Thanks for those who prayed for us. We had an awesome marriage retreat with North Holland Reformed at Camp Geneva in Holland. It was awesome for our own marriage. We did four sessions with them.
1) Marriage made in Heaven - talking about God's design and intent of marriage
2) Living it out on Earth - talking about how to deal with conflict, communication and balancing time
3) Marriage Exploration - various exercises used to discover your spouse and their love language
4) Making the connection - dealing with putting God at the center of your marriage
We closed with a foot washing, which was very powerful. It was a great day to be reminded by God how special my wife is and how fortunate I am to be married to her. She is an amazing wife and mother. So thanks for the prayers. My voice held up, but just barely and I believe God did some great work in the marriages of those that were there.
I am geeked to be at the gathering with everyone tomorrow! NY-QUIL is calling...
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Gary talked about sex baby - he talked about you and me - he talked about all the good.... what? What was the name of that band? Not salt-n-pepa...not TLC... no wait it was salt-n-pepa. Who cares. Anyways - he did an epic job of laying out the holiness of sex and how it is an awesome God ordained thing.
One quote to leave you with - "My body is a temple of God and my wife's body is a temple of God - so when we get together we are having church." I AM WATERMARK! He takes it to a whole new level. Anyways - it was a great seminar dealing with a topic that is so easy to avoid and go surfacy on and hit it straight on and at a foundational level.
"We don't need to spice up our marriages as much as we need to grow deeper with God."
I am sniffly, sneazing, coughing, aching sick, fever so I can't rest. SO - I'm taking NYQUIL and putting myself out of my misery. Tomorrow is the big marriage conference we are speaking at. Say a prayer for us ...
I am supposed to be typing a message at the moment. Vicki and I are in high gear getting ready for a marriage retreat we are doing for a local church tomorrow. This always gives us an opportunity to look at our marriage and realize that we have a lot of work to do. Man! One insight that we've been reminded of lately is that we are married to sinners.
My wife is a saint in God's eyes through Jesus' sacrifice, but she still does what she does not want to do and does not do the things she wants to do. I still am a sinner and fall short of the glory of God - along with the rest of us! We are married to sinners in word and deed - even though we are saints with God... So - here is my question... Why do I have so little grace for my wife (a sinner in need of a savior / a saint only through God's grace)? And why do I have so much grace for myself and others? I almost am blown away if she is selfish... I am taken aback if she lacks forgiveness... But I can justify ...
Good time with the staff fellas today going over more details and nailing down some stuff for next year including budget thoughts. We went over to the Thompsons tonight for dinner. It was great just hanging out with them. Weird to think we all went to college together so many years ago... Now kids abound... Now we are in this movement together called Watermark. Cool how God has a way of working. Also interesting to think that the relationships around you today may become something more significant in the future... Kinda changes the way you view random relationships. If not - just chalk it up to me trying to say something of depth.
The Passion opens up tomorrow and all I have heard so far is amazement... at the story... at the depiction...at the violence... Anyways - one thing I have found interesting is that Jesus is such a divisive issue... Maybe because the issue is a person who still lives. You wonder what he thinks as this film is shown... But I guess it is foolishn...
SEX!
Now that I have your attention - I added a new poll. Please take time to fill it in.
Last monthes poll indicated a tie on the color scheme of this page - so it will be up to me to decide...
I also added a comment section under each post.
I had physical therapy today on my knee - AHHH! Pain that feels good, because I'm getting better.
I am just picturing snorkeling in the clear waters of Honduras in the near future! Hopefully the hair on my left leg will come back by then... Otherwise I'll shave both legs and be MR. SILKY SMOOTH... What?
So - anyways - I got a great start on my message for this week and I have a ton to do so I'm happy about that. Prayer tonight. I feel a real urgency to pray for God to make some breakthroughs in the lives of people in Watermark.
Well - take a second and go to www.iamwatermark.com if you haven't yet.
Take me down to paradise city,
sd
Ralph Nader is in the presidential race... interesting... at least it was four years ago. I do wonder if we will ever have more than two dominating political parties... A little secret about me is that I love to follow politics as a hobby. I don't ever get into it much because it isn't relevant to what I want to share with you and because it is such a huge divisive issue now-adays. (Just like the Yankees)
Anyways - this morning we had a gathering and it seemed to be a good morning. I so badly want to effectively communicate the importance of being a family that follows Jesus, but it is so easy to miss the supremacy of that with human limitations. In other words I sometimes get frustrated because I feel more than I can speak - if that makes sense. I be whacked.
I am trying to get ahead on work tonight.
We sold about 100 tickets already for the passion and will probably have to buy more for people! Cool. I have been reading a lot of editorials of people slaughter...
Looking forward to going to the passion movie. We had gotten tickets for March 7th, but were able to get opening weekend tickets instead! So we are going on February 29th. I am very excited to see what an actual artist will do with this rather than TBN.
I went to a ministerial convention in Dearborne Michigan. It was good to get away and hear speakers, connect with other church planters and think through stuff. One thing that I took away from my time is that we have an outstanding team of people that live out God's vision! I thank God for watermark the people. We are blessed.
This upcoming week is going to be a killer! Tuesday - Mini Life Group teaching / Thursday - Life Group / Friday - Sacred Marriage Conf. / Saturday - Vicki and I doing a marriage conference all day / Sunday - preach and then the movie!
SO - hold me accountable to spend focused time with the family! :) Maybe I should have you hold me accountable to not waste a moment.
Want more info. on wha...
Worked on my message today and felt like I didn't get anywhere. Sometimes I face this situation - where I feel like I am wading through deep mud to put together a clear teaching. I have a few different directions this could go... We are discussing being an influence in your family. The game is Simon.
Had a couple over from Watermark and their last name is Deur. He is a distant cousin, but it is kinda cool how they got plugged into Watermark and we have the same freaking name! That may not seem wierd if your last name is Jones or Smith (both falcon names - you know who you are - but "DEUR!" dutch for 'door.') They are great and we enjoyed our time together.
Tomorrow I go to the Detroit area for a ministerial convention. They usually have good speakers that are challenging and I enjoy my time with other pastors. I hope that I can effectively share God's story through Watermark and encourage other churches to plant.
I got a book on preaching tha...
We had an awesome Sunday morning focusing on forgiveness. Nate spoke and did a great job communicating and sharing from his own personal story. Today I spent a chunk of the day with the staff team working through a bunch of issues, planning and getting some work done. One of the things we are planning is going as a group to the Mel Gibson film: "The Passion." We are going to begin a conversation series springing off that movie called: His passion. The thought is to share the thing that drove Jesus to live, to die and to rise - His passion. So...we are going to share stories of real people encountering Jesus from the Bible.
Gotta go... 24 is on.
sd
Had a few morning meetings today that went great and then had lunch with 2 other church planters and my district superintendent. We went to the DeeLite and my DS paid - bonus! It was cool to hear the stories of how God is moving in their new churches. Phil is one of the church planters who started the same time as us and have had wonderful God sized results with people coming to Jesus. I am rooming with Phil next week for our Wesleyan Ministerial Convention in Detroit. I hope that we can chat with pastors about church planting and be able to raise the value.
I spent time thinking through who is a part of Watermark and realized that at least 50% of those who are involved, in my rough calculation, are previously unchurched, dechurched or recently disconnected. I was encouraged by that observation, but I still think that can be a lot higher and should be. As we get older as a church we should see that number rise instead of fall. It seems though, that as a church gets older it ...
Had meetings today with the staff team. We spent time planning and worked through ideas for Easter Sunday. I am excited about what we are planning for that morning. That morning is going to showcase God's work in the lives of people. Anyways - it was great to dream a little.
I found out that a friend became a follower of Jesus - which is AWESOME! Anyways - I'll update on that more later... Cool stuff that came through the RIVER focus.
Right now my family is trapped at home. Both of our cars are busted! BUMMER! The Honda is in the shop and hopefully will be done tomorrow and then we'll get the Trooper in. In the meantime I am in need of rides to get where I need to go...
My dad is enhancing his blog a bit and did a bit of a review and Christian insight into the movie on the US hockey team. Goto Dave Deur in the blog section for "dave's dusty." Also - I have a tie in my survey section regarding the color of my blog. If you haven't vote...
Great day today... Gathering dealing with Family issues went well. The Core Focus was good tonight. We took time to share encouragement with each other. We just opened up a time of sharing where we've seen people being the church and making disciples. It was great.
Anyways it was nice to worship at the core focus with my kids. I love singing with my kids in my arms. It changes the words from focussed on God and me to God and we. I feel much more resposible to truly believe and live out the words with my kids there...
Had our weekly pizza and wings tonight. The diet I am on gives us a day off a week and Sundays are the junk food day and pizza and wings are just a part of the experience. :)
Good night sweet falcon,
sd
"Sorry sir, botox doesn't just wipe off."
I found that photo of John Kerry amusing considering the make up dude is all over that forehead that is under scrutiny from the media for possibly getting botoxed. What was once ripply is now smoother than my sons bald head.
That is my attempt to be funny. I guess I'll stick to the stuff I do. :)
Hanging with the family today and going over my message.
God forgive winter,
sd
boardgame.swf
Opening video for this week's message. We are in a series (or we call conversations) called "FAMILY GAMES." This week we are talking about getting into the lives of your family... Hence the image of Twister and getting intwined with your family.
Thanks to Vinmark Productions for the video production.
Today is a message / family day. I am really trying to be present within my family and try to live out the truths I've been learning from God's Word regarding family. I need to model it.
Quick story: I typically pray with my daughter before pre-school. Today - I was working in my room and my daughter was running late for school a bit and when it was time to go she announced: "Dad has to pray with me first." She runs up stairs and we pray. Kids always bring about the right perspective. I often run off without running to my dad (God) to pray. Thanks to my daughter for the perspective I needed as God's kid.
Take on m...
Looking for a fun experience for your party or kid's event?
I highly recommend my friend Wade and his new venture called: "and the beat goes on..."
Anyways - Wade is our resident drum and didge guru for Watermark.
I thought the little drummer dudes were cool.
I had a great and challenging breakfast appointment today with some guys. Good stuff on keeping focussed.
I also got the okay from the doctor to start trying to walk with crutches for the next 2 weeks and then a cane.
I will be free from that stuff in 4 weeks God willing.
I had a nice and encouraging lunch with Dennis J. today - he is such a great mentor and friend.
I highly value my relationship with him. I want to be someone who invests in others that way.
Now I am beginning to formulate some stuff for Sunday. Life Group tonight.
Caught up? Don't care? No fair. My ligament has a tear.
If I was invisible (I want to be Clay),
sd
Meetings all day. Lots of stuff to work through. I haven't even made a dent on my message for Sunday and tomorrow is Weds. I will focus tomorrow on that. Yeah right. Anyways - my aunt and uncle came over and brought us food and ate with us. It was great! It was nice to just hang out and catch up. I have awesome relatives and I so appreciate the investment and love that they consistently show.
My uncle finished off my driveway where joe or one of the other snow plow guys built a wall of snow.
Watched '24' tonight - that show rocks!
Heard some great stuff on family today as I prepared for this series... Here is a thought from the study...
Nowadays the church organization is the central religious sphere of activity and we hope that it overlaps and expands to the home.
There is sometimes even competition b/w the home and church as an organization.
HOWEVER, the church is the community – the people – I am the church – what do I do in my home that is ...
NOTE TO SELF:
Being active in the Grand Haven / West Michigan community is much different in the summer than in the winter. This place just shuts down. Anyways - I need to figure out how to utilize people's disgust with the winter and hibernation mentality to help connect new people to God. What if we supported families who are sick of being indoors with something fun to do together. Even if we just encouraged them to do it... A section in the paper or neighborhood games or something.
In the summer I was all over the town meeting people. Now people are trapped indoors.
Prayer and thought has to go into this.
sd