Drew Brees Faith

On to the Super Bowl 2010! Go Saints!

Signs of the Times!

Add this to earthquakes, wars... come quickly Lord Jesus!

Do You Enjoy Counselling?

One of the joys of pastoring is counselling. I could relate to this 'Closer To Home' cartoon below.

As a pastor, do you enjoy counselling?

Music of Possibilities

Patrick Henry Hughes and his dad- American heros!
If you can't see this video, click here.

Please Lord, help me not to complain about life!

Brit Hume's Advice to Tiger Woods- amazing!

I did not jump on the bandwagon of using this blog to excoriate Tiger Woods. I preferred to pray for him, his wife Elin, and family. My prayers for him can be summed up by what Brit Hume said last week on Fox.

If you can't see the video click here.

Brit Hume, amazing man, amazing boldness! Thank you Brit!

God's Wife?

New York City: It's a cold day in December. A little boy about 10-year-old was standing before a shoe store on Broadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"

"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the clerk to get a half dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.

By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes, and tying up the remaining pairs of socks, gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"

As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's wife?"

Survivor- Outwit-Outplay-Outlast

Sunday, Jan 3, 2010, I began a series titled 'Survivor.' We will be discussing how to overcome the challenges of life. We will not only talk about keys to physical survival but also spiritual survival.

(if you can't see the video, click here)

Heb 10:36-39 TMB
But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion. It won't be long now, he's on the way; he'll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy. But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

We are told not to give up in life. Following God's plan is the way to win at this game of life.

Survive- to remain alive or in existence; live on; to function or prosper despite hardship or trauma, persevere.

Thrive- to make steady progress; prosper; to grow vigorously; flourish.

Join with me as we not only survive in in this life but by God's help learn to thrive! May 2010 be a year of progress and prosperity!

Building Well In 2010

This video is for all those pastors of smaller churches who are building what no one else will see - God does - so continue to build with excellence! You are not invisible! Your labor is not in vain! God bless you in 2010!


If you can't see the video then click here.

2010 Resolution- No More 'Mr. Jerk'

This is my last blog for 2009. I have been distracted and not as faithful in updating my blog. Hopefully, I will do better in 2010. This blog today is about a resolution that I have already made for 2010!

One of the many things that one encounters in ministry are those that make personal insults towards you or your family. I am talking about people that take cheap shots, make hurtful comments, demean, belittle, chastise, and say and do other caustic things directed at you.

I call them Jerks! Dictionary definition- ‘an annoyingly stupid or foolish person; an unlikable person; especially: one who is cruel, rude, or small-minded.’ There are other ways to describe them as you will see from the next paragraph. But, I prefer to be civil in this blog and ‘jerk’ will suffice. Of course, we all can put names to the word ‘jerk.’

And what is worse, are those times when I have been a ‘jerk!’ Yes, I confess that there have been times when I have been a ‘class A jerk!’ I plan to change that in 2010.

As I was studying and meditating on this issue; I came across a book by Robert Sutton entitled, The No A**hole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t. (Yes, it really does say that in the title; I edited it here for the sensitive and in an effort not to offend). It’s called the definitive guide to understanding, counteracting, and not becoming an a**hole. Obviously the workplace is a prime place for this type of person. But, it is not exclusive to it as we all have seen our fair share in the church and among its leadership.

Sutton has a dirty-dozen list of everyday ‘jerk’ actions:
1. Personal insults
2. Invading one’s personal territory
3. Uninvited personal contact
4. Threats and intimidation, both verbal and non-verbal
5. Sarcastic jokes and teasing used as insult delivery systems
6. Withering email flames
7. Status slaps intended to humiliate their victims
8. Public shaming or status degradation rituals
9. Rude interruptions
10. Two-faced attacks
11. Dirty looks
12. Treating people as if they are invisible

I am sure that you can identify with some of these or maybe all of them. We all have seen them and experienced them.

In his book, Sutton tells you how to avoid a jerk and how not to become one yourself. On his blog he tells of a church Sunday class that even used his book! That’s bold!!!!

Obviously, the Bible tells us how to live with and respond to jerks. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;…” Matt 5:44 KJV (there are many other references in the Bible).

I heard Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM, answer a question last night about all the criticism and attempted character assassinations directed at him over his lifetime, ‘How did he survive and stay full of joy?’ He said he forgave them all. Therein lays the key on how to deal with jerks! Don’t respond to them, forgive them!

If I have been a ‘jerk’ to you, please forgive me and pray that I will, by God’s grace, change and refrain from being one in the future.

Does anyone want to join me in the pursuit of this New Year’s Resolution?

Encouragement- Oxygen to the Soul

Last night I watched Demarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys lying on the football field with a sprained neck injury. I watched as the medical personnel attended to him eventually immobilizing him and putting him on to a stretcher. What got my attention was as he was placed on the cart to be taken off the field, a few Cowboy players went over to him and talked with him and encouraged him.

They are a team. When one player is down they all respond with support. Probably not one of them brought up Ware’s play that day, not one of them tried to settle a problem with him, but all wanted to help!

And then I thought about the church and church leadership. What did I think? I thought how often we don’t respond in kind when someone is hurting and down. We can be a most vicious group. Rather than circling around that person with support and encouragement, we add to the suffering.

We all should seize every opportunity to give encouragement, especially when someone is hurting. Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. The Message Bible, 1Thess 5.11: So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.

One day a guy vacationing in the Bahamas noticed a big crowd gathered at the end of the pier. As he got closer he observed someone preparing for a solo journey around the world in a tiny homemade boat. Without exception everybody was telling him all the things that could go wrong. Suddenly the guy felt an irresistible urge to offer some encouragement. So as the little boat drifted toward the horizon he began jumping up and down shouting, 'Go for it! You can make it! We're proud of you!'"

This man had what we need more of - the gift of encouragement. We need fewer critics and more cheerleaders: those who see over the heads of the nay-sayers and shout to someone launching out in faith "Go for it! You can make it! We're proud of you!"

Give the gift here at Christmas that is priceless but costs you nothing by acknowledging the needs around you and then speaking words of encouragement to others.

Open Letter to Lou Dobbs and all Government Officials

Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC), a grassroots immigration enforcement advocacy organization, is withdrawing its support for Lou Dobbs' possible presidential bid after the former CNN anchor and commentator told a Spanish language television network that he now supports amnesty for illegal aliens. During his long tenure at CNN, Dobbs became a champion of the pro-enforcement cause. But is now signaling a change!

Here is the email I sent to Lou Dobbs and is open reading for any government official about the current ineptness of the immigration system! You bet I am frustrated as it has now been 5 months that Lina is in Costa Rica!

Lou,
I saw your interview with Bill O'Reilly and was impressed. However, all that has changed with your support of amnesty for illegals.

My son married a Costa Rican in January of this year. They set up their home here in Texas. On returning in July from visiting her parents, she was denied entry into the US because she was coming in on a tourist visa. Now that she was married, she is an impending immigrant thus needs that visa. Who knew? She was sent back to Costa Rica where she has remained for these 5 months. My son has made numerous trips back and forth. We have a lawyer and are awaiting the proper paperwork and visa to be issued.

We feel we are being penalized by trying to do things the right way and yet more and more people are entering illegally and you want to encourage that. My understanding is that with amnesty for them they would be moved to the head of the line and my daughter-in-law would be pushed further back in her pursuit of a Visa. This is unconscionable and not right! The immigration system is terribly broken and penalizes those who are trying to do it right.

You need to check your facts about all this before you blindly endorse amnesty! Please don't accept illegals at the expense of those of us who obey the US laws and try to do it the right way!

Sincerely,
David Kerr

Thanksgivng 2009

"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence." -Erma Bombeck

"An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day." -Irv Kupcinet

I am thanking God for my family, Vine Fellowship church family, friends (close and distant), and a wonderful life provided by Jesus Christ!

Honking Not As Dangerous as Texting!

Let's see, I do beleive that light was red that I just drove through while talking on my cell phone! David Kerr

Shell + Wave = Awesome!

Result from before sunrise pic taking!

Immigration Debacle!

Jason and Lina are still separated by our Immigration Laws... it has now been 4 months!

Let me see if I understand all this....

IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR......

IF YOU GO INTO CHINA ILLEGALLY, YOUR CONSIDERED A SPY AND GET HARD PRISON TIME.....

IF YOU GO INTO GERMANY ILLEGALLY, YOU GET A HEFTY FINE, WORK IT OFF OR PAY IT OFF, THEN DEPORTED.........

IF YOU GO INTO ENGLAND ILLEGALLY, YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY JAILED AND DEPORTED........

IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY....

BUT, IF YOU CROSS THE U.S... BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET:

1. A DRIVERS LICENSE

2. A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

3. WELFARE

4. FOOD STAMPS

5. FREE HEALTH CARE?

Go figure?????? Please pray for Lina to be brought home soon!

Why Can't a Great Big God Help Some People?

I have been thinking about people that I know that seem to have great big problems. In fact some of them think that their issues are so big that they are impossible to deal with and are being consumed by them. There are those with parent/child issues, marital issues, addiction issues, financial stress, and the list goes on.
Yes, they are big issues, but I marvel how many think that they are left to handle them themselves; all by themselves; and alone. Some how they leave a Great Big God out of their great big issues!

Therefore they are overwhelmed! They can't handle it! And they have excuses as to why they are overwhelmed. An excuse puts the blame on something other than you, which means the solution is beyond your reach. Excuses are like exit signs on the road of progress; they take us off track.

That's the problem, we get off track with a Great Big God and plot a course of self pity and self destruction! Psychologist David Burns says: "When I'm faced with a challenge and do nothing, it leads to distorted thoughts that I'm helpless, hopeless and beyond change. Those in turn lead to destructive emotions - loss of energy and motivation, damaged self-esteem, feeling overwhelmed. The end-result is self-defeating behaviour - procrastination, avoidance and escapism. These negative emotions reinforce one another and the whole cycle spirals downward."

How can we ever expect to overcome the problem if we don't seek the help of a Great Big God!

Listen, if our Great Big God can't help one in their great big problem, then I had better find another thing to do. Because that is the basis of our ministry- that Jesus came to give eternal life; overcome defeat and the adversary; declare no problem too big and impossible; and set the captives free.

Please allow the Great Big God to handle your issues, He invited you to cast them on His Great Big Broad shoulders!

Veterans Understand This Day!

It is the soldier, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus (or community) organizer,

Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag

Who serves beneath the flag,

and whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

author unknown (I added 'or community')

Veterans understand all to well this day! God bless you and God bless America!

God said, "Coffee Anyone?"

Hope you don't mind this rendition, what makes it even more interesting is that it was painted entirely with coffee.

Check this link for more images done with coffee!

Being God????

Tenth of All Candy!