Johana and Ana.
He loves the game of soccer.
Out of his love for the game of soccer, Ricardo referees youth soccer games, to help build up the game and the young people who play it.
Last Saturday, April 27th Ricardo was refereeing a game when he noticed the 17 year old goalie of one team pushing an opposing player.
Ricardo gave the goalie a "Yellow Card" - a foul indicating an egregious breaking of the rules. One more "yellow card" would result in a "Red Card" which would mean expulsion from the game.
As Ricardo was writing down his notes concerning the "yellow card", the 17 year old goalie came rushing over and punched Ricardo in the face with a crushing blow.
Ricardo never saw it coming...
He was taken to a hospital, slipped into a coma and for six days Johana and Ana and others prayed for a miracle that would never come.
Ricardo died last night.
Ricardo had been attacked before by players and his daughters had asked him to quit refereeing because it was becoming too dangerous.
For the love of the game he didn't, and for the love of the game he died.
My iWitness...
His name is Jesus
He is 33 years old.
He loves God.
He loves his mom and dad, Mary and Joseph
He loves the game of life.
Out of his love for the game of life, Jesus came down to earth to help build up the game and save the people who play it.
On a Monday Jesus saw some people pushing the less fortunate around in His Father's house. Jesus pulled out a yellow card on the religious leaders of the day.
Four days later the mob came rushing over and punched Jesus in the face with a crushing blow.
Here's the difference...
Jesus saw it coming.
Jesus saw it coming before he ever left the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
The friend's of Jesus had asked him to avoid going to Jerusalem. It would be too dangerous.
Jesus knew that as the grand referee he would be crushed, he would whipped and he would be crucified.
Later that day Jesus was crucified, dead and buried.
His friends and family prayed for the miracle that would come.
The goalie that kept the grave of death locked up was thrown out of the game with a Red Card.
On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead!
The stone was rolled away! Not so that Jesus could come out, but rather that we could look in.
For the love of us He didn't quit on us.
For the love of us He died.
For the love of us He was raised.
For the love of us and for the love of the game of life...
Eternal life...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father." (Philippians 2. 5-11)
He is 46 years old.
He loves life.
He loves his two daughters Johana and Ana.
He loves the game of soccer.
Out of his love for the game of soccer, Ricardo referees youth soccer games, to help build up the game and the young people who play it.
Last Saturday, April 27th Ricardo was refereeing a game when he noticed the 17 year old goalie of one team pushing an opposing player.
Ricardo gave the goalie a "Yellow Card" - a foul indicating an egregious breaking of the rules. One more "yellow card" would result in a "Red Card" which would mean expulsion from the game.
As Ricardo was writing down his notes concerning the "yellow card", the 17 year old goalie came rushing over and punched Ricardo in the face with a crushing blow.
Ricardo never saw it coming...
He was taken to a hospital, slipped into a coma and for six days Johana and Ana and others prayed for a miracle that would never come.
Ricardo died last night.
Ricardo had been attacked before by players and his daughters had asked him to quit refereeing because it was becoming too dangerous.
For the love of the game he didn't, and for the love of the game he died.
My iWitness...
His name is Jesus
He is 33 years old.
He loves God.
He loves his mom and dad, Mary and Joseph
He loves the game of life.
Out of his love for the game of life, Jesus came down to earth to help build up the game and save the people who play it.
On a Monday Jesus saw some people pushing the less fortunate around in His Father's house. Jesus pulled out a yellow card on the religious leaders of the day.
Four days later the mob came rushing over and punched Jesus in the face with a crushing blow.
Here's the difference...
Jesus saw it coming.
Jesus saw it coming before he ever left the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
The friend's of Jesus had asked him to avoid going to Jerusalem. It would be too dangerous.
Jesus knew that as the grand referee he would be crushed, he would whipped and he would be crucified.
Later that day Jesus was crucified, dead and buried.
His friends and family prayed for the miracle that would come.
The goalie that kept the grave of death locked up was thrown out of the game with a Red Card.
On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead!
The stone was rolled away! Not so that Jesus could come out, but rather that we could look in.
For the love of us He didn't quit on us.
For the love of us He died.
For the love of us He was raised.
For the love of us and for the love of the game of life...
Eternal life...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father." (Philippians 2. 5-11)
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Just sayin'
I recently visited two institutions...
The first place was filled with people I had never met before except for the group of ten I was hanging out with. The other people around me were friendly and really seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were people younger than me and there were people much older than me. The hospitality that was extended to me was generous with a bright smile and helpful spirit. Everyone was welcomed! I stayed for about two hours and fifteen minutes and the time passed by so quickly that by the time I left it seemed as if I had just arrived. I came home energized. The place had a band and people were so moved by the music that many applauded and some even got out of their seats and danced. I had a great time and so did the people I was with. We laughed a lot, shared some hilarious stories and genuinely showed care for one another. We pledged to get together again and do this on a regular basis.
The second place was filled with people I had never met before except for the group of ten that I knew already. The other people around me were fairly friendly but their faces betrayed their inner feelings as if to strongly suggest not everyone was having a great time. There were people younger than me and there were people much older than me. I stayed for a couple of hours but found myself constantly checking my watch which only made the time drag on and on. I came home kind of drained. There were serious discussions about the moral decline of America and the lack of respect children had for their elders and why more people didn't come to this particular institution. We laughed a little. The place played some great music. I left feeling a little uninspired because of the chain of events that took place were not what I had expected to experience. I wondered to myself if I would do this again on a regular basis.
One of these institutions was a church...
The other was a bar/night club...
From the above descriptions, can you guess which one was which?
My iWitness...
If more churches were like bars...
And more bars were like churches...
Our world would be in better shape!
Just sayin'...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." (Philippians 4. 4)
The first place was filled with people I had never met before except for the group of ten I was hanging out with. The other people around me were friendly and really seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were people younger than me and there were people much older than me. The hospitality that was extended to me was generous with a bright smile and helpful spirit. Everyone was welcomed! I stayed for about two hours and fifteen minutes and the time passed by so quickly that by the time I left it seemed as if I had just arrived. I came home energized. The place had a band and people were so moved by the music that many applauded and some even got out of their seats and danced. I had a great time and so did the people I was with. We laughed a lot, shared some hilarious stories and genuinely showed care for one another. We pledged to get together again and do this on a regular basis.
The second place was filled with people I had never met before except for the group of ten that I knew already. The other people around me were fairly friendly but their faces betrayed their inner feelings as if to strongly suggest not everyone was having a great time. There were people younger than me and there were people much older than me. I stayed for a couple of hours but found myself constantly checking my watch which only made the time drag on and on. I came home kind of drained. There were serious discussions about the moral decline of America and the lack of respect children had for their elders and why more people didn't come to this particular institution. We laughed a little. The place played some great music. I left feeling a little uninspired because of the chain of events that took place were not what I had expected to experience. I wondered to myself if I would do this again on a regular basis.
One of these institutions was a church...
The other was a bar/night club...
From the above descriptions, can you guess which one was which?
My iWitness...
If more churches were like bars...
And more bars were like churches...
Our world would be in better shape!
Just sayin'...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." (Philippians 4. 4)
Friday, May 3, 2013
Where is my...
The two messages were succinct and strikingly straight to the point.
The first one came through at 9:21 am... "Where's my mini-sermon for May 3rd?"
The second one came in at 11:06 am... ""Where is my Dendy blog fix for today?"
My iWitness...
Since beginning this journey of writing a blog every day in the year 2013 of where I see God at work in the life of every day people in their every day lives, my "MO" - modus operandi, has been to write the blog first thing in the morning, between 5:00 - 6:30 am.
Today that didn't happen...
And I am hearing about it!
At least two friends, with their great sense of humor are giving me a hard time about not showing up on time this morning.
Did you notice how each message began?
"Where is my..."
Do you grow impatient with the seeming silence of God's voice?
We pray and we pray and we hope and we expect and we count on the consistency of God's countenance to flow down on us.
And when it doesn't...?
Our response starts with, "Where is my..."
"Where is my answer?"
"Where is my hope?"
"Where is my next move to be?"
"Where is my salvation?"
"Where is my next job?"
"Where is my next meal?"
"Where is my next relationship?"
"Where is my next fix?"
How do we handle the silence of God?
In watching us and being with us, I wonder if God ever asks that question of us?
"Where is my child?"
"Where is my grace?"
"Where is my love?"
"Where is my joy?"
"Where is my forgiveness?"
"Where is my mercy?"
"Where is my patience?"
How does God handle the silence of us?
At least one answer comes to mind...
"With great patience and with great love."
And for my dear friends Herb and Karen, with great patience and great love this is my answer too.
"And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5. 22)
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
The first one came through at 9:21 am... "Where's my mini-sermon for May 3rd?"
The second one came in at 11:06 am... ""Where is my Dendy blog fix for today?"
My iWitness...
Since beginning this journey of writing a blog every day in the year 2013 of where I see God at work in the life of every day people in their every day lives, my "MO" - modus operandi, has been to write the blog first thing in the morning, between 5:00 - 6:30 am.
Today that didn't happen...
And I am hearing about it!
At least two friends, with their great sense of humor are giving me a hard time about not showing up on time this morning.
Did you notice how each message began?
"Where is my..."
Do you grow impatient with the seeming silence of God's voice?
We pray and we pray and we hope and we expect and we count on the consistency of God's countenance to flow down on us.
And when it doesn't...?
Our response starts with, "Where is my..."
"Where is my answer?"
"Where is my hope?"
"Where is my next move to be?"
"Where is my salvation?"
"Where is my next job?"
"Where is my next meal?"
"Where is my next relationship?"
"Where is my next fix?"
How do we handle the silence of God?
In watching us and being with us, I wonder if God ever asks that question of us?
"Where is my child?"
"Where is my grace?"
"Where is my love?"
"Where is my joy?"
"Where is my forgiveness?"
"Where is my mercy?"
"Where is my patience?"
How does God handle the silence of us?
At least one answer comes to mind...
"With great patience and with great love."
And for my dear friends Herb and Karen, with great patience and great love this is my answer too.
"And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5. 22)
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
RSVP
I received two invitations in the mail yesterday...
One to a wedding
One to a retirement party
One will celebrate the beginning of a chapter in life
One will celebrate the end of a chapter of life
One will proclaim, "Here we go!"
One will proclaim, "Thanks for the memories!"
One will be a party full of laughter and tears.
One will be a party full of laughter and tears.
One will say, "I do."
One will say, "I'm done."
One will be filled with family and friends.
One will be filled with family and friends.
One will celebrate a life together
One will celebrate a life together
One will have people sending a couple off into the land of the unknown
One will have people sending a couple off into the land of the unknown
One will be filled with, "Congratulations and good luck!"
One will be filled with, "Congratulations and well done good and faithful servant."
One I will RSVP that I will not be in attendance
One I will RSVP that I will be in attendance
One is the alpha
One is the omega
My iWitness...
Invitations are a part of our every day lives.
Every invitation demands a response.
Each invitation includes an:
RSVP - "Repondez s'il vous plait" or "please respond"
What will you be invited to today?
A party? A meeting? A conviction?
Will you be invited to stand up for something you are passionate about?
Will you be invited to stand down from something you are passionate about?
Beware...
All invitations lead us somewhere.
How you RSVP could lead you to places you wish to go or it might lead you to places you do not wish to go.
Jesus offers the ultimate invitation... "Follow me..."
It's an incredible invitation to:
Journey with Jesus
Saunter with the Savior,
Ramble with the Redeemer
Party with the Provider
Dance with the Deliverer
Gallop with Grace
Meander with Mercy
Hobble with the Humble One
Follow the Forgiver
March with the Messiah
Laugh with the Lamb
Linger with the Lion
Crawl with the Crucified
Run with the Resurrection
Experience eternity with the Eternal one...
But then again...
It's just an invitation...
How will you RSVP?
Please respond...
One party I will not be in attendance
One party I will be
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me...'" (Mark 1. 17)
One to a wedding
One to a retirement party
One will celebrate the beginning of a chapter in life
One will celebrate the end of a chapter of life
One will proclaim, "Here we go!"
One will proclaim, "Thanks for the memories!"
One will be a party full of laughter and tears.
One will be a party full of laughter and tears.
One will say, "I do."
One will say, "I'm done."
One will be filled with family and friends.
One will be filled with family and friends.
One will celebrate a life together
One will celebrate a life together
One will have people sending a couple off into the land of the unknown
One will have people sending a couple off into the land of the unknown
One will be filled with, "Congratulations and good luck!"
One will be filled with, "Congratulations and well done good and faithful servant."
One I will RSVP that I will not be in attendance
One I will RSVP that I will be in attendance
One is the alpha
One is the omega
My iWitness...
Invitations are a part of our every day lives.
Every invitation demands a response.
Each invitation includes an:
RSVP - "Repondez s'il vous plait" or "please respond"
What will you be invited to today?
A party? A meeting? A conviction?
Will you be invited to stand up for something you are passionate about?
Will you be invited to stand down from something you are passionate about?
Beware...
All invitations lead us somewhere.
How you RSVP could lead you to places you wish to go or it might lead you to places you do not wish to go.
Jesus offers the ultimate invitation... "Follow me..."
It's an incredible invitation to:
Journey with Jesus
Saunter with the Savior,
Ramble with the Redeemer
Party with the Provider
Dance with the Deliverer
Gallop with Grace
Meander with Mercy
Hobble with the Humble One
Follow the Forgiver
March with the Messiah
Laugh with the Lamb
Linger with the Lion
Crawl with the Crucified
Run with the Resurrection
Experience eternity with the Eternal one...
But then again...
It's just an invitation...
How will you RSVP?
Please respond...
One party I will not be in attendance
One party I will be
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me...'" (Mark 1. 17)
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Night Tillers
I love driving through the state of Iowa! I love the rolling terrain that is filled with miles of acres of dirt where corn will soon be planted. Driving in the dark last night I came across a sight that almost made me drive off the road. My first thought was that it was a UFO landing in the middle of a corn field. The darkness was heavy. The sky dusty. The object in the middle of the corn field was illuminating the immediate ground around itself with brilliant bright lights. Dust from the ground enveloped this huge piece of Alien machinery. It was a scene right out of a "B roll" movie.
As I slowed down and took a closer look, I realized that this "encounter of the third kind" was simply a huge tractor tilling the ground, in the dark, getting it ready for the spring seeding.
It would have been fascinating to be a neighbor and go to bed seeing a field in disarray and then wake up the next morning and see the same field tilled in long rows ready to receive its seed.
My iWitness...
Tilling and plowing at "NIGHT."
I wonder how many times God tills and plows at night. How many times does God prepare the ground for great "fruit" to bear during the hours when we are not paying any attention?
Many of us are dealing with some tough decisions, critical circumstances, confusing situations and we wonder, "How is this thing going to work out?"
Fear not! The Tractor tills relentlessly through the night. The ground resists such change. The blade of the plow cuts deep softening the toughened turf. That which was infertile becomes fertile. Dust fills the air and perhaps makes it hard to breathe or see clearly. But the morning will come. The sun will rise again, as it always does. The dust will settle. The air will clear. And the field of our life and hearts will be ready to receive the seeds that will bear much fruit.
The Night Tiller...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." (1 Corinthians 3. 5-9)
As I slowed down and took a closer look, I realized that this "encounter of the third kind" was simply a huge tractor tilling the ground, in the dark, getting it ready for the spring seeding.
It would have been fascinating to be a neighbor and go to bed seeing a field in disarray and then wake up the next morning and see the same field tilled in long rows ready to receive its seed.
My iWitness...
Tilling and plowing at "NIGHT."
I wonder how many times God tills and plows at night. How many times does God prepare the ground for great "fruit" to bear during the hours when we are not paying any attention?
Many of us are dealing with some tough decisions, critical circumstances, confusing situations and we wonder, "How is this thing going to work out?"
Fear not! The Tractor tills relentlessly through the night. The ground resists such change. The blade of the plow cuts deep softening the toughened turf. That which was infertile becomes fertile. Dust fills the air and perhaps makes it hard to breathe or see clearly. But the morning will come. The sun will rise again, as it always does. The dust will settle. The air will clear. And the field of our life and hearts will be ready to receive the seeds that will bear much fruit.
The Night Tiller...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
"What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." (1 Corinthians 3. 5-9)
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