What Our Brave Troops Have to Contend With In Iraq -

Why we need to pray for them!!!!

Famous Quotes

H.G. Wells said, "More than 1900 years later, a historian like myself, who doesn't even call himself a Christian, finds the picture centering irresistibly around the life and character of this most significant man.... The historian's test of an individual's greatness is 'What did he leave to grow? Did he start men thinking along fresh lines with a vigor that persisted after him?' By this test Jesus stands first."

Yes, it can be said of other men, but notice that he said 'Jesus stands first!'

Enough is Enough!

"I guess hell froze over. A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this. He had nothing to do with this. ... Suck it, Jesus! This award is my god now." Kathy Griffin - at the 59th annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards

The name of Jesus is constantly profaned in this country even by some 'well meaning Christians' (sic). God is blasphemed and even ridiculously sued! Isn't it great that we live in a 'free speech country?' If some of our Jesus and God bashing wannabe actors/actresses and commoners lived in Muslim countries and they said the same about Mohammad or Allah - they would be dead in no time.

When are Christians in this country going to stand up?!? Well, some have and are letting their voices be heard.

The cast members at the Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., say they have had all they can stand.

"We, as Christian entertainers, do not take it lightly that the name of our Lord and Savior has been mocked, and in response, we took out an ad in USA Today to stand up for Him."

The group purchased a USA Today ad, for almost $100,000, on Sept. 17 to say, "'Enough is Enough!' The name of Jesus Christ should not be mocked, nor should those who love Him be slandered for their beliefs. It is time for people of faith around the country to stand firm against religious slander, bias, and bigotry of all types including Christianity!"

Check out their website here and sign their petition: http://www.miracletheater.com/

Way Cool Wife and Mom!

My wife celebrated her birthday today, Sep. 23! She is lovely and the delight of my life.

During vacation this year, thanks to Jimmy Britnell loaning us his Wii game, we had a great time playing the sports on it. Believe it not, Debi, never the video game fan, said she would like to have one!

So the other day when I was asking her what she wanted- she blurted out a Wii game! Do you know how hard they are to get? After a trip to Wal-mart, Game Stop, and Target- all to no avail, I called a friend who manages a Blockbuster. He said they are difficult to get, but if one came in that day he would call me.

I prayed this prayer, "God you know how faithful Debi is to the Kingdom of God, surely you could get her a Wii." Was that wrong?

Well, Clay called and he didn't get one in his store but a store closer to me did. He had them hold it for me, I got there quick, they hadn't even opened their shipment, but did as I waited, and I bought it. It was a family gift from Jason, Ryan, Charity and me. We gave it to her last night.

We played all evening- way cool- Debi is way cool! I love you dear.

Unbelievable - Connie - 6 years old - Sings

My heart is touched! Need I say more?

Not Always Greener on the Other Side --

I am amazed what people do who are dissatisfied with their mates- consider the following:

--A Bosnian couple are getting divorced after finding out they had been secretly chatting with each other online under fake names. Sana Klaric, 27, and husband Adnan, 32, from Zenica, poured out their hearts to each other over their marriage troubles, and both felt they had found their real soul mate. The couple met on an online chat forum while he was at work and she in an Internet cafe, and started chatting under the names Sweetie and Prince of Joy. They eventually decided to meet up -- but there was no happy ending when they realised what had happened. Now they are both filing for divorce -- with each accusing the other of being unfaithful.

--another European man divorced his wife for irreconcilable differences. He then joined one of those find your mate services (similar to our E Harmony). He found one and she was the woman of his dreams. They met - and guess what? - it was his original wife. They are getting remarried.

No joke - Sometimes you miss appreciating what you have!

Years ago the Lord spoke to me regarding my fidelity and faithfulness to Debi (36 years now). Obviously He reminded me of my covenant I made with her, but He also spoke to me that the 'grass is not greener on the other side.' He reminded me that I know what I have with my wife, but I don't know what I would have or was getting myself into with another woman or the wife of another man. Besides the threat of Debi killing me if I did, I also decided to heed the Lord's advice and stay in my own vineyard with the wife of my youth!

I believe in long term marriages! It is a badge of honor for a Man of God and also a requirement for leading the church of God! (I will forgo commenting on all the Pastors and 'TV church personalities' that are divorcing right now or have divorced - please don't get me started!)

Influencing the Next Generation and Beyond -

Our Bulletin Cover
Boy, am I pumped! We did our annual Teacher's Appreciation Day (our 4th one) yesterday. We invite City Council members, School Board members , and of course public school teachers. We spend the service blessing the teachers. Platform decorations are a classroom setting, I preach a message for the teachers (you can hear it here), we give them gift certificates to Mardel's and then have a reception for them afterwards.

We begin weeks before by sending them a gift basket for the Teacher's lounge as they return to school; then a huge tub filled with popcorn, candy corn, and nuts (tastes like a Payday candy bar); and special invitations to join us for that Sunday Service. We pray for those that attend during the year and send them cards of appreciation periodically.

Here is an email from one of our guests:

Dear Pastor David,

I wanted to thank you for honoring teachers and for the gift card I received. I was the guest of Joanna Windle who I work with at Foster Elementary. Hearing all the praises for teachers made me truly feeling blessed that I do touch children every day. I was inspired by your comments about influence. I will remember the phrase you shared-"Influence leaves impressions for life."

Again thank you and all you members of the Vine Fellowship for honoring teachers..

Kathleen Marantino

Slide from sermon PowerPoint

This is just another way that we keep outreach focused to impact every strata of our community.

I love 'Teacher's Appreciation Day!'

Famous Quotes--

“So long as there is a human being who does not know Jesus Christ, I am his debtor to serve him until he does.”-

Oswald Chambers

Better Preach Better!?!

Keeping My Getting Older in Perspective... and Humorous

For all my young friends out there, this piece of humor. Not a complaint just reality! Ughhhhhh.....

With this in mind, I bought myself a new scooter.
I wanted something that was easy on gas and could zip
me to the store and about town. This seems to meet my EVERY need.

Remember: Senior Citizens Are Valuable

We are more valuable than any of the younger generations:

We have silver in our hair.

We have gold in our teeth.

We have stones in our kidneys.

We have lead in our feet and,

We are loaded with natural gas.

Humor aside, my friend Jerry West says this:

"You are never over the hill, when you are reaching for the top!
The phrase, 'over the hill' has been associated with age, But why?
As long as you are reaching for excellence, you can never be over the hill. Your life still has purpose and meaning no matter what your age is."

Incorporate God in Your Plans---

Os Hillman tells the following story. A friend from Nigeria told me of the time he was preparing for an important case. He knew that he must be prepared to argue five separate points. He was to appear before his country's supreme court, so it was a very important case.

As he neared the time in which he was to go to court, he began to pray about how he was to argue the case. He spent much time in legal preparation and intercessory prayer.

As he went to court, the Spirit spoke to him and said, "Do not argue point one, point two, point three, or point four. Only argue point five." Imagine my friend's struggle of faith. If he were reading this wrong, the shame and professional fallout would be devastating.

The time had come to present the case before the judge when my friend said, "Judge, I wish to withdraw points one through four. I wish to argue only point five.

"The opposing counsel stood up and objected. "Your honor, he cannot do that!"

"Objection overruled, counsel," said the judge.

My friend went on to present his case around point five only, and then sat down. When the opposing counsel stood to present his case, he stood speechless for 12 minutes. He could not get a word out of his mouth. He finally mumbled a few words and complained to the judge that he was going to have to yield. It seems that the opposing counsel had prepared to argue only points one through four, but failed to prepare for point five. The judge ruled in favor of my friend.

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed."

God wants to help us in every area of our lives. We must acknowledge His presence and tap into this incredible resource He has given to each of us. We need to seek Him everyday and ask Him to reveal His perfect plan for you this day.

Absurdity #30 - You Missed It!

absurd-ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous

Pope Benedict XVI recently declared that non-Catholic, Christian churches / denominations are either defective or not true churches, i.e., the Roman Catholic Church provides the only true path to salvation.

He has ignited controversy across the world by approving a document saying non-Catholic Christian communities are either defective or not true churches, and the Roman Catholic Church provides the only true path to salvation.

"Christ 'established here on earth' only one church," said the document, reasserting the primacy of Catholicism.

It said other Christian communities such as Protestants "cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense" since they don't have what's known as apostolic succession – that is, the ability to trace their bishops back to the original 12 apostles of Jesus.

Well then, now you know what you are missing!

'Me First' Attitude--

As children we often stated 'me first.' As we grew up we recognized that as a childish attitude and let it go. However, some people never grow out of that attitude and exhibit that as adults . See the photo below, unbelievable:


Php 2:3-4
Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. TMB

One of the graces of a Christian is to prefer others before himself; that is a Kingdom of God principle.

I wonder if the people involved in the scene above were Christians...? nah, couldn't have been, but then again......?

Isn't It a Strange Life???

I am in Pensacola, FL, today to attend a Globe International board meeting. I flew in yesterday (yes, that's right, Labor Day - missing a picnic with friends at our house). I will fly back to Arlington tomorrow. But all is not lost: fellowshipping in the home of the Gehmans; going to Fish House for shrimp and grits at lunch with some pastor friends and great bloggers, Robert and Bobby; then having dinner with a precious couple, Josh and Diana and their new baby! I know you are thinking, "Well, somebody has to do that and it might as well be Pastor David." I know that is what I am thinking- is that bad?

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?


Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying but... you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or Harry Potter book?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines, newspapers, TV newscasts, and talk radio say but...we question the words in the Bible?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but... they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?


Can you add other strange facts?

Pastor's Worst Nightmare!!

A Pastor endures a lot of unpleasant things in the ministry. Seems to go with the territory- found out along time ago that sheep do bite!

But that is not what is troubling me right now- it is the physical and sexual abuse of children in the church that is the most painful!

I was talking with our church insurance agent and he said to me: "Pastor, the church is the last place of attack for sexual predators because there often are no safeguards built in. They can get in, speedily do their damage, and be gone before anyone knows." We implemented all the guidelines that he and our local police department recommended.

We take steps to prevent this with a time lag as to when a person can work with our children, do background checks, and have strict adult worker/child guidelines.

Trey Morgan's excellent blog reported this new tool from Vision 20/20 to help identify sex offenders. It is similar to the one you can use from the local police department but I found it an easier and outstanding graphic interface.

Pastors check it out: sex offender locator's tool

The need of the hour is to be wise and protect God's flock!