Lost in Vegas

Here in Vegas working pretty hard. Last night I got a chance on my own to walk the hotel. Everything here cost something. Even the gym is provided at $20.00 a day if you like to partake. I just walked around observing people and seeing them just seemingly sit in a trance of sorts at the slot machines. One rarely could see anyone with a smile and all of them seemed so involved in what they were doing they did not pay attention to anything around them. Over closer to the gambeling tables a little more action and smiles. The man dealing the cars kept encouraging the people to play and spend there money. I think my friend Brian would have passed out right there between the black jack table and roulette wheel. It was all so sad to me. I kept wondering if I was the only Christian in the place. Today I will continue to see what God has in store for me today. I am sure it is something good.

Missing my friends,
DG

Weed eater's are awesome

I was with a friend of mine last night and he reminded me of one of the things the enemy does best. STILL our JOY. The very joy the Lord speaks about and promises us. It almost happened yesterday. So while I am sitting here flying to of all places sin city as they call it a.k.a. Las Vegas I have decided to write this weak about the Joy of the Lord and all the many ways he provides it every day.

Date Line:
May 3rd Saturday, 10:45 on board Air Tran

I woke up about 5am to meet my friend Derek to head out to of all things a community yard sale. He had made a list of things and so did I. First of all we went to a ladies house that was kind enough to let Derek know of the event and she even provided us a way in early. It was a beautiful morning to boot. The adventure started kind of slow and I was wondering if we were going to find anything on our list. He started out by making his first purchase of vintage movies. Then we sort of hit a dry spell. However, that was soon to end and with all do respect to Mel Fisher he it the jackpot. I saw the look in his eye as he firmly planted himself in someone’s garage. Sander, circular saw, tool box, jig saw and assorted other items were being stock piled on the driveway. I added a weed eater and new hose to his pile and before you could say "Scooby Doo where are you" the truck was being loaded. Nice purchase and a blessing to my friend who saved a great deal of money. His FPU group would be proud.

Then the call from David (A friend of Derek's who wanted to do some work in return for some money to help pay his way to a missions trip in Africa) who was ready to go to Derek’s house to mow his yard. But first we stopped by Brian’s house; he had called and blessed me with a book from Dave Ramsey. Wow, I was so touched by his kindness and caring spirit. Derek dropped me off at my car and he went on to pick up David and I met Derek and David, his Dad David, and of course me (David) at Derek’s house. Sorry I couldn’t resist. David’s Dad helped Derek get his lawn mower going while David Jr was beginning to push mow Derek’s lawn and I somehow managed to get the weed eater fired up. So with the help of an extension cord, don’t ask, from the house and the Ole mobile the mower started. David Jr was able to get Derek’s lawn done plus the neighbors while Derek had time to get the things done he wasn’t able to get to in the past. Blessings all over the place.

Also, during all of this our friend Aaron called to tell me about his bible study group he had done with some of the Tampa Yankees he coaches. He was very excited about it and was telling me how he had shared a Nooma that Friday night and how even more players then normal joined his group. Aaron told me that Saturday he had been invited to speak to the University of Tampa baseball team. What a privilege it is to see how God is working in Aaron’s life, and all of my friends. Later that evening a few of us headed out to see the Tampa Yankees win another game.

I went home to finish getting some things done at the house and Derek had called me to see if I wanted to grab a bite prior to the game but I had to decline so Derek and Dick went instead. Dick is another awesome man that God put in my path early on during this awesome walk with Christ. His mentorship was so key to me in my beginning walk with the Lord.

Since Aaron had been kind enough again to get us tickets for the game I called Will and invited him and his wife along for the game. It seems like we never get a chance to spend enough time with Will which is why it is such a blessing to whenever we can.

It had been a great day. All the blessing of the day as earlier mentioned had added up to such an awesome day. I was driving Derek back to his truck and I told him I almost didn’t come because of some phone calls I had received that were disturbing. Even as I was sharing with him some things that were said I could feel the JOY of the day just slipping away. I had just had an awesome day and now the enemy was primed and ready. I pulled up to his truck and after describing the phone call a little deeper, he said LET’S PRAY. He just stopped and began praying and casting out the enemy right then and there. He also included himself in the prayer which spoke to me big time. This awesome man of God I call my friend was all over the enemy. I began to feel the joy of the day return as he spoke boldly against the enemy and just praised the Lord for all things. I felt as if the car had been surrounded by Angels. It was a moment in my walk I will never forget.

The enemy comes to destroy and still our joy. If he was bold enough to tempt Jesus then I assure you none of us will escape his temptations. He can lure us but we don’t have to follow, he can provide the bait but we don’t have to take it, he can set the traps ahead but we can turn and go the other way. It can happen fast and what my friend did is what we all should do, STOP AND PRAY. Derek pointed out what a blessing the weed eater was for him. I just want to remind him what a blessing he is to me and all that the Lord did in my life this past Saturday.

Tomorrow….Day one in Vegas


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Heart..just from the heart.

Dear Son,

I love you and miss you so much. Not a day goes by I don't think of you. Oh how I miss you so. You will soon be 21 and I am proud to call you my son. Please don't forget how much I love you.

Dad

Just read the names.

You know who they are. Those people, yeah,those people. The ones in your phone. I was at lunch earlier today and could not over the fact of all the names in my phone. Life lines as one TV show put it. That is exactly what they are to me, life lines. W Some I call everyday, others time to time, and others very seldom.
Honestly, I get so excited when my phone rings and I know it's someone taking the time to call me.I love it when my phone rings because I am so touched that someone put my name in their phone. I call the people in my phone for many different reasons. I have done it all on these phones, cried and laughed, given and recieved advice, vented and shared joy, made plans and canceld plans, shared my faith and shared my failures, honored God and shouted out at God, and recieved good news and bad. I am sure there are more but you get the picture, yet they all have one thing in common. They have all been put in my phone by God.
So the next time you go to delete someone, think about it first, and the next time you add someone, remember it's God who put them there.

CYBESD

Flee says the word....

Each Monday night I am privileged to be a part of a group where we discuss men's issues with sexual integrity. One of my pastors declared once that he believe's it is the number one disconnect with men today and I agree with that 100%. Let me break it down into cause and effect:

EFFECT
1. Destroys Marriages and Families
2. Guilt
3. Depression
4. Distances you from God
5. Effects you job
6. Loneliness
7. Shame
8. Distorts Truth
9. Hidden expenditures
10.Generational Curses
11.Confusion
12.Self Esteem
13.Leads to other Addictions
14.Judgement
15.Anger
16.Rage
17.Hopelessness
18.Health Issues
19.Suicidal Thoughts
20.Integrity


CAUSE
It is the sin you desire the most.

Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

My prayer is that all men break free and live the life of a Valiant Man as Christ has expected of us. The consequences are avoidable.

ACCOUNTABILITY is KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our small group the other night was awesome. As a matter of fact God continues to teach me so much through my friends. Wow! I love it when my brothers love me enough to correct me sometimes delibertly and sometimes without even knowing it.

Example 1
I recently finished my guest past at L.A. Fitness. I really want to do a better job in taking care of myself and each year it's the same old promise and months later it fades away. So I adopted this policy of saying only what I have done about it instead of what I am going to do. So I went to the gym doing the guest past deal for about 2 weeks and when it was time to sign up I refused to in a defiant way to pay the joining fee of $49.00. I did it because I saw on TV (that source of all knowledge) that these types of fees were very negotiable. So, I stood my ground and refused to budge knowing that they would cave before I did. A week passed and then another and still nothing. Well, this past weekend a friend of mine called me out asking me if I had caved along with the disclaimer of if not that joining and doing what I had spoke about was the main goal. It was just a passing comment but stuck with me all the way home that evening. I knew then that there was no way I would cave that my "PRIDE" would not allow for me to do so. POW! Pride...yeah that lets save a few bucks turned quickly into all about me. The holy spirit convicted me big time. Great, I am going to let $49.00 or two nights out eating stop me from accomplishing the big goal of dare I say it...exercise. I am so glad Aaron said that and I now see how God was clearly sending me a message. Have you ever started out with the right intentions only to find yourself like I did?

Example 2
I am in an awesome small group. Each week we meet and encourage each other along with discussing the bible and life in general. Last night I was in a non-focus mode much like I use to be in school. It started in third grade. Up until then I was pretty much an ace student and my conduct grades were right up there as well. We got our report card and Mrs. Hughes dropped a bomb. My conduct grades (yes, we got school work grades and conduct grades) were not good. Circled with a red pin was " does not listen attentively" and "distracts others". My mom was furious at me. I tried to explain that my school grades were still good so why did this matter. She said keeping others from learning just because I would finish early was something that I needed to change or it would stay with me forever. Harsh words to a 8 year old boy. Sadly, she was right. While I am not as bad as I use to be, but then again that's my assesment, I still manage to place myself back in Mrs. Hughes class getting the stare that I had better stop. Well, there are very few people who have the abliity to speak to me without saying a word. My Mom, Dad, Robin, and Mrs. Hughes are among those elite and now a very good friend of mine. I got "that stare" last night. I had not seen it for a long time but it was the stare of correction. Not a word spoken but I knew I had crossed the line. I in fact was disrutping the group. It's great to have a brother who can correct me when needed.

Well, I think I just heard the bell ring, off to lunch.

CYBESD and even if it's a stare or passing comment.

Valiant Man

Last night a group of men met in a room where at my church we began Valiant Man #4. This is a group that deals with moral and sexual integrity. Not exactly the easiest of subjects for most people and including the church. I truly believe that this is the number one disconnect for men today. The world that we live in not only accepts but promotes many of these temptations as the norm. Movies, Ads, Television, and the internet are just a few key places where these things are readily put on display for all to be tempted on a daily basis.
Last night I was privledged to witness man afte man come through the door to do battle against the enemy. "I have had enough" one man said, while another just sat in tears most of the night knowing that he finally found a place where he can get some help.

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

His holy spirt filled not just a room last night but the hearts of all. Many men disqualify themselves based on the past or their current situations but the word tells us God will meet us right where were at in life. So, I ask that you join me in prayer as these children (Men) of God discover their wounds and reach out to the one and only man that can save us from ourselves. I would ask that you pray that God send good christian men to walk with them and to help them find their way back to the narrow path. Most of all, that they discover once and for all that God is after ALL of their heart.

Often I am asked who should take the class and the answer is simple. Every man should take the class but some of them need to be there sooner then others.

Monday nights 7pm at Grace Family Church in Tampa. Check out are promo at www.gracefamilychurch.org
Hit the Small Groups tab
Then "mens" on the left
Then Valiant man on the bottom right.

If interested call the church or me at 813-245-0224
Class has started and after Feb 18th it is closed until next time.
Feb 4 to April 21