Brief podcast in which Dan and Vic share some details about the services this Sunday.
Click here for audio!
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Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Podcast for 12-29-11
Brief podcast from the beach with some words of inspiration and a few laughs.
Click here for audio!
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Click here for audio!
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
What's Open At 7:45pm On Christmas Day In Southern Indiana?
What’s open at 7:45pm on Christmas day in southern Indiana
But the line was almost out the door because just about the only thing open at 7:45pm on Christmas day in southern Indiana
I must say, however, the cashier at this McDonalds gets the Official Christmas Day Wonderful Attitude Award (administered annually by the Christmas Attitude Association of the Greater Midwest Region). After spending over 8 hours on her feet, with a line out the door the entire day, she was smiling, cheerful, patient and friendly. Seriously, she was. I was impressed and pleasantly surprised. What a nice lady! In fact, I was so impressed that I offered to give her a McNugget from our order.
She smiled and said, “No thanks. I’m alright.” (Then she gave Nadia a look that said, “You actually hang out with this guy all the time, huh?)
Have you been wondering for years how to perfectly cap off a Christmas Day? Well, it turns out that the answer is a double cheeseburger from McDonalds. Who would have guessed it?
Well, who knows where we are right now, frankly, I’m blurry eyed.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
I Pray You're Experiencing The Hope Of Christmas
The angel said, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem., the city of David
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The Humility of Christ - Merry Christmas
The word “humility” is almost inadequate to describe the idea of God coming to earth and becoming human. Why would He do such a mind-blowing thing?!? Well, He tells us in His word that He did it because He loves you and me. Amazing, huh? Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Let's Be Merciful
Mercy happens when a person deserves some consequence—for example, punishment for doing wrong—and yet goodness, forgiveness & kindness is extended to the person instead. It’s very difficult to extend mercy to anyone unless we have been the recipient of mercy. Fortunately, anyone who walks with Christ has been shown mercy. So, let’s be merciful.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
People Are Not A Waste of Time
People are not a waste of our time, they are actually a significant aspect of what our lives are all about. The truly enduring and worthwhile legacy of our lives has a lot to do with the mark that we make on people. “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” –Pericles, approx. 431 B.C.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Arranging Our Lives To Connect With God
Do you ever think about the fact that there are ways in which we are involved in “arranging” our lives? “Part of the way we seek God with all our heart is to arrange our life in such a way that we are connecting with God as many minutes of the day as possible.” Jan Johnson
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Way We Deal With People Says Something About Our Love For God
God tells us that the way we deal with the real flesh and blood people in our lives says something about the authenticity of our love for Him. “…For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20
Sunday, December 18, 2011
The Value of Spiritual Disciplines
When we engage in a spiritual discipline like prayer or Bible study we are connecting with God and cultivating our relationship with Him. We are strengthening our ability to live life on His terms. That’s why these are critical practices for those who are serious about following Him.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Being Available To God
It can be a bit scary to take the step of being completely available to God because He usually doesn’t tell us in advance everything that will be required of us. That’s why these words of Isaiah are very impressive. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Isaiah 6:8
Friday, December 16, 2011
Living In A Responsible Way
God expects His followers to be careful not to cause another brother or sister in Christ to stumble. So there may be things that, technically speaking, we’re ALLOWED to do but we would willingly refrain from doing because we don’t want to cause someone else to be confused or stumble in some way in their relationship with Christ. Living like this calls for us to be responsible.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
What's Coming Up This Sunday, Dec. 18th?
Brief, fun podcast (4 mins. and 10 secs.) with info regarding the services, this Sunday.
Click here for audio!
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Click here for audio!
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Our Response To Circumstances
Writing about his experience in a Nazi concentration camp, Viktor Frankl says, “In spite of all the enforced physical and mental primitiveness of the life in a concentration camp, it was possible for spiritual life to deepen.” This reminds us that it is not our circumstances that determine whether we grow spiritually, it is how we respond to our circumstances.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Testing Produces Perseverance
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4. I’m continuing to discover the truth of these verses in real life. How about you?
Podcast For Dec. 14th -- Words of Encouragement
This is a brief podcast (5 mins. & 45 secs.) with some encouraging words for you. God will never leave you nor forsake you! Have a great day!
Click here for audio!
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Click here for audio!
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Childlike Faith
There’s a childlike faith that is commended in the Bible. It’s a type of faith that is not cynical. It is still open to awe and wonder. This faith is open to great possibilities because it hasn’t been frequently disappointed, yet. “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God
Monday, December 12, 2011
Yia Yia Palooza 2011 Highlights
Now you can spend the Christmas holidays watching the highlights from Yia Yia Palooza over and over again!
Click here for video!
Click here for video!
We Love Because He Loved Us First
When we understand love, we realize that genuine love is not primarily motivated by our feelings for a person. Love is primarily motivated by the fact that we are, first, recipients of God’s love. “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Sunday, December 11, 2011
The Desire To See God Be Glorified
An indication of spiritual maturity is a genuine desire to see God be glorified. So, if you are wondering how you’re doing spiritually, a fair question to ask yourself is this: Can I honestly say that it matters to me that God is honored, revered, respected and praised?
Sunday AM Sneak Peek Podcast
Here's a quick taste of what we'll be talking about at the services today, 12/11/11.
First Church of God, 4600 W. 111th Street, Oak Lawn, IL.
Click here for audio podcast!
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First Church of God, 4600 W. 111th Street, Oak Lawn, IL.
Click here for audio podcast!
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Saturday, December 10, 2011
How We Treat People Matters To God
It’s very clear from the Bible that how we treat other people matters to God. So, how should we treat other people? One of the simplest but most profound answers to that question is that we should treat other people the way we want to be treated. These qualities come to mind: Fairness, patience, kindness, respect, graciousness, dignity, & love. Easy, right?
Friday, December 9, 2011
Don't Let Anything Else Take God's Place
Anything that distracts us, or consumes us, or dominates our time and thoughts to the point that God’s place in our lives gets diminished, is not good, healthy, or wise. Jesus says, it’s foolish to let that happen.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
E-Flash From Dan -- December 8, 2011
Dear E-Flash Friends;
For hundreds of years, during the Christmas season, children all across the world have gathered in Oak Lawn , Illinois
…Oh, wait a minute. That’s right. This year will only be the second time we’ve ever held Yia Yia Palooza. Well, never mind about all the children gathering for hundreds of years, then. However, a pretty good sized group of us gathered for the Promiseland Christmas program (a.k.a., Yia Yia Palooza) last year and we had a wonderful time.
Even now, my mind is harkening back to the music, the skits, the tasty snacks, the sound system troubles, the children’s warm smiles, the police SWAT team intervention—it all made Yia Yia Palooza a magical night to remember. I think you’re going to want to be here.
I invite you to join us for this year’s Promiseland Christmas program, Yia Yia Palooza, this Sunday, December 11th at 5pm. I don’t know about you, but nothing could keep me away!
(Unless TBS runs that “Barnaby Jones” marathon, again. I’d definitely stay home for that.)
Also, I hope you’re planning to be at the service on Sunday morning (9am or 11am). The worship team is planning a terrific service, we will be having Communion, and I will be bringing a practical message from an interesting section of Scripture, Ecclesiastes 11:1-5. For sure, nothing could keep me away from the Sunday morning services…even that “Barnaby Jones” marathon.
Hope to see you this Sunday morning… and evening.
Blessings,
Dan
P.S. If you would like to have the E-Flash From Dan sent directly to your e-mail, send an e-mail message to cog111st@aol.com and type "Send me the E-Flash" in the "subject" field.
We Want To Do Whatever We're Not Supposed To Do
Why do we have this inclination to do things that are “forbidden”? It seems to involve an interesting mixture of curiosity, pride and rebellion. And this is often coupled with a desire to challenge the things that we fear. It’s an odd thing, sometimes all we need to know is, “you’re not allowed to do it” and, that’s it! We are strongly tempted to do it.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Always Love People More Than Money
There’s something very potent about the affect that greed can have on a person. Here’s an interesting finding: “Neuroscientists have found that the prospect of making money stimulates the same primitive reward circuits in the brain that cocaine does.” – Dr. Atul Gawande. Always be careful to love people more than money.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Pain Can Be A Positive Change Agent
Isn’t it odd that one of the points at which we make positive changes in our lives is when the pain from our unhealthy choices becomes too great to handle any more? So, it might seem strange, but in a way, we can say that the pain is actually good and helpful.
Monday, December 5, 2011
World's Fastest Haircut
I just received one of the world’s fastest haircuts. I went to a place near our house called Sports Clips. The timing was good. I walked in the door and they had me in the chair immediately.
A woman began cutting my hair—did I mention that she works at the place?—and she finished in about 4 and half minutes.
I said to her, “Have you been doing this a long time?”
She said, “Yes.”
I said, “I thought so, you’re pretty quick at it.”
She laughed and said, “It goes faster when you don’t have much hair.”
God calls us to be loving and generous to everyone—even hairstylists that zing you with lighthearted digs (I think it says something like that in the Bible)—so, I gave her a nice tip, anyhow. Because that’s the kind of wonderful, loving, gracious man that I am.
…Twenty eight cents is a nice tip, right?
*NOTE: Come on, you know I’m just kidding about the 28 cent tip.
Is Everyone Religious?
There’s a sense in which everyone is religious. In other words, everyone has some ultimate principle or some starting point which they accept, on faith. “Humans are inherently religious beings, created to be in relationship with God—and if they reject God, they don’t stop being religious; they simply find some other ultimate principle upon which to base their lives.” – Nancy Pearcey
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Staying Connected To Christ
If we are going to do anything of spiritual significance, we must be connected Christ. He is the source in the same way that the trunk of a plant is foundational to the branches of the plant. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – Jesus, John 15:5. Are you walking closely with Jesus?
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Christmas Decorating And Spreading Holiday Cheer!
I’m sitting here listening to Christmas music. Taylor
(Alright, I don’t actually see your eyes rolling, but I’ve got a pretty good imagination.)
Speaking of Christmas music, by the way, do yourself a favor and listen to Bryan Duncan’s version of The First Noel. Seriously, I love it. If this was an audio file instead of just text I would play it for you right now and you would be blessed and say, “That was great, Dan, thank you!”
So, I’ll just go ahead and say, “You’re welcome.”
Then you would probably add, “And for the record, Dan, you’re a pretty decent DJ.”
“Thank you.”
I think about my parents more as Christmas approaches (my mom loved Christmas). I’m blessed to have many incredible memories of Christmas when I was young. So, I’m going to tip back an eggnog, continue listening to the music, and reminisce.
You know what? Here’s an idea. If your parents are still around, give them a call and say, “Just wanted to tell you, again, that I love you.”
When they say, “Okay, what’s going on? What do you want, now?”
Say, “Nothing. Can’t a guy [or gal] call during this season when we remember the Savior’s birth and express some love for wonderful parents?”
Take notice that, at this point, they may think it’s a wrong number.
……Or, they may wipe away a tear of joy.
You’re welcome.
Time Flies
When I was in my 20’s I thought, “Boy, time seems to be passing quickly, these days.” Now, just a few months later—at least that’s how it seems—I’m in my 50’s, already. Can someone explain to me how that happened? By the way, make it quick, I’m a little pressed for time.
Friday, December 2, 2011
What Did You Say About The Beverage Dispenser?
Rachel and I were sitting at a fast food restaurant today. (Hey, it’s the first time we were at a fast food place since yesterday.) Here is a brief snippet of our adventure…
Rachel: [Noting that a kid has put his mouth on the Pepsi beverage dispenser spout.] That boy is drinking from the thing.
Me: What thing?
Rachel: Over there. [Pointing to a teenaged kid who was goofing around with some friends at the beverage dispenser.] He was drinking from it.
Me: He put his mouth on it?
Rachel: Yes.
Me: [Looking at my Diet Mtn.
Rachel: Yes. That’s gross, isn’t it?
Me: [Getting up to throw my drink away.] Yes it is.
Rachel: [With total innocence.] Want me to get you another drink?
Me: No.
*NOTE: Don’t worry, I won’t post too many of these kinds of incidents, otherwise no one will go out to eat at anymore and they’ll close all of my favorite places.
By the way, can I get anyone a beverage while I’m up?
God Has Blessed Me With The People In My Life
One of the ways that God has been generous, loving, gracious and faithful to me is through the people He has brought into my life. Of course, it is true that some people can be a blessing and some people can seem as if they are more of a curse. I can say, with gratitude to God, the people in my life have been a blessing.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Check Out Joshua Powell And The Great Train Robbery
I love Joshua Powell as a person first; he is an outstanding and gifted young man who has a genuine heart for God. That matters because great music comes from the heart of the musician. So, I admit that I’m biased. I really want Josh’s music to be fantastic. The good thing is that it is. Check it out. I think you will like Josh’s music and you will appreciate the heart of this artist from which it comes.
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Looking Out For The Interests of Others
The more focused we are on “self”, the less healthy our relationships tend to be. When we care about others and look out for the interests of others, our relationships tend to be healthier.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
God Gave Us Laughter To Help Keep Us Sane
Sometimes really strict people will say there are serious things happening and the spiritual realities of our world are such that we shouldn’t be wasting time with frivolity and laughter. What these folks don’t realize is that it’s precisely because there are serious matters in this life that God has given us the gift of laughter to stay sane.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Q & A -- Do We Need To Work On Ourselves In Order To Provide Leadership To Others?
Question:
I heard a Christian speaker say that we need to “work on ourselves” before we can lead others. But that doesn’t sound right to me. Isn’t working on ourselves an inherently selfish thing to do? Jesus said that leaders are supposed to be humble.
Answer:
I suppose working on ourselves can become a form of selfishness, because we have the ability to take just about any pursuit to the point where it becomes unhealthy.
(I made a trip to the gym unhealthy, one time. It involved a deep fryer and several packages of Twinkies.)
However, the idea of working on ourselves could be understood to mean that we are actively pursuing spiritual growth and maturity, i.e., becoming more like Christ. Hebrews chapter 12, vs. 1, tells us: “…Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” This is speaking of spiritual discipline using the metaphor of a long race. It’s a form of working on ourselves. In this case, working on ourselves would, obviously, be good and it would be important to spiritual leadership.
Sometimes Christian teachers will attempt to give insight and help involving aspects of life in Christ that they have not personally experienced. I heard a Christian teacher refer to this as the preaching of “rumors and innuendo”. (That’s a pretty effective way of putting it.) Working on ourselves becomes critical because there is a sense in which we cannot lead people very capably into areas where we have not gone ourselves.
So, although it may sound selfish, working on ourselves is actually an aspect of becoming the kind of person who can genuinely lead and assist others.
Let's Not Isolate Ourselves... Reach Out For Help
Sometimes when we are feeling discouraged and depressed, we have a tendency to withdraw and isolate ourselves. That’s exactly what we should not do. It’s in those times, especially, that we need to reach out for the support, help, love, connection and encouragement of others.
Monday, November 28, 2011
The Blessing of God's Presence With Us
It’s very helpful, encouraging & comforting to know that God is always with us. Fear is stifled—it does not manifest in us—when we have a keen awareness of God’s presence. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” Psalm 23:4
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Being Ready
Jesus said that we should “be ready” for his return. The very notion of “being ready” presumes that there is such a thing as “not being ready”. So, if He comes and you’re not ready… then it’s too late. I don’t write this in order to frighten or threaten anyone, I write it to inform. “Be ready”. In other words, be trusting in Christ, be living for Christ. When He returns…be found in Him.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
An SNL Appearance? Not Really
Because I like to think that I have a pretty decent sense of humor, I have imagined what it would be like to have a small, brief appearance on Saturday Night Live. Oh, I know, that’s such a frivolous idea for a pastor of a church to spend any time thinking about.
Frankly, I’m embarrassed to admit such a thing. I really should be pondering deep theological matters and issues of eternal consequence—but I’m sorry, that’s where my mind sometimes wanders when I’m daydreaming.
So, with some chagrin, I share this make believe appearance on SNL that I have imagined.
It’s 10 minutes to show time and since SNL is done live, there is a furious bustle of activity in Studio 8H, along with that exciting feeling of raw energy that comes with a mixture of nerves and adrenalin. Everyone is feeling the combination of intensity and jitters that always accompany any pressure-filled, significant performance.
The celebrity host for the evening walks past me getting in place for the show’s cold opening. I smile and say, “It’s almost go time!” Then I hold out my hand for the high five. Unfortunately, at no time during that brief moment did he even notice me.
Do I feel self-conscious and a little out of place? Of course I do! I realize that it’s just a crazy lark that I’m even participating in such an event…
Hey look, there’s Betty White! I wave, but she doesn’t see me.
Oh well, I know how these things go and I realize that everyone is feeling nervous.
Just then the segment producer approaches, holding a clipboard and says, “Excuse me, who are you?”
“Oh,” I chuckle and say, “I’m Dan Marler. Remember? I’m the guy who has the little line in tonight’s next to the last sketch.” I hold out my hand for the high five.
At that point the security guards are called and I’m briskly escorted from the building.
[ Long pause, along with a deep sigh. ] Gee whiz, you know something has gone terribly awry when a guy can’t even catch a fun break in his own daydreams!
Friday, November 25, 2011
I Was Skeptical About Black Friday... But Not Anymore!
I was going to go to some local stores just to see and experience the mania of this legendary shopping day called “Black Friday”. Frankly, I was skeptical. I didn’t think it was as crazy as all the media reports portray it. But when I went outside there was actually a line halfway around the block just to get into my car! Wow, this Black Friday thing really is wild!
Wisdom About Anger - Audio Podcast
Here's an audio podcast that deals with the subject of handling anger. It's based on Ecclesiastes chapter 7, vs. 9.
Click here for audio!
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Click here for audio!
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Pondering The Greatness of Knowing Christ
The Apostle Paul said that everything in the whole world was “rubbish” compared to knowing Christ. In other words, nothing else has any importance or value in comparison with the greatness of knowing Christ. Hmm, think about it, Paul wanted to know Jesus more than he wanted anything else in life. Could we honestly say that we feel that way, too? I’m pondering that truth today.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
E-Flash From Dan -- Thanksgiving Adventures
Dear E-Flash Friends;
Hope you’ve been having a great Thanksgiving Day! Mine has been terrific. Nadia whipped up a delicious feast that any early American Pilgrim would have envied.
And then, following our dinner, I sat back in a comfortable chair and did what most of you probably did. I read for a while from a book on theology. Yep, I know, that’s the typical thing most people do after a scrumptious Thanksgiving meal. Here’s a brief sample passage from the book I’m reading:
“Yet eschatology itself is a crucial category for theology and ethics, to take only the question of how ‘realized’ is the kingdom of God in our era and how we therefore should act in light of that eschatological understanding.”
Yeah, I know. It’s dynamic and exhilarating, isn’t it?
Well, as you can imagine, after reading a number of thrilling passages like that for half an hour or more, you could feel the excitement all through our house reach a fever pitch. I quickly took advantage of the momentum from all that reading frenzy to make a stealthy move into the kitchen and dive back into the turkey and other leftovers for the next round of eating.
I’m telling you all of that to let you know that I’m now laying on the couch with a mild sugar coma and a small turkey bone hanging out of the corner of my mouth.
And, furthermore, it seemed like a good time to remind you all that this Sunday, Nov. 27th, the elders will be having a prayer time in between the two morning services. (I bet you’ve never read an introduction for a “prayer time” announcement like that before, huh?) If you have a prayer need or if you would simply like to join with us during our time of prayer, we will be meeting in the sanctuary at approximately 10:15am, and you are welcome to come.
Also, we will be looking at Ecclesiastes chapter 7, vs. 13, this Sunday. It is an interesting passage that talks about accepting the way God does things. I believe you will be blessed if you are here. In fact, it would be a great Sunday to invite a friend. I am praying that God will be moving powerfully. I ask that you pray for the service, too.
Thanks, and in all serious, I hope that you have had a wonderful and blessed day and that there is genuine gratitude in your heart for God’s goodness in your life.
Love and blessings,
Dan
I Am Grateful... Happy Thanksgiving!
Family, friends, good health, a wonderful church, God’s unfailing love and grace, these are just a few of the many things that I’m thankful for. It’s good and right when people who are abundantly blessed feel and express genuine gratitude for those blessings. Are you grateful? I am. If you’re reading this message, that means you’re one of my friends--an electronic friend, at least. That means I’m thankful for you, too! Happy Thanksgiving. Love, Dan.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
We're Never Separated From God's Love
“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.” Romans 8:38-39. Isn’t it nice to know that nothing will ever separate us from God’s love?
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Looking At Ourselves Honestly
There is a tendency to want to find people to blame for the troubles of our world—and, no doubt, there are plenty of people who are deserving of blame. But are we also willing to consider how we may, perhaps, have contributed to some of the problems, too? This kind of reflection is what mature, responsible, honest people do.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
What The Heck Is Celebrity Rehab?
A while back I posted a vlog indicating that I had been interviewed for an episode of the TV show “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew”. Since then, a few people have asked me, “What the heck is Celebrity Rehab?”
Alright, I’d say that’s a fair question. So, here’s an answer…
Celebrity Rehab is a reality TV show that airs on the VH1 cable network. It is hosted by Dr. Drew [Dr. Drew Pinsky]. You’ve heard of Dr. Drew, right? He’s probably one of the most visible physicians on television these days. I think he has about 16 shows in which he is currently involved. (That’s an exaggeration, but just a slight exaggeration.)
Celebrity Rehab chronicles the struggles of celebrities who are battling addictions. According to the show’s website, it is “the first reality TV show to depict the process of overcoming addiction.” (If you don’t count some early episodes of the Flintstones.)
I was interviewed for the show by Bob Forrest. Bob and the Celebrity Rehab crew were at the church recording about 25 to 30 minutes of conversation with me. Bob is Dr. Drew’s right hand man and he is described on the show’s website as the Head Counselor and Program Manager at the Pasadena Recovery Center
You might be saying, “Okay Dan, so come clean. What type of addiction are you struggling with anyhow?”
My main addiction right now is ice tea with lots of Splenda. But hold on a minute, my interview for the show was not about me. The interview was done in relation to a man who attends our church named Joey Kovar who appeared on Season 3 of Celebrity Rehab. Joey’s initial fame comes from appearing on the MTV show called The Real World. Celebrity Rehab is doing a series of episodes entitled: “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Revisited” in which they reunite with former patients to see how they are doing. It’s basically Celebrity Rehab’s version of “where are they now?”
Joey Kovar has had an authentic conversion experience in which he has accepted Christ and this has played a significant role in his life and in his experience of attempting to remain clean and sober. So, the folks from Celebrity Rehab asked to speak with me as Joey’s pastor (with his permission, of course).
The VH1 website states that “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Season 3 Revisited” is currently scheduled to air on Sunday, December 4th, (at 8pm Central).
Obviously, I don’t know if any portion of my interview will make it to air. I have no control over the show and I won’t know until it airs that evening. But, it was fun and pretty exciting for a non-celebrity like me to be involved in the taping. Will any of it air? We’ll see…
Well, I think that covers just about everything I know about the matter and even a few things I didn’t know about it until about 15 minutes ago.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Talking To God
According to the Bible, God hears our prayers. When we talk to God or even if we simply think thoughts to God, He is listening to us. That’s, actually, a remarkable truth to consider. The Almighty Creator of the universe is able and willing to interact in that kind of personal, individual way with you and me. Hmm, it’s pretty cool to be able to talk to God, huh?
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Humility and Maturity of John The Baptist
At a certain point, John The Baptist’s once-large crowds began to dwindle and Jesus’ crowds were growing. John was not bothered by this. He said about Jesus, matter-of-factly, “He must increase and I must decrease.” Whenever I read this, I am moved and impressed by John’s humility, understanding, and maturity.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Keep Going! Don't Give Up!
It’s important for us to be able to bounce back and keep going after failures, disappointments, and other types of negative experiences. How we handle difficulties is an indication of how well equipped we are to handle life. Don’t give up and remember God is still with us!
Monday, November 14, 2011
A Victim Mentality Can Obscure The Reality of Consequences
Our culture tends to encourage a victim mentality. Now, it is certainly true that sometimes people are victimized. However, when an entire society embraces a pervasive victim mentality, that can be a dangerous attitude in a number of ways. In particular, a victim mentality can obscure the reality that our actions really do have consequences.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Don't Eat All The Baked Goods In The Same Day
We had the chili cook off and bake sale at church. I’ve been eating cookies non-stop since noon today and I’ve actually gained 135 pounds over the past 6 hrs. That doesn’t seem possible, does it? Most of it is in my ankles. I think it might be a record of some kind. I’m going to look it up. Hmm, I’ve come to the conclusion that maybe you shouldn’t eat all the baked goods in the same day.
Maybe I'll Write A Song And Call It Amazing Grace
I’m sitting here getting ready for the services and it occurred to me, once again, that I’ve pulled a whole lot of nonsense in my life—and I don’t really deserve to be forgiven for this stuff—but a gracious, loving God forgives me, anyhow, because of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Incredible! In fact, I ought to write a song and call it “Amazing Grace”. But I’ll do that later. Time for W.T. run through…
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Keep A Close Watch On How You Live
Someone gave me this verse one time and said, “Pay attention to this, Dan. It's an important verse for those who serve in leadership positions…”: “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” 1 Tim. 4:16 That person was right.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tell A Vet "Thanks!"
We live in a tremendous country that offers us lives of remarkable freedom. These privileges were paid for by men and women who have literally fought and suffered and, in many cases, died to protect our liberties. What they’ve done is a big deal. I am grateful for their service. Tell a vet, “Thanks, I appreciate what you’ve done!” Happy Veterans Day!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
E-Flash From Dan, Nov. 10, 2011
Dear E-Flash Friends;
King Solomon says, “Finishing is better than starting.”
“Hmm, what is Ol’ Sol talking about,” you ask? Well, I hope you’re planning on being here, at church, this Sunday, Nov. 13th, to find out. You will be blessed if you come.
And don’t forget that after the 11 o’clock service we’re having the Annual Chili Cook-Off and the Bake Sale. The Cook Off and Bake Sale are fund-raisers for the International Youth Convention, which our youth are attending in the summer of 2012. And they are tremendous opportunities to eat some tasty food! If you think about it, just the very idea of freshly baked goods, all by itself… uh huh… are you picturing something chocolate? Yep, that alone is reason enough to be here!
Who’s with me?!? (Just so you know, I’m visualizing lots of cheering, right now.)
Alright, time for a brief change of subjects: When I meet with folks, one of the issues that comes up over and over again has to do with helping people who are experiencing troubles and problems. The very brief attached video addresses a fundamental issue regarding with this matter.
Click on the link to view the video… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBEYzmXqaxQ
Hope you’re having a great week. I’m excited about seeing you all on Sunday!
Blessings,
Dan
P.S. King Solomon and I are not close personal friends, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t mind when I refer to him as “Ol’ Sol”.
The Value of Gathering With Others
Some actions and activities seem to have an extra dimension of meaning and potency when we gather together and do them with others. This is part of the reason that it’s good and helpful and important for the church to meet together. “Let us not give up meeting together…but let us encourage one another.” Hebrews 10:25(a)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Hey, It's A Good Day!
It’s been pouring rain once again today and there’s a Lake Michigan sized body of water in my back yard where there’s supposed to be a regular lawn for Jasper to enjoy. But you know what? The sun is actually beginning to poke out around some clouds. And it made me think of this verse: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Ps.118:24. God is good! Hope you have a great day. …Now get back to work!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Aha, Moment!
Once in a while, I will have one of those “aha” moments where I come to an understanding of something that I hadn’t noticed before. And I’m tempted to think: “God, why did this take so long? Why didn’t you show me this earlier in my life?” And it’s as if I can sense God saying, “I’ve been showing you this for years. It’s just that now you’re finally ready to get it.”
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Beauty of Forgiveness And Grace
Recently someone told me that when she first came to some church services a key attraction for her was the idea that there was forgiveness and grace available. She knew that she needed the forgiveness that Christ offered and it was important for her to hear and know that forgiveness was truly possible. I’ve been going to church for a long time and I still find that forgiveness attractive, too!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Why Is God Important When Receiving Criticism?
I posted a thought earlier today in which I stated that God is important to the process of receiving criticism in a healthy way.
Why is this true?
In order to understand how God can help us in this area of our lives, it is helpful to start with this realization: Criticism feels threatening to us.
There is a part of our brain that perceives almost any kind of criticism to be a threat. Even if the person who is offering the criticism does not mean to be threatening, it feels that way to us. And so there’s a natural defensiveness that rises up in us when we first hear a criticism.
In a fundamental way, what we’re talking about is, fear. Most of the time, when we receive criticism there is some measure of fear that is stirred in us. That’s why sometimes we can see someone be criticized in a very minor and gentle way and yet their reaction to the criticism seems extreme.
We look and think, “Why is this person reacting in such a volatile way to such a minor criticism? What’s going on here? Why such a strong response?”
The answer is that the person is afraid. The strong reaction is coming from fear.
This is where God is so important. God drives out fear. How does He do this? With His love. God’s love for us is perfect, unfailing, and unending. And the Bible tells us that, “…love [real love, God’s love] has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.” 1John 4:18. The last part of that verse is expressed this way in the NIV translation, “Perfect love drives out fear.:”
When you don’t really believe that God loves you, you will experience more fear in life. If you don’t believe that God loves you, you will have a hard time receiving any kind of constructive criticism because of the fear that it will generate in you.
On the other hand, the more convinced you are that God loves you, the less fear you will experience. If you are really convinced that God loves you, you will be more able to hear criticisms without anger and melt downs and furious denials because when you realize that God loves you, you realize that “it’s alright”. You will be able to say to yourself, “The fact that I’m receiving some criticism is alright. The fact that I have areas in which I need to grow is alright.”
The person who truly knows God’s love calmly understands that criticism is alright because we know that our inherent worth and value as a human being is not based on the fact that we’re imperfect and still have room to grow. Our inherent worth and value as a human being comes from this unshakable truth: God loves me.
I’m going to repeat that last sentence because it’s very important to think about it: Our inherent worth and value as a human being comes from this unshakable truth: God loves me.
Do you believe that God loves you? Do you? Really? Please note: I’m not asking if you know words about God’s love—I realize that you know those words—I’m asking if you have a true conviction in your heart that God loves you?
If you do then you can receive criticism graciously.
And if you can receive criticism graciously, congratulations! That means you’re in a good place to grow.
Criticism and Praise
Today, at church, we’ll be talking about some of the distinctions between wise criticism and foolish praise. And then we’ll be talking about being able to receive criticism graciously. Any person who wants to grow needs to be able to hear honest feedback. Later today, I’ll post a note to explain why God is so important to the process of receiving criticism in a healthy way.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
What Are We Becoming?
We are all constantly in the process of becoming something. What we are becoming might be positive or it might be negative, but the process is occurring. The goal of the follower of Jesus is that we are becoming more like Christ. Are the presence and the influence of Jesus becoming increasingly apparent in us? This is a question that worthy of our time and consideration.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Jesus Makes Us Right Before God
One of the most fundamental desires that we have is the desire to make ourselves good and right and acceptable to God and it can be downright bothersome for us to accept the fact that we cannot do this. It is the completed work of Christ on the cross that makes us good and right and acceptable to God. This is good news!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
God Calls Us To That Which Requires Him
This is an interesting quote I came across a number of years ago. It is worth pondering: “God will never call you to something you can do. Period. If you can do what God has called you to without the new power God alone provides…then you missed what God has called you to. God calls us only to that which requires Him.” – Dwight Edwards.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Can Real Truth Can Be Known?
Jesus claimed to be the truth. So, the follower of Christ accepts that real, objective truth exists and that truth can be known. Of course, some humility is warranted. This does not mean that we know and understand all truths…but it does mean that we can genuinely know the source of all truth.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Connected To God And Experiencing Peace
Prayer connects us to God and being connected to God helps us to handle some of the difficulties and challenges of life that will come our way. When we turn to Him, He gives us a sense of His presence and His peace, even in the midst of the troubles. The Bible calls it a “peace that passes understanding”. This is a very good, helpful and important form of help.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
God Treats Me Better Than I Deserve
The longer I live and the older I get the more I come to see that it would be a disaster for me if, in the end, I got what I “deserved”. That would be a sad day for me. I thank God for His wonderful mercy and grace. The incredible truth is that because of Jesus, He treats me FAR, FAR, FAR better than I deserve. Praise God!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Maybe I'm Pretty Smart, After All
Sometimes people come to me for “counsel” and they talk and talk and I never really say anything. Then they leave telling me, “Thanks that was helpful. I’m glad we were able to have this discussion. I really have a fresh understanding of the matter, now. God definitely worked through you, Dan!” After they’re gone, I sit in my office thinking: Wow, I must be pretty smart, after all!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Is The Christian Faith Ridiculous?
A friend of mine on facebook recently asked me to respond to comments on one of her posts. She had written a post about her Christian faith and a person replied to her post with remarks that seemed to indicate that the Christian faith is ridiculous. Also, the comments touched on the issue of atheism and belief in the existence of God.
My response is not just a few paragraphs—when did I ever make a point with just a few paragraphs, huh? But based on feedback that I’ve received, it appears that a few others may wish to read it. So, what follows is my response (with a few edits from the original). I hope you will take a minute or two to read it.
--Dan
To believe in Christianity is not ridiculous or foolish. Many of the most brilliant thinkers in the history of the world, past and present are Christians, e.g., St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes, Soren Kierkegaard, Michael Faraday, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and many others. Notice that some of the greatest scientific minds of all time are on that list. And there are others, too. Francis Collins, who was the head of the Human Genome Project, is a committed Christian.
There are cases of skeptics who carefully studied the evidence in order to disprove Christianity once-and-for-all and, at the conclusion of their studies, were instead convinced of the truth of Christianity. These were not foolish, dimwitted people, they were smart people who came to a belief in God through an intellectual search.
When it comes to the origin of our universe and a belief in God, it really boils down to 2 basic options. These 2 issues can be broken down in various ways and have been written about in voluminous detail but at the end of the day, they are fairly simple.
Since the science of cosmology tells us that the universe did indeed have a beginning (it has not always existed). Then…
1) Everything that exists has come from some type of cause. (God?) Or;
2) “Nothing” has produced “something” through random chance plus time. (No God.)
At the end of the day, those are really the two options.
The argument for the first point, above is called the cosmological argument. And it can be stated like this:
1 Whatever begins to exist has a cause
2 The universe began to exist
3 Therefore the universe has a cause
4 This cause must be transcendent, immaterial, uncaused, eternal, and omnipotent
And, of course, the transcendent, immaterial, uncaused, eternal, omnipotent cause referred to in point #4 sounds a heck of a lot like God to many of us.
The Cosmological Argument is a valid philosophical argument that has been debated by many brilliant people. A person may find it unconvincing, but I promise you, it’s not dumb.
The vast majority of people who have ever lived, both smart and not-so-smart, believe that there must be a cause for all that exists. Again, a person may not like the belief, and that’s fair, but it is not an unreasonable belief. Furthermore, many people find the notion that “everything ultimately came from nothing” is the more difficult belief to justify.
I don’t write this to attempt to put anyone on the defensive or to try to win an argument. I’m not interested in arguments, I’m interested in the truth. A person who is interested enough to read an article like this is clearly indicating that these issues matter to him/her. So, if you have read this post, I’m assuming you must be interested in the truth, too. I commend you for that. Please understand that I do not mean this in a condescending way, but I hope your search for truth leads you to the one who is the Truth.
Blessings to you!
Dan
If We Really Believe That God Loves Us....
If we really believe that God loves us, there is a confidence and a lack of fear that results in our lives that positively impacts everything we do and everyone we encounter.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
An Act of Worshiping God
The first line of the Lord’s prayer says: “hallowed be thy name.” What does it mean if we say that something should be hallowed? That’s talking about deep respect & devotion. It’s a way of saying, “Lord your name should be honored & revered.” So, to say “Lord, may your name be hallowed” is an act of worshiping God.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Skeptical of Internet Quotes
“I am skeptical of many quotes that I encounter on the Internet. They sometimes appear to be inaccurate and the source of the quotes seems suspicious.” – Aristotle.
*NOTE: I wish I could say I wrote this joke. I didn't. I heard someone say a variation of it recently. It's clever, huh?
Monday, October 24, 2011
Growing Older vs. Growing Up
“Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.” – Anonymous. It is helpful and important for us to walk closely with God; think; pay attention; relate with others authentically; and, in general, learn the lessons that life offers. This will help us gain wisdom as our years accumulate.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Up And At 'Em
Sunday, 7:52 a.m.
Shhhh, listen. Do you hear that? ...Yep, that’s the sound of people rising and getting ready for church. It’s fantastic! ..…Okay. Hold on. ....That other sound was someone getting back into bed. I guess we’re going to have to crank the volume on the sound system a little bit louder during the worship team run-thru to get that person up and out of bed.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Real Love Is Not For Wimps
Part of the fun of true love is really getting to know a person. And, of course, part of the genuine challenge of true love is really getting to know a person. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Real love is not for wimps.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Leaving For Homecoming At AU
We'll be leaving for Anderson Univ. (Indiana) soon for homecoming weekend, then back home tomorrow evening. Yes, it’s true, the state of Illinois has had some troubles over the past few years but I’m hoping all of that will be cleared up and things will be perfect here in our fine state when I return. .….That’s a pretty reasonable expectation, isn’t it?
P.S. If you're a bad guy, you should know that there are people staying at our house. Oh... and several of these folks are dangerous Shaolin Priest Kung Fu experts. So, don't get any wise ideas!
P.S. If you're a bad guy, you should know that there are people staying at our house. Oh... and several of these folks are dangerous Shaolin Priest Kung Fu experts. So, don't get any wise ideas!
We Need A Power Beyond Our Selves
In order to consistently live the way that Jesus calls us to live, there is a power far beyond our selves that is required. This is one of the significant ways that the Holy Spirit works in the life of the follower of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us power to do the things that we cannot do on our own.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Reason And Faith Work Together
Reason and Faith are not mutually exclusive or inherently at odds with each other. The one can enhance the other. “Faith is ultimately the gift of the Holy Spirit. But in showing that there are excellent reasons for Christian belief, we can lead unbelievers to a place where they may be more open to the Spirit’s work.” –Garry DeWeese.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I'm Surprised By The Many Blessings
When I take time to honestly think about the many good things in my life, I hate to say it, but I’m usually surprised. I, sort of, forget how blessed I am. I have much to be thankful for. I hope that’s true for you, too!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
We Love Because He First Loved Us
Sometimes people are cranky and not very lovable. Love them anyhow. Some people will resist our genuine attempts to love them. Love them anyhow. Sometimes people won’t appreciate our love for them. Love them anyhow. We don’t love based on “who” people are or “how” they respond. “We love because He first loved us.” 1John 4:19
Monday, October 17, 2011
Trunk Or Treat Is Coming
Click here for video!
The video states that Trunk or Treat goes from 1pm - 2:30pm. Actually, the children will collect candy from 1 till 2:30pm, however, the entire event will last from 1pm until 4pm. So...this is awesome! This means that there's even more fun to be had. How cool!
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The video states that Trunk or Treat goes from 1pm - 2:30pm. Actually, the children will collect candy from 1 till 2:30pm, however, the entire event will last from 1pm until 4pm. So...this is awesome! This means that there's even more fun to be had. How cool!
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Jesus Is Lord
“So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Cor. 12:3. If you say “Jesus is Lord” and you really mean it, that is a reflection of the Holy Spirit at work in you.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
We Can Always Engage With God In Complete Honesty
God never asks us to pretend that something is true with Him when it really isn’t true. He knows the whole truth anyhow, so we can always engage in every encounter with Him in complete honesty.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Real Beliefs Are Reflected In Actions
“A great way to find out if you really believe something is whether you are ready to act as if [the belief] were true or real in everyday life.” McDowell & Morrow. We can talk about our beliefs but what we really believe tends to be reflected pretty accurately in our actions.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Wonder And Awe For The World Around Us
There is something good about having a basic sense of awe and wonder at the world around us. “When we separate ourselves from truth, goodness, and beauty, we lose wonder and become cynical…. The closer we are to God, to divine attributes—such as absolute truth, goodness, and beauty—the more we wonder.” –Philosopher Peter Kreeft.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
When We View Things From An Eternal Perspective
I think it’s quite possible that some of the things that we consider to be big, will actually be revealed to be fairly small in the light of eternity. Whereas, some of the things that we consider to be small will, perhaps, be bigger than we thought from an eternal perspective.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Responding With Patience, Grace, Gentleness & Love
When people are hurting, they often communicate in hurtful, aggressive, mean-spirited ways. When people communicate in these ways, our natural inclination is to want to give it right back to them. But that won’t really accomplish much. A more helpful response from those who love God is patience, dignified grace, and gentleness. “A gentle answer turns away wrath…” Prov.15:1
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
It's Good To Be "Justified"
The theological concept of justification means that from God’s standpoint our sins are completely forgiven. But there’s something else. It’s extraordinary, really. When we are justified God considers Christ’s righteousness to belong to us. In other words, when we are justified God looks at us and what does He see? He sees the righteousness of Christ. That’s pretty good, huh?
Monday, October 10, 2011
It's Okay To Express Our Feelings To God
Our understanding of things is limited. So we can become frustrated, puzzled, and even angry at certain events in our world. It is okay to experience those feelings and to express those feelings to God. And while we’re expressing our feelings it would be reasonable to ask Him to give comfort and assistance to those who have been devastated.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
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