I Love This Video

For a sermon series that we are doing at HHBC I have been interviewing some of our members about what God has been doing in their lives.  During those interviews I heard a lot about what church is all about and why it is important to go to church.  I compiled this video to use in last Sunday's sermon.  But I have to put it up here as well.  There is no doubt that fellowship with other believers is important in every Christian's life.  If you aren't committed and regular at your church you should be. 

Do You Need Proof?

Do you doubt? Oh, come on I know you do, even I have doubts from time to time. Sure they span a range of severity from doubting something uncertain to total doubt, but they are doubts. Usually these doubts come in waves when I’m tired, frustrated, down, or sometimes come randomly with no apparent reason. But no matter when they come it is always a shock to me. I am surprised by the thoughts and questions that bombard my inner dialogue with the intensity of a full military assault, and for a moment my heart is at unrest, I am shaken.

It is moments like these that we ask God for a sign, a symbol, proof that I can trust you, proof you are real, proof I’ll make it through this time. We make agreements with ourselves, if I just saw this, heard that, or if this happened, then I would never doubt again.

I am reminded of Thomas. Who when the disciples told him they had seen Jesus after the resurrection, responded “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Later Jesus does appear to Thomas, and he does put his fingers in the nail holes, and he does believe.

The truth is, I have had many experiences in my life that leave me with no question, God is real, Jesus is my savior, and he uses me to fulfill his purpose. I have seen the proof time and time again, but in those waves of doubt it seems our senses leave us, and we ask again, for proof. Jesus replied to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The real question is. Do you really need proof from God, or did you know all along, have you seen the proof many times in your life?

Full Dedication

I got this email the other day, from on of our church members, Harry.  Needless to say Harry is committed, pluged in, serving, everything one could hope for in a church member. 

A person always has to protect himself from burn out, and make sure they are taking time for themself, their family, and private time with Jesus.  But that doesn't mean you don't do your best for Jesus. I can't help but admire and respect Harry's attitude in this.  Keep leading the way man.

Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:59 AM

To: David
Subject: Church

I thought I would let you know this. I went to bed @ about 9 last night & woke up about an hour later, running to the bath. Well I have never had such a problem with acid. Within minutes I could feel my throat getting smaller & soon I was gasping for air. There were a few minutes that I wasn't sure, I thought this was the end, but I wasn't worried because I knew Jesus was with me. Later I got my air back & Regina told me she thought I was trying to hard again. I thought about it & prayed most of the night. When I got up I read Open Windows Mar. 22 & God was giving me the answer I needed. The verses were Acts 20:22-24

On my way to work this morning I felt I needed to share my story. If your hearts not right with God please get it right for we don't always get a second chance!

Harry

Thanks, Harry.

"Don't tell me what to do!"

This week while I was doing my bible study and sermon preparation. I had a revelation that came from the scripture indirectly but was poignant none the less.

I am preaching on the story of The Good Samaritan this week and at the very beginning of the passage it hit me. Jesus almost never just answered questions. Now it doesn't really have a lot to do with my sermon Sunday but it is a note worthy thought. Jesus almost never just told people the answer. He either asked them another question or told a story.

It made me realize when you're in the business of changed lives then it is not really worth while to shout at people about how they should be or what they should do, as the Church has a habit, or at least the reputation, of doing. It is more about bringing people on a journey of self discovery, led by the Holy Spirit.

Now don't get me wrong Jesus preached. And I love to preach. But some times we get so caught up in trying to tell people the answers to their lives that we neglect the value of letting them find the answers on their own.

I have always tried to illustrate my sermons like Jesus with surroundings and parables. But this point is probably most important when wearing my counseling hat.

God, continue to shape me and make into the man you've created me to be, and teach me to apply this lesson to my life.

Time to Get Started

I have been avoinding my New Years resolution.  I've know what it was since June last year, when I knew that I had hit a plateu on my weight lose journey.  I had started a life long transformation of losing weight at the beginning of last year.  In May I reached 90 lbs into my weight loss journey.  I held that place for most of the year.  Then the holidays came.  I knew that I resolved to continue losing weight but with family in town for the Holidays I figured I could let go a little.  Then Matthew was born and the days in the NICU with him and the changes at home when he came prolonged my lack of resolve.  Today I am set back by 20 lbs. and I am ready to change. 

While watching "The Biggest Loser" tonight I was inspired to get back on track.  They advertised the Pound for Pound Challenge, a charity that will donate a pound of food, for every pound of weight you will pledge to lose.  The best part is they donate it to a local food pantry.

The Tarrant food bank is one of the food pantries on their donation list.  They provide food to Helping Hands in Alvarado and other food pantries in our area.  So I pledged to lose 50 lbs. and get back on track with my life transformation.  If you have some weight to lose I encourage you to make a pledge.  Just click on the logo below.

That Time of Year Again

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Romans 12:1

Well it is that time of year again.  Have you backed out on your New Year's resolutions?  Have you given up already?  Maybe your like me and you haven't gotten started yet. 

Why is it we only try to make changes in our lives based on an arbitrary schedule.  "It's the New Years time to loose weight, quit smoking, or start to excersise."  Shouldn't being a better person be a constant pursuite?  Sure it's hard and we face setbacks and struggle more sometimes than others, but if you care about yourself, and if you are commited to what God wants for you, shouldn't you always be focused on being a better person?

I love the way the Message translates Romans 12:1.  "Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering." If your going to make a resolution, shouldn't that be it?  Then all the other arbitrary goals times and dates fade away and your life focus becomes pleasing God in everything you do.  Eating, sleeping, working, playing, loving, it all becomes service to God. 

"God this year, I give you my everyday, ordinary life—my sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life.— Have your way with me."

Miracles

Today Layney and I went in for a doctors appointment to check her BP after being on a bed rest all week. The doctor sent us down to labor and delivery for some tests and decided that we needed to induce and bring Matthew into the world now.

I am amazed because Prior to this week we weren't finished we had no car seat we had a todo list and would have been super stressed sitting her now. Accept we had a warning on Monday and Layney's sister is in town to save theory day. And now here we sit calm with everything ready for Matthew. And God is good.

I am amazed because of the way the body works the way life is created and the way God ordains it all. It is awesome.


For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

this while process is exciting and awesome. God is at work and it's cool.



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I Love This Church

A lot of really cool things are going on at Happy Hill right now. I have to say I love this church.

This Sunday was the first time most of our members saw the work that has been going on in the children's wing. It is really looking awesome. (pictures below)

As she was leaving Bonnie Medford one of our wonderful seniors looked at the decorations in the children's wing and exclaimed, "I bet there is not another baptist church like this in all the land!"

While I am not sure our children's wing is the most unique or creatively decorated around I have to agree with Bonnie, there is no other church like HHBC.

HHBC is the kind of church that will step out on faith make a $12,000 renovation to the sanctuary and see God provide every penny without explanation in a troubled economy. HHBC will completely demolish the church, without complaint, to build VBS sets and make sure VBS is awesome for the kids. HHBC takes care of their staff and supports their ministries, thank you! HHBC is an amazing church filled with committed people who are willing to do anything to follow God and join Him in His work. HHBC is a place where people are more concerned with Gods will than tradition, more concerned with working for God than their comfort, and more concerned about God working through us than we are about what we can get from church. It is a place where you can be excited about what God is doing every day. Truly there isn't another church like this in all the land.

Happy Hiller's, I just want to say thank you for being you.

Below are some pictures of our sanctuary and the current projects in the children's wing.

Get ready even more is yet to come!
Eph 3:20-21







































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Location:Farm-To-Market Road 917,Alvarado,United States

Why do I do it?

I have this problem. It has plagued me most of my life, although I haven't always viewed it as a problem. But I am an emotional eater. I will eat for any and every emotion, joy, sorrow, and especially boredom.

For the last year, accept for the last few weeks, I have conquered this problem. My victory has enable me to lose approximately 100 lbs. However, I still seem to make stupid mistakes especially, in the past few weeks.

I don't understand. I get ready to eat. I think mmm, I want ice cream, Mexican food, chicken fried steak, or whatever and I decide to give in. Not just once or not just a little but a full on 7 bowls of salsa old fashioned gorging. The really funny thing is that I have been eating good long enough that I know eating like that is going to hurt me. I know I will feel sick for days after eating like that. I know I will see the weight gain on the scale I know I still have 40 more lbs to lose. I know I don't want to be that emotional eater any more. But I do it anyway or at least I have been doing it anyway.

Temptation is a funny thing. In itself it is powerless it only has the power we allow it to have over us. What is true of my vises with food is true of all of us in the temptations we face. You say I don't want this anymore, but then temptation rises and you choose to give in. Afterward you look back and feel sick, guilty, and weak. The result is usually that you just give in easier next time because you have already been defeated.

But the bible says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you." If you resist the devil, resist temptation, then he will flee from you. For a year I have practiced resisting the temptation to eat poorly. Sure I had treats but I made good choices and didn't allow myself to eat emotionally (which is my real problem). The more you practice resisting temptation the easier it is. "resist the devil and he will flee from you."

It is possible to fall back into temptation, to stop practicing resistance, however the answer is the same as it was the first time. Resist, it gets easier from there.

So if you have been giving in to temptation. Offer up stubborn resistance it sternly say no. Resist and you can over come.

(Inspired by my ice-cream belly ache and a renewed desire to get my diet back on track.)

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Gratitude

And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!  1 Thess 5:12-13 (Message)

This past Sunday my church surprised me!  It was the third anniversary of my coming as pastor here at Happy Hill and they planned a surprise party like no other.  It was truly great.  They took up donations and went together to buy me a Weber Gold 26.75 Charcoal Grill.  This is the Cadillac, no Roles Royce, of charcoal grills.  It has been all I have talked about to my wife for several months, since my previous grill became to rusty to enjoy using. 

I am overwhelmed with Love and appreciation.  Thank You church, you mean the world to me.  Your appreciation fuels my fire as I labor along side of you for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Yes it is a lot for a charcoal grill, and some of you might not understand it, but I am just trying to be like Jesus, after all he was a charcoal man.  When he appeared to the disciples at the lake after his resurrection, and he told them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat so they caught a lot of fish, this is what the scripture says about what Jesus did next.  "But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread." John 21:9

Once again, THANK YOU church you overwhelm me. 

Check out the new option to subscribe to my blog via email.  Just visit my blog page and submit your address on the right. 

Time w/ Jesus

There is no Better way to start the day than spending a little time with Jesus. Especially if that time is accompanied by good coffee.

Christianity isn't about living a perfect life, it isn't about trying to do good, it isn't just about going to church. Christianity is about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. God doesn't say to us "be spiritual," but "walk with me."

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

The most important thing you can do to build any relationship is spend time together. For the Christian this means spending time reading scripture and praying daily. There is nothing in your day more important than that. If your spending time with Jesus he will move you to make the changes you need to make in your life.

Are you just trying to get by, to be good, or are you living in relationship?

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VBS 2009 Monday night

Monday night was a hit at HHBC VBS 2010. Last night the effort and cooperation with our decorations really paid off. We had the most kids we have ever had on a Monday night and still things seemed to run smoother than ever.

I have huge expectations for tonight. If you weren't here last night you missed out. Please stop by and see what's going on at the best VBS in TX.


















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Something to read.

So yesterday I let my habits get the best if me. I way over ate. Really I guess it's ok because I at broccoli. But come on really five stalks of broccoli in one sitting that is rediculous. It was nit hunger but something else.

Then this morning I got this article. "Check Your Fuel Gauge Before You Fill Up"

It worth a read if you struggle with eating the way I do.


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Courage to make it to the top.

This past weekend the HHBC youth group went "rock" climbing. What I mean by that is that we went to a climbing club in town and climbed artificial rock walls.

So, I am a little afraid of hights, when I first tried out the climbing wall, my wife Layney was on belay. Now I trust my wife. I would never say otherwise. However she is very tinny and I…well I am not. So when I got halfway up the wall I began to fear. All the scenarios I could come up with that ended in death played through my head. I convinced myself that it was too hard I was too tired, Layney didn't want to belay, I would have another chance, anything else that would work and I stoped climbing half way up the wall. I gave up. Despite all the safety gear despite the trust I have in my wife I gave up.

We too often in life allow our reason and fear mix and talk ouselves out of taking risks. We let our fear stop us from going where God wants us to go. We give up when the blessings God has for us is right around the next corner.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The awesome truth is that we are more than conquerors because of Jesus. We have the ultimate safty harness, weapon, friend, guide, master, Lord, protector, provider, the ultimate God. There is nothing we should ever fear when it is directed by God. In fact our only fear should be getting out of His will.

I did get back on the wall and I fell. And then I got back on the wall and I climbed all the way to the top. (pictured below) I didn't have to fear I had safety. And it took a couple of tries but reaching the top was awesome.

In your life there are things that you have wanted to do things that you have dreamt of. Maybe it invovles your job, asking for a raise or trying a new project. Maybey you have wanted to chang something about yourself your weight or the number of books you read. Maybe you know there are risks that you need to take. Don't fear. If you are following God you can not fail. You may fall but he will always catch you.

Step out. Be bold. Climb to the top.

God is working at Happy Hill

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us... Ephesians 3:20

I never cease to be truely excited and amazed when God works. It's not that I don't expect it or know that God is going to work according to his will, but it always instills a sence of awe in me. It is impossible to become bored with what God can do because he "is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine."

God is working at Happy Hill. This past weekend we got an extention on our parking lot. For free! Not because of anything we did but because God is powerful and is preparing this church for growth.

Check out these pictures and as you do think about the things that God is doing in your life that instill awe in you. Thank him today for how he is working in your life.











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Who do you influence.

John Sawyer, one of our youth, and I have spent several hours together today while I have been teaching him the art of sermon writing. John is doing a great job and I am looking forward to the day he preaches at HHBC.



As he works I am reminded of the importance of leading by example. In first Corinthians 11:1 Paul tells the Corinthians to follow him as he follows Christ.

It is a monumental responsibility to say follow me, but the truth is that all of us are leading someone whether we know it or not.

There is always someone watching how you live and looking to you as an example. If you have kids they are watching, the people that you work with they are watching, who ever you are there is someone watching.

Pay attention to how you live because you never know when you are being watched and what you might be teaching those who are watching.

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HHBC Sunday School Retreat

This past weekend several from Happy Hill got away to Latham Springs Baptist Camp for our SS retreat. The camp and weather was incredible and we had a fantastic time. We were almost all up until 2:00 Friday morning playing games and getting to know each other better.

We introduced the group to the 3D Sunday School concept which we are adopting at HHBC. A Sunday School class should have three health dimensions working together. They should invite others to come to class and be excited about the class and there meetings, they shold discover God's word together, and they should connect to each other developing close relationships.

Pray with us that as we implament this strategy God will bless our efforts and blow our mind with how he uses us to reach people with his love.










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It is good to have fun.

With our endless todo lists, long days, lack of vacation time, and overpowering stress we often forget that we are intended to have full and abundant lives.

Having fun is a good thing. As Darren pointed out in our Men's Abassadors for Christ (MAC) meeting tonight, God created us for relationship. Relationship with Him first and second with our fellow man. One of the natural ways that we build relationship is through having good times together.

If I were completely honest much of the reason I am serving Christ today is because at many times in my life the most fun thing for me to do was at church. Our youth group was fun and we had wild times together.

I wonder how many more people would be a part of the church, or allow Christ into thier lives if they didn't think being a Christian was going to be boring. God is not here to take your fun away. He just wants to be a part of the fun in your life.

For your viewing pleasure here are a couple of clips from our MAC meeting. And no we don't restrict ourselves to only gospel songs.

Sorry if this is sideways. I am still trying to figure it all out. Thanks for being patient.


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To My Pastor Friends: Where the message comes from.

"We are not saved to be "channels only," but to be sons and daughters of God. We are not turned into spiritual mediums, but into spiritual messengers; the message must be part of ourselves." -- Oswald Chambers.

As a pastor it is more than vital that we stay in the word of God. Sermon preparation is never an acceptable substitute for personal devotional time and bible study. If you are finding that it is dificult develop sermons and a direction for your sermons, or if you always have to look outside of yourself for sermon ideas and direction; it is because you are not allowing God to work his will in you. Your sermons and what you preach should come from an outpouring of your soul.

"The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message." -- Oswald Chambers

If you are having a dry time in sermon preparation. If you are not deeply convicted about where to go next. You must get alone and get into the word. Find out what God wants in you, and from that your soul will cry out to your congregation through the Holy Spirit. Then your life and message will be a sacramtent to God.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV)

I'm praying this for us all my brothers.

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Location:Vistaview Dr,Burleson,United States

Failures and Triumphs: They are all a part of life.

I have not done so well on my commitment to blog three times a week. Sure there are always valid reasons. There has been a great deal of work for me lately and I have been putting in longer hours than I should, but still these are excuses.

I have learned that life is full of successes and failures. They will come for us all however, what we do with them is what matters.

For instance I could give up. I blogged three times the first week of my commitment and now I have gone two full weeks without touching my blog. So I could say, "The commitment was wrong I underestimated how much was going on in ministry and life and I shouldn't make commitments to blog when there are so many more tangible ministries I am in." Then I could allow my failure to cause me to give up on the commitment I made.

Or, I could stay the course. Even though I have missed my goal and I am seemingly behind, I could pick up where I left off and keep on going.

It's like being in a race and being behind but still doing your best to finish. A few weeks back I was watching the winter Olympics and the cross country skiing was on. They were showing the finish of the race and talking about the dramatic battle for the gold. The discussion continued long after the medals had been decided. As we continued to watch the goal line stretch a racer came around the corner and with a dramatic burst of adrenaline he pushed hard to overtake the racer in front of him. He battled down the stretch to edge him out of 32cd place.

As he collapsed from exhaustion I laughed and thought, "32cd place or 33rd place, does it really matter." But now I realize it does. It was his personal best that counted, his time to shine, his defining moment.

In life we aren't always in a race but Paul says we should always be racing, striving for the prize.  The only competition is against yourself, it doesn't matter if you fall behind as long as you keep going and finish strong.

So if you experience failure remember when I am weak, then I am strong, and keep on running.