E-Flash From Dan, May 31, 2013

Dear E-Flash Friends;

Most of you probably know that the past couple of weeks have been very interesting for me.  I’ve learned that I have some health challenges of which I was previously unaware.  Thankfully, these issues were discovered sooner rather than later and I’m receiving effective treatments (including bionic parts that will make me 10 times stronger than the average man).

I am sincerely grateful for your prayers and kind words of encouragement and support.  Your love has been a source of great joy and help to me and to my family!

This Sunday, June 2^nd, I’m planning to share a couple of thoughts that God has placed on my mind over the past 3 weeks.  He has reminded me of some simple but important truths and I believe He wants me to share them with you.  So, I’m really hoping you are planning to be here.

The worship team has some wonderful music in store for us and I honestly believe that this time together is going to be a powerful God-moment for us.  In fact, why don’t you take little risk and invite a friend?  God is going to be at work and we won’t want to miss it!

Again, please accept my deepest thanks for your love and prayers.  I am blessed to be a part of such a wonderful church and I’m looking forward to seeing you this Sunday!

Love and blessings,

Dan

First Church of God

4600 W. 111th Street

Oak Lawn, IL

708-636-2620

Actually, Words Can Be Quite Potent

We know the old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but names can never hurt me.”  There is a measure of truth to the saying, of course.  However, we all know that words can actually be quite potent.  Words have the potential to unleash tremendous trouble or tremendous good.  I’m going to try to be positive, thoughtful, encouraging and helpful with my words today. …You know what I mean, you punks?!?

What We Do With The Gifts We're Given

Every good thing that we have comes from God.  Whether it’s a little bit or a lot, the good things in our lives are gifts from God.  When we are responsible and obedient and faithful about serving God—in a sense, giving back to God the gifts that He has given us—then God will honor that and bless it.

When Common Sense Is Denied

It is possible for a society to reach a point where obvious, common-sense truths are mocked and denied.  When this happens, sadness and pain follow.

What We Were Created To Do

When we worship God, we enter into an attitude and a mental posture that reflects reality.  Occasionally, I’ve heard people say, “I’m doing what I was created to do!”  This would be true when it comes to worshiping God.  When we honor Him and give Him reverence, when we speak praises to Him and about Him, when we bow in humble submission before Him, we are doing what we were created to do.

All Things Are Possible

Followers of Jesus should be people who are open to the truth that good, hopeful, positive  possibilities always exist because of who God is.  “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~Jesus, Matthew 19:26.

Jesus Claims To Be The Way, The Truth, and The Life -- Audio Podcast

John 14:1-7

                Click here for podcast!

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Some Important Things In Life Cannot Be Measured

Sometimes people say, “I won’t believe something is real unless I can see it or measure it.”  However, we all know that there are things we cannot see or measure and yet they are real.  For example, love cannot be directly seen or measured but we all believe that love is real.  In fact, we often place the highest value in life on those things, like love, that cannot be seen or measured.

E-Flash From Dan, May 23, 2013

Dear E-Flash Friends;

Imagine that someone pointed a gun at you and pulled the trigger, but you moved just as the gun fired.  Then, amazingly, the bullet from the gun missed hitting you by several inches.  That’s a literal description of the phrase, “dodging a bullet.”

If, on the other hand, you were walking, jogging, doing pushups, going to work every day and otherwise fully engaging in life, while experiencing 99 percent blockage of the left anterior descending artery (sometimes referred to as the “widow maker”).  And then you went into the hospital and the blockage was discovered and successfully treated, that would be a figurative description of the phrase, “dodging a bullet.”

The second scenario—figuratively dodging a bullet—is what happened to me this week.

I thank God that He is merciful and this incredibly dangerous arterial blockage was discovered and treated.  Today, when I say, “I am blessed to be alive.” I say it with a newly acquired perspective and a heightened level of awareness.

I am home and resting comfortably.

Thank you all for your prayers.  I appreciate your love and support more than words could ever express.

Love and blessings,

Dan

P.S.  I am blessed to have a wonderful, helpful, loving, caring wife!

True Wealth

Not too long ago I saw someone behave with great generosity.  This person is far from being wealthy in terms of material and financial resources.  However, as I witnessed this beautiful encounter it occurred to me that the person is extraordinarily wealthy relationally, emotionally and spiritually.

Striving For What's Best

There are actions that, technically speaking, we are “allowed” to do.  However, even though they are “allowed” they are not what’s best.  The higher calling of our lives is to strive for what’s best.  Striving for “what’s best” will be more challenging but that’s why it is “what’s best” for ourselves and for those whose lives we touch.

What's Coming This Sunday 5/19/13? -- Audio Podcast

Brief podcast with a bit of historical info about the church and a few details regarding the services this Sunday!  Check it out.


                 Click here for podcast!

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Would You Rather Be Honored By People Or Honored By God?

It’s okay to care—to some extent—what other people think about us. That’s part of what happens when people try to live together in a society and get along with each other. It can be a problem, however, when our desire to be honored by people becomes greater than our desire to be honored by God.

What Happened To Little Straggler?

Yesterday I wrote about a little duckling, Little Straggler, who got left behind in our church courtyard when his mama and the rest of her newly hatched flock left the area.

We ended up catching Little Straggler and putting him in a box in my office because he was crying, non-stop, and we were concerned that a hawk or a cat or some other animal would get him because of all the noise he was making.  In fact, a cat rang the buzzer at the front door of the church and tried to fool me by wearing a suit and sunglasses.  But I knew better and didn’t let him in.

We debated what we were going to do with Little Straggler.  Several people left comments suggesting that I was, now, his mother.  One person even told me that as Little Straggler’s mother, I needed to chew up worms to feed him.  But we have to draw some lines, somewhere, don’t we?  The little guy is cute but, come on!

Well, fortunately, Ann from our church came and took Little Straggler to a nearby farm where he was put in an incubator (I think that’s what Ann told me) with several other newly hatched ducklings.  Maybe it wasn’t an incubator.  I can’t remember for sure.  I think that’s what she told me.  Are there incubator’s for ducklings?  If there aren’t, there should be, doggone it!

Ann said that the other little ducklings seemed to immediately accept Little Straggler into their duck society.  So, Little Straggler is fine.  He’s living on a farm.  Someone else is chewing up worms for him to eat.  And a very sad ending was averted.

Although there are some cats and hawks in our neighborhood roaming around today saying, “Thanks a lot, Mr. Nature Boy!  What about us?  We’re still really hungry.”

Living With The Frustration of Not Knowing

All of our questions will not be answered on this side of eternity.  But the frustration of unanswered questions is tempered by the fact that we can know God and we can know that He loves us and we are His.  And we can know that we will experience life, forever, with Him. So, what we can know helps us live with the frustrations that come with what we can’t know.

The Plight of Little Straggler

I hear the sad, high pitched cry of a little baby duckling in the courtyard outside my window.

Let me explain…

A mama duck comes every spring and lays her eggs in our courtyard.  When the eggs hatch, Ann from our church, opens up doorways in the church building so that the mama can get her little flock out of the courtyard—where there is no food or water—to the greater outdoors.  When they get out of the courtyard they usually head straight for McDonalds.

This morning all the little ducklings got out with their mama except one who straggled and didn’t get out with the rest of the group.  Ann caught the little straggler and took him outside to reunite him with his mama and siblings but by then they were gone.  She looked high and low but couldn’t find them.

Not knowing where else to put him, Ann, put Little Straggler (that’s my name for him, now, “Little Straggler”) back in the courtyard.

So here I sit listening to Little Straggler crying.  (That’s Little Straggler in the photo.)

I’ve stuck my head out the window several times and said to him, “You have to be quiet.  Your noise is going to attract something that will want to eat you.”  But he doesn’t listen to me.  (It’s almost as if he doesn’t speak English.)  In fact, I thought he would at least get scared and be quiet while I was talking.  But he doesn’t.  While I’m telling him to be quiet, he keeps crying.

If you’re thinking, “Oh no.  Poor Little Straggler.  I feel so sad for him.”

Good.

I’m feeling sorry for the little guy and I wanted a few others to join in with me.

NOTE:  I’ll keep you all updated on Little Straggler’s status.

Glad To Know That God Is With Us

Good things happen in life and bad things, also, happen in life.  I am grateful for the profound truth that God will be with us, giving us peace and strength for both.  (And pizza helps, too.  But you probably already knew that, right?)

Being A Godly Influence - Mother's Day 2013

Good thoughts on parenting for Christians mothers and fathers.

                 Click here for podcast!

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The Adventure That Happened, Or Not?

I was driving toward the expressway junction ramps for interstate 80 and a thought occurred to me, “Hey, it’s my day off.  The weather is beautiful.  Maybe I should get on I-80 west and drive out to Starved Rock.”

It was a silly impulse.  I wasn’t planning to go to Starved Rock.  It was impractical.  I hadn’t told anyone I was going to Starved Rock.  But there was a part of me that thought, “Why not?”

But then the internal conversation began.

“That’s almost 2 hours from here.  You’re just going to drive there, right now, at 1o’clock in the afternoon?  Simply because the weather is nice?  That’s not a responsible thing to do,” thought the Safe-Predictable Me.

“Sometimes you need to do something, unpredictable and impulsive.  That’s part of living a great life,” countered the Go-For-It Me.

Safe-Predictable Me said, “What are you going to do, just call Nadia and say, ‘I’m on my way to Starved Rock?’  She’ll think you’re being ridiculous.”

“She won’t mind,” said Go-For-It Me.  “It’s your day off.  She would encourage you to do it.”

“I have some other things to do today, when I get back home,” Safe-Predictable Me said in a very convincing “stop-being-irresponsible”  tone of voice.

“None of what has to be done is an emergency.  It can all wait,” said Go-For-It Me.

This entire internal conversation happened in the course of a few seconds, in my mind, and as I came to the freeway ramps I found myself getting on I-80 eastbound.  In other words, I was heading home, not toward Starved Rock.

I’m writing this down now because I felt like I needed to remind myself—as well as share with you—that, sadly, when I got on that eastbound ramp I violated one of my own general life rules which is:  If you’re looking at a choice that involves doing something adventurous and not doing something adventurous, make the adventurous choice!

Oh, I know there will be exceptions to this general life rule.  There are always exceptions.  There will be times when making the adventurous choice really won’t be the wise thing.  But life is meant to be lived—that’s part of why God created us.  (I know that’s an incredibly clichéd thought, but it’s still true, anyhow.)

I got home and got some of those things done—you know, those things that I had to get home and do?—but I feel badly.  I didn’t choose well.  Oh, I know, it’s not likely that I missed out on one of the most thrilling adventures imaginable, but it’s the principle:  What happened today represents one of the ways that time passes and we look back with regret at a life that was only partially lived.

Note to self:  Choose the adventure.  (And be a bit more skeptical when listening to Safe-Predictable Me.)

God Cares And God Knows So Keep Praying

There are some issues that I have prayed about for a long time and sometimes I think, “When, God?” Or, “Are you listening?”  Someone might be inclined to tell me, “Forget it.  Give up.  You’re wasting your time.”  But I trust that God cares about me and I trust that He knows.  So, I believe that I should keep praying.

Buying Flowers And The Guy Bond

Jewel was bustling tonight.  I guess I should clarify that I’m referring to “Jewel” the grocery store.  I saw several men at the store carrying flowers that, no doubt, they were buying to give to their mothers or, perhaps, their wives.

I was carrying flowers and I saw another guy who was also carrying flowers.  He smiled at me and nodded as we passed each other. 

I didn’t know this man and he didn’t know me.  There was no reason for a smile and a nod, except this:  The Bond.  The Guy Bond.  It’s a bond that needs no words.  In fact, words will often tend to ruin the Guy Bond because words are so loaded with unnecessary letters and syllables and wordy-ness.  The Guy Bond is a bond between guys because guys know.  There are situations in which we simply have to look at each other and we know.

Some of you are reading this and you might be wondering, “What are you talking about?  What in the heck is the Guy Bond?  What do you know?”

You see, that’s the problem.  If I have to explain the Guy Bond then there’s no way you can really understand the Guy Bond.  Oh sure, an explanation might help you grasp some basic pieces of information in a very rudimentary and unsatisfactory way.  But the only way to really know the Guy Bond is to be a guy and… well… to experience the Guy Bond.

Don’t feel bad if you don’t know the Guy Bond.  The Guy Bond just “is.”  It’s like the fact that gravity works.  No one feels bad about the reality of gravity.  That would be silly.  We know that gravity just “is.”

On my way out of the store a woman saw me carrying the flowers and she said, “Oh, those are very pretty.  Are those for your wife or your mother?”

I smiled and said, “They’re for my wife.”  And then I thought to myself, “Nice try.  But that involved way too many words.  It does not count as a Guy Bond.”

Fighting Two Enemies of Healthy Relationships

Two of the primary enemies of healthy relationships are pride and selfishness. On the other hand, relationships thrive when we are humble, generous and gracious—genuinely considering the needs of others.  (Researchers have also found that it’s very important to be nice to gray haired guys.)

E-Flash From Dan -- Mother's Day 2013

Dear E-Flash Friends;

What happens when a bunch of fun, raucous—dare I say “groovy”?—guys get together to plan the music and worship time for the services on Mother’s Day?

…Well, I don’t want to be a spoiler, so let me just say you won’t want to miss this Sunday.  In fact, here’s a great idea:  Load up your mom and bring her to church.  She will love it!  And we’re going to honor and thank her at our Mother’s Day services.

Okay, since you’ve all been so nice I’ll give you a hint regarding a little surprise that’s coming:  Think about how capable moms are at getting things done and at the same time go way back and recall the music of Bachman Turner Overdrive.  

What do you think?  

If you’re saying, “I have no idea who or what ‘Bachman Turner Overdrive’ is.”  Excellent!  That will make the surprise that much better.

At the practice tonight we found out that some of the special lyrics I wrote are a bit challenging to deliver properly.  Kevin and Eric were looking at them and laughing.  That means we have to practice in between now and Sunday.  Don’t worry.  We will.  Again, I’m letting you in on the process because this is all further evidence that you definitely need to be here!

God tells us to honor our mothers and fathers, so, we’re going to do that and we will also be sure to, most of all, give praise and honor to Him!

I’m looking forward to seeing you this Sunday, 9am or 11am!

Love and blessings,

Dan

First Church of God

4600 W. 111th Street

Oak Lawn, IL

The Importance of Focus

Many high achievers will say that diligence in focusing their attention on the things they pursue is a key factor in their effectiveness.  This raises a question:  Are we easily distracted or are we focused when it comes to the important pursuits of our lives?

A Bit of Good Timing Works Out My Way!

I went to the Apple Store today because my iPod has been malfunctioning.  The employee at the store examined my device, asked me a question and determined that it could not be fixed.

“When did you purchase this iPod?” he queried.

I told him, “I don’t remember for sure.”

“Was your purchase within the past year?”

“I think it was, but I’m just not sure.”

So, he looked it up on in their system and he said, “Boy, you are in luck.  There are only 11 days remaining on your warranty.  But it is still under warranty.”

“I only had 11 more days until the warranty expired?” I said.

“Yep!”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I can replace this broken one with a new iPod, free of charge!”

Those are very nice words to hear when your equipment is broken: “replace” and “free of charge.”  Yea, Apple Store.  Thanks!

So, there it is.  Eleven days.  That was pretty close, huh?  Every once in a while a bit of good timing works out my way.

Good Influence Or Bad Influence?

We all have influence on others.  Some of us have influence on many, others of us have influence on only a few.  But we all have influence.  So the question becomes: are you and I providing an unhealthy influence or are we providing a good, positive, helpful, godly influence?

Dallas Willard - A "Friend" And "Mentor"

A friend of mind died today.  Well, actually, Dallas Willard didn't know we were friends since we've never met. But through his books and lectures Dallas Willard was a friend and mentor to me in my journey with Christ. 

I first became acquainted with Dr. Willard's writings through his book, “Spirit of the Disciplines.” But his books that impacted me the most were “The Divine Conspiracy” and “Knowing Christ Today.”

Dr. Willard’s thinking and teaching on discipleship, life in God’s kingdom, and the nature of spiritual knowledge have been very helpful to me and have provided guidance and great insight as I have grown in my relationship with Christ.

Dallas Willard was a professor of philosophy as well as a Christian pastor and theologian.  God gave him an interesting and unique perspective which involved a rigorous, penetrating intellect as well as a serious, committed spiritual life.  I am richer because of his giftedness and his obedience to God.

I would greet the release of every new Dallas Willard book with enthusiasm and expectancy.  I’m sad that he will not be writing any more books.  I know that I will see my friend again, someday, but for now, I will surely miss him.

Dan Marler

Oak Lawn, IL

Dallas Willard Quotes:

"If you could find a better way, Jesus would be the first one to tell you to take it. And if you don't believe that about him, you don't have faith in him, because what you're really saying is that he would encourage you to believe something that is false."

“If my pride is untouched when I pray for forgiveness, I have not prayed for forgiveness.  I don’t even understand it.”  The Divine Conspiracy

“…I am learning from Jesus to live my life as he would live my life if he were I.  I am not necessarily learning to do everything he did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner that he did all that he did.”  The Divine Conspiracy

“It is now understood to be a part of the ‘good news’ that one does not have to be a life student of Jesus in order to be a Christian and receive forgiveness of sins.  This gives a precise meaning to the phrase ‘cheap grace,’ though it would be better described as ‘costly faithlessness.’”  The Divine Conspiracy

“…To enable people to become disciples we must change whatever it is in their actual belief system that bars confidence in Jesus as Master of the Universe.”  The Divine Conspiracy

“We often speak of people not living up to their faith.  But the cases in which we say this are not really cases of people behaving otherwise than they believe.  They are cases in which genuine beliefs are made obvious by what people do.  We always live up to our beliefs—or down to them, as the case may be.  Nothing else is possible.  It is the nature of belief.”  The Divine Conspiracy

“An understanding of ordinary logic is no longer a required part of university degree programs, as was almost universally the case sixty years ago.  Now, as a result, our world if full of uneducated people with higher degrees.  They have no independent logical judgment and simply conform to what their circle takes to be the ‘best professional opinion.’”  Knowing Christ Today

“God has room for people with very little sense, but He wants everyone to use what sense they have.”  Knowing Christ Today

“The central teachings of the Christian religion, such as those of the Apostles’ Creed, were from the beginning presented and accepted as knowledge—knowledge of what is real and what is right.  That is why they had the transforming effect they did on a world dead set against them.”  Knowing Christ Today

“We can never understand the life of faith seen in scripture and in serious Christian living unless we drop the idea of faith as a ‘blind leap’ and understand that faith is commitment to action, often beyond our natural abilities, based upon knowledge of God and God’s ways.”  Knowing Christ Today

“To know Christ in the modern world is to know him in your world now.  To know him in your world now is to live interactively with him right where you are in your daily activities.  This is the spiritual life in Christ.”  Knowing Christ Today

When We Know Fully... Someday

There is a complete and perfect level of insight, brilliance, wisdom, knowledge and understanding that is possessed by God which is far beyond what we can comprehend and it is even beyond what we can begin to imagine because we are limited beings.  When our eyes are truly opened, on the other side, what we see and understand in the light of His glory will be more extraordinary than any earthly words or thoughts can convey.

Scared By The Sound of My Own Voice

Earlier today, I heard a loud voice coming from Nadia’s office—which is right next to my office—and initially I was startled because it was completely unexpected.  The sound also startled me because it was such an odd-sounding voice.  So, my knee-jerk reaction was to think, “Who is this strange, loud person in the other room?!?”

Within a few seconds I realized that the sound was coming from the speakers on Nadia’s computer.  I smiled.  Fortunately, it was not a deranged person, physically present, in the other room. 

But those few seconds also provided enough time for me to recognize that the voice I was

hearing was a recording of me.  Now, I was laughing.  Yep, no kidding.  I was actually disturbed and slightly frightened by the amplified sound of my own voice.

This is beginning to explain the reaction that I, sometimes, receive.  And a few more pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet - Audio Podcast

John 13:1-16
Check it out!

                 Click here for podcast!

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God Is Not Waiting To "Get Us"

Sometimes, when I was young, I had the impression that God was just waiting for me to make a mistake—almost hoping I’d mess up—so He could punish me.  Of course, I realize now that that is not true.  God doesn’t want us to fail or make mistakes or do things that are wrong.  However, it’s nice to know that when we do mess up—which might just happen, occasionally—because of the work of Christ, there is forgiveness, from a loving, gracious, merciful God.

We Obey God As Our Hearts Become More Devoted To Him

It’s helpful to keep in mind that our devotion is to God not to God’s rules.  Actually, as our hearts become more and more devoted to God, we will increasingly live for Him and follow His laws, we will do His will.  But what prompts these outward acts of obedience in the most genuine and most effective way, is the interior condition of our lives.  The proper outward acts of behavior happen as the heart becomes more devoted to Him.

The Truth Is What It Is

Some people are convinced that their personal belief regarding a matter is what determines the truth about it.  This idea is frequently promoted—in various ways—in our culture but do not be fooled by it, it is not correct.  The truth is what it is whether anyone ever believes it, or not.

An Authentic Search For Truth Will Point To God

It’s possible to fall back on clichés and simple sayings when it comes to matters of faith, but God calls us to engage in deep thinking and careful reflection about our faith.  We do not need to fear that God cannot withstand such intellectual scrutiny.  God is truth.  And a deep, penetrating, authentic search for truth will always, ultimately, point to Him.

Jasper Is Swiping

Jasper has been swiping food and other items from the kitchen table, lately.  He has a very sneaky tactic.  He gets things just by doing a sweep of the edge of the table with his long tongue.  He thinks I don’t see him, but I’ve caught him a few times just after he has made his move.

This morning, he took some of my vitamins and supplements off the table and, not knowing any better, he ate them.  It doesn’t seem like it’s having any adverse effect on him. 

…Although, about an hour later I saw him typing a sermon on the computer.

What's Coming 5/5/13 With Dan, Lisa & Stephanie

This is a fun podcast.  Take a listen!

                Click here for podcast!

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God Is The Source of Love

When the Bible says that God is love it’s not trying to help us understand that if we love God then He will love us back.  What it is saying is that love is part of the very nature of God and, therefore, all true love has God as its source. This is why we can know with confidence that God loves us unconditionally.  This is extraordinarily good news!

National Day of Prayer - Prayer Request

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  If you are participating in this day by spending some time in prayer I would like to humbly offer a prayer request for your consideration: I ask that you join me in praying for the hearts of people in our country to turn to God. There are a number of things that I could write to explain this request further but I think it might be best to let it remain that simple.  Thanks and God bless you all.

When God Gets Our Attention

God has a number of different ways that He can get our attention.  I’ve experienced approximately 783 of those ways. Often, things can go a little bit better if we intentionally tune in to Him and He doesn’t have to get our attention.

Real Love Does Not Approve of Everything A Person Does

When you love someone it does not mean that you approve of everything they do. In fact, it is unloving to assure people that they are doing something right when, actually, they are doing something wrong. Doing wrong hurts the person who is doing wrong, even if he/she doesn’t acknowledge it. One of the ways that we attempt to protect those that we love is to humbly speak the truth.