First, I appreciate you. I pray for you often, knowing that if you are a disciple of Christ you are in the cross-hairs of the enemy.

Second, I wanted you to know that the God we serve is alive and active, allowing us to partner with Him in reaching the lost and the wandering wonderers with His love. I say that because God allowed me to share my story yesterday and I saw Him shock and awe someone who claims to believe. You may have heard this already but I need to share it anyway because that’s what the Umpire of my heart wants.

When I was 3 years old I started having extremely bad headaches. We’re talking the pain and pressure were so bad that my face and head would literally show signs of bruising (those pretty purples and greens). Our family doctor immediately referred Mom & Dad to the experts in the big city (Sioux Falls). The specialists diagnosed me with a brain tumor on a frontal lobe and immediately prepared for surgery. Mom and Dad both surrendered me to the hands of Christ and asked for prayer from our church network, which sent the request around the world via HAM radio (the facebook or twitter of the early 1970′s). I went in for surgery while Mom & Dad waited and shared Christ’s love with others in the waiting room. 4 hours later the doctor came out of surgery with a look that Mom & Dad took for me becoming a cherub but found out shortly that it was shock/awe/frustration and such. The doctor said, “Every test and indicator was that ther was a large tumor on David’s brain but after doing the neuro-ventriclogram we find no tumor. We can only write it up as a pseudo-tumor. (Off the record though, I have to tell you it’s nothing less than a miracle.” Mom & Dad didn’t miss a beat. They celebrated and praised God with the doctor and others in the waiting room, testifying to the healing power of God and prayer in the lives of those who submit themselves to Him. I came home from the hospital on Thanksgiving day.

Friends, that’s my God. He gave me back my life at the age of 3 by healing me of a brain tumor and He’s not done. He continues to move mountains and heal the sick and save the lost because He is FULLY ALIVE & FULLY ACTIVE.
I shared this with my friend yesterday and saw the look of shock on his face. He’s in the medical profession and knows that tumors don’t simply spontaneously disappear like that. He knows that a neurosurgeon doesn’t start cutting until he/she is confident they know exactly what they are doing. He looked at me almost in disbelief and all I could do was smile at him and say, “God healed me of a brain tumor so I could be here to tell you that He still ministers through miracles and I’m proof.

I won’t pretend to know why He has asked me to share this with you. It’s simply my responsibility to obey. If the Spirit has or hasn’t spoken to you through what I’ve written is up to Him. What you do with it is up to you. Simply know that our God is not One to be trifled with. He has laid out a mission and His plan for you & I.  He always provides every resource for every task He has assigned.  If you want to see Him move, shape and save I suggest you put it all in His hands and trust Him to do what’s right when He knows it’s the right time.

He loves you (& so do I). Merry Christmas!

Your servant,
David

One of the little girls, I’ll call her Belle, was bored while waiting for her mom and asked me to play with her. I asked her what we were to play and she replied, “Let’s play house and you can be my daddy.” In this time of play and imagination we ate together. I took her to and picked her up from school. We had a house with a secret passage that required the pushing of the play-dough button and rushing out before the door closed. I got to read her a bedtime story, hug her and kiss her forehead goodnight.

After a tiring day you’d think I would be ready to see her go home with her mom. Instead my heart ached. I hurt because I knew Belle doesn’t have a daddy in her life.  For that brief moment in time I got to live out just a little of James 1:27.  I got to be a daddy to the daddy-less and it changed my heart.

This in mind, I challenge you, when you think you’re done and it’s time for a breather, take a look around and see if there’s someone waiting for Jesus and will never meet Him or know Him if you take a break. I’m not endorsing the burning of the candle at both ends or stewarding your mental, spiritual, emotional or physical health poorly.  Godly stewardship of you and me is of utmost importance.  Instead, I propose that out of all my lesson plans, games, coloring pages and talking with these 11 kids, my time pretending with Belle was when and where I got it right.  I simply said “yes” and got to embody Jesus for a few minutes with someone who needed Him.

What do you think? When are you done?  Tell me your stories of saying “yes”.

Anna was taking a bath and was playing with her tub toys as she innocently looked up at me and asked, “Daddy, why does Ram [pronounced Raum] not believe in Jesus and what does he believe?” She was asking about our Muslim friend’s beliefs. My brain immediately went into overdrive thinking, “Thanks a lot, Dawn!” and “How do I put this in terms that my sweet six year old will understand without making her fall asleep face down in the tub?” At the same time these thoughts rushed through my head I was praying for wisdom and help from Abba.

I asked Anna if she was ready for the answer and she shook her head yes. Here’s the gist of what I told her.

“Ram and his family believe that Jesus was a good man but that He was not the Son of God or the Savior of mankind. He was just a really good example for how to live.
Do you remember the Bible account of Abraham & Sarah, how they were really old but God promised them a baby boy? Do you remember what they did? They took things into their own hands in order to “help” God’s promise to come true. From their lack of faith, trust and obedience in God comes the whole offshoot of the family that believes they are god’s promised people and that those who follow Christ are wrong. Their prophet built up a belief system that requires everyone to do certain things at the right times to make it to “heaven”. But what does it take for us to get to Heaven, Sweetheart?” She answered, “To believe in Jesus and to obey His ways.” “That’s right! In fact, Jesus told his followers that if we want to get to Heaven we should love God above everything and love our neighbor as ourselves. Does that sound like doing a lot of chores to get to Heaven? No, it doesn’t.”

She and I talked a little more about it, but you get the idea. Our talk got me to thinking about what gets us into trouble still today. When we lack the patience or the faith to allow God to fulfill His promises in His time we plot and plan our ways to make “His will” come to be. The thing is, we cannot see clearly what His will or plan is because we don’t have His full perspective. We’re not privy to all the details. We cannot see the whole picture. Our limited intellect and imagination may only serve to corrupt the timeline and perfect design of God.

I guess what I wanted to share with you today is to trust Him in what He has, is and will promise to do. Be patient. Be obedient. If you aren’t sure about what He means by His promise or challenge, He is always the best one to seek and consult about it, not your intellect, or for that matter your spouse’s. It’s OK to ask those with wisdom and discernment around you, but always go back to Him for His input and design. Live so close to Him that you know His ways. Study His Word so thoroughly that your actions and responses become His actions and responses. As you live and move with Him you will gain sight, or at least find it easier to trust Him to do what He has said He will do.

In short: When God promises something, trust Him to do it in His way & His time. Only give Him help if He asks for it. We’ll all be better for it.

Your servant,
David

Pictured below is one of my favorite cache containers.  It is simple and natural to many environments, thus making its discovery by the unwary unlikely.  But for the discerning geocache hunter, it is a worthy find.

Large Dark Nano Rock Geocache Container

You can find this and other cache containers at http://www.cachingcontainers.com

To learn more about how to join the geocaching lifestyle, go to http://www.geocaching.com . You can also ask questions here and I’ll do my best to find the answers for you.

The calm is unsettling

The waters are still

Yet all that I long for

is to know Your best will

Your peace is the greatest

Your love gives me rest

Yet my heart quickens

To be put to the test

I can’t help but wonder

Where Your steps will lead

I’ll run to You always

Your Word will I heed

Regardless what happens

To You I’ll be true

But until Your direction

I’ll remain through and through

Please respond to this with your own psalm, questions or comments.

For the Bible Training Day sessions go to (or copy & past these links into your browser address bar):

Session 1 – The Bible Study Toolbox

http://salvationarmymedia.vodspot.tv/video/5606542-bible-training-day-feb-19-2011-part-1

Session 2 – More Tools in the Toolbox

http://salvationarmymedia.vodspot.tv/video/5606562-bible-training-day-feb-19-2011-part-2

Session 3 – Hands On Experience With The Tools

http://salvationarmymedia.vodspot.tv/video/5606564-bible-training-day-feb-19-2011-part-3

For the Leadership Training Day sessions go to (or copy & past these links into your browser address bar):

Session 1 – The Serving Leader / Basics of Christ-like Leadership (Lesson starts at 09:17)

http://salvationarmymedia.vodspot.tv/video/5498511-discipleship-resources-leadership-develepment-part-1

Session 2 (Redone) – Recognizing, Raising Up & Releasing Leaders To Serve

http://salvationarmymedia.vodspot.tv/video/5718521-discipleship-resources-leadership-develepment-part-2

Session 3 – Staying Sane While Serving – Avoiding, Resisting or Overcoming Burnout

http://salvationarmymedia.vodspot.tv/video/5498514-discipleship-resources-leadership-develepment-part-3

You might note that all 3 of Linda Hime’s sessions are also available from the Bible Training Day held February 19, 2011.

If you go to this link http://salvationarmymedia.vodspot.tv/ you’ll find a wide range of videos available.  My training videos are titled “Discipleship Resources & Leadership Development Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Session 1 is based on the Ken Blanchard Series book, The Serving Leader

Session 2 is training for Recognizing, Raising, Resourcing & Releasing Leaders to Serve I should note that this video session was reshot on a later date to overcome some technical and presenter issues from the actual broadcast.

Session 3 is Staying Sane While Serving: How To Recognize, Avoid or Counter Burnout

I hope any or all of these sessions will serve you well in developing your leadership skills as well as those around you.

Click here to view session 1 –> The Serving Leader

I will make available the links to the subsequent sessions in separate posts.

Session 2: Recognizing, Raising, Resourcing & Releasing Leaders to Serve

Session 3: Staying Safe & Sane While Serving In Ministry

I’d appreciate your feedback on these sessions.  Thank you for tuning in.

That being said, let’s get the psycho-analytical issue out of the way and remove the question of whether or not there is some deep-seeded, unresolved issue that needs professional attention.  There may be truth to that suggestion within each of us, but you have to admit…sometimes you simply want to yell at someone.  You know…let ‘em know how you feel!

For me, these “someones” can generally be summed up into the following categories:

1) My kids (for some, this could include “the dog”)

2) My wife (for some, this could include “the boss”)

3) Strangers…or persons who should remain anonymous

4) God

Let’s break this down further…

THE KIDS:

What are some of the precursors to yelling at the kids?

• Leaving toys in the middle of the floor;
• Leaving a dent in the wall/scratch on the table/stain on the rug;
• Forgetting to turn off the lights/flush the toilet/close the refrigerator door; and…the most nearly-unforgiveable…
• Waking me up at 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning!

MY WIFE:

What are some of the precursors for wanting to yell at my wife?

• Why can’t she understand why I don’t understand her?
• Asking me to come help clean up the kitchen, take out the trash, put the kids to bed, get the house cleaned in preparation for guests coming over, or putting my shoes away – when I clearly just sat down to rest in front of the television.
• Putting her cold feet against mine in the middle of the night.
• Getting on my nerves…whatever that means.  Just seems like a nice, all-encompassing blanket statement.

STRANGERS:

What are some of the precursors for wanting to yell at a complete stranger?

• Traffic: getting cut-off; getting slowed down; having someone pull up behind you and honk or do the little flashing-the-headlights in your mirror to say “GET OUT OF MY WAY!” thing; swerving into your lane while texting or putting on their lipstick.
• Bringing their cart with 500 items into the lane that is clearly marked “10 items or less.”
• Cigarette smoking in a public place.
• People who act abusive/degrading to their children or spouse.

GOD:

What are some of the precursors for wanting to yell at God?

• Not fixing my problems when I want Him to.
• Not eliminating people who are seemingly out to get me.
• Asking me to do the impossible.
• Changing the road map of life…without asking.

Interestingly enough, when I see these ideas written down, my thoughts begin to shift and turn.  It’s actually rather embarrassing.  In fact, I wonder what would happen if God looked at us (okay, me) through these lenses?  For example:

US, HIS KIDS:

• Leaving toys in the middle of the floor – this could be correlated to so many angles of our lives as His “kids.” What do we leave in the middle of the floor? What tasks do we leave for others to do?  How messy do we leave things – simply because we are careless and even lazy at times?
• Leaving a dent in the wall/scratch on the table/stain on the rug – this one hurts a little.  How often do we simply and carelessly handle the things of God…or the people of God?  I’ve spilled a lot, dented a lot, and have disregarded the quality of God’s handiwork in ways that deserve a good scolding.
• Forgetting to turn off the lights/flush the toilet/close the refrigerator door – seriously…we waste so much.  Okay, I’ll personalize it…I waste a lot.  In a society/culture that has so many resources available – its too easy to take advantage of those resources and to assume that they’ll always be there.  This has produced a very weak sense of godly stewardship in many senses.
• Waking me up at 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning – I know that we are taught that “there is no such thing as something too big or little with God,” but really…don’t you think that some of the things we bring to Almighty God are just pesky things that we could take care of without bugging Him?  Not really wanting to go into a huge theological debate on that issue, let me simplify what I’m thinking about with this analogy.  My kids are at an age and a level of competency in our house that they can fend for themselves on a Saturday morning…at least until 9:00 a.m.  There is no need for them to wake me up early.  I love them. I know they’re ok.  They have everything they need.  I mean really…get yourself a PopTart or a bowl of cereal, play a game, watch a cartoon…I’ll see you soon!  I simply would LOVE the respect from knowing they understand me and the value of having the luxury of sleeping in those precious 2 hours.  I could draw this out further – but in some senses, I find myself bugging God sometimes, simply to remind Him that I’m there.  I think less about what He needs than what my “needs” are.  I don’t really think about the implications of His consistency and character as I do of my neediness.  Ick!…I can be so selfish…

MY WIFE – the person I love most in this world:

• Not understanding why I don’t understand her – we have thousands of years of Biblical history; we have evidence of God working in our own lives; we have seen His character proven over and over again…and with tremendous audacity, we say things like, “I’m trying to figure out the mind of God,” or “I’m just trying to understand God’s will.”  Do you think God ever just wants to yell, “What don’t you understand!!!???”
• Asking me to come help clean up the kitchen, take out the trash, put the kids to bed, get the house cleaned in preparation for guests coming over, or putting my shoes away – when I clearly just sat down to rest in front of the television.  Okay…I deserve the “Giant Clod of the Year” award after actually putting that into print.  However, I should receive that award after standing in line behind millions of other male recipients.  People have written volumes of books on how to fix this broken male mentality, to no avail.  Now, imagine (sarcasm implied here) the audacity of God to ask us to lift a finger to help out in the Kingdom!  I won’t drag this out – you can make the dozens of correlations with this thought…we can be such clods!
• Putting her cold feet against mine in the middle of the night – alright, this might be a stretch, but in this picture, I imagine God simply longing to be close to us – no matter the discomfort.  Picture Him thinking, “Okay, this might seem unpleasant at first, but our intimacy will overshadow that unbelievably.” He LONGS to be as close as possible so that we can feel Him in our lives and He can absorb us into His.  And we complain because it wakes us up in the middle of the night.
• Getting on my nerves…whatever that means.  Just seems like a nice, all-encompassing blanket statement…oh, dear Lord!  Please do not reveal to me all the times that I get on your nerves.  I’m so feeble minded, weak, and complaining.  What on earth can we do to stop focusing on ourselves and actually attempt to look at the world through the eyes of God?  Okay, Joel: Eyes off of self.  Eyes on Jesus.  Live like Him – life is better.

STRANGERS:

• Traffic: getting cut-off; getting slowed down; having someone pull up behind you and honk or do the little flashing-the-headlights in your mirror to say “GET OUT OF MY WAY!” thing; swerving into your lane while texting or putting on their lipstick.  Seriously – don’t act like you’re all innocent on this one…you know how I feel!  Now, slam on the brakes…I have to look at myself in the proverbial rearview mirror on this one.  I can’t tell you how many times a day I’m tempted to do these things to God.  Implying to God, “HURRY UP!  I have somewhere important to get to…here’s a reminder that I’m behind you and need you to speed up.”  Or even better, getting caught up doing something reckless and dangerous while on the journey – putting others and myself at risk of a crash.
• Bringing their cart with 500 items into the lane that is clearly marked “10 items or less.”  This may be a stretch…but sometimes my cart of things I bring to God is so full of junk and stuff that I don’t need.  And, I’m so inconsiderate of others who are coming to Him at the same time.  Can’t I get it right?  Can’t I keep it simple and to the basics?  And where is my offering – what am I bringing as an act of gratitude or a heart of thankfulness?  Am I considering others who are on the journey, as well?
• Cigarette smoking in a public place.  I admit it…my attitude stinks and (often) I carelessly share it with others.  My second-hand “smoke” has caused more damage than I care to know.  It’s hard to quit smoking, I’ve heard.  It’s even more difficult to stop breeding cynicism and negativity.  I have been the chief of sinners in this arena…oh, my.  Stop it!
• People who act abusive/degrading to their children or spouse.  Okay – this one is easy to get into the finger pointing category.  I can fill pages of allegations about people who have been abused or neglected by the church.  Even worse, I can draw a list of “guilty” pastors and church leaders.  I, of course, have to add my name under the “T” category…Tooley, Joel – on both lists, abused and abuser.  What a sad, sad reflection on people who call themselves Christ-followers.  This is not Christlike at all.

GOD:

• Not fixing my problems when I want Him to.  Seriously, Joel?  Do you even have a basic understanding of how God desperately wants you to cling to Him in a loving, grace-flowing relationship?  If you did…you would understand what role “problem-fixing” plays in this relationship.
• Not eliminating people who are seemingly out to get me.  Ha!  The comedy of this allegation of God.  Have you read the Old Testament lately?  Have you flipped through the pages of the New Testament in recent days?  I wouldn’t encourage you to ask God to begin eliminating your perpetrators.  I am learning daily what it means to see “these people” through the lenses of a God who loves every creation of His.
• Asking me to do the impossible…I still haven’t learned.  Who am I to think that something is “impossible.”  I have yet to encounter that impossible situation with God.  He truly is limitless in what He can do.
• Changing the road map of life…without asking.  I laughed at myself for actually writing that line.  I guess when we sing or say things like, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to (you);” we should either list our disclaimers or be truly vulnerable and blazingly honest in our surrender.  Whatever you want me to do, wherever you want me to go, whatever you want me to say, whoever you want me to connect with, whenever you want to use me…Lord, I am Yours.  No screaming or yelling – just trusting.

Well, now I don’t feel like yelling so much, after all.  Instead, I find myself very hungry for grace – undeserved.  I guess I’ll lay aside my urge to yell at someone.

Just don’t cut me off in traffic.

Joel P. Tooley -  Youth In Mission

http://thetooleyfamily.blogspot.com/

There is a striking similarity between our adjustment to new seasons, schedules and environs and the process we put in place to grow intellectually and spiritually.  We come to a point where remaining static or stationary in our learning or growing is distasteful, at least, unbearable at most.  We know that change is needed, but do we know how to bring about that change?  Can we solve the problem on our own?  Will a trip to the self-help section of the library or bookstore move us ahead?  Perhaps.

I offer up these few suggestions from my own experience in the hope that they will serve you well in your journey to growth.

1. First, know what you hope to accomplish through change and discipline. Attempting a new discipline or habit without desired outcome(s) in mind is futile and foolish.  In other words, know what your destination is before you plan your journey there. Let me explain.  I’m feeling somewhat achy and lethargic.  It’s not because I’m ill.  It’s because I’m overweight.  I want to feel better physically, having more energy, not to mention having a better self-image.  Thus, I am ready to map out a plan to achieve the weight loss in order to accomplish these goals.
2. Second, engage disciplines that will best bring about the desired outcomes.  In other words, pick the best vehicle and fuel to get you to your destination.  We’ll stick with my weight loss as our example.  I’ve now spoken with my physician about my weight and received a recommendation for cardio and strength  training, as well as adjusting my intake in order to battle the bulge.  Knowing my desired outcome of weighing less, feeling better physically and mentally, I heed the words of my trainer and my doctor, “Move more. Eat Less.”  I’ve established a doable goal of working out at the fitness center for no less than 1 hour each time.  Partnering this discipline with making sure my meals are balanced, with appropriate portions & no snacking after 7 PM and I’m headed in the right direction.
3. Share your plan with someone. In sharing your plan, your process and your desired outcome with someone, you increase the likelihood that you will proceed with the journey.  I recommend sharing this plan with a trusted friend, spouse, partner, or counselor/coach.  These are people that we know and they know us well enough to question why we are deviating from our plan if we start to falter.  Going back to my weight loss, I told my wife, son and daughter about my desire to lose 40 – 50 pounds and my plan for doing so.  I explained why I wanted to lose weight and they agreed with my goal and plans.  There is no one less forgiving or more strict than a five year old who knows her daddy isn’t doing what he said he’d do.  This positive peer pressure/accountability is helping me to succeed (I’ve lost 25 pounds. I’m half way there).
4. Celebrate/Commemorate your successes. In other words, if you want your healthy discipline to become a habit, you must positively reinforce the results of the discipline. Sometimes the feeling of fulfillment is sufficient, but most of the time, if we want the disciplines employed to accomplish our goal to remain a habit for us, our brain requires a deeper/greater acknowledgment for what has been accomplished.  In fact, many times mini-celebrations all along the path to success will help insure the discipline becomes habit.  My journey to greater health and lesser girth is experiencing these mini-celebrations by little victory dances with my daughter.  She supervises my weigh in and then cheers and dances with me when I’ve achieved more weight loss. Please note that celebrating victory does not include the breaking of the discipline or habit employed to achieve the victory. Breaking the habit by eating a monster bowl of ice cream would defeat me in accomplishing my goal, as well as teach my daughter that I only eat healthy when I want to lose weight.

I hope these little hints for forming new habits serve you well as you step forward into your future.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to hit the gym.  My daughter will be waiting for me when I get home, and I want less of me weighting for her.

Let me know how you do.  I’d love to celebrate with you.

djt