Big Question

How should we deal with homosexuals in the church? How do you think Jesus would have us deal with them? Any different then someone else who isn't a christian? These questions are provoked because of some individuals who have decided to parade there message about homosexuality infront of our church. I spent some time talking with one of there young men and now I'm interested in what you have to say.

Pd

40 Days of Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I didn't really think that something so simple could become so profound. God is literally challenging all Christians at CCC and around the world to quit just attending and start doing. Individuals who begin to do and not just sit will experience a whole new vitality in there relationship with God.

I'm in. Yes I'm a pastor I'm in ministry full time but it's a new day calling for new thoughts, new insights, and new action plans.

I hope your in to.

Pd

I'm Sorry?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I believe these are the two most important words in a relationship. No matter a marriage a friendship or whatever. I'm sorry is also the phrase that is most difficult to say. Does it seem that often times that are difficult to do are also things that benefit us most. Nothing good comes easy. I think that's true except in one area. Forgiveness. God does this for free, all we have to do is simply say I'm sorry, forgive me, and it's done. Wow, if we could live that way wouldn't it be awesome.

Lord, we're sorry for not being sorry. We'll definitely work on it.

pd

Colossians 4:5

Kiah's Tball game. Thought you might like this picture.


This is a profound passage of scripture, as well as our memory verse for this week of the 40 days of community.

"Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity." Col. 4:5

This is something God is really speaking to me about. Making the most of every single opportunity, every person that needs my help, taking time to think an help them come up with a great, God solution.

God bless, let's all make the most of every opportunity God puts in our way.

Pd

What matters most?

Thanks for hanging out at my blog. This is the message I presented Wednesday 4-11-07. I've asked anyone who listens to give me some feedback on how they are deciding to improve in the areas of loving others.

Here's my notes. Now I'd like to here your story of how you are loving others.

Thanks

Pd



Love.

What Matter’s Most?

Doug and Conor - 4/11/07

Intro: Story about unconditional Love.
(Missy play song – What’s love got to do with it? Tina Turner)



I. Why Love? Because He first Loved us. I John 4:7-11
a. Often a failure to love others comes from a lack of focus on God’s love for us.
b. Gen. 2:18 It is not good for man to be alone…We are created for love. Ted Cozinsky – Cal Berkeley

1 John 3:16-19 (MsgB)
This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. [17] If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
[18] My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. [19] This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.

We choose Love. We choose Love. Sometimes we don’t realize it but we do choose love. It doesn’t come natural.

Love is an act of our Will.

I John 4:11. Since God first loved us, we should love others.




II. How Love? Sacrificial - Cost you something. Time/ patience.
i. John 13:34-35-All Rabbi’s had disciples, Jesus’ would be set apart because they would love one another, and promote one another before themselves.
ii. John 13:4-14 (MsgB)
So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. [5] Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. [6] When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"
[7] Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."
[8] Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"
Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
[9] "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"
[10] Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." [11] (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") [12] After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.
Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? [13] You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. [14] So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet.




III. Results of Love. What happens when we love like Christ? I Peter 1:22-23
a. Lift Weights - Strengthened/removal of corruption and corruptibility. Purity Proverbs 30:5
b. People are drawn to us like a magnet, crowds following Jesus because the message he preached was that of love not of condemnation. -Matthew 16:14-16(people were drawn to Jesus not because he was the Christ, they didn’t know he was, they were drawn to him because he preached a gospel of love.)
1. Removal of lust, gossip, dirty talk, self interest, greed…
2. Our tongue has better uses, thanksgiving to God, and encouraging one another.

IV. Sincere Love: Altar: Love must be sincere.
a. Romans 12:9-10 (MsgB)
Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. [10] Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Many of us struggle more on what we get out of a relationship rather than what we give to the relationship.

• God’s love FOR us gives us the reason to love others.
• God’s love IN us gives us the ability to love others.
• God’s love THROUGH us gives us the way to love others.

We know that we have really experienced God’s love when we can begin to love others genuinely.

Sincere.





Handout that says I’m committed to a life of Love.








What Matters Most? Love . . . .
I’m committed to loving people in these ways:
At home:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
At school:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________At Church: (Oxygen/forward Motion)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Pastor Doug’s feedback blog is at oxygen.cc/doug.html


What Matters Most? Love . . . .
I’m committed to loving people in these ways:
At home:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
At school:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________At Church: (Oxygen/forward Motion)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Pastor Doug’s feedback blog is at oxygen.cc/doug.html

Christmas

Merry Christmas,

What a great time of year for most and a touph time of year for countless others. I think of how many will have great time during the next two days and then my mind wonders to those who will not. God, will you comfort those that feel lonely and helpless, the homeless the heartbroken will you walk with those have lost someone this year and feel the hurt of seperation deep in there soul. God, help us define Christmas as a time for helping those who hurt and teach us to love when it seems impossible. Somehow, Lord, please do the impossible and provide your true unconditional Love for all those in need. Help each of us as Christians to feel Your love and pass it on to all.

Pd

DAVID CROWDER SHOW!!!!!

Yep, Right Here. Capital Christian Center.

February 8th, You can get your tickets at ccconline.cc

David Crowder Band - Everything Glorious

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Alrighty Then.

My christmas wishes are pretty simple. I'd love to here from students that have come out of our ministry. I love hearing how everyone is doing and what's going on now. I want spend a solid week just playing with my boys. Nothing else. I know these are some weird wishes but there mine. As I grow older I realize that my wishes are totally changing from things to relationships and friends. I think this is part of God's plan to grow all of us into people that are based on friendships and relationship rather than material items.

Where do you find your identity. Many of us find them in many ways. God's desire is that we find our identity in him. He gives us confidence strength and a full like. These things are promised.

Thanks God.

pd

Puppy Time!

Well, I have an announcement! We have a new DOG!! This little guy is a miniture pinscher. His name is Nash. He's a little fireball and we're stoked to have him. He's 8 weeks old today and has great personality. I'm not totally sure if Dog's go to heaven but I hope so. Aren't animals cool. They don't complain, talk back, yell, gossip, they just love us back. I am a firm believer that having a pet is very healthy. This is what he looked like when we picked him up two weeks ago. Ali and Andy Gregory's parents had some puppies and gave us one for Thanksgiving.

Ton o fun!

See ya

New Stuff

Well, after two weeks of meeting in our new room we are excited about the possibilities with the new tool God has given us. I've been thinking about something specific, I really think that as we use the things God gives us to there fullest potential God will give us new tools to work with in order to grow in our purpose of touching more and more students in Sacramento. So this kind of thought makes us look internally, am I using the tools God has given me personally to fullest? I hope so. I truly want the light of God to shine through me.

Thanks God for this new tool, help us to be wise and use it in a great way, your way.

The Conflict - Wednesday night notes.

Here we go. Man this is huge to me. I know that all of us empowered by God can overcome our selfish desires but I also know that we can't do it with out Him. God help us. . . . . . . . . .

The Conflict

Video: Two Face from Batman.

Intro: Do you ever feel that way. I’ve got a great side that wants to do what’s right and a bad side that is pushing me almost feeling like another person to do what’s wrong? Our goal is to know God in a way that directs our life into change and transformation. When we understand that we have a battle going on within us, it helps us identify what we need to do different.

Drama: Both sides at war.

Believe it or not the bible actually talks about this conflict in Galations 5:16-24

Galatians 5:16-24 (MsgB)
My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. [17] For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. [18] Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

[19] It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; [20] trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; [21] the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.
This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.
[22] But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, [23] not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. [24] Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.



BackGround:

Paul was writing this letter to the church in Galatia. This was a great church with great potential but they struggled with things much like we do. Paul was writing this directive because there was people that took advantage of the freedom we have as Christians. Some of the Christians said Jesus will forgive us and we can basically do whatever it is that we want.

Paul knew this wasn’t right and wrote this letter in response describing to the church the battle we all fight so they understand it then about loving God and understanding that willingly following His ways take us far but mindlessly following rules do nothing for us. It’s easier but we don’t learn from it.


Two Ways:

I. Our own ways. What we naturally desire.



a. The flesh fights for dominance (v.16)
b. The flesh is contrary to the Spirit (v.17a)
c. The flesh keeps a person from doing what he would (v.17b)
d. The flesh fails to keep the law (v.18)

Results: vs. 19-21
· Repetitive, loveless, cheap sex;
· a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage;
· frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness;
· [20] trinket gods;
· magic-show religion;
· paranoid loneliness;
· cutthroat competition;
· all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants;
· a brutal temper;
· an impotence to love or be loved;
· divided homes and divided lives;
· small-minded and lopsided pursuits;
· [21] the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival;
· uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions;
· ugly parodies of community.



II. God’s Way - His spirit directing our lives.

1 The believer is to walk bearing God’s nature (v.22-23)
a. Source: The Holy Spirit (v.22)
b.Purpose: To stand strongly against fleshly works (v.23)

Results: vs. 22-23
· affection for others,
· exuberance about life,
· serenity.
· We develop a willingness to stick with things,
· a sense of compassion in the heart,
· a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.
· We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments,
· [23] not needing to force our way in life,
· able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.


The fruit tells you what’s coming out of the inside.

Trees that are well taken care of give out a huge crop.

Eventually it will come out in everyway.



Galatians 5:13-14 (MsgB)
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. [14] For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom.

I'm sitting in a meeting right now listening to a presentation about tax exempt bonds. Would you ever believe that a youth pastor would need to set and listen to something like this? Wow, yep that's me. Believe it or not as a youth pastor your involved in almost every aspect of life. You get to hear everything! I hope some of you that read this will have a call on your life to be a youth pastor. Even though there are some crazy things your involved in most of the time what I do is the single most satisfying occupation on earth. Loving God, my family and the students of Sacramento!
Awesome.

Pd

To the hills

Random Picture - Bagpipe Chick at Spanish Bay

I'm heading to Tahoe today to get the Urban Challenge set up. Oct. 5,6 and 7. We like the name so we decided to keep even though it's in Tahoe. We figured all of us from Sacramento would bring the urban to the hills.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Pd

Alrighty, here's the deal. I'm going to start some random thought provoking discussion on different books of the bible. We are starting with the book of James. Here's the first eleven verses of chapter 1:

• James 1:1-11 (MsgB) I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello! [2] Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. [3] You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. [4] So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. [5] If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. [6] Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. [7] Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, [8] adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. [9] When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! [10] And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. [11] You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

Questions:

1. Who is the writer trying to get his point across to?
2. Let's focus and the 5th and 6th verses, how does this apply to you?
3. How are you going to live different because of the direction given in this passage?

Sorry for the Delay!!!!

Ok, I've been gone for a while. I'm back and excited to be communicating again via the digital domain! I'm letting everyone know that next week we will have a daily blog with pics and story for parents! Parents can stay in touch and write a note to your little Johnny or Sally!

We are currently sitting at over 200 students for camp and tons of students signing up daily! Wow, God's awesome! Please pray for God's move and specifically for God to speak to every student and leader while at COLLIDE!

I Can't wait.

Here's a look at the schedule for services for next week.

Monday night is a night of worship, traditionally this night prepares the hearts of kids for the rest of the week.

Tuesday, I bring an illustrated sermon. This year I'm talking about learning to identify God's voice! I'm using the story of Samuel and Eli and how God spoke to a young man named Samuel who had a difficult time identifying God's voice. In our world we find that students still have the same issues.

Wednesday, A full length drama with a hard hitting message of faith and hope!
Thursday, Again, a night of full length drama written by Missy Vaughn!

Friday, we give students an opportunity to be baptised in water. This traditionally has been a passionate and moving time.

I'll talk to you more soon, Please write if you have any questions.

PDoug

Seattle, WA

I'm writing you from Seattle. I'm with Masters Commission Sacramento. We are doing services on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We are excited to tell people about what we're doing and invite students be apart of the 06-07 year! Imagine giving one year of your life, to nothing other than knowing God and following his voice, infact learning to recognize his voice. Pass the word, MC Sacramento is a great opportunity to grow in the knowledge and relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray for us that God will do his work in and through us as we minister to the students of Seattle.

pd

Grandma Seeber

Have you ever had someone in your life that had a profound impact but you didn't realize it until they were gone? This happened to me this week. My Grandma, Roberta Seeber, 94 died on Tuesday at 2:43 pm. We were all there with her in the hospital room when she left to be with Jesus. The last comment she made to my mother was simply this, "I'm flying away, I'm flying away". Then we didn't hear from her again. I know that today and everyday since she left us she was honoring the God she couldn't wait to see with her eyes.

When my friends and I used to go see her while she lived in Santa Cruz she would let us stay with her and every night in the middle of the night I would get up to get a drink or whatever and I would hear her praying for me and our family. She would be in tears asking God for his favor and annointing upon all of our lives. This was life changing for me. She would'nt sleep in order to intercede for me and my family and friends. Stunning, God, would you help me to have a hunger to live this kind of life. She wasn't well known, she didn't speak in front of thousands, but she knew how to do something that is more valuable then all the above, she knew how to pray! Thank you Grandma and thank you God for putting someone like this in my life.

So in response what I want to make sure I do in my life is this, give honor where honor is due. This bible says this is a wise practice. Do you have someone in your life that you would look at and say, they are worthy of my honor. They have impacted my life in a way that is amazing. My grandma did this for me along with a whole crew of other people. I'm going to make sure that I give honor where honor is due! Let's do this together and be people that are thankful and gracious and honoring. I know that in this, our God will be honored as well.

I stand in awe of my God and his provision for our lives.

Pd

ps, God, I'm a little jealous because you're hanging out with my Grandma instead of me. I'll get over it and join you someday.

To Pray

Intro: Praying is often times thought of as a mystical portal to the other side. Where if you pray just right, in the right position with the right voice it might just work and God might hear you and something good might happen.

Proseuchomai to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship :- pray (× earnestly, for), make prayer.
Pros - means – Toward
Euchomai means – Face to Face

Watch two people who are in Love. They don’t turn there backs to each other while they communicate. They look face to face.

Prayer is simply that learning to communicate face to face with God!

Jesus even gives us an example on how to pray. Let’s look at it.

Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
"This, then, is how you should pray:

" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
[10] your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us today our daily bread.
[12] Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'

-The opening: Addressing God as our Father.

Showing reverence and respect for God.
-hallowed be Your name
-Your kingdom come
-Your will be done.

Asking for help in Physical needs
-Give us this day our daily bread.
-not just wonder bread
-physical needs
-daily struggles to survive
-practical needs made on earth – not supernatural

The Us Stuff
- Forgive US our debts - Confess
- Lead US not into temptation - Help me to learn from my mistakes
- Deliver US from Evil. Protect me and my family

Closing: God to Rule in our LIVES all the time.

Couple Key points to remember about Prayer.

Luke 11:1 (MsgB)
One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, "Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."
- Learn How

Philip. 4:6-7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-Be specific know what your praying for.

An African missionary was walking down a path when he was confronted by a huge lion. The missionary hit his knees and began to pray saying, “God please let this be a good Christian lion.” Immediately the lion fell to the ground and put his front paws together and said, “Father, I thank you for the food. Now, bless it to my Body.

1 John 5:14-15 (MsgB)
And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. [15] And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours.
- God always hears us.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. [16] Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- Pray with faith.

Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
- Pray Alone

2 Chron. 7:14 (MsgB)
and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'll be there ready for you: I'll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.
- The Result of Prayer:

James 5:16 (NIV)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
- Include others

The prayer of a righteous man or woman is powerful and effective.

Where does the bible say that David was a man after God's own heart? ( Bring the answer next wednesday and get a free tshirt.)

Simply Worship, April 2

Here's the address for simply worship my space

http://www.myspace.com/simplyworshipoxygen


Sunday, April 2nd was an awesome night! Approximately 700 adults and students gathered together sunday night at 5pm for our semi annual Simply Worship. This night was designed to be a night of total worship and thanksgiving to God. Wow, to see the hunger for God and the passion to watch him move in our lives was great. I was so encouraged by the crowd that showed up to do what the name says, simply worship God. Nothing more nothing less. Thank you God for what you have done and continue to do.

Lord you are simply Amazing.

We are starting a movement of people who want to worship God first and formost in there lives. You can join the team by going to the Simply Worship my space site and requesting to be a friend. Simply Worship Oxygen.

I hope you enjoy the photos of the night. I'd love to hear your comments on the night and maybe something God began is doing in you.

Pd

Da Boys - Life moves fast.

Have you ever noticed that life moves real fast! Wow, it seems like a couple of years ago I was teaching Drew how to walk and now he's almost as big as me! (I can still kick his butt for those of you who were wondering.) Drew - 13, Bo - 12, Kiah - 3, and Tate - 2. What a crew. I love these guys so much. As I type the two little guys are divising a way to scale the wall next to me, stacking a small ladder on top of boxes desks and whatever else they can find. A definite accident waiting to happen. I wanted to leave you with one short challenge. Is life passing you by, are you busy with the things that are important or the things that don't mean much. This is something I'm constantly looking at. It's so easy to get caught up in things that just don't mean much. I hope and pray that you and I both can be about things that leave a legacy that God will be proud of.

Pd