Confessions From The Pastor's Couch

Well today we completed day # 152 of a Journey that, no doubt, has many more days left on it!

Sept. 2nd... was the day I noticed the large "bump" on the bottom of my foot. As of today, I sit here on my couch following a couple of months of inactivity confined to a hard cast and now wrapped up in bandages and an air pressure wrap to prevent clogging...waiting for my foot to heal following surgery that took place in mid-January of 2017.

With all of this time I have just sitting around here ON THE COUCH... it has given me a lot of time to do a lot of DIFFERENT things than I normally would be doing. For example... I have been able to connect with and talk with a number of old friends and associates that I have known over the years through my internet and email and of course.. Facebook. Thats been good because I normally am so focused on a few people. You know what they say... "Sqeeky Wheels Get The Grease". So... this time away from the chaotic and needy... has given me more time to visit outside the "normal" circles!

I committed to the Lord... more time to pray and read while I am down and also to just LISTENING for his voice too. You know... Ezekiel lived out in the noise! When he listened and looked for the Lord... he was always looking and listening while in "the noise". Thats NOT where God spoke. It was from the BACK OF THE CAVE and in a WHISPER! It was off the beaten trail and off where no one would have EXPECTED to hear His Voice. I love to talk to the Lord while I am lying in bed... from the Couch when no one else is home and all the "appliances of media" are turned off... even when I am in the bathroom... trying to sit on that stupid shower chair... attempting to wash! I just sit there in the water from the hand held shower and tell God how much I love Him and THANK HIM for EVERYTHING I am going through! its hard to say those words... But He told me to GIVE THANKS for ALL THINGS! So....

I am learning discipline too. The discipline of obeying doctors... the discipline of not running to the fridge... just for the heck of it.... the discipline of going procrastinated administrative things that I put off that can be done on my computer and then emailed to the office.

I want to know something... many of you have told me this... but one must go through it to realize it for themselves... GOD SAT ME DOWN FOR A SEASON SUCH AS THIS!

I am watching the NFL playoffs and other Sporting Contests as I have been going through this time and I am learning a valuable lesson that I may have not see if I had not been "taken out of the game" myself.... that is that ALL PLAY ERS... HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE GAME for period s of REST.

Rest is a biblical thing. Jesus took it. He retired to the hills and to places of solitude to REFRESH and to REPLENISH his Spirit as well as His Body. What in the world would possess me to think that I wouldn't need to do the same thing?!?! God says... "Ok, then I will just have to teach you that lesson my son!"

The "plan of action" from here is to continue RESTING for a few more weeks and take it slow re-entering the day to day chaos. I have a Doc appointment on Jan 27... and he will review the surgery results. Then, they tell me I go back into a HARD cast for 2-4 weeks and then a re-check. That will continue until they feel enough healing has happened and the sugars STAY LOW and then they will at some point move me back into a booth and Physical Therapy. Like I said... LONG JOURNEY STILL AHEAD!

I want to thank all of you who have taken time to come over, call or just pray and think good thoughts for me... during this ordeal. KEEP COMING and PRAYING!

My cell is (740) 975-6714 if you want to call or text or you can catch me on Facebook too if you want.

As I told our Church folks... if you have a prayer request that is personal in nature or have something that you are praying earnestly for or about... LET ME PRAY EARNESTLY with you!!!! Send me your prayer Request! I WILL PRAY!

Love you all and will talk to you more later!!!

A New Normal

A NEW NORMAL

Hey friends! As I write this edition of "Confessions of THIS Pastor", I have to admit that I have never felt so OUT OF CONTROL in my whole life! As most of you know... I battle DIABETES and have for years. To be 100% honest, I have not done a good job managing this disease in my body over the years and now I am suffering the consequences of my "non action". I have diabetic neuropathy and this has caused a breakdown in the joints and bones of my left foot and I developed what is known as CHARCOT FOOT. This is NOT a good thing. What has happened is that my arch has dropped and the need to do surgery to re-construct the foot is now something that is inevitable. 

Above is my new friend... Kirby, who is the one who does casting for the Ortho Neuro group where I am getting my treatment. My Orthopedic surgeon is Dr. Jeff Gittens and I really like this guy! His PA Assistant... Megan, is just as Awesome!  I am doing everything I can to be obedient to their treatment and my need to have a total change of lifestyle with my eating and living to change my diabetic future! 

I also have to credit some of this new treatment to my endocrinologist Dr. Jaime Goodman who is in Mt Vernon, OH and a part of the Knox Co. Hospitals. She is aggressive in her treatment and coaching and also is one of those new people in my life who I believe in and who I am trusting to help me make the necessary life changes! 

I cannot tell you how many different times I have waged this war to change and have failed. So many times in fact, that I am embarrassed to say. HOWEVER, this is not going to hinder me from going at it again. I am attacking this war with a vengeance and TRUSTING GOD to renew my strength and to fight this war on my behalf. I do struggle with the feelings of failure and at times, feel like I may not win this battle. I know that the enemy plays with my head, but it is really hard emotionally at times.

As of this writing, I am basically immobile. I am in my 4th hard cast...spending most of my time sitting on a couch. I can move a little but I am not to put any weight on the foot! I cannot stand for any length of time, nor can I walk on it any more than a step or two. They want to avoid the foot from developing an ulcer before operating on it. Another factor that the surgery depends on is my blood sugar readings. I am at a 7.9 A1C (about a 180 BS average) and they want me down around 6.0 -6.5 to operate. This will allow my foot to heal once the surgery is done. The higher the blood sugar is.. the harder it is to heal. SO.... CHANGE IS NEEDED to get the numbers down and to stay down!

I came home today from getting this 4th Cast and I crashed again emotionally. I can't figure out HOW this affecting me the way that it is. SO many other people deal with such BIGGER things and they get through them just fine. In fact, in the big scheme of things... this really is not that big of deal. WHY is it nailing me so hard? 

Yesterday, A couple in our Church lost their son to a terrible infection that ravished his whole body. Although I made it down to the hospital once to see him, thanks to one of my dedicated leaders.... but yesterday... I could not be there when he passed away!!! I felt terrible and so helpless. I FELT like I was letting this family down. ( I know that this is my ego and pride), but it STILL haunts me. I am SO GRATEFUL that another of my AWESOME leaders we there at the precise moment that this young man passed away and was there to comfort his family ! The Lord had it ALL in control, but I was so frustrated! I also realize that God is trying to mold me and shape me into more of the man that HE wants me to be... realizing that it DOES NOT all depend on me and I am not the ONLY ONE who can be there for people! But, trust me... that is a painful lesson to learn. Help me Lord!

Friends, this road is far from being over. I more than likely have months to go to be back to somewhat "normal". Please pray for and WITH me on this journey. I WILL listen to the Lord and I WILL be obedient to both Him and those in my life who are caring for me. I PROMISE. However, it will be a battle every step of the way.

ON a positive note... our family enjoyed one of the BEST Christmas Seasons Ever! We had our first Christmas with our new Granddaughter, Lyla and her parents Natalie and Ken. Ryan and his girlfriend Allison were here and we also traveled down the road to enjoy addition Christmas Time with Larami's folks. We had AWESOME services at Church and saw God move in a number of HUGE ways! So We are thankful and looking forward to what lies ahead!

Feel free to call or email or even stop out if you want! I will be here... sitting on the Couch!

Blessings to you all!!

Dan

Whoever is President... Jesus is KING!

We have recently come through one of the most historic, chaotic and emotional elections in the history of our Country. There are so many differing opinions in the public about both of the individuals who ran for the Presidency and about their policies and ideologies... but at the end of it all, one had to be chosen as the Winner of the Election. Whichever way YOU voted (And I certainly hope you voted?)... at the conclusion of all the tallying... there really is a Winner who has been the Winner all along... in fact since the beginning of time... JESUS!

You may think that I sound like a typical "religious" person who is ignorant of the fact that our Country is in dire straits and that its on the brink of falling apart. On the contrary... let me tell you that I too am concerned about the direction of our Country. I am well educated on what is happening in our society and about the decay of morals and about the the eroding of our Constitutional Rights. I am appalled at the bigotry and the prejudices that are painfully evident in our culture. I am very concerned at the inability of most to make ends meet and who are slipping further and further behind every month! The reality is... that if I look through HUMAN/NATURAL eyes... I am scared to death of what will happen in the future for me and my children and grandchildren.

However, I am told in THE WORD... to not view the things of this world with those kinds of eyes. I am told to FIX MY EYES ON JESUS... who is the author and perfecto of my faith. I am told in Romans 13 that God has SET the authorities in place and that I am to follow them... not blindly, but with respect. I am to submit to them unless they are clearly going against what the Word of God tells me I am to do. 

I honestly feel like there are way too many "Christian People" who are not looking through the glasses of faith... and rather they are reacting in the flesh to the outcome of this election. 

I may get lambasted for a comment like that, but I feel its way too true. 

I am hearing people who call themselves followers of Christ get all up in arms about how things are going to fall apart. They look at the democratic side and the republican side and then base their conclusions of our future hope on the the winners on either side. 

There is an old hymn that was written long ago that has these lyrics... 

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus... look full into His wonderful face... and the things on earth will grow strangely dim... in the light of His Glory and Grace!"

Donald Trump is our President. Like it or not... we need to respect that. We need to PRAY for him. We need top pray that Donald Trump will hear the voice of The Holy Spirit and be lead in his decision making by that voice instead of his own fallible heart.

We need to be people of healing and restoration and people who demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ. Where would WE be if that same kind of love were not demonstrated to each one of us!?

As we move forward after this election... now more than ever, we need to truly be JESUS WITH SKIN ON in the world we live in!

More to come...

Fish On!

Fishing has got to be one of my biggest passions! Its a way for me to relax and get out and away from my regular routine and allow me to be in nature to go head to head with the fish!

I have been fishing as long as I can remember. As a lot of guys recall... I began my fishing love with my Dad. He loved to fish too! We would go all over Central Ohio to many of his favorite fishing holes and he would be so patient as he would help me learn how to fish! I would get bored so easily and eventually skipping rocks into the water...scaring all the fish away and Dad would just smile!

These days... Ive learned NOT to throw rocks into the water if you want to CATCH FISH! In fact, these days, I actually study fish and try to learn all I can about them. I study what kind of bait you have to use to catch them and the techniques used to ensure a good catch!

I recently took up FLY FISHING and this type of fishing is very challenging! Even greater technique is needed and finesse... to land your catch! I am learning though!

All of this ties into life and my efforts to live for Jesus and to become a FISHER OF MEN!

I want others to know just how much they are loved by the One who knows them BEST and who loves them MOST... Jesus.

To "Catch The Hearts of People"... one has to be very strategic in the preparation, the methods and the care of those being presented with the GOOD NEWS!

We are starting a series of Messages at Faith Fellowship this spring that will challenge our people to "Go Fishing" for the hearts of people! We want to see people brought into "The Body of Christ".  To do that... we are going to have to make sure that what we offer is what they are hungry for.

RELATIONSHIP.... NOT RELIGION

Religion is what people are sick of. The plasticness of a church that is full of people who say one thing and then do another. Those who say they love God, but you would never know it by the way they live their self centered lives. 

Dont misunderstand... we all struggle with various things in our lives. We have moments where we are not very "Christ-like", but we DO love God and want to be like Him in every way. What Im talking about are those who have never experienced a "heart change". They are "playing a game" and their dependence on God is not real at all. 

Psalm 51 says that God desires a BROKEN and a CONTRITE heart. It says that He will honor and bless that kind of mindset. He won't honor and bless the heart that is hard and selfish and not surrendered to Him. 

Friends, as we GO OUT and represent our Heavenly Father and work to draw others into the LOVE NET... lets remember that we too, have to have to have a heart that is devoted to Him. We have to surrender first to the LOVE THAT FIRST LOVED US! 

To love others, we have to first understand our need for His Love and then receive it. 

THEN... we can go fishing with GOOD BAIT on the Hook!

Pressing on!

I have been re-reading the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis (Genesis 37) recently and about the time when his brothers, because of their own issues... threw Joseph in a deep pit and planned to leave him there to die! Flooding my thoughts was the feeling of empathy of what Joseph might have been feeling as it related to fear and uncertainty.

Have you ever been in a pit? A deep emotional hole that is full of despair and uncertainty? Let me tell you... That's a SCARY place!

In our American Culture... we expect things FAST. Fast Food, fast cars, fast technology... there are so many ways that enable us to NOT have to wait for very long. So... when we get in that place where the storm is raging and life is hard... we want and even pray... that it will end quickly! When it drags on...we allow more and more of the "darkness" to overshadow us and it not only affects us, but also those who are around us!

Oppression that comes from your own doing or from some other source... is something that can be very heavy. Sometimes oppression comes as a result of "reaping what we have sown". Other forms of oppression can come from others or from circumstances that feel and are... an attack. Regardless, the enemy of our souls wants to keep us in this "PIT" of despair and to turn our eyes off of GOD!

I subscribe to an Instagram site called "InstaGodMinistries" and they put all kinds of little sayings up daily on Instagram. Let me share some of them with you...

"Whatever you're worried about, God has a plan. God is bigger that your fears. He is stronger than your obstacle. Have faith. Keep Going!"

"Sometimes the BIGGEST Struggles in Life will turn out to be some of our BIGGEST BLESSINGS! Hold on a little longer!"

"Everything is happening exactly as its supposed to, with hidden blessings that you will soon understand. Sometimes what appears to be a problem is actually an answered prayer in disguise."

See what I mean?! These little blurbs seem to always remind me that the darkness is a GOOD THING and needs to be gone through in order for me to be delivered into the marvelous light!

Ive always heard that GROWTH happens in the valleys of life. Where the soil is rich and fertile. As we grow in strength and with everything that God puts in us... we are being prepared for something greater! He is getting us ready to experience the NEXT instead of what was.

Ever stop to think of how "what was" prevents us from experiencing the NEXT? Sometimes we have to go through the "PIT" to eventually be delivered into the light of NEXT!

Joseph had no idea of what his NEXT was going to be, but man oh man... GOD HAD A PLAN!

Joseph went on to greatness and experienced healing, restoration and reunion with his brothers and  father! The NEXT was only realized when Joseph was willing to yield to the darkness.

To do this... it requires INTENSE focus on God and His Word.

Without it... Intensity that is... fear will creep in. Doubt and everything attached to it will begin to dominate your thinking. Thats why scripture tells us to FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS! (Heb 12:2)

Friends... we can and will walk in His marvelous light! Don't lose HOPE.


Blessings!

PD

New Year... Chapter One

What does it mean to be A MISSIONAL Church?

As we move into 2016... we want to INCREASE our efforts at being a MISSIONAL Church! What does that mean? It means that we are LIVING OUT our Faith. It is not something that we expect our Church to continually be doing for us... but rather it is asking what can we be doing AS THE CHURCH with each other and what we can be doing AS THE CHURCH in our Community. Being Missional means that we are being "Jesus With Skin On" and living out His character and attributes by the way we conduct and interact with others. We are TRANSFERRING His DNA that is IN US... to the World that we live in. 

People might say... "Thats what the Church is doing". In some cases... yes, it is. However, in most... Church can be very "exclusive" rather than "inclusive". It can be self serving, rather than sacrificial. It can be a place where we "expect to be fed" rather than a place where we are "self feeding" and experiencing God and letting His Spirit mold and shape us away from our selfishness to selflessness. 

As you continue reading... notice a variety of way you can allow God to use you to interact with others and then LISTEN to the Holy Spirit as He directs you how to TRANSFER the DNA of "The One Who Knows You Best and Who Loves You MOST!"

I have found that it is often helpful to have practical ideas to start engaging the people around me. Most of the things on this list are normal, everyday things that many people are already doing. The hope is that we would do these things with Gospel intentionality. This means we do them:

• In the normal rhythms of life pursuing to meet and engage new people

• Prayerfully watching and listening to the Holy Spirit to discern where God is working.

• Looking to boldly, humbly, and contextually proclaim the Gospel in word and deed.

Below is a list of my top 25. Not all of these are for everyone, but hopefully there will be several ideas on the list that God uses to help you engage your neighbors. Would love to hear stories of how you have lived some of these out or other ways you have engaged your neighbors.

1. Stay outside in the front yard longer while watering the yard

2. Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighborhood

3. Sit on the front porch and letting kids play in the front yard

4. Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.)

5. Invite neighbors over for dinner

6. Attend and participate in Community functions

7. Attend the parties invited to by neighbors

8. Do a food drive or coat drive in winter and get neighbors involved

9. Have a game night (yard games outside, or board games inside)

10. Art swap night – bring out what you’re tired of and trade with neighbors

11. Grow a garden and give out extra produce to neighbors

12. Have an Easter egg hunt on your block and invite neighbors use their front yards

13. Start a weekly open meal night in your home

14. Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute

15. Create a block/ street email and phone contact list for safety

16. Host a sports game watching party

17. Host a coffee and dessert night

18. Organize and host a ladies artistic creation night

19. Organize a tasting tour on your street (everyone sets up food and table on front porch)

20. Host a movie night and discussion afterwards

21. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood

22. Start hosting a play date weekly for other stay at home parents

23. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas

24. Volunteer to coach a local little league sports team

25. Have a front yard ice cream party in the summer

The Weary World Rejoices!

We are living in a world where "weariness" is a way of life!

I get up every morning and am slapped in the face with reality that the world that I live in is a mess! Don't get me wrong... I love paying $1.87 a gallon for gas and appreciate the fact that I have the freedom still to worship MY God and that I can buy things at the store in plenty and that I have a job, my health and most of all... my family, but it still doesn't change the fact that my (our) world is weary in the middle of it all!

There is an "attitude" of weariness. There is an uneasiness in our society driven by the downward spiral of everything from morality to security. Our "stable" surroundings we have enjoyed over the years are being threatened by everything from a faltering economy to the fear of terrorism and overall safety in usually safe surroundings. Stability is something we remember instead of live with. 

Psychologists tell us that because of all this stress and uncertainty, things like paranoia... depression and even suicide are on the rise in this country. There is a growing anger and discontent in our society that is causing people to turn to any number of different things to bring "normalcy" back into their lives. 

The Bible tells us clearly that this IS something that will continue and it WILL get worse. As we approach the return of Christ, evil will abound and the world will get increasingly unstable. So what are we to do?

The other day... my 10 year old "god-daughter" looked at me and said... "Uncle Dan, whats it going to be like when I grow up?" It froze me in my thoughts and before I could speak... I tried to think of something that I could say to her that would give her some kind of Hope. I simply said... "honey, I'm not sure. I do know this though... Jesus knows and He said He would always be there for us...His children! The Bible tells me that He won't leave me or forget about me and that I can do ALL things through Him because He is my strength! He told me in the Bible that He is my fortress and my shield and that any battle I ever have to face in my life... He would go in front to fight for me!" I also told her... " Jesus is the most powerful name in the whole world!" "At His name (Jesus) evil HAS TO FLEE! So this means that when we are faced with evil things in our life... we can say the name JESUS and He promised to be right there with us... showing us the way to go!"

Can you imagine what was going through the mind of this little girl? My experience with kids has taught me that they accept much of what they learn at face value. They trust completely without having to ask a lot of qualifying questions. Don't you wish we could think and deduce things more like a child?

Friends, I am striving to be more CHILDLIKE in my understanding of Jesus so as I go through this crazy mixed up and chaotic world that I am forced to live and do life in... I can TRUST the One who knows me BEST and who loves me the MOST!

In the Christmas song... "O Holy Night", the lyric says... "The Weary World Rejoices!" The reason we can REJOICE is because JESUS is our LORD! He is our Emmanuel (God With Us!). He is our Wonderful Counselor, He is our Prince of Peace! He is the beginning and He is the end! He is our ROCK, our FORTRESS, our SHIELD and DEFENDER! He is the Almighty and as He said... He is the GREAT I AM!

The World, if it will only trust as a child, can REJOICE that He who made the sun, the moon, and the stars, is the One who will come and make His home in the heart of those who believe! 

He said... "This World is NOT our home!" "Our home is in Heaven and if we ask Him into our heart... and begin a relationship with Him.... we will go to the place where He prepared a home for us and we WILL LIVE FOREVER!

THAT is something to REJOICE about!

Merry Christmas Friends!

Dan