Dave’s Weblog

This article is from the Pennsylvania For Marriage’s latest newsletter.
Supporters of Proposition 8 in California have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, vandalism, racial scapegoating, blacklisting, loss of employment, economic hardships, angry protests, violence, at least one death threat, and gross expressions of anti-religious bigotry. Arguments for same-sex marriage are based fundamentally on the idea that limiting marriage to the union of husband and wife is a form of bigotry, irrational prejudice, and even hatred against homosexual persons. As this ideology seeps into the culture more generally, individuals and institutions that support marriage as the union of husband and wife risk paying a price for that belief in many legal, social, economic, and cultural contexts. Read more…http://www.heritage.org/research/family/bg2328.cfm

I believe all people should be treated fairly and equally. This issue is showing an ugly side and is down right scary.

Shine On!
Dave

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas – no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ‘Holiday’.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet during the holidays a MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

Shine On!
Dave

Hey Everyone,
Perry Noble posted these today so I thought I’d pass them along. Enjoy!

#1 – When excuses are made about the way things are instead of embracing a willingness to roll up the sleeves and fix the problem.

#2 – When the church becomes content with merely receiving people that come rather than actually going out and finding them…in other words, they lose their passion for evangelism!

#3 – The focus of the church is to build a great church (complete with the pastors picture…and his wife’s…on everything) and not the Kingdom of God.

#4 – The leadership begins to settle for the natural rather than rely on the supernatural.

#5 – The church begins to view success/failure in regards to how they are viewed in the church world rather than whether or not they are actually fulfilling the Great Commission!

#6 – The leaders within the church cease to be coachable.

#7 – There is a loss of a sense of urgency! (Hell is no longer hot, sin is no longer wrong and the cross is no longer important!)

#8 – Scripture isn’t central in every decision that is made!

#9 – The church is reactive rather than proactive.

#10 – The people in the church lose sight of the next generation and refuse to fund ministry simply because they don’t understand “those young people.”

#11 – The goal of the church is to simply maintain the way things are…to NOT rock the boat and/or upset anyone…especially the big givers!

#12 – The church is no longer willing to take steps of faith because “there is just too much to lose.”

#13 – The church simply does not care about the obvious and immediate needs that exist in the community.

#14 – The people learn how to depend on one man to minister to everyone rather than everyone embracing their role in the body, thus allowing the body to care for itself.

#15 – When the leaders/staff refuse to go the extra mile in leading and serving because of how “inconvenient” doing so would be.

Shine On!
Dave

Here are 10 statements the will fight against true Christ following every time..enjoy (courtecy of Rich Kirkpatrick)!

1. I cannot possibly change for real.
2. I do not need the church (or “Church”) to worship or live my life.
3. Jesus did not mean all the hard stuff he said, it was just “figurative” right?
4. Being “relevant” is the mission of the local church.
5. Drinking alcohol is a sin since the Bible teaches that.
6. If this feel so right then it can’t really be wrong–even if the Bible teaches otherwise.
7. Walking in the Spirit means working on not sinning.
8. I “go” to church.
9. God really is always loving, so all that anger stuff in the Old Testament is “figurative” since God would never do a flood, wipe a race of people away or kill people out of anger.
10. Our body is not that important in our spiritual life.

Shine On!
Dave

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Download the Judicial Voters’ Guide!

Why should I care?

Voters will be choosing the judges on your own county’s Court of Common Pleas — who decide cases every day that affect local families and businesses. Their decisions often impact families more than legislative votes.

Perhaps even more critical is the selection of a new Justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and new judges for the other statewide courts, the Superior and Commonwealth courts.

Download the Judicial Voters’ Guide!
http://www.pafamily.org/index.php?pID=169

Pennsylvania Family Institute
23 N. Front St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 ~ Phone: 717-545-0600 ~ Fax: 717-545-8107 ~ www.pafamily.org

As I watched the news this week I couldn’t help but celebrate the power of prayer. During a bank robbery this week a woman who behind the counter resorted to the most foundational aspect of life, prayer. I was blessed to see the news media picking up on such a basic story and showing the power of a person who prays. What Christ followers have known for a long time is that things change with prayer.
As this woman was looking down the barrel of a loaded gun she went to the source of all assurance and hope. She prayed for her family—her children, she prayed for her eternal soul. She prayed through fear and tears in such a way that the man who was holding the gun was moved. She began to talk to him down from the place he was to a place of knowing that someone cared.
Through a conversation this woman was able to talk and listen to a man who was desperate and alone. He did not know that anyone cared. Through prayer she told him that he mattered to God and he mattered to her and because of that care, everything changed.
So, how does prayer change your life? We know that it does—or do we? Do you really believe that prayer changes things? This lady believed and things changed. The robber handed her the lone bullet from the gun and allowed here to prayer with him. How are you bringing change to the piece of the world you live in by bringing prayer to all you do and every place you go and every person you meet? May you live a life of powerful, life changing prayer today!

Shine On!
Pastor Dave

I have enjoyed being in Orlando for several different reasons. I have friends who live there and I miss them. Walt Disney World is an ever constant draw on me. I have done several great mission trips to Orlando and I have fond memories of the work, the people and the students/adults I was fortunate to lead and work with. I really enjoy palm trees and the list goes on. So, when I need an Orlando fix I go to: http://zradio.org/

Enjoy!!!

Shine On!
Dave

Over the past week I have witnessed leaders in positions that have caused them to unequivically state what they believe.
>We’ve watched President Obama receive the Nobel Peace Prize and have to walk a balancing act of acceptance and humility.
>We’ve watched our PA politicians dance around their failure to sign a budget into action.
>We’ve seen the questionable celebration of a joint communion with the Eval. Lutheran Church in America together with United Methodists even when there are major differences in basic beliefs and understandings.
>And yesterday I watched as Phil Driscoll got cornered about women in ministry. His belief is that women are not to be in charge and to teach or lead from the first chair. He quoted several passages of scrupture to back up his stance. While I understand his position I disagree with this leaders interpretation of scripture.

Leadership is a risky place to be because leaders will to challenged. Leaders will be forced. Leaders will make mistakes. And leaders will need to work hard to do the right thing. Leaders are targets from time to time…it just goes with the territory. I’ve learned how to live into the firing range rather than run from it or be afraid of it.
Only God can see a leader through to the right places, decisions, actions, adjustments, and reactions. Ultimately, leaders need to be deeply grounded in a moment by moment relationship with God that will direct and guide every thing the leader attempts.
Just some ramblings after watching leaders in action over the past few weeks.
Shine On!
Dave

Sorry that this doesn’t seem very spiritual but, from time to time I just have to reveal my personal loves. SONIC is coming to Harrisburg! YES! The skinny is that it’s coming to the new Giant plaza on Linglestown Road. Here’s the entire article: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/10/midstates_first_sonic_restaura.html

Enjoy this bit of great news for those of us who just need some SONIC in their lives. I no longer have to drive to Palmyra or Lancaster or Ephrata. YEAH!

Shine On!
Dave

Here are some great quotes on leadership…enjoy!

^There are whose who make things happen. There are those who watch things happen. And there are those who wonder what happened.

^If you want to have an impact, you must be committed to a collision

^A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. Rosallynn Carter

^To reveal one’s heart and to lead from this in love is the highest form of leadership. Carl Townsend

^Jesus called them together and said ‘”You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. And whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:25-28

^A good leader can’t get too far ahead of his followers. Franklin D. Roosevelt

^The first step to leadership is servanthood. John Maxwell

^Outstanding leaders appeal to the hearts of their followers – not their minds.

Enjoy!

Shine On!
Dave