View from the Treestand

Currently reading “Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream” by David Platt. The most captivating, convicting, and challenging book I have read in years…more to come!!

“In light of your past experience, your current reality and circumstances, your future hopes and dreams, is this a wise decision?” Quote by Andy Stanley

Hiking the AT in October for the 2nd time, with some men from our church. Starting at Springer Mountain GA (southern starting point for the AT) and heading north for 10 days.  Started my training hikes with my backpack along with my regular running schedule. I can tell I’m getting “older!”

Started a new series with our men last night, “Gripped by the Greatness of God,” by James McDonald. Looking forward to taking this journey along with the men…did the homework for day one. Lots of thoughts going through my mind from last night…I’ll share one…James asked, “How will this study affect my life?” Being gripped by God will transform my SOUL (the real me that will live forever) in 3 ways:  my MIND (the way I think), my EMOTIONS (the way I feel), and my WILL (the way I live, act, and make choices)…I struggle with all three at times…and sometimes all three at the same time…the WILL…not mine but Yours Lord…that’s my deepest struggle…everyday…Lord transform me as I grip Your greatness…

I wish I could be there today with my dear friends, Mrs. Joyce, Denny, Debbie and their families. Each of you are in my thoughts and prayers.

I remember the first time I met the Smith family…it was a Friday night, Trinity Baptist Church, Memphis Tennessee…the gym was packed with young people…you were coming to candidate to be our Youth Director. It was an instant connection, a bond that God would use to influence and change so many of us over the next several years. Many surrendered to full time service under Bro. Denver’s leadership: myself, Denny, Mike Keenum, Bobby Griffin, Allen “Moon” Mullins, Bill Vail, Roy Whaley, Chuck O’Connor, Lynn Mitchell and many others. We all have been able to duplicate many times over in the lives of others what we learned by your example. Your influence lives on.

Bro. Denver and Mrs. Joyce, you two are my heroes, my spiritual Mom and Dad. There were times I did not believe in myself when you believed in me. You always had the right advice from the Word at just the right time. You modeled the Christian life. Your walk backed up your talk. You were real! You showed me the way. You took time for me and spent time with me, thank you!

Proverbs 20:6-7 says, “…a faithful man who can find? The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” Bro. Denver and Mrs. Joyce, I’m privileged to be one of your “Trinity Kids” and I am blessed.

I’m looking forward to “Resurrection Day,”…I miss you…can’t wait to see you again…got a lot of things I want to share with you that we didn’t get to in our phone conversations over the years…it will be just like old times…what a reunion…all your “Trinity Kids”…together…forever…

I Love You…

David

Been thinking about this…Bro Joel’s message: “Putting On A Show.” Ties in with my current series from James 2 “When Faith Doesn’t Work.”

• Why do you come to church?
• Is your life at church different from your life away from church?
• Are you bored with the things of God?

Doing some preparation for our Men’s Fraternity, Gripped by the Greatness of God, by James McDonald. Series starts June 7…powerful stuff…can’t wait for our men to get into it!! Reading and studying Isaiah 6:1-7…when you think of holiness, what image does that conjure up in your mind? Take a few minutes and make your list…

McDonald says, “Possibly you think of holiness as a list of rules to freeze freedom and crush your creativity. Maybe you have known some people who claimed to be fired up about holiness, but there’s nothing appealing about their lifestyle or perspective on living a God-centered life. They live by black-and-white thinking that says, ‘this is holy, and that is not.’ Rule lovers, they delight to point out who is not making the grade on their latest checklist of absolute rules of holiness. That’s not God’s kind of holiness. God does not present His holiness as a horizontal prescription for human activity. God displays holiness as the central and defining essence of His character…chapter 1 “Gripped by the Holiness of God.”

Meets tonight at 7pm. Special guest, Joshua Robertson.

Map Quest and GPS instruments are great tools to help plan trips or just find your way around town. One thing I have learned is that GPS are not foolproof. I don’t know how many times someone has called the church, “we’re lost…can’t find you, we put your address 64 Susie Street in our GPS…” Here’s the deal, if you put 64 Susie Street in your GPS, it will take you to Susie Drive, not street, same town, different location, not even close to our church… not sure why that happens. Don’t believe me…try it and see what happens. Better call us first. Don’t trust your GPS all the time, you may end up somewhere you don’t want to go.

Same thing is true in life…tired of the SOS (same old stuff)…always ending up in the same old place…thinking just maybe this time it will be different. Remember, the same road leads to the same place every time!

God’s tried and proven method to the right destination every time…Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways (course of life) acknowledge him, and he shall direct (cut a path, clear the way) thy paths.” Works for me…

I’m reading and studying about prayer today…Oswald Chambers, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work.”