I’ve been reading a lot of church planters’ blogs lately. We are very similar lot. In fact, it’s quite encouraging to hear that the hard stuff we go through, everyone else has too.
Ben Arment has a great 4 part series of posts on The Dip. Peachtree staff, we’ve been in the dip for over a year. This fall, we’re coming out. I can’t wait for our meeting on June 9.
Eric Wright has a great 5 steps program for spending time with God. 30 minutes (what I’ve just started doing) in the morning keeps coming up. Cool.
Psalm 19 is beautiful.
The Heavens declare the glory of God (Hebrew El – a generic word, much like our English usage of the word God)
Creation points to the majesty and power of the painter of everything we see, but it doesn’t tell us his character.
But the Law (v. 7–14), reveals Yahweh.
Yahweh’s law: revives the soul (v. 7), makes the simple wise (v. 8), and gives joy to the heart (v. 9).
I especially like verse 13–14:
“Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me.” and
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
(Part of my series of commenting on the Psalms)
David is grateful to God for delivering him from Saul.
Great verses:
1 I love you, O Lord, my strength
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer…
28 You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning, my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
That’s a great thought: with my God, I can leap over any wall.
Wow, I just read Ps 18 in Eugene Peterson’s The Message
Here’s a sample:
Psalm 18:1-6 (The Message)
1 I love you, God— you make me strong. 2 God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout. 3 I sing to God, the Praise-Lofty, and find myself safe and saved. 4 The hangman’s noose was tight at my throat; devil waters rushed over me. 5 Hell’s ropes cinched me tight; death traps barred every exit. 6 A hostile world! I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call; my cry brings me right into his presence— a private audience!
Great words for today.
I believe blogging is an incredible tool. The many comparisons to the Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1517 are apt, I believe, both in terms of technology giving the expression of individuals the ability to persuade masses, as well as the revolutions such persuasive expressions were able to cause. (Don't forget, the Protestant Reformation was what it was because of the printing press).
I blogged for about a year (first post: March 2005; last post, April 2006). I didn't consciously decide to quit, but a couple of things happened:
1. I went through an internet funk where other blogs began to discourage me (not based on their content; I don't know if it was jealousy or mid-life crisis (Katie says I'm too young for that; I'm 36) or what, but for the sake of my spiritual life, I swore off blogs for at least six months.
2. We had a CHALLENGING year at Peachtree (my staff says, which year has not been been challenging). Deciding to buy/build, leading a capital campaign, and choosing the place consumed 2006, and much of it was not glamorous to write about. Looking back, God has been so faithful to led us to His best for us, but there were lots of faith-stretching moments along the way.
To sum it all up, I've felt really led to share my voice, this time around, primarily for the congregation at Peachtree and the people of West Georgia. I have several church planter friends I hope will be encouraged and I really do hope to connect with some guys who are leading well and down the road ahead of me (Perry Noble, Scott Hodge, I'm dying to meet you guys...Gary, hook me up)
But, I really want to share life with my closest brothers and sisters and the people we are called to reach.
So, don't be shy. Let me know what you think…what you’d like to talk about, and especially who you are.
Got a question or comment...I look forward to our conversations!
Also be sure to check out Peachtree Community Church
Peace be to you,
Pastor Dave
I’ve been reading Eugene Peterson’s Under the Unpredictable Plant and it has inspired me to “Pray through the Psalms”. I’ve never done this before, but basically you read through Psalms as personal prayers. It seems the church fathers and the church through history used the Psalms as a “school of prayer” and it has really been cool for me. Let me know if you want more details about it.
