E-Flash From Dan, June 12, 2013

Dear E-Flash Friends;

Tonight, at Next Step, we will begin our time of prayer and fasting together, as a church.  Of course, everyone is always free to pray about anything that they want to bring to God.  But we believe our church has been specifically called by God to enter into this time in order to ask God to move in the lives and hearts of our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. who are resistant to the saving truth of Jesus.

One time, when Jesus’ disciples were unable to heal a boy, they asked the Lord, “Why couldn’t we heal him?”  Jesus told them that this type of work requires “prayer and fasting.”  (See Matthew 17:21)

All of us know people who are resistant—perhaps even vehemently resistant—to the things of God.  These folks may represent cases that require “prayer and fasting.” 

We have a “God Box” in the church lobby into which scores of names—which will remain private—have already been placed.  A prayer team already met at the church on Tuesday morning and prayed over the names in the God Box.  We will continue to pray for these people over the next couple of days asking God, who knows each one by name, to bring the circumstances into their lives that will remove their resistance to Him.

Do you feel prompted by the Spirit to participate in this time of prayer and fasting?  I hope you do.  We will begin tonight (6/12/13) at Next Step.  You are invited to join us (6-8pm).  If you cannot make it tonight but still want to join in the fast with us, please do so.  We will begin the fast this evening and we will break the fast on Friday.

If there is some reason why you are unable to fast from food, perhaps you could fast from something else during this time, e.g. television, and still join with us.

We serve a mighty, prayer-answering God who tells us in His word He desires that all men would be saved.  (See, 1 Timothy 2:4)  I am believing that He is going to do great things.  I am trusting that hearts will be touched, eyes will be opened and lives will be transformed!

To Him be the glory!

Love and blessings,

Dan

First Church of God

Oak Lawn, IL

Dan & Vic Fall Kick Off 2012 Podcast

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E-Flash From Dan, Aug. 24, 2012

Dear E-Flash Friends;

Have you ever known someone who was restlessly chasing after this and that in a seemingly endless attempt to find some type of lasting satisfaction in life?  It’s not an uncommon scenario and I suspect it could describe all of us at one time or another.

This is a reality that is recognized in the Bible.  And the well known Bible story of the woman whom Jesus encounters at the well touches on this aspect of life.

That’s what we are going to be talking about this Sunday and I hope you are planning to be here.  Jesus’ encounter with this woman provides some great truths for all of us.  And if you were wondering, the answer is: Yes!  Yes, the worship team is planning a wonderful time of praise.  They definitely know how to deliver the goods, right?  

I’m already trusting that God is going to do great things.  In fact, I got really excited for a moment, there, and I’m having to sit back down and take a few deep breaths.

Please remember that our Fall Kick Off is coming up on September 16^th.  The Kick Off is titled:  A Fresh Start And A New Journey.  And that’s what we’re planning to do as a church.  Would you please pray for our church?  And pray that God will open up opportunities for us to invite people to the Fall Kick Off?  I can picture us starting our fall season this year with the church full of people who are anxious to learn about God, connect with Him and experience His activity in their lives.

Also, on Wednesday, September 19^th, we will begin our newly expanded Next Step discipleship time.  We are increasing the time for Next Step because we want to add some other elements that are helpful and important for our discipleship experience.  For example, we want to spend more time together sharing meals and fellowship.  We will be spending a little more time in prayer and more time praising God in song.

So, Next Step will have a new starting time of 6pm on Sept. 19^th.  I’m inviting you to come and be a part of this terrific discipleship time.  We realize that 6 o’clock is early for some of us and there will be folks who won’t be able to make it at 6pm.  We encourage you to come when you can get here.  You will be able to plug in to what’s happening if you arrive at 6:30 or 7pm, as well.

There’s more that I can tell you, but that’s enough for now.

Hope you’ve been having a good week.  Looking forward to seeing you Sunday.

Love and blessings,

Dan

E-Flash From Dan, Sept. 8, 2010, Fall Kick-Off 2010 Edition

Dear E-Flash Friends;

Over and over again, in the gospels, Jesus talks about the call for His followers to live under his reign and His rule.  We call this: living in God’s kingdom.  When Jesus elaborates on what it means to live for Him—in His kingdom—we discover that His way involves what could honestly be described as a “strange and unique” manner of living.

Jesus actually says things like this:

Give up your life for my sake.

Take up YOUR cross.

It’s practically impossible to be saved.  [paraphrase]

Be perfect.

In order to be great, you have to be the least.

If you hate someone, it’s the same as killing him.

If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out.

Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.

If someone slaps you, turn and let them slap the other cheek.

Don’t ever worry.

Always be really, really nice to Dan.  He’s a terrific guy.

[Okay, Jesus didn’t say that last line, but He did say the others.]

Indeed, this is strange and unique living, huh?  Sometimes, we forget about the revolutionary nature of the teachings of Jesus.  His teachings about how to live upset people during His physical time on earth many years ago and, truthfully, his teachings about how to live are still revolutionary and upsetting to some people today.

But followers of Jesus proceed with the heartfelt conviction that He is right and He does know how to live.  It is important for those of us who want to live for Him that we sincerely try to understand His teachings and that we take Him seriously in these matters in which He tells us how to live.

That’s what we will be doing for the next 5 weeks, as we launch into our Fall Kick-Off series, this Sunday, September 12^th.  The series is titled: “The Strange & Unique Call To Life In God’s Kingdom”.

I’ve been working on the first message in the series, “Wait A Minute, Did You Say MY Cross?”   And I must admit that I got myself all excited for a few minutes and I was actually standing up in my office preaching a portion of the message.  

…Then I took an offering, had a closing prayer, and went out into the lobby of the church and greeted myself.  Boy, was it an inspiring time!

Will you, please, consider doing these 3 things?  1) Pray for our Fall Kick-Off; 2) Pray about who God might lead you to invite; and 3) Take that risk of making an invitation.

Thank you.  I’m looking forward to seeing you Sunday!

Blessings,

Dan

P.S.  If you just can’t wait till Sunday, I understand, I feel the same way.  So, do this, come tonight, Sept. 8^th, Next Step, 7pm.  I’ll be teaching on the subject of “Spiritual Growth” and I’m excited about that, too!  (Yes, it’s true, I’m easily excited, but what can I say?  I’d rather be a person who is easily excitable than someone who never gets excited, at all, right?)

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