It has taken me a while to write this post as I have not been sure how I want to put it into words. First and foremost, I want to make sure that everybody knows what an honor it is and how humbled I feel to be asked to do this. It is God at work and nothing else. It has nothing to do with me, but God using me to reach others. With that being said, I am excited to share that I will be teaching the Middle School and High School services this weekend at Palm Valley Church.

I have been serving in the ministry for almost a year now and I am totally in my element. While sound in the main service was great and using the gifts that God has given me, I believe that is cranked up to 11 in the Student Ministry. A few months back, Pastor Darius asked me to host some of the games in the High School services. That has been a blast, but it was few weeks back that Darius asked me if I would teach service this weekend. Since starting this blog almost two years ago (has it been 2 years?), I have really studied a lot of teachers and I am excited to share with the students this weekend because I truly believe that this is a gift that God has given to me to share.

So incidently, that is what I am going to share this weekend: using your gifts to serve the church. I have been given the gift of serving this church for the last couple of years and I think that my testimony will resonate with the students. I really have to hand it to Darius for handing over this message to somebody who is serving. I think it is a great idea for all services. Who better to testify about serving the church than those that are taking the time away from their schedules to serve the church? And when somebody comes to the church with tremendous gifts, move out of the way and let them bring it! It is awesome to be part of Palm Valley right now.

In closing, if I have not mentioned it, I am very excited about this weekend. I want to thank Darius, Jeremiah and Christina for allowing me to invade their space and be a part of what they do each and every day. I know that there are a lot of great people out there that have been training for an opportunity like this and love teaching that could do an exceptional job this weekend, but I truly appreciate the love and faith that these guys have in me to speak with the students that I love interacting with each weekend. Thanks again for allowing me to share the message that God has had me obsessing over the last few weeks with the students! And finally, I will be sharing more about the message after I have given it (I am hoping some really cool stuff) after this weekend. WOW! Praise God…

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I really need to go to bed after all the festivities that I have been involved in over the last few days, but I had to share a couple of things that have happened:

After arriving at our family get together yesterday, a few of the in-laws had discovered the site and were (in the words of the classic film “When Harry Met Sally”) “quoting me back to me!” That was awesome and I so appreciated it. It may have been the best gift that I received.

On Saturday, my parents were in town to celebrate Christmas and I had to work as a sports engineer for the Vancouver Canucks. I was fortunate enough to be able to get my parents and my kids tickets to the game. They all enjoyed the game and it was felt so great to give this gift to them. I can’t tell you what it meant to me to provide this experience to them. But it was something that I saw in the tunnel of the arena that struck me. It takes some explaining, but follow me on this…

In Canada, hockey is the sport of choice. And much like the NFL in the US, there is one night of television for the sport and it is Hockey Night in Canada. One of the hosts of this program is Don Cherry. The CBC television network, which broadcasts the game has the best description for the former coach:

Every week on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, Don Cherry gives his sometimes inflammatory views on the world of hockey. What he says, and how he says it, has drawn devotion from his fans and criticism from his foes. Some argue the coach known as Grapes has no place on television; others say he’s the only genuine voice left in a country obsessed with political correctness. Entertainer to many, agitator to some – either way, there’s no denying Cherry is a hockey original.

With that being said (that one is for you Kathy), you now understand as I set up for my broadcast that I stop in my tracks as Don says on camera, while wearing a Santa tie (and I paraphrase):

“I just want to say that I love that Santa, but let us remember that that this holiday is because the little baby Jesus was born this day. I just had to say that…”

Here is this guy, the Don of Hockey as he is called, talking about Jesus on national Canadian television! That was the most awesome thing ever to me. All of Canada, where hockey is religion, and the spokesman for it is reminding everybody why we are celebrating. That is a true leader. Can you see anybody on national TV in the US doing this. Heaven forbid! They might offend somebody! I might be off base and maybe it was just cool to me, but I am now a bigger Don Cherry fan than anybody in the US.

If you take anything from this, it’s that inspiration comes in the most unlikely places. We need to know it when we see it. Good luck and Merry Christmas. Way more to come!

Thank you.

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I am officially caught up and posting for the next day! That is cool, especially since we had a family day today and I am wiped out. Speaking of which, we went up to Sedona and it is amazing to see God’s workmanship up there. The beauty was unbelievable and He must have had fun creating it, as it is a splash of color in this world. It was awesome.

Previously in the Daily Read, Mark recounts several stories of Jesus’ healing that we learned about in various parts of Matthew 8-12 including the healing of the man on Sabbath, the story of the paralytic in greater detail, Jesus’ baptism by John, the calling of the first disciples, the calling of Matthew (referred to by Mark as ‘Levi’) and his appointing of the twelve apostles. In fact, in Matthew, they are only referred to as disciples, but in Mark he calls them the Apostles. It is interesting to see the differences in the writing between Mark and Matthew. Matthew was one of the Apostles and I believe that it gave him greater insight, as Mark is like the Cliff Notes of these stories. Not bad, just concise. Also, it is again like I have mentioned that we have multiple accounts of the same events that prove that they really did happen. Like a scientist needs multiple facts to prove his hypothesis, God has the many accounts of the events of his Word to prove them correct.

One thing that Mark focuses on in his writing is fellowship. A great example is the story of the paralytic, where many come with him to Jesus and four carry him to the roof and drop him down to Jesus because the room is too full to get him in the door. There are multiple examples of the power of numbers in faith as evidenced in:

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, you sins are forgiven.” Matthew 2:5

It was by the power of all of their faith that he was healed. They believed and it helped their friend to walk again. Great stuff. Let’s all go out and have faith together this weekend! And thanks to Pastor Greg for pointing this out in one of his messages! Greg’s off the hook! Read on…

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Man, another book read. It seems like they are coming fast and furious now, but this was the best so far. An interesting side note, I am reading the Purpose Driven Life now and I can’t tell you how many quotes have been from Matthew! It is fun to recognize the verses that I have just read in my daily study.

Previously in the Daily Read, Judas figures out what he has done, throws the money back into the Temple and it is used to buy land for the dead. The land Jeremiah bought from his cousin for this very reason! Wow, it is incredible to read the plan of God written by so many authors and be so concise. Amazing!

As for the death of Christ, we all know the story without reading it. It is judged by Pilate and taken away when all the chief priests convince the crowd to vote against him. He is mocked by the guards and belittled by the citizens. It’s not pretty to read, but he then rises from the grave and meets with his disciples. The mission is on: disciples, go out and increase the flock and teach what Jesus gave you. Good stuff, now on to Mark’s take. Read on…

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Previously in the Daily Read, Jesus further prepares us for the kingdom of heaven and the end of his days begin to unfold. In chapter 25, Jesus tells the parable of the virgins waiting for the bridegroom. The lesson is that we need to be prepared, because we don’t know when our time will come. He also teaches that we must increase the numbers and share the wealth with the parable about the master who leaves his servants talents and they increase the numbers. We must share our talents and help others to reach the kingdom as well.
In chapter 26, Judas betrays Jesus by turning him over to the chief priests. While he is preparing for his arrest, he lets Peter know that he will disown him three times before the morning. And sure enough, he does while he waits outside to see what happens to Jesus at the Temple. We finish the read with his tears of guilt. Now to finish off. Read on…

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I am almost caught up! We have today’s read posted although today is almost through. I am tempted to plow through and be caught up, but the eyes were getting droopy on this read and I want to bring my best to reading the Word. So I think that this is it for today, but I will be caught up tomorrow with just two reads and I am back on pace one day early. The thing is, the reading is just so good right now, it is hard to put it down. But, everything in moderation is the best policy.

Previously in the Daily Read, it gets even better as Jesus condemns the teachers of the law and the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. This is great! Jesus tells his people, “Do as they say, but don’t do as they do” as they are preaching it, but not living it. They are worshiping their power. Jesus then goes on to tell the disciples the game plan for coming of the Son of Man and it is this: expect the unexpected. Be aware and be ready for anything. This still holds true today, as we all should do this. So many people get caught up in the complexity of life that they are not aware. Be aware. Read on…

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Previously in the Daily Read, Jesus returns to Jerusalem on a donkey as the prophet had said and he started by preaching at the Temple. I love when Jesus goes rebel and he did in this passage by coming in and turning over the tables of the merchants. He says that Temple is a house of prayer, not a swap meet! OK, he calls it a “den of robbers”, but you get my point.

And has been the case, the high priests, Pharisees and Sadduccees all try to trick him into saying the wrong thing as to get arrested and yet again, Jesus knows what they are trying to do, gives his examples in parables and shuts them down. They finally give up asking him questions. I loved this read. Go Jesus! Read on…

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OK, it’s official: I am addicted to catching up on this reading! I am just so close and I want to get back on track. Usually this would be a bad thing, but this is all good. I think that I might even break my record from last night of 3 days of reading. I might even get caught up tonight! Good stuff.

Previously in the Daily Read, Jesus lets us know what we must do to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whether he is asked by his disciples or the Pharisees, he gives us some helpful hints on our salvation including humbling ourselves like children, lift up the little ones and help them, gather together with fellow believers and have mercy on them, and the difficulty for a rich man that favors his money more than his faith to get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

He also speaks on divorce (don’t do it, if God brings together man and woman as one, they should not be separated) has mercy on two blind men giving them sight and once again predicts his own death as salvation for everyone. This reading was so great with many useful applications. Have mercy, be caring, have faith above all else and share it with your brothers and neighbors. All stuff that we need to keep doing to the best of our ability. And tap your inner child, because it is your greatest gift:

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

Read on…

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Man, I am on a marathon tonight with 3 passages of the Bible and 3 chapters of the Purpose Driven Life. All of them had some good thinking and meditation to go along with it. I am feeling it though and off to bed after this post.

Previously in the Daily Read, Jesus got busy with lots of activity including:

• The Pharisees on his tail again about the disciples not washing their hands before eating. Jesus responds with “What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean’, but what comes out of his mouth, is what makes him ‘unclean’.” (Matthew 15:11). In other words, what goes in your mouth comes out the others side, but what comes out of your mouth is from the heart.
• He witnesses the faith of a Canaanite woman and heals her daughter.
• He feeds another 4000 with seven loaves of bread.
• He refuses another demand for a sign from the Pharisees.
• He warns the disciples to not follow the word of the Pharisees and Sadducees. “A blind man leading a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14b)
• Peter shows that he knows that Jesus is Christ and Jesus is pleased because he is the first that has heard this from the Lord.
• He drives out the demon of a boy that the disciples could not. When asked why the couldn’t do it, Jesus tells the disciples that it is because they have little faith.
• He has Peter pull the Temple tax out of the mouth of a fish as not to offend the tax collectors at the Temple.

The biggest points of the read are Jesus’ prediction of his death and taking three disciples up to the mountaintop to reveal himself as the Son of God (The Lord speaks and is pleased with His Son) with cameos by Moses and Elijah (aka John the Baptist). He lets Peter, James and John know not to tell anybody of this until he has been raised from the dead. It is interesting to read about God’s master plan in this passage. We are all a part of it. Amazing stuff.

“Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew16:25

Read on…

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I have to say that I am loving this book and it has been very easy to catch up. I am still doing the math and it looks like I will be caught up by the end of the week. Although it has been busy, I need to find time during the day to read if I am not going to be home in the evening. How exciting this is!

Previously in the Daily Read, Jesus is teaching many in parables. The disciples ask why he does this and his answer, “They hear, but they don’t understand. They see, but they do not perceive. It is only when they open their hearts that they will truly understand.” By teaching in parables, Jesus’ followers must open their hearts to get the whole picture, just as we must today. While the parable of the sower is truly my favorite (Matthew 13:1-23), this is the parable to share as it is easy to grasp and such good news:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46

Also in this read, we learn of the beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus feeds five thousand with five loaves of bread and a couple of fish and he walks on water out to the boat of disciples. He even shows the power of believing to Peter when he tells him to come and join him on the water. When Peter’s faith falters, he begins to fall in the water. Jesus asks why he has such little faith. We can learn from this today. While we may not be able to physically be able to walk on water, we can do what we aspire to if spiritually we keep the faith. Read on…

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